Windy Hollow Biscuit House is doing more than serving up a creative burger for Owensboro Burger Week — they’re celebrating the legacy of a beloved team member while raising money for a cause close to her heart: local animal shelters.
This year’s entry, The Sarah’nator, is named in memory of Sarah Strode Elliott, a longtime Daviess County educator and cherished hostess at the Biscuit House. The French Onion Soup Burger is quite the tribute, topped with provolone and caramelized onions inspired by their in-house soup recipe, served on a toasted brioche bun with a side of soup for dipping.
“Sarah was our hostess with the mostess,” said owner Evelynn Miller. “She brought so much energy and joy to the restaurant. You never knew when she’d break into song — she would literally serenade guests, which is where the name came from.”
Burger Week was one of Elliott’s favorite times of year. Even while undergoing cancer treatment last year, she remained involved behind the scenes.
“Our last messages from her were about Burger Week — asking how many burgers we sold and how people liked it,” Miller said. “She only got to work a couple of days during it last year, but she stayed connected to what was happening every day.”
To honor Elliott’s memory, the restaurant is donating a portion of proceeds from each Sarah’nator combo sold to a local animal shelter, a cause she deeply cared about. The goal is to raise $1,000 by the end of the week. As of Monday, $221 had already been raised.
“She was a collector of antiques and animals,” Miller said. “If she could’ve, she would’ve brought every stray animal home.”
Elliott retired from teaching in 2016 after more than 27 years in the classroom with Daviess County Public Schools. Her daughter, Julia Elliott Campbell, said her mother’s true passion was making others feel seen, loved, and cared for.
“She loved people. Whether it was through serving food, singing to them, or just asking how they were, she wanted to connect,” Campbell said. “At the Biscuit House, it wasn’t a job for her. It was something she truly enjoyed.”
Campbell said her mother would be proud of the Sarah’nator burger — mainly because it brings people together, supports animals, and highlights the spirit of Burger Week, all things she adored.
“Her family, her friends — they’ve all given the burger their stamp of approval,” Miller said. “That’s what matters most to us. We just wanted to do something meaningful in her name.”
Windy Hollow Biscuit House is open nightly until 7 p.m. during Burger Week, except Sunday. Combos can be purchased in-house, and donations are also being accepted directly at the restaurant.
