An Alabama chef is headed to the renowned James Beard House to cook one of his signature burgers.

Eric Rivera, executive chef of Vintage Year restaurant and bar in Montgomery is the grand prize winner for the James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger project, the culinary foundation’s partnership with the Mushroom Council that challenges chefs around the country to create healthy, sustainable burger patties by blending in 25 percent fresh mushrooms.

In addition to a $5,000 cash prize, Rivera will have the honor of preparing his winning blended burger—crafted with waygu beef, crimini and oyster mushrooms topped with shaved fennel, apple and onion slaw, and sorghum glaze — at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City on October 23.

Now in its fifth year, the contest boasted nearly 500 restaurants in 50 states. Over the summer, more than 400,000 votes were cast to determine the top 25 burgers. Then, a panel of food experts selected by the James Beard Foundation chose five winners based on culinary creativity, flavor profile, and presentation.

Vintage Year executive chef Eric Rivera (Courtesy: Vintage Year)

In addition to Vintage Year, the other 2019 Blended Burger Project winners were Burger Shack in Lahaina, Hawaii, Hops at 84 East in Holland, Mich., Playalinda Brewing Company in Titusville, Fla. and Pompano Grill in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

"As so many talented chefs participated in the blended burger competition, I am honored to have been selected as one of the grand prize winners," said Rivera in a press release. "I am also excited for the culinary recognition that a James Beard award brings, not only to our restaurant but also to the city of Montgomery."

The Blended Burger Project award is one in a number of accolades for the Montgomery-based chef and the second James Beard recognition this year. This past spring, the James Beard Foundation recognized Rivera as a 2019 Smart Catch leader for serving seafood that is fished or farmed in environmentally sustainable ways. In July, Wine Spectator named Vintage Year on its list of restaurants for some of the best in the world for wine.

Alabama is no stranger to James Beard accolades and nominations. In 2018, Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham took home the James Beard award for most outstanding restaurant in America. That same night, Dolester Miles of Highlands Bar and Grill, Chez Fonfon, and Bottega was named most outstanding pastry chef in America. In August 2018, chef Kristen Hall of Birmingham’s The Essential joined culinary leaders from around the country for the James Beard Foundation’s 16th Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change, a two-day training program focused on the 2018 Farm Bill. Both Frank Stitt and Chef Chris Hastings have received the James Beard Award for best chef in the Southeast.