Winnipeg-Style “Fat Boy” Cheeseburgers

Very few places in Canada have the distinction of having their own style of burger. Of course, Toronto and its popular banquet burger is one, while the other—you may be surprised to find out—is in Winnipeg…and it is DELICIOUS! The “Fat Boy” is a burger style born of fast-casual spots in the city such as Junior’s and Dairi Wip and VJ’s Drive Inn. Aside from this burger often calling for pickle spears instead of medallions and putting the cheese underneath the patty, the real differentiator here is the addition of Greek-style meat sauce (think the meat sauce in moussaka) with notes of cloves, allspice and cinnamon, making this (charmingly messy) burger taste like no other. Of course, there are subtle variations on the theme depending on where you go, but as an unofficial Winnipegger who has eaten his fair share of Fat Boy burgers, here’s how recipe developer, Dan Clapson, likes to make it. Recipe adapted from the original developed by Dan Clapson.