Category Archives: Burgers

Death Metal Delight

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Mark T

Art can be manifested in various mediums. While paintings and sculptures can be found all over the world from the beginning of humanity, music has a special place in the collective soul of mankind. It can reflect a gamut of emotions, cultures, and innovations in technology (or hatred of said technology). An eatery in Chicago called Kuma’s Corner (Kuma means “bear” in Japanese) manages to fuse metal music culture with a menu focused exclusively on creatively named and constructed burgers. What could be better than that?

Now, I’m not a huge fan of death metal or really heavy rock music outside of listening to it on my workout mix, so I was curious to see why so many people kept on raving about their burgers even though they seemed like the last people to be headbanging or howling along with the gutteral lead singers. The exterior looked pleasant enough, but as soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a wall of people and fierce chords being pumped out of the speakers overhead. I was surprised though since I heard from friends that the music was turned up to 11, but I didn’t find that to be the case. Since I was dining alone, I was immediately seated at the bar, but I’d recommend bracing yourself for a wait if you’re going there around lunchtime. The bartender along with every other employee there was friendly and covered in tattoos. Not only did the artwork decorate my server’s arms, but I even found her probable inspiration all over the bathroom walls as every square inch was covered with tattoo samples. After sitting down and pouring over the burger options, I noticed that they had very creative names paying tribute to different rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Megadeath, Slayer, and Plague Bringer to name a few. Not only were the names intimidating, so were the options since they all looked so delicious. After bringing it down to two choices in my head, the Plague Bringer and the Goatsnake, I asked my bartender which she’d recommend out of all of them. Surprisingly, she said those two were her favorite. She then gave me time to think about it, and even said she’d surprise me if I couldn’t make up my mind. After some deliberation, I told her I’d take the Goatsnake ($10) along with a complimentary side of handcut fries, but I could have also picked chips or a salad instead of the fries. If you’re not feeling like a burger, they do have appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. After waiting for some time and slobbering on myself while checking out other peoples’ burgers, my burger was placed in front of me. I didn’t know where to start. It was overflowing my plate, and the guy next to me even asked me what I got since it looked so much more intense compared to his burger. Jackpot! This creation named after the doom metal group from California caught my eye because of its creative ingredients. While there was a pile of fried red onion strings on top, I’ve had that on other burgers I’ve destroyed at other restaurants. The holy trinity of ingredients that piqued my interest was the herbed goat cheese, poblano and corn relish, and Cholula lemon vinaigrette. I could see the first two elements, and the third one could only be experienced. I put my top bun on and was ready to rock my socks off. Wow! From the first bite, I knew I was dealing with a unique burger. The patty was hearty and juicy but was borderline greasy. It didn’t take away from the bold flavors that were more radical than a face-melting guitar solo. The goat cheese was plentiful and provided a strong flavor background for the rest of the star ingredients like Lars Ulrich’s drumming for Metallica. As for the corn and poblano pepper relish, it supplied a counterbalance of texture and a hint of spice that I enjoyed. Finally, there was the most outrageous yet memorable part of the burger which was the Cholula lemon vinaigrette. With every bite, my palate was awash with a spicy citrus punch that went especially well with the goat cheese that almost made it seem like they did an homage to Chicago’s saganaki legacy unintentionally. Once I demolished my main dish, I turned my attention to the fries. They were on the less crispy side which I perfer and weren’t too salty. I wasn’t sure, but I believe the ketchup had a bit of spice in it. Either way, these fries couldn’t measure up to the burger magnum opus I experienced moments before. The bartender finally saw the feeding frenzy was over, and offered me a round of applause with how thoroughly I cleaned my plate. I applaud you too, Kuma’s Corner, for your passion for creating insanely delicious burgers.

So if you’re tired of the same old burger joints that use the same old ingredients in the same old bar and grill environment, bear crawl on over to Kuma’s Corner and party on!

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Posted in American Cuisine, Burgers, Comfort Food and tagged Bar, Beer, cheese, Chicago, corn, dining, Food, French, Fries, goat, hamburger, onions, peppers, potatoes, relish, restaurant, Reviews. Bookmark the permalink.

Solid Like a Rock

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Mark T

What says summer more than a barbecue? Burgers, beers, and brats abound as Americans across the country congregate in their backyards around a sizzling grill as our ancestors have done since the beginning of time. While we’ve gone beyond grunting at each other and digging into fresh hunks of mastodon, the love for grilled meats is still going on strong as I found out at Rocks in Lincoln Park.

The previous night we had spent a good time enjoying some bodacious burgers and brews at George Street Pub, so we ended up at Rock’s since they had some delicious brunch options. It didn’t strike me as anything novel in terms of decor or concept upon walking into the establishment though. A high end pub with wood and stone accents that focuses on beer and whiskey…yawn. Since it was already noon, I was in the mood for something a bit more on the lunch end of things. They had a fair bit of appetizers, sweet plates, sandwiches, and burgers (including a four pound burger challenge). Plus, they had a litany of beers along with plenty of whiskeys; hence the name, Rocks, as in the ice cubes. Continuing in the trend of the weekend, I looked over the burgers and tried to find something new and interesting. Enter El Gordo or “The Fat” ($10). I could then choose a side from a mini list of intriguing options, but I went with the Greek fries.

When the burger came out, I was taken aback with how it was presented with all of its toppings bared to the world like a sorority girl at Mardi Gras. I could see the half pound beef patty topped with pepper jack, cheddar, and provolone, three strips of bacon, pieces of onion rings, deep fried pickles, and a coating of spicy 1,000 island dressing. I was having the meat sweats just looking at this mountain of a meal, but I put the pretzel top bun on and got ready to rock. The first bite was quite intense as I cut through the gooey layer of cheese, juicy meat, crispy bacon, and sour layers of fried vegetables. I personally thought they were gilding the rose though with this burger. While I’d recommend it to anyone, it seemed like a bit too much was going on in regard to the flavor profile. The pickles overwhelmed a lot of the flavors including the supposedly spicy 1000 island sauce. Thankfully, the pretzel bun managed to keep all of the contents between my fingers, and I’ve found the pretzel bun to be the sturdiest variety of bread utilized in burger construction. Good old fashioned German food engineering at work. What I was more entertained with were the Greek fries. While they were similar to some taters I’ve tasted in Oregon, they were a Hellenic treat complete with actual chunks of seasoned Feta cheese. I’m loco about my queso, and these fries fit the bill. The creamy and crumbly pieces of goat cheese were pungent and transported the oregano coated potatoes to a cut above the rest.

So if you’re looking for another bar that serves ridiculous burgers alongside brunch items with a touch of class, roll on over to Rocks!

Something Old, Something New, Something Fried, Something Brewed

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Mark T

Ah what a summer this is turning out to be. The weather is warming up, and the festival season is in full swing. Not only that, but the World Cup has lit up Chicago like I’ve never seen before as futbol fever is sweeping over the city. I’ve got a fever myself for not only the beautiful game but wonderful food. Sorry, no cowbell here. Today’s post on Mastication Monologues takes us to George Street Pub in Lakeview.

The exterior of the bar was quite average looking as it blended into the genteel surroundings common to the northside. Upon stepping into the establishment, it was designed like any other sports bar sans memorabilia on the wall: exposed brick, plenty of tvs showing World Cup matches and baseball games, leather booths, and dark wood furniture. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted for the latter option. That proved to be our downfall as the temperature dropped it like it was hot as a chilly wind descended upon us on the exposed patio. They had a few heat lamps but way too few to warm up such a large space. Unless, it’s perfect weather out there, I’d recommend sitting inside. Upon sitting down, we ordered some drinks, and I picked a Midas Touch Golden Elixir beer ($6). I picked it since it was described as “spiced” on the menu which naturally piqued my interest as it was nestled among the porters, IPAs, and lagers. After doing a bit of research, this “beer” is somewhat between wine and mead as it is derived from residue found in clay vessels from 8th Century B.C. in the tomb of the legendary King Midas. At the time I didn’t know this, but now I know that I sampled the beer of the king who turned everything he touched into gold made me feel like I was getting a bargain. Once it came out, I was greatly intrigued to see what I actually looked like, and it was imbued with a rich, golden hue.

A drink fit for a king

It wasn’t carbonated, and the taste was unlike anything I’ve ever had. It had a sweet aroma due to the honey and a slightly herbal scent compliments of the extravagant saffron. The beer was light and clean with dulcet tones of the muscat grapes that were tempered with the spices. I’d highly recommend it, and the bartender there said it was his favorite beer out of the hundreds on the beer menu. I now know why the Midas Touch was a hidden gem. Since Janice and I were a pair of Hungry Hungry Hippos, we decided to get some of the chicken wings ($7) while waiting for her friends to finally arrive. Diners have the option of mild, medium, or hot wings along with ranch and blue cheese for dipping. We got mild ones with extra hot sauce and blue cheese on the side. The different levels of spice depends only on how much of the sauce they put on the chicken pieces. They came out, and they looked a bit underwhelming. While we got plenty for the price, they were on the smaller end with semi-adequate amounts of meat on the bone. I really liked the buffalo-style sauce on the skin that had a real hot punch that jived with the reinvented blue cheese sauce that had oregano and garlic in it. Eventually, her friends arrived, and they picked the pesto bruschetta ($6.95). When it came out, it would have made nonna say “Mama mia!”. It was a much more simplified yet modified version on this Italian antipasto. While the crispy bread was surprisingly warm and semi-soft, it was rubbed with a little bit of garlic and pesto. The toppings were a departure from the typical minced tomato and basil mix, and instead it was like a caprese salad fusion complete with a slice of buffalo mozzarella and tomato. It was a refreshing remix covered with a hefty helping of creamy and rich pesto. I’d recommend this appetizer over the chicken wings. When it came time to order, I got the George Street Pub burger ($10) along with a Smuttynose Robust Porter. They both came out at the same time, and both complimented each other perfectly. The Smuttynose doesn’t get it’s name from that creepy guy snooping around the dirty magazine section in the supermarket but rather the name of an island off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire. It was a smooth pour and taste with hints of chocolate and coffee that brought big flavors to match the gargantuan burger in front of me.

Excalibur got a new home

The George Street Pub burger was a half pound patty sandwiched between two pretzel bun halves and topped with a thick slab of smoked cheddar. When I bit into the sandwich of kings, I was greeted with a patty bursting with flavor and bacon bits, caramelized onion, and chorizo within the bulging beef cocoon. It was a ton of meat spiced up with the mish-mash of chorizo and the pungent onions. By the time I finished the burger, I thought I wouldn’t be able to pass one waffle fry past my lips, but I was wrong. These bad boys were delicious, but unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy all of them due to my struggling stomach.

Overall, George Street Pub is like many gastropubs that can be found around the Chicagoland area, but I’d recommend it if you’re just looking for a relaxed place to catch a game or stuff yourself silly with good food and great beers.

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Posted in Alcoholic, American, American Cuisine, Barbecue, Beer, Beverages, Burgers, Chicken Wings, Comfort Food and tagged Bar, Beer, bruschetta, Burger, cheese, chorizo, gold, history, King Midas, onions, pesto, Porter, Pub, tomatoes, wings. Bookmark the permalink.

Baby Got Burger

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Mark T

Chicago is a tapestry of many different people from various walks of life and nationalities. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone lives in perfect harmony. The city is broken down into small neighborhoods that could be defined through race and/or socio-economic class. All of this manifests itself in the form of being the most racially segregated city in the USA. Thus, if someone tells you if they’re from one of the “sides” of the city, you can almost always determine what race and/or tax bracket they fall into. Disclaimer: the following are stereotypes associated with residents of different parts of the city, but some aspects are rooted in truth. Northside residents are normally more educated, affluent, and white (of Central or Northern European descent). Westsiders and Southsiders are a bit more variable in their education and economic class, but one can find more black, Latino, Southern and Eastern European enclaves in these parts of the city. Along with that, there is a certain feel that the Southside is more blue collar and Ditka-obsessed in comparison to the genteel and hipster Northside. It’s especially evident in the crosstown baseball rivalry with the Northside Cubs and Southside White Sox. Therefore, I’d like to bring a bit of my old neighborhood on the Southside that is an institution. I’m talking about Nicky’s Hot Dogs in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood located at 6142 S Archer Ave, Chicago IL 60638.

Ever since I could remember, my family and I would visit this family-run hot dog stand to get a ton of delicious food for reasonable great prices. I was recently in the ‘hood and decided to pay the old boy a visit. I got there around lunchtime, and as I expected, the minuscule parking lot was packed to the hilt. I parked on the adjacent block since I was getting my food to go. As soon as I stepped in, the place hadn’t changed in ages. They still have the same swivel seats along the lunch counter and plastic signs for menus. Nicky’s is a symbol of the no-frills, hardworking, homely spirit of the Southside in both decor and menu. It ranges from burgers to Polish sausages to hot dogs as you can see in the following picture. I wanted to get two of the best items on the menu: the Big Baby double cheeseburger ($2.90) and a hot dog ($2.25 with free fries). However, I’d definitely recommend their gyros as well. The cashier joked about Brazil winning the opening game of the World Cup against Croatia (he was Croatian) and possible riots after a Brazil loss. I assured him they didn’t have to worry; people were rioting before the first ball was kicked. After placing my order and waiting with a diverse clientele of Polish and Mexican construction workers, bankers, and families, my food finally came out. It was encased in a simple brown paper bag, and I could already see the grease stains coming through from the mountain of fries they give you. If you are worried about portion sizes, put them to the side when hitting up this Chicago eatery. Their fries are a bit on the salty side, but that doesn’t take away from their overall quality. Then there is the Big Baby. It’s a double cheeseburger that grabs you at the first bite with it’s grilled, juicy patties, melted slices of American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and caramelized onions. While it wouldn’t be considered “big” according to ‘Murikan standards where a big burger could feed a family of three for four days, it’s a titan in terms of flavor. As for the hot dog, they are of a boiled variety and then topped with almost all of the standard Chicago toppings: onions, mustard, relish, and pickled sport peppers. No ketchup here, and you will be chewed out (pun intended) if you ask for it. While it lacks the tomato slices I enjoy, I love the beef mixing with the sweet relish, tart mustard, and pungent diced white onion atop the bun like confetti. By the end of the meal, I finished strutting down memory lane with a full stomach and a “see you soon” in my mind.

So if you want to venture beyond the cutting-edge eateries and more expensive restaurants on the Northside and want to sample a tried and true establishment that serves basic yet delicious and cost-effective food options, come on down to Nicky’s Hot Dogs.

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Posted in American Cuisine, Burgers, Hotdogs and tagged baby, big, Chicago, French, Fries, hamburger, hotdog, mustard, onions, relish, restaurant, review, southside. Bookmark the permalink.

Raising the Bar

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Mark T

Bars are normally just known as watering holes for groups of friends on the town or creepers trying to cruise for some ladies (all dependent on what part of town you’re in, of course). Their drink selections can range from the mundane to the most elaborate with the rise of microbreweries and the sudden rise of professional mixologists, a.k.a. hipster bartenders. However, it’s not often that people associate fresh and/or gourmet food with bar food. True, it may be delicious, deep fried, and coated/stuffed/infused with many different types of cheese but nothing for more elegant palates. This was the case with Jimmy’s Grill in downtown Naperville.

Originally, Jimmy’s was your more typical waterhole that was the starting point of the night with a couple drinks before going to some of the more dance-centric establishments. The food? Just burgers, fries, nachos, and more fried foods up the wazoo.

Meh

These guilty pleasures were of average quality and served more as a lining for your stomach for the bender to come rather than a culinary experience. However, I recently visited it for the first time since coming back from Korea. Not only do they have a new logo and color scheme, but according to the menu, they have a new chef in the form of Travis Rodriguez and new management. Looking over the menu, I could see that they really upheld their pledge to utilize, “house braised, grass fed meats, free range chicken, fresh seafood, and baked goods.” I mean hummus? tartare? asparagus? Talk about the transformation of the ugly duckling. After much deliberation, I decided to get the Cubano sandwich ($11) which came with a free side of vinegar chips, salad, or fries. I went with the last option. My dad got the Picasso burger with Swiss cheese on top ($11), and my mom got the pulled pork sandwich ($11).

After a good amount of time taking in the new environs and checking out their ginormous tvs on the patio, they brought out our meals. My Cuban sandwich looked great and tasted even better. Not only did it have the signature grill marks thanks to the panini-esque grill called the plancha, but I could see all of the key ingredients that have made the Cuban sandwich a Miami staple since the early 1960s when Cuban refugees fled Castro’s Commie paradise. From the first bite, I was hooked. The bread was light, crispy, and chewy and gave way to a one-two punch of juicy pork loin and a hefty layer of succulent ham slices. Next came the melted Swiss cheese that gave the sandwich a slightly nutty yet mellow flavor that served as a contrast to the sour pickle slices and tart yellow mustard drizzled over all of the bread. They didn’t spare any expense with any of the ingredients which led to a meal packed with plenty of sassy Latino flavor to the last cheesy bite. The French fries were expertly fried and very lightly salted which scored major points with me. Moving on from there, I luckily was able to steal a nibble from my mom’s barbecue pulled pork sandwich that came with a side of apple jicama slaw and onion rings. The pork was messy yet heavenly with the sweet sauce that coated every strand, and the onion rings were perfect in terms of breading composition and onion stability within the crunchy shell. I didn’t get to try my dad’s burger since I didn’t fancy a ruptured stomach, but he took it down like a champ. Ergo, I’d only assume it was delicious. I did try the vinegar potato chips on the side, and they were crispy yet oh so sour with plenty of white vinegar bite.

Overall, I’d highly recommend checking the newly improved Jimmy’s Grill. Not only is the food delicious but also nutritious for a reasonable price.

I Like the Cut of Your Rib

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Mark T

Man, what a summer. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better with the weather improving and the World Cup around the corner, I finally made it out to Chicago’s famous Ribfest. While there is another similar festival out in Naperville, the Chicago one apparently is the best in the entire city for the summer. That really means something since there are ten billion street fests in Chicago for every type of cuisine, ethnicity, and music genre. Why so many? Oh, let’s just say when the winter hits Chicago, you don’t want to be anywhere outside, especially this past winter.

Ribfest is typically a three day event complete with music, games, and oh yeah, the food, including an amateur rib eating contest! Perhaps this video could give you a good idea of what it’s like to be there minus the crushing claustrophobia Janice and I experienced on the wonderful Sunday afternoon we spent there. We could see rib vendors from all over the Chicagoland area and the USA. After dodging millions of the food zombies slowly grazing and ripping apart various foodstuffs while shuffling slowly down Lincoln Ave., we ended up at the Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro tent. We had to try it since it has now won best ribs at the fest for the fifth year running. We got a sampler, and it was absolutely finger-lickin’ good. The whiskey laden sauce coated every inch of these fall-off-the-bone tender ribs. The sauce was smoky yet quite sweet, but the only downside was that I felt that there could have been more meat on the bones for the price.

She doesn’t mind.

After those tiny but tasty buggers, we moseyed on back to the Texas Thunder BBQ tent because you can’t mess with Texas! Not only did we splurge for a rib sampler but also a side of the sweet cowboy cornbread. I was much more satisfied with these bad boys since everything definitely was bigger in Texas. These Flintstone-sized ribs were more my speed since they had plenty of meat along with a spicier sauce that had hints of cayenne pepper. Not only that, but the cornbread was the best cornbread I’ve ever had. Not only was it sweet, but it was moist and spongy which allowed them to soak up some of the bbq sauce to create a spicy and sweet treat. It was a great day.

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Posted in American Cuisine, Barbecue, Burgers, Comfort Food and tagged bread, Chicago, corn, eating, fest, northside, review, ribs, sauce, smoky, spicy, sweet. Bookmark the permalink.

Ribbed For My Pleasure

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Mark T

Burgers, barbecue, and beer. What more could one ask for for dinner in the summer? Perhaps a big pool or white sand beach and plenty of sunshine instead of the dreary weather I encountered upon meeting my friends out in Schaumburg at Westwood Tavern and Tap.

As my friend, Erin, who thoughtfully supplied me with an umbrella, and I quickly ran inside from the rain, we were greeted with a spacious and elegantly furnished sports bar. From the stone finishing on the walls to the towering wall of illuminated liquors behind the bar, it was a welcoming place for sports fans trying to catch the next nail-biting Hawks game or a couple out for their first date. We were a party of three and were seated in a booth that was a bit too wide for adequate conversation between three people. So we all had to get a bit more intimate with each other in regard to proximity which might not be as easy with larger groups in the booths. I started by looking over the drink menu, and it was like a yellow pages for Brewtown, USA. While I was well acquainted with most of its residents, I noticed a new neighbor on the block. So, I gave the Black Butte Porter ($5) a warm welcome. The simple label belied its pleasant, rich, chocolate/coffee flavor contained within an enveloping shade of ebony. As for the food, I could choose from a variety of items ranging from sushi, flatbreads, salads, signature entrees, and of course, burgers. I had a hankering for a good burger, and who doesn’t when you’re hungry? I settled on the Baby Back Burger ($12) along with a complimentary side of fries and smoked jalapeno mayo. I’m sure you can reason what the “baby back” in my burger derives from. If not, perhaps this catchy Chili’s jingle can explain it for you. Before I get to describing my meal, I do have to point out that our waiter screwed up my friends’ orders. Erin wanted sweet potato fries, but she got normal fries. Carolyn didn’t even get her sushi either. I don’t know if the server was having a bad day or if there was a mix up, but he made up for it with a heaping bowl of sweet potato fries and eventually brought Carolyn her sushi. Anyway, it’s true that they put bbq rib pieces on top of my burger along with cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, and onion strings. I couldn’t believe it when I was looking at it. I placed all of it together in one sexy package and proceeded to take a bite. It was like your typical barbecue, cheddar, bacon burger sans the pork belly, but the barbecue brought a smoky sweetness that jived with the crunchy onion strings. Even with all of this going on inside the burger, the bun managed to hold together the party on my plate. As for the fries, they were ok, and the jalapeno mayo could have been a bit more flavorful. I could see that they were trying to bring a bit of the pepper infusion to an otherwise bland condiment, but it’s back to the drawing board for this one.

Overall, Westwood Tavern has plenty to offer for diverse tastes to a certain extent, but aside from that, it’s just another fancy sports bar and grill.

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Posted in Alcoholic, American, American Cuisine, Barbecue, Beer, Beverages, Burgers and tagged beers, black, Burger, Fries, jalapeno, mayo, onions, Porter, ribs. Bookmark the permalink.

The DMK: The Most Flavorful Border in the World

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Mark T

Burgers, burgers, and more burgers. What is more Amurikan than a hamburger? It is one of our quintessential exports among many other items across the globe, and I don’t blame other countries for imitating our homegrown culinary creation. One of the reasons why I think that hamburgers are so popular is that they are simple. A slab of meat (or vegetable matter for you vegans or Hindus out there) between two pieces of bread? It’s the biggest thing since mankind figured out how to slice said bread. While many would consider something simple to not be worthy of their time, herein lies the genius of the hamburger. The basic makeup of the hamburger allows plenty of artistic licence for cooks around the world to leave their culinary fingerprints on this common menu item. While I’ve had burgers in the Memphis, Seoul, and Pyongyang (or at least what I thought was a hamburger) to name a few locations, DMK Burger Bar in Chicago made one of the best ones I’ve had in my life.

I had tried to go to DMK for dinner before, but there was a two hour wait. So I went there during the lunch hour with Janice, and it was easy enough to get a table. She had been there before, but I was curious to see what made this burger joint so popular. Their menu had your basic burgers and sides like fries, but they went above and beyond the standard fare like sliders, bison burgers, and fried okra. I eventually settled on the number 6 burger ($9), and we split an order of the small cheddar fries ($4).

Our food came out, and I needed a towel with how much I was slobbering. First, there were the cheddar fries. While the cheese wasn’t oozing down every nook and cranny of the fry pile, I think it helped the dish since it didn’t cause the fries to become a soggy mess. The potato sticks were nicely fried with a pinch of salt which harmonized with the silky smooth cheese and sprigs of flavorful onions. A prelude to the glory I subsequently experienced in the form of my burger. I didn’t know whether to cross myself, grab a napkin, or bow down to the masterpiece of beef, bread, and Mexican flair sitting across from me. After admiring my meal, I slid the buns together, I could see a bunch of guacamole peaking out from the bread. It coated my mouth from bite one, and it was full of the zesty, cilantro tinged flavor I know and love. The beef patty was thick, juicy, and flavorful with seasonings which were further magnified by the spicy pepper jack, piquant Mexican chorizo sausage, and creamy yet intriguing chipotle mayo. However, the best part, I thought, was the bun. I don’t know what it was about it, but it was semi-crunchy, fluffy, and substantial. All qualities I dream for in a hamburger bun. I also tried part of Janice’s veggie burger that had a fried, vegetable-based patty that had a spicy kick compliments of the red peppers. For a meat lover, I still enjoyed this greener alternative. If you thought my meal was done there, think again, n00bz! I pushed DMK to the limit by getting one of their signature milkshakes ($5). I couldn’t say no to the peanut butter flavor while Janice got chocolate. Both of them were enticing from their chocolate swirls to the thick ice cream that filled the ice cold glasses. My peanut butter shake was filled with plenty of nutty goodness, and upon tasting Janice’s shake, I felt like Augustus Gloop attempting to swim in Willy Wonka’s chocolate river. An even better innovation was when we combined our shakes to make our own frozen Reeses peanut butter cups. It was an all-American meal that red, white, and blue us away.

So if you want some innovative burgers and even better shakes at good prices, hit up DMK Burger Bar!

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Posted in American Cuisine, Burgers and tagged buns, Burger, cheese, Chicago, chipotle, chocolate, chorizo, guacamole, mayo, peanut butter, shake. Bookmark the permalink.

Five Fingers Full of Burger Fury

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Mark T

Welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues. Today’s post is not about a food that is extremely disgusting like some of my posts in Beijing or Korea, but rather a dish that has been adapted throughout the world for local tastes. What might that be? The hamburger. This simple, extremely meaty riff on a classic sandwich is often considered to be the quintessential American food alongside hot dogs and apple pie, compliments of a certain clown and golden arches. However, today I will be talking about Five Guys, the new kid on the block when it comes to expansive burger chains.

Although the franchise started back in 1986, it hadn’t really caught on like wildfire until 2003 when they expanded to their current status of having over 1,000 locations in 47 states and 6 Canadian provinces. The concept behind Five Guys is simple: fresh, made to order burgers with handcut French fries that are made each day. The quality shone through on the most recent occasion I visited since I have already been there. Their menu isn’t very elaborate offering mainly hamburgers or cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and some sandwiches that cater to the vegetarian crowd. This time around, I got a cheeseburger ($6.20) and a side of Five Guys fries ($2.50). You also have plenty of options to choose from in terms of toppings to put on the burger, so I went “all the way” with mayo, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard, grilled onions, and no mushrooms but you can get them if you like grilled fungus on your burger. The cool part about Five Guys was that I could watch them make the burger from grill to completed product along with my fries in the deep fryer. They were efficiently assembled, and I received my order in a paper sack. I opened up my mini aluminum silo of beef to find a burger that was stacked with two substantial patties and two slices of American cheese along with all of the toppings I mentioned. I had to step back and admire this bad burger with the same reverence that Edmund Hillary probably had before scaling Everest, but I sallied forth into the wilderness that was my cheeseburger. From the first bite, I was hooked. The juicy beef patties and creamy cheese laid the foundations for the lighter condiments to shine especially the savory grilled onions. The ingredients were superb, but construction-wise, this burger was a real leaning tower of flawed artistry. Bigger doesn’t always equal better especially when trying keep the burger together. I suffered from a mix of Newtonian physics and plate tectonics in food form where the patties would rub together with the liquid condiments and would slip in the opposite direction of where I was biting. Thus, half my burger almost ended up flying out the back end of the bun onto the table top. Never a good look. Once I demolished that beefy behemoth, I turned my attention to the wonderful fries that were spilling out of the cup and filled some nooks and crannies of the bag. These fries were obviously hand cut due to their irregular shape and still having the skins on them. I noticed the slightly nutty flavor the peanut oil imparted to this classic partner to the burger. They toed the line in terms of being too salty, but then again, I’m not a huge salt fan. Based on previous experiences, I wouldn’t recommend their Cajun fries because they always seem to overdo the seasoning which makes the fries taste more like a spicy salt lick than potatoes.

Overall though, I’d highly recommend Five Guys burgers and regular fries that are pure Americana. I pledge allegiance to the pure flavor of the United States of Burgerdom, and you should too!

My Burger From Tokio

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Mark T

Whew! Finally done with all of my Florida food posts. If you haven’t seen any of them, just scroll further down the page to get caught up in the narrative that is my life as a gourmand. Today’s entry on Mastication Monologues checks off another foodie milestone for me. It’s not something as crazy as when I ate a live octopus or scorpions, but it is an iconic fusion meal that has popped up on menus in areas of the USA with significant Asian populations like Chicagoland in this case. My adventure begins with getting in touch with my good friend Carolyn who suggested Tokio Pub, and after looking over the menu online, I knew it was for me when I saw the dish in question.

So we met up in Schaumburg and were quickly seated at the height of dinner which I appreciated.

Our waitress was a laugh and a half with her saucy personality which contributed to our dining experience. We ordered drinks first, and I got a pint of Fixed Gear Ale ($6). It was an slightly murky but amber colored brew that had a definite bite with woody notes and a hoppy finish. As for the food, the menu goes from various sushi offerings to ramen soups to the mysterious sounding hot rock dishes. That final option left me somewhat intrigued, but Carolyn explained that you can cook your own food at your table utilizing piping hot pieces of stone. While this interactive dining experience was tempting, I saw another limited per diem item: the ramen burger. I’ve been seeing this novelty dish shoot to the top of every foodie’s list, and I’ve even seen recipes in magazines as to how to properly prepare this fusion item. So after a bit of anticipation, I finally was face to face with destiny. As I picked it up, I felt the golden, slippery layers between my fingers and quickly took my first bite. It was a texture fiesta as I crunched through the outer noodles to the more giving secondary ramen layer which was quickly overtaken by a juicy beef patty, average greens, and a soy molasses that made it a divine treat to eat the meat. Within five minutes, I had destroyed this piece of art and quickly turned my sights on the cucumber salad. It was an understated compliment to the savory burger. Not only were the cucumbers fresh and crispy, but the brine had a semi-sweet tang that cut through the greasy noodle taste. Although the burger was slightly hefty, I knew I had to try their fried coconut bao (dumpling in Mandarin) dessert ($5). The presentation alone made me quite fidgety while taking the picture. It was like my own super-fattening version of Treasure Island. The golden-brown dumpling treasure chest opened up to spill out coconut cream onto the caramel sand while the scoop of slowly melting ice cream was like a majestic mountain eroding to once again return to the sea, i.e. my stomach. It was a fitting end to a rich dinner.