Friday Night Winks

Ahhh yes. The feeling of late summer and early fall was in the air tonight at Meneffee Stadium. The sounds, sights and smells of high school football were prevalent at Independence and Community Field with football teams taking to the new turf, a huge crowd gathering to get their first looks at the 2008 football team, cheerleaders in their new uniforms and of course, the aroma of Winks Burgers in the air. If you haven’t been to Meneffee Stadium in awhile, the burgers sold at the Athletic Department Concession Stand have almost become as much of a tradition as the SK’s that used to stand atop the goal posts.

Once you claim your spot and start hiking towards the Friday night lights, you can instantly look towards the field and see the smoke signals rolling from Doug Winkler’s huge grill. Winkler can grill a couple hundred of his secret formula gems on a single Friday night football game. (Doug and his wife Cheryl couldn’t agree to an exact number of Winks that they can prepare on a Friday night but both agreed that it is in the hundreds.) Winkler marinates his burgers after grilling them in a secret concoction that gives them their flavor. Alright, it really isn’t a secret, just ask him and he will tell you but it makes for a better story. Winkler started grilling burgers for the South Kenton Lions football program before he brought his grilling act to the Simon Kenton Athletic Program.

There isn’t a single way to fix a Winks Burger. The one topping that seems to be a must on a Winks is the grilled onions. I had Winks the other night at a soccer game that included grilled onions, tomatoes, lettuce, jalapeños and nacho cheese. Quite a tasty treat I might add. If these toppings don’t fancy you, the Winklers usually have several other condiments and dressings to accompany your Winks.

Winkler says that he is just trying to do what he can to contribute to the Simon Kenton Athletic Department and give the kids in the school a chance to play a sport and to keep out of trouble. He said that with a busy calendar posted on the wall of the concession stand that that he plans on cooking up the Winks Burgers by the case. Make sure you take one in the next time you go to the stadium for a soccer or football game. Oh yeah, SK won the scrimmage against Lloyd by a score of 26-13.


Here's a Winks...


Doug Winkler serving up one of his flavored burgers.