In order to understand how I rate and review these burgers, you need to get to know me just a tad bit. For starters I am a health nut, who tries to eat healthy everyday from eating nonfat yogurts to mixed salads, but the one thing I thoroughly enjoy enough to break all my health rules is God's gift to mankind called the HAMburger. Since I enjoy various sports activities such as basketball and hiking, I tend to get hungry OFTEN and that means plowing down on many mouthwatering burgers I can sink my teeth into. So, as a result of the many and I mean MANY Burgers I've eaten during my young and probably not as healthy as I thought, life, I am starting this blog, so I can share my opinions on where and what are the Elite Burgers out there for the tasting.
In order to have an ELITE Burger in my eyes and become part of the Burg-oisie, the burger must have a high rating in 5 categories
1.
Bread: the bread must be light and firm. The whole point of the bread is to make sure the Patty is the main stage. The bread is basically the background singers like the other Jacksons, while the Patty is like Michael.
2.
Patty: the Burger patty and how it is cooked is by far the most important. Personally I like my beef patties prepared "Medium Rare", but it doesn't mean that if it is not prepared in that manner it won't taste good. Everyone has their own preferences, so I get it. But, good quality meat is not based on how it is cooked but more importantly on the balance of fat and meat the patty has. It is difficult to decipher what the ratio is when eating at a restaurant but through experience you can definitely taste how one burger patty can be less lean and more fatty.
3.
Sauce/Condiments: A Sauce or Condiment in a burger is very critical to building an ELITE Burger. Some places have the usual ketchup and mayo in their burger but other places put their "secret" sauce that ranges from tangy, spicy, flavorful, or flavorless. With that said, a sauce can be the conduit that holds the bread and meat together. If the sauce packs a punch and impacts the burger in any way possible, the Burger has the possibility of becoming ELITE.
4.
The Fixins (vegetables and side dishes): This category is not as important as the other three but plays a role in making the Burger a great experience. The focus squares mostly on the burger, but when the sides are great or bad the burger can either look like a bombshell or just another plain Jane. So what makes a good side dish? For starters I only order fries and if sweet potato is on the menu and I am bold that day, I try that. In order for the fries to be the perfect complimentary playdate to the ELITE Burger, the fries must be fried golden with a crispy bite to it. I do not tolerate soggy fries or extra crispy fries. Soggy fries are sometimes drenched in oil and extra crispy fries don't taste like potato at the end. In addition, the seasoning on the fries must be light, so it doesn't over power any of the flavor I get from the Burger.
5.
Presentation: Since the ability to See something is one of our senses, Presentation is another factor I rely on in determining if the burger is ELITE. Most restaurants present their burgers typically on one side and fries on the other, but since more Gourmet burger restaurants are springing up, high class presentation has given the burger and fries a new look. Some places just present the burger on the plate and fries in a container, while other places place the burger on top of a bed of fries. Overall if the presentation makes your eyes eat the burger before your mouth does, then it should be considered ELITE
