great food, great times, and great service

Dear burger enthusiasts, For many moons now, I have been touting 2 burgers as the cream of the crop. One heavenly burger in Lincoln, Nebraska and one in Washington, DC. The time has come to replace the "gold standard" for DC. Typically I wouldn't get all Jesusy on you, but in this case it might be appropriate. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Old Ebbits burger still ranks high on my list, but thanks to Chef Geoff I have a new favorite here in DC. Let me count the ways: 1. The Food - CHEF GEOFF'S ORIGINAL HAPPY HOUR - Bistro Burger for $5.95 (this special goes ALL day on Monday and Tuesday) 2. The Service - Special shout out to Allie and Mario for proving that you CAN find good service in DC. 3. The Great times - a) I met Chef Geoff and he is not only an amazing chef, but a snappy dresser and a kind soul. b) my first visit was accompanied by my good friend Susan and Benny. If you knew them both, you wouldn't need to ask if it was a great time. c) never a dull moment, as we met a local of the bar it seemed as if there might have been a near miss with DC's finest. I don't feel the need to describe the taste, quality or style. I will leave that to Tim Gunn and you of course as my loyal followers. You will not be disappointed. Trust me. Thanks again, Chef Geoff. Hats off to you and your staff. With meat eating love, Jill

Gamburger?

This installment of burger club took me too a far away land called Kyrgyzstan. It was here that I discovered the gamburger (that's the Kyrgyz version of the hamburger). Long story short, it was made with sliced beef or chicken (cooked shwarma style), cabbage, ketchup, smetana (aka sour cream), carrots and tomatoes. Folks, it was pure heaven. I will say without a moment of hesitation that this gamburger by far surpassed some of the so called hamburgers I have had in the US or abroad. Well done Bishkek, well done. The meat was tender and full of flavor, the condiments fresh and well I don't need to tell you about the smetana, the picture explains it all. As with any burger outing, it is the atmosphere and company which make or break it. Once again, I can safely say that this trip ranks very high in my books folks and it will not soon be forgotten. I might need to go back soon and have another gamburger or two. A special shout out and thanks goes to a new friend, Ailey, who insisted that I try the gamburger. Finally, I want to thank the kind folks at the gamburger stand who were so excited by our presence that they presented us with a parting gift, 3 Samsas (see description below). Yum, kids, Yum.


Samsa – (Samsi in the plural) are baked meat dumplings often cooked in a tandoor (clay oven). Please be aware (not warned) of the heat and the fatty juice that squirts out when you bite into one.