It wasn’t so long ago that a hamburger was just ground meat on a bun. How lucky are we to live in an age where the once lowly burger has become an art form? Winning this year’s Best Burger category for the first time is Valley Burger Company, whose premium offerings regularly wow new and returning patrons alike. Court’N House Bar & Grill, which recently expanded its footprint to welcome even more beef seekers, boasts second place. Eau Claire’s other “burger company,” Milwaukee Burger Co., received third place; the Big Milwaukee challenge continues to loom large over local patty fans. —Eric Rasmussen