Brad Halsten

What is your signature dish?

My signature dish is the “I’m Your Huckleberry” Burger, a World Food Championships winner. It features: A perfectly seasoned patty House‑made huckleberry Hatch chili barbecue sauce bacon Goat cheese Roasted red pepper mayo It’s a burger that represents Montana — bold, unexpected, and unforgettable. The balance of sweet, smoky, spicy, and creamy flavors is what made it a world champion and a fan favorite.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

I’m inspired by classic American diner culture, and the challenge of turning simple ingredients into something extraordinary. Burgers are humble, but they’re also a canvas — and I love creating combinations people haven’t tasted before. Seeing someone take their first bite of a burger I’ve crafted — and watching their face light up — that’s what keeps me creating. As far as who inspired me, both my parents operated restaurants when I was a kid.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest the prize money into expanding The Burger Dive’s ability to serve our community — upgrading equipment, supporting staff, and developing new menu items that push the boundaries of what a burger can be. In the last year we opened our second location in Billings. It has been a big success and has us thinking of expansion into other cities or even states. The prize money would be a big help in a possible 3rd location opening.