Showing posts with label burgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burgers. Show all posts

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Those American Burgers - Five Guys and Shake Shack

Right, I know everyone is bored of talk about burgers. Hell, I know that I am. But the truth is, I was just a little bit excited when I heard Five Guys and Shake Shack were both London bound. Two American heavy weights, ready to duke it out on the streets of Covent Garden, one I had heard little of, the other, responsible for one of my food eureka moments. It was going to be pretty interesting how these emotions translated into foodie fact.

Untitled
My very own Five Guys hat. Scant reward for rude staff and a ridiculous queuing system.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Burgers, Burgers, Chicken, Burgers

Burgerac Burgerapp launch
Now that I managed to get over this whole burger hump, theres no stopping me. My number one at the moment comes from the quite excellent Lucky Chip. Based out in Hackney, they moved from their outfit in Netil Market indoors to the pretty old school setting of the Sebright arms. Each of Lucky Chips burger creations are named after a Hollywood star. The Kelly Le Brock oozes cream cheese, the Kevin Bacon is loaded with the porky stuff and the John Belushi is heart achingly packed with foie gras, bone marrow and truffle oil. My personal favourite is the Tom Selleck, a mind boggling invention including an onion ring housing BBQ sauce, bacon and a pineapple slice.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Burgers, Hypocrites and the return of hype: The Admiral Codrington

MEATLiquor - Slider

So yes, it appears I have become a burger hypocrite. Ever since I mentioned that I was slowly becoming bored of the whole London burger trend, what do I go and do? Stuff my face with burgers. Actually, a lot of burgers. Burgers from Lucky Chip, burgers from MEATmarket, and most recently, the almost perfect slider from the MEATLiquor stall at the annual and very excellent Soho Food Feast.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Long live the #Meateasy: The Rye, Peckham

The Rye

Hardly a day goes by that I don't ponder fondly about the #meateasy. Remembering the drinks, the atmosphere, things I cannot repeat on here nor should ever be repeated again. There were also the burgers. Meatwagon burgers made to order served with an array of delicious sides, smothered in cheese and mustard and all things good. When the day arrived when the #meateasy locked it's doors, we went mental one last time and we showed our respects by drinking the place dry.

Ever since that day, Yianni and his new and improved (physical/mobile) meatwagon have kept a relatively low profile. The money made from the Meateasy has been reinvested into a brand new meatwagon (a real old American ambulance) and kitted out with all the gadgets a travelling purveyor of food would ever want. Yianni's plan is to go back to his roots and take his wagon out on the road to the many festivals around Britain (including the recent Glastonbury festival, Henley Regatta and Soho House Summer party.).

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The #MEATEASY: Getting the wagon back on its feet

Meateasy, New Cross

So, this will no doubt be one of many many posts on Yianni Papoutsis' new venture, the #MEATEASY in New Cross, so I will keep it brief. A month ago, Yianni's business was turned upside down when some vagabond stole the meatwagon. Thousands wept.

Meateasy, New Cross

Now a mere 10 days from idea to end product, the Capital Pub Company has lent him the upstairs of his latest project to cook his line of comestibles indoors, away from nature, until he raises enough cash to get a new meatwagon back on the road. Thanks go to Scott who helped make it all happen.

I was lucky enough to get there on his pre launch test run. Here is just a teaser of what to expect:

Meateasy, New Cross
Tonights menu


Meateasy, New Cross
Kitchen and Cocktails


Meateasy, New Cross
The Signature Cheese and Bacon Burger


Meateasy, New Cross
Onion Rings


Meateasy, New Cross
Chilli Cheese Dog, Mac and Cheese, Buffalo wings


Meateasy, New Cross
The Chicken Sandwich - Probably my favourite of the night. Amazingly crisp, but succulent and tender on the inside. Bloody amazing.

Doors open on the 12th and will run in the evening to start (opening at about 6ish), although this will change once the kitchen gets up to full speed. I understand why many of you would want to rush to get your burger fix, but the #MEATEASY will be around for at least a couple of months so no real rush. There will be specials, inventions and all sorts. This was a preview so all the grub and drinks were on the house, but I couldn't leave before donating to the "Rebirth of the Meatwagon" fund. Expect to pay about £6 a burger, and less for the peripherals. So go, and once you've been, go again.


More pics here if you fancy it.

MEATEASY at the Goldsmiths Tavern - 316 New Cross Road, New Cross London

Friday, March 19, 2010

A return to Goodman: The Burger

The Goodman Burger

Burgers, burgers everywhere. Every hyperlink you click will take you to yet another write up from another fellow blogger on the humble burger. I mean, how many iterations of a burger can you get? After all, it's just a beef patty between two bits of bread isn't it? Wrong. There are so many permutations that achieving the perfect burger is becoming somewhat of a science. Some claim that it doesn't need to be that hard at all, in fact, they have even petitioned for the famous West coast chain of In n Out to broaden their horizons to the UK. Some have even recreated famous US versions of the burger in their own home. Hell, even I did my own little mission in the US of A to discover what it is about their burgers.

The burgers in the UK simply don't compare. A different attitude, a different approach and frankly, it feels like for many, a burger is just something they feel they should have on the menu without a great deal of thought about what a good burger really is. It's not really surprising that so many lovers of food have taken it upon themselves to discover the holiest of all holy grails in food terms for many, the perfect burger. The Hawksmoor, a renowned steakhouse, is reputed to have an excellent burger. I have yet to try it, but busied myself on a hectic Monday with a visit to another steakhouse, Goodman on Maddox street.

Blokes eat Beef at Goodman

The Goodman Burger

I have already written about the excellent steaks on offer here. It's one of those rare places, a high end restaurant that I keep finding myself coming back to again and again. This time, it was all about the burger. At £12 with chips and numerous choices of fillings at no extra cost, I may even consider this a bargain. Made from prime USDA offcuts, with a bit of chuck thrown in, the burger tastes like a handheld version of their steaks. The patty was juicy and perfectly pink, almost flaking apart as it hadn't been minced into oblivion. I added cheese and bacon, although in hindsight, I think this was an error. The burger was perfectly seasoned and the additional toppings just made the whole burger a bit on the salty side. My only negative point is that burgers need a good pickle, and unfortunately this one let it down with little of the required piquancy.

So there you have it, great steaks and great burgers. It helps that the manager of Goodman is as passionate about his burgers as his customers are. A brief chat revealed that he is definitely a burger man and has a few tricks up his sleeves in this department, which leads me to the question, whatever are Goodman going to do next???

Goodman (website) - 26 Maddox Street, W1S 1QH

Goodman on Urbanspoon

Monday, January 18, 2010

Revisiting Byron - The launch of the Big D

Big D - Byron @ The Intrepid Fox

I have always been an advocate of Byron, as readers of this blog will contest. Ever since my first visit, I have been back numerous times and the burgers just get better and better. Uncomplicated and delicious, they are currently my burger of choice in London.

Root Beer Float

As you can see from the post linked above, that was written in the infancy of this blog and a lot has changed since then. Not only have I discovered that there are more than one Byron (where there are in fact 5 within London and even 2 outside) but they also now have an A&W Root Beer float on the menu. Foaming heaven in a frosty glass.

The latest branch to open is located deep in Soho on the site of the old Intrepid Fox. I would love to go on about the history of the Intrepid Fox and how it holds many memories for me, but I was never a grungy or gothy kid in my youth, and would much rather hang around more lively and less sombre drinking establishments. All the same, the site has a rich vein of history and could do worse than housing somewhere that sells A-grade burgers.

For a large many of us, having a Byron in the heart of Soho is infinitely more accessible than the majority of their restaurants which are spread across various destinations in West and South West London. Even with this statement, I still hadn't managed to make my way there and it took the news of yet another development for me to make my way there.

What was this mysterious announcement, you ask? Come a little closer and I will whisper it in your ear.......Byron have a new burger. Good gossip spreads like wildfire and it was only a few days prior to my visit that I got wind of some developments. Some rumours here, other mentions there. There was more tension being built up than the Eastenders Christmas Special. Finally, I found out the news, my own personal "who murdered Archie" moment, the Big D was to be launched.

If this wasn't a good enough reason to get my arse down to Byron, I don't know what is. So what is the Big D you may ask? Well, its an 8 oz premium burger crafted from meat supplied by premium butchers, Jack O'Shea. A bigger patty (than the usual 6oz) made out of premium Jack O'Shea beef, sounds like my kind of burger.

Big D - Byron @ The Intrepid Fox

When it arrived in front of me, I lifted the bun and although the aroma was mesmeric, there were a few small niggles I need to get out of the way. Although packed with decent salad (which didn't poke me in the eye, major bonus), I like a bit more lubrication than just mayonnaise. Yes, there are a multitude of sauces to choose from but I like a good relish (sweetcorn or tomato), something to just lift the beef. This had none. And the pickle, an essential part of a delicious burger (there is something about that crunch and piquancy that elevates a good burger to nigh on godly) was delicious, but quartered and left on the side, waiting for manual inclusion. I know lots of people find pickles offensive, but it needs to be sliced and evenly distributed within the burger. I hate to admit this, but it's something I actually admire in a McDonalds cheeseburger.

Big D - Byron @ The Intrepid Fox

Niggles aside (I like the bun, just putting it out there), what you get is a very memorable burger. My burger arrived perfectly medium, pink and juicy, with a slight dribble when you bite in. The flavour is exactly what you would expect from a burger made with good, aged meat. It was packed with meaty goodness and tasted of very happy cow. Happy cow = happy punter. I was so hungry that my mouth was working hard to get my fill. After all, everybody wants a thrill. Sides of skinny fries and courgette fries were perfect accompaniments. I can contest, this was as close to a bur-gasm as I have ever got in London.

As you would expect, a slightly larger burger made from high quality meat is a going to cost a little more, but even at £9.95, it is still very affordable. I don't believe that every branch stocks them, so please check before you go, and be prepared to reserve them to avoid disappointment. I never did find out what the D stood for, but in my eyes, it will always stand for delicious. I don't think my love affair with Byron is quite over yet.

Byron @ The Intrepid Fox
(Website) - 97-99 Wardour Street, London W1F 0UD

Byron on Urbanspoon

Friday, January 15, 2010

Throwing down the gauntlet. The Giraffe Burger (invite)



I have had some decent burgers in my time. Lucky enough to have a cousin who lives in New York, I have fond memories of a burger I had at a bar called JG Melons, as well as the burgers I ate on my recent visit including Shake Shack and the BLT burger. London isn't doing too badly either, with Byron leading the way and other pretenders such as Hache trying to muscle in.

After a conversation on twitter with @catty regarding the mediocrity of the burger at Ed's diner, @giraffetweet threw down the gauntlet, claiming that the burgers at Giraffe (a growing chain of restaurants selling "world food") were "the thing that (burger) dreams are made of". Having staked her claim with such conviction, I couldn't turn down a chance to try this "Godly" burger. Invite accepted.

Giraffe, Victoria

I had arranged a man date to go and see Avatar with the Captain, so a trip to Giraffe before hand slotted nicely into our schedule. Having grown up with him, where all I remember him eating were burgers, I thought he would be as good a judge as anyone to see if these burgers really made the grade. After all, it was him who first introduced me to Byron.

Giraffe, Victoria

Starters ordered, there was a slight mix up when the chicken potstickers turned up instead of the chicken tikka sticks. Not really an issue as the potstickers were pretty tasty, as well as the hummus we ordered on the side. None of this really mattered though, we were here for the burger and the time was nearly upon us.

I'm going to break this down into what I see as the three main constituent parts of a burger, the bun, the fillings and the most important part of all, the patty. So here goes:

Giraffe, Victoria

Bun - Good. Not brioche, nor ciabatta but a simple toasted white roll. Good flavour, slightly sweet and most importantly, survived the break up test. Burgers are meant to be eaten with hands, and after considerable man handling, stayed in one piece until the burger had been polished off. Big tick.

Burger at Eagle Bar and Diner
NOT the Giraffe, merely a representation of a poor burger

Fillings - Never a fan when it comes to tonnes of veg in my burger. The burger I had at Eagle bar and diner (see above) annoyed the hell out of me as the lettuce kept poking me in the eye. However, I do like a bit of pickle and a good relish and this had both. In fact, the relish deserves a sentence on its own, sweet and tomatoey and I would happily take a jar of this home for consumption in my own abode.

Giraffe, Victoria

Patty - So here we go, the patty. Ordered medium, it arrived more on the side of medium well. So slightly over done but full credit to the patty. It was moist and very tasty. I should really have asked more info about the provenance of the meat, but as I discovered in the US, you don't always need to use the finest ingredients to make the best tasting burger. Big patty, big flavour and I was certainly pleasantly surprised.

So overall, I was very happy with the burger. It certainly didn't let me down in terms of quality or flavour, but at £9.25 (compared to just £6.25 at Byron), I would say that it was a tad on the pricy side (although it was accompanied by fries). It's certainly streets ahead of other burger pretenders such as gourmet burger, ultimate burger, hamburger plus and I would even hasten to add Hache to that list. However, although this was very good, I still believe Byron serves the best burger in London, for flavour and value.

I would happily come back here and have another. Even the Captain, a dedicated meat eater, was rather pleased. Gauntlet picked up and passed back to Ms @giraffetweet and point proven. You certainly are the proud owner of an excellent burger.

Giraffe (website) - Multiple sites but I ate at 120 Wilton Road, Victoria SW1V 1JZ

Giraffe on Urbanspoon

Friday, November 6, 2009

Burgers, an institution - New York

We do love our burgers over here in the UK. I mean, how else can you explain the constant expansions of new Gourmet Burger Kitchens, Ultimate Burgers and Burger Shacks across the capital. With the addition of Byron and Hache, and more recently, the highly researched Hawksmoor burger, burgers in London are constantly improving and appear to be moving in the right direction.

The thing is, London and the UK in general is very much behind the US in the burger stakes. Over in New York, burgers are a way of life. Here, where at the moment it seems to fulfill a purpose, out in New York, it often fulfills a passion.

I wanted to sample the best New York had to offer but the choice is vast. I mean, check this article out. It lists New Yorks 82 most notable burgers. All independent outlets, the choice is simply vast. I have been taken to JG Melons (not even mentioned in the former list) before, so chose the Shake Shack after Foodbymarks recommendation and the BLT Burger on my cousins.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack

Shake Shack are famous for three things, their burgers, their custard shakes and the often monstrous queues. Originally modelled on a "roadside" shack in the middle of Madison Square park, Shake Shack now have 3 locations spread all over New York.

The famous queue

For some unbeknownst reason, I managed to totally miss the crowd. I turned up just before 7pm and needed to queue a mere 3 minutes. I had passed by at lunchtime and the famous queue was in action, its big and never seems to go down as more and more people stream in to get their hands on one of these revered burgers. They even have a webcam to monitor the queue situation so you can plan your attack. A minute after I ordered, the famous queue had once again begun to snake its way round the park. How jammy am I!

The double Shack burger

So, was this burger any good then? Two moist and tender patties of brisket, with chuck and short rib thrown in. Not greasy, a good yielding but firm bun (an essential component of the burger) and most importantly, a well rounded and deeply beefy flavour. A fantastic example of a burger. It almost made me begin to understand why some people would queue for over an hour for one of these (but not quite).

Special mention needs to be given to the special Salted Caramel frozen custard milkshake. Pure heaven in a plastic cup. Yes, it is as good as it sounds.

Shake Shack (website) - Madison Square Park, Madison Avenue and East 23rd Street.

Shake Shack (Madison Square Park) on Urbanspoon


BLT Burger

Inside at BLT

BLT is not named after the famous sandwich of the same acronym, but stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel, chef and proprietor. My cousin likes it as she has a 15 month old daughter and the restaurant is extremely child friendly. It seems that this is not always the case in New York and word clearly spreads. On my visit, it was full of rowdy "Football" fans out the front, whereas the main dining room was crammed with strollers and young families.

Rocky Road Milkshake

The combo's are definitely erring on the expensive side ($17 for burger, fries and a shake). In this case, I opted for a "Rocky Road" shake. This was a chocolate shake filled with bits of brownie, almond and marshmallows. The shake itself was lovely but it was a little OTT on the added extras. It felt like a whole meal on its own.

The BLT Burger

This burger is a combination of chuck, sirloin and rib eye and is again perfectly pink. Whereas the Shake Shack aim for medium rare for every burger, you get to nominate how its cooked here. Medium requested, medium received. Again, a good bun but I was rather perturbed by the massive lettuce leaf which tried to prod me in the face every time I tried to take a bite. Here, they take extra measures to keep the burger moist. They soak them in cold water and glaze with butter before cooking, indeed keeping the burger moist and succulent, but I didn't find the flavour as good as the Shake Shack burger.

BLT Burger (website) - 470 Sixth Avenue, New York

BLT Burger on Urbanspoon

So what's the verdict? The burgers in New York are clearly good and I really admire the dedication of the two burger joints I visited. I definitely favour Shake Shack but wasn't blown away by either. I still have great memories of JG Melon and am slightly sad I didn't revisit it on this trip, but I guess I will have to settle with the fond memories.

Monday, August 17, 2009

I set out for Dim Sum and ended up with Burger, Haché in Camden

Outside @ Haché

Its Saturday and I am hungry, after all, all I have eaten in the last 24 hours is a banana, a satsuma and a packet of sour cream and onion crisps. Destination is Goldfish, a chinese restaurant in Hampstead which promises an unlimited Dim Sum buffet. Too good to be true?

Arriving at Goldfish, its still quite early and the place is empty. I found it slightly disheartening that Ping Pong next door was already filling up. The waitress gives me the menu but as I am dining alone, I'm not allowed to have the buffet. Err, ok then, I will order off the menu. She passes me the dim sum menu, only for another waitress to come over and snatch it off me, telling me that they don't serve a la carte dim sum at the weekend. Alright, I've had enough, I'm outta here.

What ensues next is what I can only call " a bit of an adventure". A few buses and a bit of walking around later (god bless maps on iphone), I end up in Camden heading for Haché.

Inside @ Haché

Haché has a fearsome reputation on the London burger scene. I had never been and its about time I tried their chopped as opposed to minced beef burgers. The inside is quite dark and the dining room is much smaller than I thought it would be and its no surprise that it was pretty full by 1pm.

Fruits of the Forest Smoothie @ Haché

To drink, I ordered a Fruits of the Forest smoothie, a bit steep at £3.65 but very refreshing, with subtle honey undertones and a slight sourness from the yoghurt.

Classique Anglais @ Haché

My chosen burger was the "Classique Anglais" with extra bacon and a side of french fries. Not sure whats that english about my burger, but the mushrooms and onions arrived piled high. The burger in front of me really is a thing of beauty. Deconstructing it bit by bit, the burger is pink in the middle but feels a little overdone. However, the taste is fantastic. Well seasoned, deeply beefy and full of flavour. The bun, often a bum note on many burgers, is soft and untoasted but is strong enough to hold the mountain of filling. Bacon was definitely overkill. Unneccesary and made the whole burger a bit salty. I took it out, but not wanting to waste it, I used a bit of the bun and formed a mini bacon sarnie. The french fries were a bit rubbish, to be honest. They were overdone and far too salty. Disappointing.

Was this the best burger I have ever had? No, not by a long way but it was very good and I would definitely put it into the "value for money" bracket. There is so much that is right about this place, but on the other hand, there is plenty which is quite wrong. It still has quite a way to go to meet the standards set by the New York burger joints (my favourite being JG Melon).

Is it the best burger in London? Personally, I wouldn't agree with that either. I much prefer Byron's brighter restaurants, simple approach and because it has an Oreo milkshake with a toasted and melted marshmallow milkshake in the works. I really can't wait!

Haché Camden, 24 Inverness Street, Camden, NW1 7HJ

Hache Burgers on Urbanspoon

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Eat Burgers : Byron, Kings Road

Prior to an evening out on the lash celebrating my middle sister's birthday, I decided to hook up with my old chum and converted carnivore (he now eats carrots and sometimes mushrooms), Michael, and visit Byron on the Kings Road. Having eaten at their High Street Ken branch before, I pretty much knew what to expect and was looking forward to a decent burger.

Making my way from Victoria, I caught the number 11 bus but seriously underestimated how far down the Kings Road Byron actually was and ended getting off far too early. No matter, it was a lovely crisp dry evening and a good walk was what I needed.


Now, as chance would have it, I "conveniently" bumped into one of gossip mag's favourite targets. Now Lindsay, please stop harassing me. Read between the lines, ITS OVER! Please stop stalking me. Hmm...


Anyway, after that brief brush with Hollywood, it's off for that burger. Having arrived early, I perused the menu whilst sipping on my Oreo shake. The shake by the way is thick and lovely and packed with bits of Oreo. A result in its own right. The menu itself is fairly limited but at the end of the day, this place is a burger restaurant and doesn't pretend to be anything else.


I went for the signature Byron burger with sides of fries and coleslaw. With its provenance plastered everywhere (sourced exclusively from Morayshire, Scotland!) it's essentially a beef burger with cheese and bacon. And not a bad one I must say. The beef was flavoursome, if a little on the dry side. They are meant to be cooked medium but mine was definitely erring on the side of well done. Garnishes were good with a decent pickle and nice sauce. I rather liked the bun too, a very important part of a good burger. It was nice and soft, retained its shape and didn't go soggy. Fries were pretty decent although nothing to crazy over and coleslaw good too.

As burgers go, this place was enjoyable and well worth a visit. One minus, there was an off putting smell of gas lingering around but as my mate pointed out, there are lots of candles everywhere, and if we were going to be blown up, we would already be in small pieces. Strangely reassuring.


Byron on Urbanspoon