Pasadena Cheeseburger Week: 40 burgers in five days

Make sure your stretchy pants are ready. Pasadena is devoting an entire week to the cheeseburger. From Jan. 11 to 16, 40 of the city’s restaurants, lounges and bars will participate in the city’s annual Cheeseburger Week.

That means five days, and 40 cheeseburgers. Some of the participating restaurants include a/k/a An American Bistro, Central Park restaurant, Dog Haus and Dog Haus Biergarten, The Counter, Gale’s, Kings Row Gastropub, Slater’s 50/50 (home of the half bacon, half beef burger), Pie ‘n Burger, Real Food Daily (count on it being vegan) and more.

And some of the restaurants, including Green Street Restaurant, El Portal, Lucky Baldwin’s, La Grande Orange and Whole Foods Market on Arroyo will be offering burgers specially created for Cheeseburger Week. And yes, you read that correctly: El Portal, the Yucatan/Mexican restaurant without a burger on the menu, is getting in on the fun.

The Dog Haus will also host a slider eating contest to kick off the festivities.

The city holds its annual Cheeseburger Week to honor Lionel Sternberger, who is believed to be the first person to put cheese on a hamburger. He introduced his cheeseburger to the Rite Spot in Pasadena in 1924.

For more information, and a full list of participating restaurants, visit www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

I need special sauce, pickles, ketchup, grilled and raw onions. Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_