Burgers Burgers Burgers: ShakeShack, Burger Bear and Disco Bistro

I went recently to one of Somerset House's open air cinema events - brilliant by the way, definitely go - and for dinner I really wanted to take my friend to Patty & Bun as she has yet to try one of the best burgers in London, however this was on a Monday and I completely forgot that they are closed then. My heart absolutely sank - I had been looking forward to that for a while!

So knowing Covent Garden was nearby, we decided to see what all the hype was about and headed to brand new American import ShakeShack. They pride themselves on using 100% all-natural Angus beef, vegetarian fed and humanely raised. I have seen pictures of rows and rows of these burgers all looking perfect and exactly the same. The same Muppet-like features: the lettuce sticking out, cheese melting over the edge and tomatoes lolling like tongues over the bun. They're all bright colours and happy.

From the start I was dubious, however I had read many a review of people saying that this one was great - it was Five Guys here that wasn't so good - so I thought why not, let's forego the brilliance that is MeatMarket around the corner and let's do it - how bad could it be?!

I had no idea.










Here it is: The Muppet. (A plain ShakeShack burger)

My reaction was not good. Take the so-called "perfect-looking" burger out of it's bag and you find the horror of the saggy and deflated bun, looking a little worse for wear. It doesn't look so happy anymore.

Only when I took the burger out of the bag did I realise the lettuce was sticking half way out the burger, to give it it's muppet-esque facade. How was I supposed to eat that?!

One bite in and I knew I hated it. The meat wasn't a good patty. It was flimsy and tasteless - it did not feel like I was eating "100% beef". The "special ShakeShack sauce" was overly sweet. The cheese was not good and there no was no texture in the burger, perhaps this would have been better had I got one with bacon. It was all one soft icky mess in my mouth and I could only stomach eating half of it. It was all very reminiscent of McDonalds - and I detest McDonalds.

The chips were slightly better. I did not like that they were crinkle cut - another mass production sign I do not like to see, but they did taste good. The ones that weren't covered in the same horrible cheese that they use in the burger, however.

We also got a white and black milkshake - chocolate mixed with vanilla. No sign of vanilla in there, only that fake chocolate flavour. So that was left too.

The only redeeming thing at ShakeShake are their concretes. Different kinds of frozen custard which basically taste like ice cream. We had the Union Shack - chocolate custard with St John's Bakery chocolate hazelnut brownie, fudge sauce, Paul A Young, chocolate chunks and sea salt.
If you don't recognise the names in there, St John is an incredible bakery and restaurant - go try a doughnut - and Paul A Young makes some incredibly yummy chocolate. He was one of the first places I tried salted caramel and salted chocolate - an epiphany back then.

This was really really good. Great textures and flavours and you can never go wrong with chocolate in my book.

However after the whole ordeal I was left feeling really disgusting and that horrible fake sweet taste of a cheap burger lingered in my mouth for hours after. Lesson learned: go British and go MeatMarket.

Maybe quality has been falling since the spectacular opening. Maybe it's just not my thing, but neither of us were incredibly impressed. J however managed to finish her burger and the rest of mine.

So I knew I needed another burger STAT to get rid of that horrible memory. Burger Bear is currently in residence at the Old Nun's Head pub in Nunhead, SE London until the 25th August. You can also find him near Old Street during the week, but you have to check his twitter for details because I'm not entirely sure.

Anyway I have heard many a good thing about Burger Bear. So I thought perfect opportunity to have a great burger and see my sis at the same time.

We both ordered a Grizzly Burger - double oak smoked bacon with bacon jam on a cheeseburger along with some angry fries.

Just look at that. That is a proper burger. It is huge, with a hell of a lot of toppings and oozing with juice and cheese.

The moment it entered my mouth I knew this was good. Oh so good. The patty was fat and juicy - but not ridiculously messy. The bacon added the perfect crisp smokiness and my word the bacon jam. Bacon jam. What an absolute epiphany that was, it tasted incredible. The bun wasn't fantastic, however held together nicely with all the juiciness coming from the burger. Safe to say it is now in my top 3 burgers in London.

The angry fries were great - but I was not expecting them to be that spicy! It actually hurt a little bit, there were a few tears, but if you love super spicy you will love them guaranteed.

Next up was Disco Bistro. It's been open at the popup rollerskating rink since July and closed this weekend so I knew I had to get there before time was up!

The burger sounded pretty epic. Cheese, secret "bun sauce", pineapple, onions and -ohmygoodness it's back - bacon jam!!!

This was deliciously oozy, however maybe a little too much. It was dripping everywhere, on my clothes, on body parts and grease was pooling in the bottom of the basket. I guess you definitely can't say it wasn't moist!! As such, the bun didn't hold together great, but it's not something I'm too fussed about.

The burger was really good. The thick-cut onion were delicious and the pineapple - which I wasn't sure on before trying - added a new dimension, a sweet extra flavour. The pineapple was in fact the best bit in there for me! Unfortunately this, plus their bun sauce, didn't allow the bacon jam to shine. Knowing what it tastes like, I couldn't detect it amongst all the other flavours, but it wasn't missed since the burger tasted pretty great already. It was dirty, messy and fabulous.

I'm not sure as yet when the next Disco Bistro burger will be available, but the same chef has collaborated at Rotary Bar Diner (just off Old St roundabout) on their menu, so for a burger of similar style and quality, head there.

York Day 1: Filmore and Union

I went back to York for one last party and celebration before leaving pretty much for good to move home. I wanted to have fun, do things I've always wanted to do in York, eat places I've never been to and just have a few days of gluttony and enjoyment.

I arrived and headed straight to Filmore and Union for dinner with a few friends.

In the centre of Low Petergate, an independently-run cafe and diner opened about a year ago now in York. With two more outlets in Wetherby and Harrogate, I'm not sure you can yet call it a chain but it certainly has the branding and efficiency of a well-oiled machine - either there is more going on behind the scenes of Filmore and Union than they let on, or they just have a great business and marketing team - in which case I am very impressed. They have managed to expand very quickly in such a short space of time.

Their aim is to serve healthy food and take away lunches. The emphasis is on feel-good, look-great food. Even the cakes are supposedly healthy. Though I'm not entirely sure how healthy delicious white chocolate chunk brownies are - I don't ask. Just smile and nod. 

I have had many a soup, salad, sandwich, tagine, coffee, tea and treat from their deli and outlet in the train station. I always look forward to their yummy goodies for my journey. The take out food is pretty expensive in my opinion but I do still buy it because I know it is healthy and home made. I do, however, draw the line at a £3.90 carrot cake muffin. That's more than London pricing, guys. Pig and Pastry will do me a home made take out muffin, double the size of yours, for half the price. Just saying.

They do a very reasonable early bird set menu in their first floor restaurant of the cafe in York and considering how good their deli food is, I was keen to try.

The dining area is small - space for around 30 diners, but it is cosy and comfortable without being cramped and decorated with the perfect balance of modern, chic, homely and cute. A kitchen for the one chef on site is in the corner so you are able to see all your food freshly prepared there and then. The ambience and atmosphere in the room was just what you want for a nice evening out - not too loud (easy listening and jazz playing in the background, sadly no Bublé) but a quietly buzzing, comfortable setting.

An amazing view of York can be seen from the windows. If you go, try asking for the table with the bench and view of the minster!

A bottle of very nice wine was ordered, but that was unfortunately before I noticed the bottle of Hendrick's on the side in all its glory.

The starter was the best dish out of all three courses. They could have doubles its size and served it to me for main, and then again for dessert. It was that good. Baked serrano ham with goat's cheese, basil and olive tapenade with pumpkin bread. All the different textures, from the crunchy beansprouts and soft goat's cheese, made for interesting eating and the ham was divine. Slightly salty and and crunchy. The bread was also incredible.
I hate it when bread tastes so good.

L had steamed mussels with a tomato, coconut and lime sauce, which smelled so so good and she said was excellent.

I then had grilled sea bream, raw fennel and courgette salad with lemon and balsamic dressing. Presented in a minimalist, chic style, the flavous combined beautifully. I loved the fragrant fennel that worked with and didn't over power the fish. The skin was perfectly crispy and full of flavour, that I even ate it - and I never eat the skin!!
After being coerced to eat the flower on top by my friends, that I assumed was just for decoration, after they assured me it wouldn't be on the plate if it wasn't edible, I realised it was indeed just for decoration purposes only, because it was horrible!! Really sour and I imagine exactly what grass would taste like....

J ordered salmon and prawn fish cakes with ginger, lemongrass and chilli with butternut squash and puy lentils. I got to try some of the lentil salad and it was delicious. Similar to the salads that they serve in the deli.

For dessert I had a passion fruit, orange and almond cheesecake served on a generous base of oat and prune instead of a biscuit. The base was so gorgeously gooey and sticky, it reminded me of a homemade granola bar. I will definitely try to replicate this myself. In fact, the base was the star of the show. It was so interesting, I've never had a cheesecake base like it before. The passion fruit flavour of the cake was the strongest, I couldn't taste the orange and almond at all, nevertheless it was delicious. I'm not sure if the cheesecake itself was made slightly different to a "normal" one as the texture was slightly different. Was this then a healthier version?! Let's hope so.

I did not feel ridiculously full at the end of the meal, which isn't a bad thing! I was satisfied, however not stuffed. I put this down to there being no carb with the mains. The food definitely left me feeling healthy and "clean", so they definitely fulfill their objectives.

Overall a very tasty and enjoyable evening! It is such good value for wonderfully made, healthy and tasty food. Would gladly recommend and will head back next time I'm in York! Cheers!

We then headed to a few bars. The Blind Swine opened on Swinegate - in the very old, cobbled street part of town, last year. It bills itself as rock/cocktail/fine-dining restaurant-bar-place. It's the place people are scrambling to get tables - behaviour you don't usually find in York. It comes across as hipster and oh-so-cool.

When I entered, the place screamed try-hard. £2000 cut up amps line the wall with faint rock music playing. I'm not sure if it gets louder as the night goes on, but I definitely heard a cover of "total eclipse of the heart" faintly in the background and then tuned everything else out.

Only three chefs - who you can see working at one end - and two bar staff work there. There is no dedicated waiting staff, so the chefs bring over your food. So cool. Or is it? The fact that no one greeted us when we waled in - a fact previously that I'd clearly taken for granted - made me personally feel unwelcome here. We awkwardly trundled over to the bar, unsure if we were allowed to, waiting to be acknowledged and to be handed a drinks menu.

The drinks and abillity of the bar staff were impressive. They were creative, interesting drinks and unlike anything I've ever tried before. However the names - which some laughed at (and at the time I did too) but upon reflection, the names also scream we're so funny and cool!!

You want a what now?!

The drinks themselves make up for this.

I would still like to try the tasting menu - no idea what would be on it as no menu is online. I assume it changes regularly. I have seen pictures and heard too that the food is fantastic and, again, creative and inventive. There is no other inventive food like this in York, so I'm willing to look past their arrogance and let the food and hard-working chefs-come-waiting-staff to do the talking. 

The night then took us to Pivni - owned by the same company who own Euston Tap in London! But unfortunately craft beer is lost on me, so I just took in the surroundings instead. The pub is in a very cute, old, tiny Tudor era building. Exposed beams and low ceilings, never mind craft beer, if you want a taste of history go to Pivni!!

Late at the Library: The Party Rules

On Friday the British Library held one of their late night openings to promote their Propaganda: Power and Persuasion exhibition. The only information given about the evening was that it was a party with Hot Chip DJing and a set from the band Public Service Broadcast. Entry to the exhibition was free with the ticket and "former British Library Artist in Residence, Christopher Green, together with his 'Party Police', will use a variety of propaganda techniques to ensure you have a good time."

Interesting! 

First of all we headed to the Euston Tap for some pre-party drinks. Set in the old archways to the gardens, they are very interesting buildings. If you love your craft beer you will love Euston Tap. It was a little lost on me unfortunately as I don't drink beer, but they obviously had a choice of spirits. It is tiny and rather uncomfy-looking inside, but it was a sunny day and everyone was happily sprawled outside.

Opposite Euston Tap is its sister Cider Tap, London's only dedicated cider bar, so if you're more into your cider you can pop across the road and grab a cider.

Then we headed to the Library for the party - an oxymoron, no?

The library had been transformed into a dictatorships haven, complete with secret police watching from the top balconies.

We were given a passport with various tasks we had to accomplish in order to get different stamps. We had to collect stamps from the "Party Police". Tasks included "effervescing, dancing, singing and creating communal joy". This was a dictatorship that would make sure you were going to have fun and party. 

Hula hoops were twirled, glitter was thrown, badges were made, dissenting began. Protests were thwarted, people were not allowed to not have a good time!!

Not sure this guy was a member of the secret police, but he sure had an incredible beard. Bravo.

If you're into electro music, with no words alongside performance art, you will love Public Service Broadcast. I liked it for the first few songs - not sure you can really call them songs though, more like a musical score as the music played like a soundtrack to the videos playing behind them. However, the novelty quickly wore off on me. I guess I'm just not hipster enough.

My sister really got into the Communist spirit:

The exhibition itself was really interesting. We all know how propaganda played a huge part during the wars. This exhibition bring to the forefront the ridiculous accusations and the mind games that both sides played. Shocking books were secretly commissioned by the Hitler regime to create hate towards the Jews and books were published in America to persuade them that Churchill was a madman. Ancient propaganda from all over the world is shown too, but the real eye opener here for me was the recent forms of propaganda, less noticeable because they are less ridiculous, from NHS HIV/AIDS leaflets stating "Don't share needles" to the green cross code or "what to do in the case of a nuclear attack " in the 80s. Truly interesting.

The Exhibition runs till September, so you still have loads of time to get down and see it.