In Search of the Perfect Burger...

Growing up, the burger was almost always synonymous to McDonald's. Though my "fast food cravings" had started way back in school (Nirulas & Wimpy's were also quite popular back then), for the three years that I spent in the catering college, the trips to the nearby McDonald's were more frequent than attending an afternoon theory class. Kiran, Gaurav and I would happily (just manage to) fit ourselves on Gaurav's motorbike and go to have burgers every evening. That was our ultimate comfort food. Though I had consistently been the "non-vegetarian is my thing" person, I somehow never ever had a single good experience at KFC (readers may differ here). I would always be left wondering what a perfect burger was like.

Start from basics yeah!: McAloo Tikki with Cheese, our standard after-college splurge

When I joined my first job, a 5 star hotel, I got an opportunity to dispense beef and vegetable burgers at the coffee shop. Somehow I was never really satisfied. What went on between the two soft slices of the sesame bread was sort of a mystery to me. Nevertheless, several trips to Chili's, Johnny Rockets, Fork You, Smoke House Deli did restore my faith in the existence of the almost-perfect burger, no doubt.

After landing in London, I could see an extremely vibrant food culture and was sure I would get to lay my hands on the real burger I was looking for. There are so many amazing places for burgers here! The days when a burger comprised of a bun and patty are gone! The addition of exotic and new ingredients, different types of buns and sides have taken the concept of burgers to an entirely new level.

THE ANATOMY OF A BURGER!!!

A High Definition (HD) Burger: Two toasted layers of awesomeness with a juicy and flavourful saga of all things worth drooling put in between and experienced by the palette when the body has the highest marginal propensity. 

I remember reading about the black burger at Barcelos (which never really took off) and they changed it to a Red Burger with a beetroot bun! Then there is the popular Byron; Honest Burgers (where you have to wait for ages to get a table) and then you're treated to genuinely awesome and lip smacking burgers with their perfectly aged beef, bacon and caramalized onion marmalade; Patty and Bun, who recently introduced their Chilli Eliot, crispy buttermilk fried chicken, Monterey Jack and loads of other surprises that you must go and try!; and a personal favourite, GBK or Gourmet Burger Kitchen, where the ambiance is uncomplicated and the burgers are so good, they're over in minutes. Love their hot sauce and filling combinations!

Drool some more! #byron

                

and more... #honestburgers

and more...! #gourmetburgerkitchen

   

The latest addition is a sushi burger, though not really close to a conventional burger, is creating waves on social media. You basically swap the brioche buns for sushi rice and add fillings such as avocado, salmon, chicken, sashimi etc. Looks like people are giving a slight twist to the maki roll!

The Sushi Burger craze. Why not try it with some risotto too!

So this was my story of (burger) enlightenment!

Do share your burger stories and gossips with me, right here, and tell me how you liked the post! Love, Kshipra

Picture courtesy: Google, Instagram