Burger Mania/Vacation

Hey Burger Nation,

Just wanted to give an update. I have now been on vacation for 48 hours and have eaten 4 burgers. Just got back from eating an awesome burger at a place called Bardenays here in Boise. Look for the blog soon!

12 days of vacation left. Lots of burgers left too.

Doc

Sent from my new Android!

Can't Beat The Meat is heading WEST!!

Hey Burger Lovers,

Can't Beat the Meat will be in Northern Utah and the Boise, ID areas for a couple weeks. I need suggestions on where to find some good eats. If I eat the burger you suggest you will get a shout out and maybe even a special surprise.

I NEED YOUR SUGGESTIONS!

Thanks,
Doc

Welcome to the Top Ten - Blimpy Burger

Despite it's shortcoming the Blimpy Burger is still a winner overall. With time and figuring out the secret combination of toppings the Blimpy Burger could definitely move up this list. But for now, enjoy the scenery of the TOP TEN.

Welcome, Jim.

Quad w/ Cheese Blimpy - Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, Ann Arbor, MI

Small, kind of dirty, rubbing elbows with the cook, but an experience not to be missed. This describes a trip to Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor, MI (Boo Wolverines! ....Sorry, I am a State fan). Serving the fans in Ann Arbor and the student body of the University of Michigan since 1953 (which they also claim as the oldest burger stand in the AA), Krazy Jim's is a local favorite. Just look for the place with Snowbears in the winter at the corner of Packard & S. Division. Krazy Jim's is one of those places that lets the customer design the burger for themselves. They claim that a Blimpy Burger can be ordered in over 2 BILLION combinations! The math behind this number derives from the choices as they have "four burger sizes, six cheeses (you can order all of them, some of them, or no cheese at all), four different bun types, nine different grilled items (you can get all, some, or none of them) and twelve different condiments (again you can get all, some, or none)." Therefore, a Blimpy Burger is more a personal thing. Let me take you into MY Blimpy Burger.

First, I was instructed on how to order. Grab a tray. Then move down the line and answer questions as they are fired at you. First choice: Do you want something from the fryer? Fresh cooked fries and onions rings. Mmmmmmmm.......That is all I have to say about that. Next choice: how much meat? I, feeling adventurous, ordered the "quad" [4 patties] not knowing exactly how big the patties are. I was glad that I ordered the quad because each patty is a little ball approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter. This is then smashed flat with a spatula and cooked to medium/medium-well (there is NO room for medium-rare in these). I am not really a fan of this method of patty making as the meat can be overly tough, but I figured I would give it a chance. I chose a kaiser bun, added some bacon, and requested provolone cheese rounded out with mayo, mustard, and ketchup. Not a fancy or overly ornate burger, but I can tell you that I was salivating like a rabid dog. Some of that could possibly be due to that fact that they make you stand and watch your burger being cooked less that 5 feet from your proverbial piehole. You are just standing there waiting and watching your burger cook in all it's goodness. Thankfully the staff is incredibly friendly and entertaining, so it goes by pretty quick. Finally I get the burger and dash for a seat. It should be noted at this point that Krazy Jim's proudly proclaims that they "grind their own meat fresh daily". This is a statment the I fully believe. The burger, while being a little over cooked, was delicious. It really tasted more like they had ground up a good steak and made hamburger out of it. Still juicy, full of savory flavor, and just a bit crumbly. It was a beautiful thing. The rest of the burger complemented the meat well, however I will add a caution. The meat is very savory and quite salty. I don't know if it was the particular combination I ordered or if it is just the style of burger at Krazy Jim's, but I got a bit overloaded on the saltiness of the meal. Perhaps a different combination might alleviate the issue. Overall, though, the burger was a winner. This is definitely a place I will visit again, and I have a feeling a champion may exist in Krazy Jim's menu. Maybe Bo was actually thinking of Krazy Jim's when he made his infamous sign --> "Those who stay [and find the magic combination of burger and toppings] will be CHAMPIONS!"

Quad w/ Cheese Blimpy - 8/10 ********

Other perks of Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger: Ann Arbor is a really cool place [if you can get over all the Wolverines walking around ;)], very friendly staff, an interesting atmosphere, and old school bottled root beer, fresh from the fryer steak fries and onion rings (MMMMMMM, yeah!).

Hair of the Dog - Detroit Beer Co., Detroit, MI

Shadowed by Comerica Park and Ford Field in the heart of the long famous (and now possibly defunct) Motown lies the Detroit Beer Co. Started in 2003, this establishment offers good times, good sports (sometimes. In the 'D' you never know.), tasty microbrews, and of course pub food. My brother-in-law was in town and I wanted to show him the heart of Detroit and I was hungry, as usual. So we made a stop at the Beer Co. and I was introduced to a burger dubbed Hair of the Dog.

First of all, the name is at once repulsing and intriguing. It actually makes me think that Uncle Ted (Ted Nugent to those of you not from Michigan) came up with the name. I can in no way figure out why it is named such, but it is a pretty sweet name. The line up on the Hair of the Dog is as such: 1/2 of burger, smoked bacon, and a PERFECTLY fried over-easy egg. Notice the PERFECTLY fried over-easy egg. Now when I say perfectly fried I mean the egg was just a little brown and crispy on the eggs, the white was totally cooked (no 'runnies'), and the yolk was completely liquid. A breakfast dream! But I believe that is where this burger loses some points. The burger was indeed good, but nothing great. Cooked a little past medium-rare, but nothing I couldn't stomach. The bacon was thick, crispy, and delicious. So here I am eating the burger and enjoying it quite a bit. I actually pretty neutral on the eggs on burgers. Normally they don't really add much except for some texture and extra protein. But the Hair of the Dog and it's perfectly fried egg was different. I took a bite of my then lunch and was instantly transported to a campfire breakfast?! Over-easy eggs with lots of yolk and delicious bacon. Huh? Confusing, I know. Everything was good, but the flavors of breakfast were just a bit too strong for the burger-fare I was enjoying up to that point. Don't get me wrong, I would eat the Hair of the Dog again. Maybe next time it will be brunch though.

Hair of the Dog - 6/10 ******

Other perks of the Detroit Beer Co.: Good microbrews (I had the Local 1529 IPA and was quite pleased), awesome criss-cut fries, and a cool location with a building in downtown Detroit very close to Comerica Park and Ford Field.

Terry's Turf Club Annotation: GIANT 'SHROOMS!

My good friend Hark, who went with me on my journey to Terry's, reminded of their vegetarian option. As is custom for most burger joints the vegetarian option is simply a burger with a large portobello mushroom instead of hamburger. Hark had ordered the mushroom version and we were enjoying the scenery and lovely conversation while waiting for our food. Suddenly the cook, or some other official looking kitchen staff, appeared with a hand behind their back. "Is this big enough?" they asked as the BIGGEST mushroom I have ever seen from emerged from behind his back. It measured probably 6 inches across and an inch or more deep. As I remember, she wasn't actually able to eat all of it due to it's massiveness. Hark reminded me today of how good it tasted (I didn't have any but she was and is still raving about it).

Carnivores and herbivores alike, if you are in Cincinnati head to Terry's.

Also check out Hark's music if you are in the Cincinnati area!

I AM BACK!!!!

My deepest apologies and my most sincere regrets to my fellow burger lovers. My life has been consumed in the ever-widening jaw of medical knowledge these last few months. But, alas, I have emerged from the abyss alive and triumphant (At least I think so. I don't get my board scores back for another ~6 weeks).

Look forward to some delicious reading! I have not stopped eating the most beautiful of cow's creations. I simply have not had a chance to vomit my horrible prose upon the blog-o-sphere. Sit back, relax, pop a beer, and check back for more banter soon.

- Double Doc (The Burger Boy!)

Terry's Turf Club Burger - Terry's Turf Club, Cincinnati, OH

WKRP. The Reds. Skyline Chili. What do all these thing say....Cincinnati. Recently our crew took a trip to visit some of our favorite people. Not long before we ventured down, Red Beard (as we will call him) sent me a text stating that he had had 'a religous experience' eating a burger. If that isn't a sign for me to try a burger then I have no idea what one is. Come with me on an adventure, my friends.We are going to a magical place called Terry's Turf Club.........

First you enjoy a drive along the beautiful Ohio River on your way. Enjoy the scenery as you go from upscale homes to Ghetto to Industrial sections (essentially every kind of neighborhood). Finally you stop on the street and see what is quite plausibly a house that looks like there is a party happening. You have arrived at Terry's. Luckily our host's were wise enough to take us early in the evening on a weekday, because there is already a line. While you wait you can hang out in the front on what appear to be a row of old theater seats and order a drink from the bar if you would like. After a reasonable wait you enter what is quite literally a house party! Wall to wall people crammed with what was probably a large living room. After sitting down one of the very nimble House Host's (waitress) arrives....

Margo (HERE IS YOUR SHOUT OUT!!!), our very lovely waitress, explains to us new comers what is going on: Good burgers, and beer. That is pretty much it on the menu. But these are not just a 'I'll have a cheeseburger' burgers. Anyway you want it, you can have it. I don't remember exactly what the 'special' toppings of the day were when I was there, but I know that one of them was a mushroom I had never heard of. For myself I chose I had a cheese called haloumi, grilled onions, banana peppers, and a man-size portion of beef. Order some fries, which indeed taste like my father-in-law makes at home, and order beers from around the world. After a very reasonable wait time (which is a major thumbs down from a lot of reviewers online. FYI to those people: If you go at dinner time when it is REALLY BUSY you are going to have to wait for your dinner. Get over it!) our food shows up on paper plates. Yes, paper plates. Which is awesome because the clean up is easy and the cheap ones they use can be recycled. Now is time for a delight. The bun reminded me of fresh french bread. Not crunchy, not stale, but not so soft that is disintegrates. The next 10 minutes are something of a blur. I remember having fun. Every bite was full of delicious not-too-salty, but oh-so-juicy beef. I will admit it was more toward medium than medium-rare, but juicy enough to make up for it. Past that it was like eating 5 different burgers. Every bite was an adventure. One bite had only haloumi in it. The next haloumi and banana peppers. The one after that banana peppers, haloumi, and onions. After that haloumi and onions. And so it went until it was gone. I can honestly say that I don't believe that I have had that much FUN eating a burger.
It was juicy. It was delicious. It was exciting. And it was fun. A must eat for anybody making a stop in Cin-City.

Terry's Turf Club Burger - 10/10 **********

***WELCOME TO THE TOP, MY FRIEND. ENJOY THE STAY, BUT DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE! I EAT A LOT OF BURGERS.***

Other perks of Terry's Turf Club: Cool and unique environment (definitely not for people with S.A.D. or claustrophobia), Great Fries, Lots of different beers, and a unique experience. (Don't go during peak eating times because the line can get HORRENDOUS!)