kudos Danny Meyer, kudos

Dear Mr. Meyer,
I would like to personally thank you for one of my top 5 burger experiences. I am a self proclaimed burger aficionado, but in reality I just really love burgers. Generally I am not that picky, if it's juicy with a decent bun and appropriate condiments then I am in heaven. Burger heaven, that is. I live in Washington, DC and I think you can imagine my fervor upon hearing the news that your establishment would be opening in Dupont Circle. Your reputation precedes you and thankfully the rumor was truth. DC generally needs a bit of help in the burger department. There are a few exceptions, and among those exceptions I will add Shake Shack to the list. I would even go so far as to compare the delicious goodness of your burger to my all time favorite Fred burger at Parkway bowling alley luncheonette in Lincoln, Nebraska. The bun was ideal, the condiments readily available for me to choose and apply and the taste impeccable. Please tell me how you do it! I applaud you sir and your modern day "roadside" burger stand.
In much burger love.
Yours truly,
Jill

the grass-fed difference

Why grass fed? brgr thinks for starters that it tastes better. The jury is still out, at least for me. I ain't gonna lie, this was a tasty burger. However, brgr made the same mistake that many burger joints have made and attempted to fancify the burger. Their menu is too complex and down right unnecessary. For example, one of the menu choices is a rainforest burger, which will cost you $9 and comes with Gruyere, Avocado, Herb Mayo, Lettuce and Tomato. Individually, I love all these items, but definitely not on my supposedly healthier grass fed burger. Keep it real brgr, stick to the basics.

I wouldn't be opposed to eating another burger at brgr, but only if I am especially hungry and happen to walk by. I must admit, it was a memorable experience shared with my dear friend Flory on a trip to NYC to attend another dear friend's wedding.

The Gold Standard

Old Ebbitt Grill

The Gold Standard. Enough said. But I will say just a little bit more. The Old Ebbitt burger is the standard by which I judge every other burger. This was not a conscious choice; it's just that I found myself reflexively asking, does the first bite hit my taste buds with the same juicy, meaty, fatty, satisfying burger flavor and texture as the OEG burger? I've had one or two that come close (the Kobe burger at Thunder Burger comes very close), but no burger has ever delivered on quite the same level as the OEG. I've had it dozens of times and have never walked away disappointed. In fact, not only does the OEG burger always live up to my admittedly inflated expectations, it nearly always impresses me anew with its actual deliciousness. Well seasoned, well cooked, loosely packed so that the meat falls apart and melts in your mouth. It is a true joy of a burger - exactly what a burger is supposed to be.


The martini addendum: Some members of Burger Club like Bombay Sapphire martinis, while others prefer Ketel One. Some like dirty, some order clean. OEG does top notch versions of all.

Thanks Emily! It's only fitting that I post this on my 35th birthday. xoxo

Meat is the Star (indeed Mr. Nourse)

Among being many other things, Pat Nourse might also be my soul mate. He recently wrote this article in Gourmet Traveller magazine. I think if you read most of my blog posts you will see that we see eye to eye on many burger factors, except one. In Australia, beetroot might be the problem. I apologize to my readers, if there are any, for the lack of posts as of late. Due to unforeseen circumstances, my burger consumption has been put on hold. I will admit that I did have a recent slip while at Manly Beach in Sydney (http://www.manlygrill.com.au/). Top notch burger in fact and so much so that it deserves an honorable mention in my burger hall of fame. In the meantime, please enjoy Mr. Nourse's burger points as I agree wholeheartedly. Stay tuned in March for the gold standard review which is LONG overdue.

http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/cheeseburgers.htm

Pat Nourse (born 1977) is an Australian restaurant critic and food writer. He is currently employed by Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine as their chief restaurant critic and features editor.[1] He also writes about Australia for the American food magazine Gourmet,[2] and is the Australian member of the voting academy for the World's 50 Best Restaurants.[3]

an update on our inaugural post (rogue states)

Dear Fellow Burger Enthusiasts,

Some of you may remember the inaugural post, when El Presidente generously allowed a guest burger club member to post a review of Dupont Circle's Rogue States. You may also recall that the review was less than favorable. I am happy to announce that, due to neighbor complaints about the "noxious odors" wafting from this eatery, Rogue States has now been shuttered by court order.

"A D.C. Superior Court judge ruled the popular Dupont Circle eatery Rogue States a nuisance on Tuesday and ordered it to stop grilling hamburgers after an eight-month dispute with a neighboring law firm over its “intense and noxious odor.”.
Over three days of testimony, [Judge John M.] Mott said he had heard “ample evidence” to conclude that the restaurant at 1300 Connecticut Ave. NW is to blame for the itchy and watery eyes, nausea and headaches suffered by employees of Steptoe & Johnson."

I generally take a Tea Party-style "keep your gu'mint hands off my burgers" approach, and am a little concerned about this activist Judge, John Mott, legislating our burger choices from the bench. That said, Rogue States did suck, so I think we can permit a little judicial latitude...

Hope all are well. Happy dining, john

Fatburger fit for a Queen (or Queens in this case)

This post is dedicated to a few special ladies. I best not name names but they are just too pretty to ignore, don't you agree?. Thank you Kiki, Umi, Ira and Flo for an unforgettable lunch. When deciding on a lunch destination the day before my wonderful, clever, funny and most importantly burger loving friend Kari (aka Kiki) suggested Fatburger. You may find this hard to believe, but I had not heard of Fatburger until this week. I did a bit of pre-meal investigation (in true James fashion) and discovered that Fatburger is a very popular restaurant chain which started in LA. Can you imagine my excitement? Fatburger has made it all the way to Jakarta. It was destiny. We made the plan, we battled through traffic and we sat down to order.

The choices were simple and appropriate. Although, I will never endorse putting egg on a burger. What is the point? None, I tell you, none. The best part of Fatburger was the freshness. I even tolerated the pickles, which were slightly claussenesque. Perfect meat to bun ratio. Onion rings lived up to their hype. I would recommend the skinny fries over the fat fries (don't worry dad, I didn't have fries AND onion rings), but I found it to be my obligation to at least taste test what they have to offer. Fountain pop is hard to find in Jakarta and guess what folks...yep Fatburger delivers. awesome.

I was impressed and will refrain from any constructive criticism other than maaaaybe cooking the meat a bit less. oops, I let it slip. Please don't let this one very minor detail detract from the overall what could be a historically great review. Fatburger in Jakarta, did I mention that already? Again as always, the company was the key to my enjoyment. Burger club DC would approve. Until we meet again Fatburger.

Terima kasih.

Jill

http://www.fatburger.com/

p.s. Queen Latifah owns her own Fatburger and so rightfully claims that a girl needs a good burger (nuff said). check out the clip on the website.

Kermond's Hamburgers - Warrnambool

I have found some kindred Aussie spirits amidst the interweb that are on a similar quest to ours, burger club DC that is! These Aussie burger lovers have suggested Kermonds burgers in Warnambool as among the cream of the crop. As it just so turns out, I found this recommendation minutes before heading out along the great ocean road with a few free wheelin' ladies.

Warnambool wasn't a huge place, but quite a bit bigger than most towns along this Great Ocean Road. It wasn't out of the way and actually quite a perfect location to grab a bite before heading back to Melbourne. lucky us. We stopped first to watch for whales, at Logan's nursery as we had read of a sighting the day before. Lo and behold, we saw a whale in the distance and stood mesmerized in delight as the tail seemed to splash hello! again, lucky us.

We may have stopped a bit early in the day for a lunch affair, but hey the kermonds boys didn't seem to flinch when I asked if we could order burgers at 10:30am. good on him. I was reminded of my days at the Patti Shack (aka Dairy Burger, aka Dairy Queen) when the young ones were allowed to run the shop alone. Mischief you say? Danger? naaahh, all just good fun and hard work.

The burger came out with perfect meat to bun ratio. No fancy condiments (thankfully pineapple and beetroot upon request - not a standard), perfectly melted cheese and tasty hot chips. One of my free wheelin companion's sister lives in said Warnambool and had downplayed Kermonds. We were quite excited to let her know that her poo pooing days should end. Kermonds was a hit. Perfect way to start off the day. I only wish I had asked the boys for their names. At least I have a picture to remember.

Thanks Kermonds. I hope to meet again.