August 8, 2016

 

La Coïncidence 

15 rue Mesnil 

Paris, France 75116

BonJour! Je m'appelle Jeck. Et Toi? Hello there! As I sit here in my office reminiscing about my time in Paris, I can't help but write a review on the "Burger Coincidence" aka the Duck Burger in Paris, France. 

So why to write a review of a Duck Burger, one may ask. Well, Duck is overlooked here in America because it is a beautiful piece of gamey meat that is considered a unique delicacy. In fact, when cooked right, it is utterly fantastic. More specifically, all throughout Paris you will see duck on the menu. Furthermore, the Parisians tend to cook the duck meat just right, so all the natural flavors of the duck, as well as the many spices, merge together to create a super team whose sole mission is to appease your taste buds.

Enough with the introduction and onto the burger! Now this burger is especially unique because its meat patty consisted of ground duck with a variety of spices that was not disclosed to me (which was an ultimate disappoint because there was what I believed to be cumin and paprika). 

So first, let's talk about the bun. The one thing I loved about Paris was the bread. I must admit, I hated bread before Paris, but after having it every day, I started to like it. From baguettes in the morning to sesame buns in the afternoon, the one thing constant about French bread is the light and fluffy texture you get. Now add the light and fluffy texture with a whip of butter to arugula and a duck patty then you got yourself one strong base. 

Second, let's talk about the Emilio Estevez aka the mighty duck aka the duck patty. Now the duck patty was well prepared to my liking. Bite after bite, I could taste little pieces of the succulent duck meat bursting in my mouth with an explosion of flavor. Now, I apologize if that was a bit too intense, but I only speak the truth! Additionally, the meat was cooked medium rare, which means the meat was bloody and juicy at every point of the experience. Full disclosure, we are not talking about Dexter bloody but a right amount of blood to make you think it was cooked. Finally, the mushroom sauce that accompanied the burger was out of this world amazing. I would compare the mushroom sauce to the addition of Margot Robbie in Wolf of Wall Street. Leo as Jordan Belfort was Oscar worthy but add the tantalizing Margot Robbie then you have a movie that should have Best Picture. After devouring the burger in about 15 minutes, all I needed was Margot Robbie and a beer. Luckily I got my beer with no hesitation. So with that said, I believe the Emilio was Elite Worthy. Four stars out of 5 because the French made it. I can't seem to give a French Burger 5 out of 5 because it is truly unamerican. With that said, if you're ever in Paris go to La Coincidence and get the Emilio. After devouring it in an instant, you'll thank me later for writing this post. 

June 27, 2016

The Horse Thief

324 S. Hill Street 

Los Angeles, CA  90013

Hola everyone! Guess who is back! After a 3 year hiatus, I am officially back to suit your everyday burger demands! Think of me as the dark knight blogger, and I am returning to save YOU from devouring a horrible burger. With that said, my first post back will be about the Beef Brisket Sandwich from The Horse Thief at Grand Central Station.  (No horses were stolen in writing this blog post) 

Now this review is about a sandwich and not a burger per se, but I need to start somewhere! For the burger/sandwich enthusiasts out there, the Beef Brisket Sandwich at the Horse Thief has the makings of a great sandwich, however, there is not enough punch to keep me interested. Don't get me wrong, I love Grand Central Station and the ambiance, but I place this sandwich on the Cusp of being part of the  Elite. You may be asking why??? Well here is what I observed.

Now let's start with the first point. 1) The bread was GREAT! The buttered sesame bun brioche was light and fluffy. It was not overpowering and was a perfect compliment to the sandwich. It was a perfect sidekick like Kyrie Irving to Lebron James. (Ignore if you are not a basketball enthusiast)  

2) Unlike your typical burger patty, this sandwich consisted of loads of beef brisket. Honestly, every morsel of the beef brisket was tender and juicy. It was so delicious, I suddenly entered a state of depression after I finished eating the sandwich. If it wasn't for my friends, I would have ordered another sandwich, but that is a story for another day. With that said, although the meat's texture was magnificent, the flavor, on the other hand, did not have any pop to it. I compare the flavor to Will Smith's new movies. At first, you're drawn to it because it is Will Smith but you are utterly disappointed because you slept for an hour and missed the whole point of the movie Trust me, watching MIB 3 and Focus made me cry on how awful they were. Like I said before, I am not a vinegar fan, so the vinegar like taste of the meat was not appealing to my taste buds. What can I say, sour is just not my cup of tea. With that said, it was more on the cusp and not a peasant. 

3) Now the fixins such as the mac n cheese and the coleslaw were great compliments! First of all, the mac n cheese's gooey factor was right on point. The gooey factor is pretty simple, if the cheese looks gooey and not dry then it is hitting on all cylinders. If the cheese appears to you like a kraft single coming out of the microwave then do not eat it. Now all this means is the cheese was warm and gooey to the point I was sucked into a velveta commercial. Because I like to say an eating experience requires all senses, the mac n cheese was beautiful to touch, taste, see, and smell. The macaroni was soft and the cheese was the star of the show. The coleslaw was rich in pepper, vinegar, and some mayo. Although I don't know all the ingredients in the coleslaw, after each successful bite of cabbage, I was ferociously tasting the pepper, the vinegar, the oil, and a bit of mayo.

 4) The presentation of the sandwich had the makings of a food truck staple such as some wax paper and to go containers. The presentation embodies the LA atmosphere, which is eating fast and getting the hell out! 

Overall this sandwich was very close to joining the Burgoisie but could not make the leap. I do recommend the place and the sandwich as well!!!!!!

May 24, 2013

The Golden State

426 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

After a month long hiatus.....I'm back at it once again to indulge you with my burger adventures. With the summer approaching, I think its time for everyone to get their grills ready because a summer without barbecuing hot dogs and burgers is just plain Un-American.  With that said, I  am pretty excited to write a review on the Golden State burger joint off of Fairfax just because it's been a favorite of mine for a while now. In the beginning I was a nonbeliever but as I ate every morsel of the burger and fries I truly felt an out of body experience that simply unlike any other. In addition the location on Fairfax is great for picking up some gear or walking into a random pop-up shop. 

Now onto the burger....

The burger I chose was "The Burger" which is the only burger I ever eat at this place. First of all the beef patty was simply amazing. The tenderness of the Harris Ranch beef (if you drive from socal to norcal you would know were Harris Ranch is) coupled with the way it was cooked (medium rare) was just mouthwatering. The gooey-ness of the cheddar with the hint of a bitter taste was the perfect compliment to the richness of the beef patty. In addition, the glazed applewood bacon, was not overbearing but had a smokey taste that gave the burger a dash of uniqueness on top of the powerful punch it already had. The only semblance of a vegetable was the arugla used as lettuce, which was not too bad considering the creamy garlic aioli smothered on both sides of the nicely toasted brioche was transcendent. Overall what makes this burger an experience is the culmination of every little tasteful detail added on top of one another in order to create one hell of a bite. I recommend the Golden State to be on top of the priorty list when your around the area.

April 2, 2013

Little Big Burger

Portland Oregon

122 NW 10th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209

Hello everyone! The Little Big Burger is a cozy fast food joint found in Portland Oregon near Powell Books. I would like to say it has the feel of an In n Out minus the doucheyness of some LA people and their insistence on getting extra spread. Like In n Out, the price of the burgers and fries were hands down right on the money. I say this based on the known fact that Portland has no sales tax, which is always a plus! Enough of the blabbing, on to the BURGER!!!

The Burger I tried was the Cheeseburger. The burger was not gigantic like some but the size of my fist.  Although it may have been small, it was mighty tasty. I was surprised the meat was well prepared because the Little Big Burger is a fast food restaurant. The patty was very small but the medium well preparedness was what gave this burger a thumbs up. The bun was your typical fast food bun; buttered and lightly toasted. The sides were average and consisted of some lettuce, onions, and american cheddar cheese. The only condiment present was ketchup, which I found a bit minimal. In addition to the burger, the truffle fries made this small meal a worthwhile treat. The fries were fried golden brown in truffle oil, giving each bite a unique taste. Overall if you're in Portland on vacation and want to grab a good snack that will last you for a couple of hours, go to Little Big Burger and order a cheeseburger with truffle fries. It isn't going to fill you up but why settle on chips as a snack when you can get a mini meal.

March 4, 2013

Slaters 50/50 

61 N Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103

Hello everyone! I'm back at it again, trying the 50/50 burger at Slaters 50/50 in Pasadena. While preparing for my half marathon, I figured why not have a burger with my friends from SF. From the outset, Slaters is a busy dining experience. It's not a fancy gastropub but a typical eatery with an assortment of beers.

  The 50/50 burger, I must say is truly one of a kind. Although it is a really great idea for a bacon enthusiast, it was not amazing for this customer. Overall the burger did not come together like I thought it would. Although bacon is practically great with anything, on this outing, it was just mere filler. The texture of the burger was truly inventive but the taste was not. The burger consists of the slater patty which is 50 percent ground patty and 50 percent bacon with a sunny side up egg, avocado mash, pepper jack cheese and chipotle adobo mayo on a white brioche bun. 1) The bun was excellent! A real highlight of the burger. The brioche was sweet and fluffy with just enough butter. 2) The patty was not to my liking because the taste as well as the consistency felt more like a breakfast morning patty rather than a typical burger patty. The chunks of bacon was a pleasant surprise but the more I ate it, the more it overpowered the burger. 3.) The avocado tasted well and was very creamy but there was just so much of it that I could not enjoy the whole experience 4.) Although the burger comes with no fries, my friend Andrew and I were able to order the "Beer Cheese Fries", which consisted of thick fries smothered with chili, cheese, and jalapeño. The fries were good but did not tickle my flavor palette. The fries were average and nothing else, the beer chili did not stick out and the jalapeño did nothing to mix the flavors. 

In conclusion, the burger 50/50 burger is good on paper but did not meet the expectations I had for it. The patty is a good concept but when it comes to eating a quality burger, I don't need half of my patty consisting of bacon! I applaud the concept but from the burgers I have reviewed so far, I would have to say this is the worst. My friends and I gave it a 6 out of 10! I would recommend it for the bacon lovers because at the end of the day the burger is suited for you ppl! 

January 24, 2013

Stout

1544 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Hollywood

Hey everybody! Happy 2013! Well after a month of hectic holiday events and helping my brother move to Philly, I am back at it again. This time I am reviewing the brick restaurant, Stout, off North Cahuenga. (if you are reading this and live in the Los Angeles Area, its close to Lure Nightclub aka the Do Over and Amoeba Music) Well..after a failed attempt to watch a movie at the Arc Light, my friends and I finally decided to try this place.

Stout is a gastropub with a little flare sprinkled with the formula of most gourmet burger places; the tavern like feel to it. The lights are dim, the wooden tables seem ancient, and the ambiance is more of a friendly environment. Nothing really stood out from this place other than the location, which is great because its in a perfect spot close to the heart of Hollywood.

Now to the burger! The burger I chose was called "The Morning After". The burger is named to illustrate the breakfast ingredients inside the burger such as Rose Mary Bacon, an Over Easy Egg, and Chipotle Ketchup. I would like to say the burger was a tad better than the other two burgers I reviewed. It's not considered ELITE but it is on the cusp! 1) The bun was a nice compliment to the burger patty because it was smaller than the patty itself. The bun was lightly buttered and had a crunch that was delightful 2) The meat on the burger was above average! I got Medium Rare, which should be everyones preference (not really) and found the meat just melted in my mouth every time I took a bite. The contrast between the meat from Stout compared to the other two was basically "how it was cooked". The meat from Stout was the perfect medium rare, meaning it melted in your mouth when you ate it but was not under cooked to the point were you wanted to gag. 4. The chipotle ketchup was not over powering and was a great compliment to the rest of the burger. The over easy egg wasn't really needed but an over easy egg should never be denied. 5. The shoestring fries were decent and average but just needed more seasoning. Other than that the Morning After was better than your average gourmet burger. The restaurant's exclusive location coupled with its burgers made just right makes Stout a fine establishment.

December 18, 2012

Westside Tavern

10850 W. Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90064

West Los Angeles

Hola everyone! Feliz Navidad!! I'm back at it again! This week's post focuses on the juicy Cheeseburger from The Westside Tavern in the Westside Pavilion Mall. First, I would like to applaud the Westside Pavilion Mall and the Westside Tavern for having an upscale establishment. Although my friends and I waited a little longer than expected, the ambiance in the gastropub was delightful. People drinking wine, dim lighting, obscure wooden booths, and the smell of great food were the perks that made this fine establishment. With that said, the ambiance from the Westside Tavern transports you from a normal restaurant in the mall to a grandiose tavern found in Boston.

Now onto the Burger! 1) the Burger bun was a brioche, the same type as the Six Burger from my previous post. This brioche was not as light as the Six but had just about the same qualities. It was a good addition to the burger because it wasn't dominant. 2) Although it's the holidays and I've been in such a great mood, I can't lie to you guys about the Meat on the Cheeseburger. The meat was juicy but was quite average. Each bite was pleasant but it did not have enough to make me get out of my seat and dance, which I would do once I find the perfect burger. The meat was tender and juicy but a little too greasy for my liking. You might say I sound a bit harsh, but when you go and pay a good amount for a burger, you want that punch! 3) The sauce in the burger was basically a garlic aioli spread that was barely smeared on the brioche and as a result I couldn't really taste it . I was hoping I could have more but I don't like asking to add things to the burger once it is presented to me already. 4) The side I ordered were shoestring fries. They were lightly seasoned and tasted like typical fries you might get at Yardhouse or your typical neighborhood Mom and Pop stop. The good thing was, they were cooked it to perfection and was not soggy or too crispy!

Overall the Cheeseburger at the Westside Tavern is ok tasting but a bit average. It is another gourmet burger found on the westside of Los Angeles that is dressed up to seem very upscale but in the end it is very average. (theres nothing wrong with this by the way) My opinion is, if you are trying to get more for your buck, try to order something other than the burger when you go there. Merry Christmas everyone!