Tag Archives: burgers

Celebrate Bastille Day at Brasserie Blanc with Boeuf Burger’gnon

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Salut… and do we have a Bastille Day treat for you!

From 8-19th July, Brasserie Blanc have a special main course of pure culinary genius to help celebrate. They have transformed their top rated Boeuf Bourguignon sauce into a delicious burger aptly named ‘Boeuf Burger’gnon’ and will be serving it up to willing diners across all of their sites this month. 

We tried the twist on the traditional French dish for ourselves in the Chancery Lane branch of Brasserie Blanc slap bang in the lunchtime rush and we were blown away. A perfect blend of bold, upfront flavours of a burger balanced well with the slow cooked spices of their famous Boeuf Bourguignon served alongside some tasty skinny fries. 

We decided to start our meal with a quintessentially French dish, a cheese soufflé, which was like eating a delicious cloud.  But what I must say is that although the special, nicknamed the “dirty burger”, appears petite and unassuming at first glance, this packs the punch of a rich fillet steak. The burger itself is deliciously tender and well seasoned. The meat is top notch and the Bourguignon sauce which subtly brings it together is not overwhelming at all. We did have to get our knife and fork out for this one to break up all the components equally but the burger was not uncomfortably packed to the brim. The onion rings were well cooked and the bacon naturally salted the burger. As for the bourguignon sauce, i’m surprised it’s taken this long to come up such a concept as the two are so well suited. As for the case of Man V Food, food certainly won us over – but nicely. I definitely regretted filling up on bread for this meal but if you’re hoping for bang for your buck you will not be disappointed and you will not leave hungry. This is something that has to be tried for yourself though and we can honestly say “Bravo” to this novel and inventive treat. If you still have room for dessert, Brasserie Blanc’s summer menu is full of decadent treats that it’s hard to pick just one thing. One thing’s for sure, they’ll definitely execute it well and with a fine French finesse. 

Boeuf Burger’gnon is available from now until the 19th July at all Brasserie Blanc branches and what’s more – if you decide to dine on July 14th Bastille Day itself and are dressed in the famous red, white and blue colours of the French flag, you will get your Boeuf Burger’gnon for HALF PRICE(£7.50)

You will be foolish to miss out so make sure you make those reservations now.

http://www.brasserieblanc.com

Head over to Chicago Rib Shack for some ‘Scrum-‘tious’ #ribsandrugby

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The Rugby World Cup is well under way and if you weren’t lucky enough to nab yourself a ticket, hot-foot it down to Chicago Rib Shack and treat yourself to a sensational side of Ribs with your Rugby!

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The Chicago Rib Shack was born from a delicious dream, the owner, the late Bob Payton had over 30 years ago. He wanted to bring the most authentic American BBQ restaurant to Europe and boy did he. Since then hundreds of restaurants across London have followed suit trying to replicate this All-American BBQ style but none with as much determination and passion as Chicago Rib Shack. The first Chicago Rib Shack opened in Knightsbridge to a glowing reception however after Bob Payton died the restaurant sadly closed. Just three years ago, Chicago Rib Shack re-opened and boasts a menu curated with as much love and soul as when Bob had his dream all those years ago.

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We were privileged enough to try out their mouth-watering menu and cocktails whilst enjoying a game of footy on the TV. Naturally the Ribs were my top option all round, but as I was dining with a Veggie, opted for the Baby Back Ribs instead of the Ribshack Top 4 which also includes Beef Ribs… next time for sure. The Ribs were succulent, tender and melt in your mouth delicious with a side of Sweet Potato Fries and Mac n Cheese all three complimented each other just right. The portions were generous but the food was so delicious I could have easily had more out of pure appreciation for the treats they had to offer. We also ordered a portion of Mac and Cheese bites, I must confess I am a Mac and Cheese connoisseur so if this is on the menu, it’s getting ordered. The Mac and Cheese side order also comes with optional Jalapeños or Bacon but we chose to get it plain. My favourite thing about it was the sauce was just the perfect balance of creamy and light, not too stodgy like some, not overly salted like a lot of other restaurants, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The Mac and Cheese bites were like little Arancini balls filled with yummy Mac and Cheese, again the perfect consistency without the excessive salt and stodge, served with a delicious tomato jam. Alongside the Ribs, these complimented perfectly with yummy tender meat. For the Veggie option we opted for the Veggie Stack Burger which is a Grilled Courgette, Sweet Potato and Aubergine topped with Red Pesto, Goats Cheese and Rocket. This could only be described as the most delicious tasting Veggie option which we’ve ever had and trust us, we eat out a lot. As well as just Ribs, Chicago Rib Shack offer a range of Salads, Grilled Chicken and Fish Cakes just in case you don’t fancy any Ribs but to be honest, major food envy will consume you and once you’ve had a taste you will be making your way back here to try all of the other options on the menu.

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The overall ambience of the place is laid back and in true American style, welcoming and friendly. We dined at the Clapham branch and being set under the arches, the interior was enough to create a relaxed atmosphere but still special enough for a date night or special evening out. The staff were every bit as wonderful as the food and went above and beyond our call of duty, even letting us order cocktails off menu even though the selection was more than ample!

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Chicago Rib Shack have branches in Clapham, Westfield Stratford, Twickenham and Leeds. They also run a host of other deals; see below for our favourites. So fear not if you don’t manage to get down for Ribs and Rugby, make sure to check them out regardless because you would be ‘Rib’-iculous not too!

Mondays – 50% of all food after 5pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 2 for 1 on all Cocktails
Thursday – Burger Day, Burgers, Fries and a Drink for a tenner

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http://www.thechicagoribshack.co.uk

5 Sizzling Steak Tips

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5thingsyouneedtoknowaboutsteakHaving ‘grilled’ one of England’s top top beef scientists, we bring you tips that will make your barbecue season so much tastier. ‘The Science of Steak’ at The Meridian Hotel in London’s Piccadily involved some serious steak sampling, and whilst munching on  Waygu and Aberdeen Angus, Carol Muskoron spoke to Dr Phil Hadley of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to discover some compelling steak advice.

Why you don’t always need steak mince.

Do you walk proudly by the budget mince and head straight for the steak mince? Budget mince is the best mince for making burgers. With more fat than leaner mince, it gives a burger extra flavour and succulence and helps it hold together better too. Go for the mid-range mince if you like a little less fat, but you really don’t need to opt for steak mince if you’re making burgers. What should you use steak mince for? Lasagne or spaghetti bolognese of course.

Steak doesn’t have to be bright red when you buy it

You know those brownish, vacuum-packed steaks you tend to avoid in the supermarkets – well, it turns out that they’re just as fresh as the bright red ones. We might prefer our steak to look red and bloody when we buy it, but it makes no difference to the steak at all. Want proof? Take it out of its pack and leave it for half an hour and it will turn nice and red again once its re-oxygenated. Or just cook it – the colour won’t affect the flavour.

When NOT to throw out your steak

If your steak has turned a bit brown on the outside that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s off. Steak does brown as it gets older but it’s usually perfectly okay to cook a steak that has a brown tinge. And remember, if you’re pan-frying or barbecuing you’ll be heating it up so high that it will kill any small amounts of bacteria on the outside. The sell-by date is a good indicator of freshness but may not be accurate – the real test is to smell it. A steak that is off will make its presence known to your nostrils – it will smell bad!

Ageing – what’s that all about?

When you go to a restaurant and 35-day aged steak is on the menu, what does that mean? Should you be excited or horrified that a mouldy old lump of meat will turn up on your plate?!  Ageing simply means storing meat so that the flavours and tenderness improve – it’s kept in a constant and very cool temperature under UV light to keep it fresh during the process. It’s common practice to age steak for 14 days, as flavour and texture both improve up to that point. After 14 days the texture won’t improve any more – it’s as tender as it’s going to get – but the flavour will move on and become more meaty (more game-like).

Grain-fed or grass fed?

Again, on a menu or in a butcher’s you might see this information. What should you make of it? In England, most of our cattle is grass fed, and the English consumer seems to mostly prefer grass-fed steak. In taste tests we say grain-fed steaks taste fattier. But give an American a grass-fed steak and they may well complain that it tastes off! Really, this seems to be a case of liking what you’re used to. FYI: Argentinian steaks are grass fed – and that may well be why so many of us love our Argentinian steak restaurants here in the UK.

Fnd out more at http://www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk.

 

 

Honest Burgers Restaurant Review

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My first thought of Honest Burgers’ new restaurant in King’s Cross? How much it feels like being on a boat – all thanks to the shape of the building and the big windows. It’s cosy, with brilliant views for people-watching. Inside, it is stylish – stripped back, but not bare. The place is packed with a variety of people, girlfriends catching up, couples, and, of course, people just wanting a good burger. It is busy, buzzing and feels like the place to be.rose hawaiianbeer

The staff are helpful and passionate about the place. Always a good sign. We order a rose, the Plumpton Estate Rose, England, and a Hawaiian ale, the Kona Big Wave Golden Ale. The rose comes in a normal glass, which I thought was a great touch. Even better; the beer comes in a mini tankard. It’s pretty cool. The rose is a wonderful colour with perfect balance. The ale comes in an ice-cold glass and is clean, light and refreshing with a great flavour. Later, my coke comes in the can with a straw. It is all these little touches that make Honest Burgers great, and I haven’t even gotten to the food yet….< chicken chickenburger tribute tributeburger

I order a Tribute and my colleague orders a chicken burger. The chicken is free-range and comes with lettuce, tomato and mustard mayonnaise. The chicken is succulent and fresh, the mustard mayo is delicious and not too overpowering. My colleague described the bun as ‘crispy tasty’ and declared the burger ‘amazing’.

The Tribute is Ginger Pig Dry Aged Beef, cooked medium-rare (pink in the middle – one of the reasons it tastes so damn good) with bacon, American cheese, burger sauce, French’s mustard, pickles, onion and lettuce. Phew. It is, quite simply, the best burger I have ever had in my life. Fresh ingredients, great ingredients. Everything really works and I haven’t even gotten to the chips yet.

Each burger comes with a huge serving of house chips. A serving of what are, frankly, the best chips EVER. I am told a lot of effort was put into making sure that the burgers and the chips were equally as good, and they really have managed to pull it off. The chips are perfectly cooked and dusted with rosemary salt. They are full of flavour, well seasoned and a beautiful, crispy texture. Just writing this makes me dream of them.

Honest Burgers is expanding all the time, with the King’s Cross branch opening as recently as December 12th. I really hope they continue to grow, because frankly, everyone needs an Honest Burgers near them. They really don’t compare to any other burger restaurant I have ever been to. The best burgers and the best chips in town, along with a good selection of drinks.

I will definitely be back.

Honest was started by foodie entrepreneurs, Dorian Waite and Tom Barton,fresh out of uni in 2011 and has grown from an outside catering company to five incredibly successful restaurants in just two years. Honest isn’t simply a fad or a knee-jerk reaction to a consumer trend either, Honest champions the use of great British produce and stands by its name – everything from the food to the decor is completely stripped back and honest. The only thing to go into the burgers is beef, salt and pepper. That’s it.

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With Honest’s Kings Cross restaurant situated just seconds away from the huge catchment area of Kings Cross station, and their largest site to date, it’s clear they have big plans.

Having just secured a £1 million investment from Santander, Honest are looking to expand throughout 2014 and into 2015. Currently London-based, Honest hopes to move past the M25, south into Brighton, or north to Manchester or Leeds.

The Honest website can be found here www.honestburgers.co.uk.

HONEST BURGERS KINGS CROSS

251 PENTONVILLE ROAD,
LONDON N1 9NG
+44 (0)20 3302 3452