What Does It Take To Make A Great Burger?
🍔 If you’re going to eat 52 burgers, you’ll need a plan
It’s still not a competition. But we’re 45 burgers deep into this now, and one thing has become clear. At least clearer than when we started.
Here’s a Fact – It’s super hard not to compare burger experiences. It really is. Each should stand on its own. But, in reality, we live in a world where just about everything is compared in one way or another. Sorry, I know it’s not fair.
When you write a series like this, questions will come up. Two are asked the most.
➡️ “Do you rate these burgers?” I want to say no, but the real answer is more complicated.
➡️ “Have you had any not-so-great burgers?” The answer to this question is yes. But not nearly as often as you would guess.
Let’s tackle question number one today. We’ll leave how we deal with number two for another time.
📏 A Burger Tasting Reality. If you’re going to measure anything (in any kind of meaningful way), you’re going to need some sort of barometer. Sorry, it’s just the way it is. I originally thought it would be different, but sadly, it’s not.
No, there are no winners and losers here. Everyone is a winner in the big burger game! 🏆
It’s just when you’re going to talk about these things, it helps to have a reference point. A little burger context.
Yes, I have some burger criteria (that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to most of you 😁). It’s NOT rating exactly. It just acts as a way for me to describe what the experience was like. Kind of like a mini book report.
Some of these burger factors might surprise you a little (most probably won’t). Let’s run through them just for fun…
📝 We’ve included some images. They’re examples of some of the burgers that best define each point. At least from our experiences so far. We’ve still got a few more to go.
THE MAIN CRITERIA!
1️⃣ Meatiness – Does this TASTE like a burger? I think we all know what this means. Some burgers just have a “beefier” flavor than others. It’s a reality!
2️⃣ Appearance – Does this burger scream, EAT ME! “They” say we eat with our eyes as much as with our mouths. What we’re looking for here is that eye appeal.
3️⃣ Creativity – Your standard L|T|O toppings are expected. But how about something a little more interesting? We’ve seen some pretty crazy topping combos over the year. Hats off to all of the creative burger chefs out there. Keep it going!
4️⃣ The Bun – How does this carrier work with this burger? Some buns are just built better than others. I never really realized how big the bun spectrum could be.
5️⃣ Overall Taste – Does everything above work together? It’s like a painting or a musical composition (I know that seems a touch dramatic!). Do all of those components combine for a great final product?
EXTRA CREDIT!
1️⃣ Atmosphere – What’s this place like? Water view or sports bar? And just about everything in between.
2️⃣ Sides – Not all burger sides are created equal. Well, at this point, you know I LOVE fries. But there ARE other options.
3️⃣ Ease of Eating – Can you eat this burger without wearing it? And does that really matter if it’s delicious?
4️⃣ Price – Is this burger worth the price they’re charging? You have to pay for it. Are you getting the most from your burger buck?
Writing about food culture versus food review has its built-in challenges. I completely realize that, at times, you’d love me just to say, “Go Here!… And Get This!…” It would make things easier, to be sure. But it would also take some of the fun out of it.
Yes, a lot of times, food is about just fueling our systems. But it’s also about discovery. I’m discovering all the time, and YOU should be discovering too. 😊
🍔 Here’s The Part Where YOUR Discoveries Come In. As we mentioned in our last burger piece, we’re still looking for one more great spot to round out our 52 burger series.
We’ve received some fantastic suggestions from our first ask. Let’s see how many more Sarasota area burger gems we can add to the list. You’ll also be entered to receive one of the five (5) 2024 Little Sarasota DINING Books that we’re giving away!
📝 GIVE US YOUR BURGER SUGGESTION HERE 📝
🧑🏻🍳 HEY CHEFS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS! 👩🏻🍳
We want to feature one of your recipes in our popular Make it at Home series. Drop us a line and we’ll give you the details! INFO HERE🌟
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.
⭐⭐ If you have an event, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2024 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – FRANCE
🚶🏻 TASTE MAGAZINE WALKING FOOD TOURS OF BRADENTON – INFO
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes! Things are finally starting to pick up a bit in the local food event department. Our calendar is filling up little by little. ⬇️
FEB 2 – “Taste of Thunder” Craft Beer Tasting Experience – INFORMATION
FEB 3 TO 10 – 15th Anniversary Special Menu – Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
FEB 4 – Farm to Fillet Event – INFORMATION
FEB 7 – Love at First Bite by Libby’s – Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie
FEB 8 – Murder Mystery Dinner – Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
FEB 16 – Wine, Dine & Be Mine Wine Dinner – Pier 22
FEB 21 – Annual Black & White Dinner – TASTE Dining & Travel
FEB 23 – Penfolds Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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