Seven Spectacular Chef-Crafted Burgers
Special to Road Trips for Foodies
From Certified Angus Beef LLC
Folklore states there are three types not to trust: those who drive habitually in the left lane, those who don’t like dogs, and, most importantly, those who don’t like hamburgers.
As for the latter, it’s important to recognize that a hamburger patty is much more than a vehicle for toppings. The best burgers start with premium beef -– like well-marbled Certified Angus Beef ® whole muscle cuts.
These culinary vanguards are using that medium to create some of the tastiest burgers in the land:
1. The Swill Burger, Chef Lamar Moore, The Swill Inn, Chicago, Illinois
Moore’s signature burger features two thin-smashed patties, house-made pimento cheese and pickles on a brioche bun.
2. The Good Boi, Chef Brett Sawyer, Good Company, Cleveland, Ohio
Sawyer’s beef navel/sirloin blend with griddled onions, white American cheese, lavender pickles, shredded lettuce and “company sauce” on a poppyseed milk bun has been an instant hit in the 216.
3. Heimburger, Travis and Emma Heim, Heim Barbecue, Fort Worth, Texas
They’ve built a reputation for excellence with barbecue, and the Heims’ burger is no joke, either: two quarter-pound patties with American cheese, Prime brisket and bacon burnt end jam on a sweet sourdough bun.
4. The Unpretentious Burger, Greg and Kristina Gaardbo, Chicago Culinary Kitchen, Illinois
Two 4 oz. patties with Tillamook aged cheddar, Dubliner white cheese, “tallownaise,” McClure pickes, bacon-onion jam on a bottom-up toasted bun tastes even better served out the side of the Gaardbos’ black and pink, fire-spitting food truck.
5. The SJM Burger, Chef Mike Midgley, Midgley’s Public House, Stockton, California
The “Top Chef” alum goes big with an 8 oz. patty topped with 5 oz. of barrel-roasted prime rib, bacon, pepperjack and American cheeses, pickles, onion straws, Bruno’s peppers, horseradish cream and mayo on a brioche bun.
6. FC Cincinnati Burger, Chef Shawn Heine, Street City Pub, Cincinnati, Ohio
The away match home of the Major League Soccer club’s fan Irish Briogaid paid homage to the team with this herb-blended burger topped with Irish cheddar, shredded lettuce, bacon and onion ring with mustard-mayo on a brioche bun.
7. Blackberry Brie Burger, Chef K.C. Gulbro, FoxFire, Geneva, Illinois
The combination of blackberry jam and melted brie with the heat of pickled jalapeno on a pretzel roll puts this northern Illinois burger over the top.
(Photos courtesy of Certified Angus Beef LLC)
