My son, Leo, likes to cook. Nowadays, when he returns home, he enjoys telling me how I could've made whatever I'm cooking a little better - a pinch of this, a dash of that. It's a total shtick. I know he admires my kitchen skills and enjoys most things I make.
A few months ago, he challenged me to a "Burger off." I don't claim to be a burger expert. In fact, I rarely make burgers at home (like never). Still, how could I turn down a challenge from my son? I accepted, and we went grocery shopping. We'd throw down and see who could prepare the best, most delicious burger.
I decided to make Gordon Ramsay's Perfect Burger, something I’ve never made or even tried. I know! It's a rookie mistake to choose something you've never made before. Duh. Leo went with his tried and tested French onion burger with gruyere cheese. Yum.
Needless to say, I lost. It was pretty comical. I should have gone with David’s, aka Donk's Smash Burger. It's got lots of finely chopped mushrooms, onions, pickles, cheddar cheese, and grass-fed beef (or vegan substitute). The mushrooms get crispy and the pickles provide the perfect amount of crunch. This or the burger at Nightingale are my current picks. Delicious!
There are countless ways to enjoy a burger from this Molly Katzan Lentil-Walnut veggie classic to a mix a freshly ground chunk and brisket, and more! What’s your perfect version?
In my opinion, there's no beating the juicy lucy from Matt's Bar in South Minneapolis! A delicious burger with gooey, warm cheese inside and topped with sauteed onions and pickles. Bonus points if you get a side of fries and dip them in any of the cheese that spills out. I've been eating them since I was little and even when I was a picky kid, they were amazing. SO delicious!
A burger off! Great fun.
There's a restaurant in South Minneapolis called the Tap Society and I swear they have one of the BEST burgers I've ever tasted. It's very simple - a buttery brioche bun, two burger patties (thin patties - this is KEY), cheddar cheese and ketchup. That's it. No nonsense. And it NEVER misses! Side note: they also have delicious fries.