Burgers Archives - BURNESSIE TRAVELS

Super Duper Burgers

As a general rule, I can’t eat when I’m hungover. I know, it’s like being robbed of the only pleasurable thing about the morning after the night before: the sheer speed at which you can get through the contents of your kitchen without even considering it, let alone without feeling remotely guilty about having eight meals in a day. So to say that I finished this burger, chips and milkshake off on a killer hangover – that, my friends, is a high accolade.

After a few too many wines in San Francisco the night before, I’d dragged myself around Alcatraz, of all places, before collapsing in my dorm bunk for a well earned nap. Waking a couple of hours later, not overly hungry but having promised myself a Super Duper Burger at some point during my time in San Fran, I dragged myself off to the nearest store of theirs just in time before they closed for the night. After all, burgers are a must eat to complete any trip Stateside.

What I instantly loved about Super Duper before I’d even tried their food, is that two burger patties is the standard order, so a bun with only one burger is called the Mini. How brilliant is that – a regular sized one patty burger is considered mini. It’s just the most American thing ever. Burgers here come with free toppings in the shape of lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion, grilled onions, jalepenos and housemade pickles – or any combination of those you fancy. It’s extra for cheese and bacon (either 50 or 75 cents for the former depending on if you’ve opted for the standard or mini, and $1 for the latter); as well as between $1 and $1.50 for the following additions: avocado, mushroom, egg or blue cheese. I went in for the Mini with cheese and bacon and could absolutely be convinced to go full American next time with two patties as standard, because man, Super Duper know how to burger.

If you’ve got room (and you should make room), their skin on fries ($2.75) can be pimped out with cheese and garlic for some serious indulgence ($3.25) and frankly you’d be a fool not to wash it all down with one of their deliciously thick milkshakes made with organic soft serve ice cream ($4.75 for a regular, $5.75 for a super shake). Super Duper are also well known for serving up excellent egg sandwiches and donuts for breakfast, but the sheer number of amazing brunch options on offer in San Francisco meant I didn’t have time to squeeze that in, but it’s worth noting.

Interestingly, whilst Super Duper are very much a fast food outlet, they reflect slow food values, and a part of their ethos is that burgers shouldn’t cost $3, so their prices are above the likes of other fast food places such as In-N-Out. The higher prices allow Super to source sustainably and locally, with high quality at the forefront of their priorites – not just when it comes to ingredients but also designers and sign painters for their store interiors. All this and their packaging is 100% eco friendly and compostable. Pretty great right? It doesn’t even add that much to the price, with the standard double patty coming in at $7.70 and a mini at $5.50. Mini, I mean really. Never change, America.

Several locations in and around San Francisco, visit website for further details.

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Food From Travels New York

Burger Joint

It’s been ten years since my first trip to New York City, and subsequently my first Burger Joint burger. Back then it was one of the best burgers I’d ever had, and I’m delighted to confirm that it remains so a decade later. Hidden away in the reception area of Le Parker Meridien hotel near Central Park, a quick peek around a nondescript curtain will reveal a luminous neon burger sign, indicating that one of the best burgers of your life is nearby. The original NY Burger Joint is tiny with just a couple of booths, the walls scrawled with famous patrons’ autographs from floor to ceiling. The newer Greenwich Village joint is much bigger but still retains the casual, fun vibe of the original – the scrawled walls are still a feature, as is the signature neon lighting the way to New York’s best burgers. The life size gold and white zebra just happens to be a bonus of the Greenwich Village branch.

As with most places that serve up the best of the best, the menu at Burger Joint is simple and small: burger ($8.75), cheeseburger, ($9.25) or either of those doubled up ($13.50 – 16.50). Keeping things small-scale means you can do a few things well (as shown with Bleecker), and oh how well Burger Joint does it. The patties are ridiculously juicy and packed with flavour, the bright yellow cheese melted perfectly between the two burgers (yeah – two, I went double, and you should too). The bun is your standard burger bun, which doesn’t hold up the weight of the meat too well but also, a brioche roll would just be too…much – too fancy for Burger Joint. The result is a messy meal, but I am a firm believer that burgers are best served that way.

Get ‘The Works’ and your cheeseburger will come with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mayo AND mustard, plus bacon. You know it makes sense. The fries ($3.50) are good – not the best, but thin cut, crunchy and plentiful, though if you’re going double you’ll be pushed to finish it all, especially if you’re after one of their thick milkshakes too. Speaking of drinks, at the original they are kept simple – beer, shakes, sodas. At the Greenwich joint you’ll get a full bar, and am pleased to report that the $12 margaritas are up to scratch.

Honestly, writing this makes me yearn for NYC and these filthy burgers, but I’ll just go eat my salad at my desk and browse Sky Scanner for a cheap flight back, don’t mind me. Make sure you add this place to your NYC foodie hit list else I promise you, you will regret it. You’ve got to have NYC’s best burger on there, haven’t you? After all, if you’re going to do something, do it properly – and that’s certainly something Burger Joint does.

Le Parker Meridien, 119 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
+1 212-708-7414

Update: the West Village branch has sadly now closed but there’s a new branch in Brooklyn instead. Also found in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

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California Food From Travels Los Angeles San Franciscio San Francisco

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out is quite rightly an American institution. Forget McDonalds, forget Burger King and Wendy’s, forget Five Guys even – In-N-Out is the best burger in the US of A. And I’ve had quite a few.

Being British and never having been to the West Coast of America, I’d never heard of In-N-Out until I was a student. I used to camp out on the sofa to watch the Oscars and there were all these reports of stars apparently going to this fast food place for burgers after the ceremony. Katy Perry smuggled In-N-Out into the Golden Globes; Adele swung by post Grammy’s and Anthony Bourdain reckons it’s the best restaurant in LA. It’s rumoured to be one of Gordon Ramsay’s favourite spots and even Julia Child was a huge fan. It’s such a big deal that an In-N-Out truck has catered at the Vanity Fair after party since 2012 to save celebrities going through the nearest drive thru.

Heading off to California at long last with a huge list of food to try, In-N-Out was at the top of it. An American colleague of mine sent me away with strict instructions: get the Double-Double, Animal style. I did as I was told and oh God, did it pay off. Two patties cooked with mustard sandwiched together with bright yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and extra In-N-Out burger spread, which comes from a secret 60 year old recipe. It was as near to perfection as a burger can be, made even better by the fact we ate them in the back of our Uber in true fast food fashion.

Being an A-lister favourite, you would be forgiven for thinking it would be at the higher end of the fast food price point. You would also be wrong. This burger comes in at a whopping $3.70, with a regular cheeseburger costing you $2.55. Not only is it the best fast food I’ve ever had, but it’s the cheapest fast food I’ve ever had. It’s nigh on ridiculous.

I only have a few gripes: forget the fries; I found them disappointing. I know those who disagree with me but I wouldn’t order them again, I’d sooner go for two burgers if I was that hungry. Or maybe even if I wasn’t. Secondly, I need In-N-Out to be in London, or at the very least available on the East Coast because it’s nearer and I go to NYC more than anywhere else in the States. Alas they can mostly be found in California, but also have presence in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Texas and Utah. And lastly, can LAX please up their game and get an In-N-Out in the departures terminal? As much as I want to see a M&S food in the arrivals of every British airport, I absolutely want to kiss California goodbye Double-Double Animal style.

Have you had an In-N-Out burger? Tell me what you thought in the comments!

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London Street Food

Bleecker St. Burger

What makes the perfect burger? There’ll be arguments over this one for sure, but for me the top requirement is it needs to be messy, but not messy enough that the whole thing falls apart after two bites. The patty must be juicy, a bit pink and full of flavour, the cheese needs to be cheap and preferably of the American plastic variety: bright yellow and sticky. The bun is up for debate: I love a brioche, but a sesame seeded can also win out. Lightly toasted though, please.

I’m essentially describing Bleecker St. Burger. Named after founder Zan Kaufman’s favourite street in her native New York City, Bleecker St is a prime example of a small scale street food project that has blown up into a cult favourite amongst Londoners, all whilst retaining the passion that originally caused Zan to give up her law career for that big black van serving incredible burgers.

The burger scene in London has gone from strength to strength over the last few years; competition is fierce and there is constant debate over which is the very best burger in London. Before you jump in with your favourite, I implore you to try Bleecker St first. And I’m going to give you a simple instruction before you do: go double. After the first bite of my first ever Bleecker burger I instantly regretted not going double. After all, if you’re gonna do it, do it properly. These burgers sail to the top of many a ‘Best Burger in London’ list based on the quality of the meat that’s used. The beef comes from The Butchery in Bermondsey, where it’s dry-aged for up to fifty days, creating an intense flavour that I can’t recall being matched in another London burger. (Although of course, I am willing to sample dozens of burgers should you wish to disprove this). So yeah, with meat this good, you want to go double. Then add bacon.

Too often fries are pushed to the wayside in the quest for the best burger, and due to this I often skip them. However Bleecker St don’t shy away from their commitment to excellence and the chips are surprisingly good – rough cut and crispy (£3). They also offer a mix of regular fries and sweet potato with a blue cheese sauce named Angry Fries (£4), for those who are after something punchier.

Next time I visit (and it should be pretty soon, the Canary Wharf site is mere minutes from me, what a drag) I’m trying the famed Bleecker Black (£10) – a double patty extravaganza with black pudding cutting through the middle. People call it the best burger in London. I guess I’ll just have to judge for myself. You should too.

Have you had a Bleecker St Burger? Do you think it’s the best burger in London or have you got another favourite that beats it? Let me know in the comments!

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London Street Food

Smokestak

Oh my God oh my God please eat this. Please go to Smokestak and eat their meat. I haven’t even tried their pulled pork or their ribs and yet I am saying this with the utmost confidence because if they’re halfway as good as their beef brisket is, you will thank me forever.

I would go far as to say that Smokestak’s Beef Brisket Bun is one of the best things I’ve ever had in my mouth. In my body. In my hands, the juice from the beautiful tender meat drizzling down the side of the charred brioche bun, pickled chillies poking out – a sure sign that this will be a messy meal. As all the best meals are.

Luckily for us mere mortals, Smokestack have the magical ability to crop up in two places at once, meaning that Londoners can take advantage of this brilliant fare in two locations every weekend at Streetfeast’s Model Market in Lewisham and Dalston Yard in, well, Dalston, as well as at various festivals on the summer circuit. Go. Please go. I implore you to go. Take all your friends. Take your date. Take your parents and treat them, because you’re an adult now, and also because you get one of the most delicious things in London in your mouth all for less than a tenner, so really there’s no excuse. I’d pay twenty.

How I paused to take this I’ll never know.

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Australia Food From Travels Melbourne

Grand Trailer Park Taverna

Sometimes a normal day just requires some filth. Should you happen to be in Melbourne when the urge for something dirty hits you, take a stroll over to the East side of the CBD to Grand Trailer Park Taverna, home of huge dirty burgers named after fictional characters and hard shakes that sound so good …