Burger Bonanza

So it's a well known fact that I'm a self confessed  burger snob...and this city has emerged as somewhat of a burger mecca over the last few years.  In my early 20's, the only way you could acquire a decent burger was at a brightly lit hole in the wall in East York, while a sweaty and surly Greek man dangled his sausage like fingers over your toppings.

Don't get me wrong, those filthy dives and angry Greeks are still fantastic, but with the boom of all the gourmet burgers shops popping up and restaurants highlighting their burgers, as oppose to having them as an option for unadventurous eaters, Toronto is in the middle of burger fever.  We even had a burger week about a month back and everyone went wild.  Now there's quite a few burgers in the city I'm yet to try; The Harbord Room, Golden Star, Dangerous Dans etc...but I have compiled a list of the five best beef burgers I've experienced thus far (in or out of the city.)

5.  Bymark 8 Oz U.S.D.A Prime Burger:  Yes it's expensive ($35) and ridiculously rich with it's mountains of gooey brie, grilled king mushrooms and fabulously buttery bun, and yes it made me feel like crap for about two days after eating it, but this burger was an undertaking nonetheless.  It literally melts and oozes and juices trickle down your arm, which you will generously lap up with a shit eating grin on your face.

4. Restaurant 27 Poutine Burger:  So this place took me by surprise.  First of all it's in Red Deer Alberta, a town visited by necessity, not by choice.  I was on tour last summer and the truck I was travelling in broke down.  We were stranded for three days in Alberta's equivalent to Oshawa, and hunger struck.  Looking for a place to eat this spot was recommended, and we went on a whim.  Maybe it was the excessive alcohol consumed (it usually is) or maybe it was just an amazing burger, but the night has not been forgotten.  Unassumingly good food is one of my joys in life, when your expectations are low or non-existent. This hearty and meaty Alberta beef burger topped with fresh cut fries, gravy and squeaky cheese curds, made me happy to be in Red Deer if only for a moment; and my god, that moment was beautiful.  

3. Cartel Street Food Bar Kobe Beef sliders with Foie Gras:  I got to know to these sliders back in the fall of last year.  I was spending a lot of time in Montreal and basking in it's culinary reign. This restaurant was relatively new at the time and focusses on gourmet street food in small plate form.  I have never had kobe beef or foie gras, and my introduction was sweet.  Richer than the Bymark burger, and epitomizing pure Montreal indulguence, these dirty little bad boys made me believe again.  They were so rich, and thank god they were small, because I could barely finish one.

Not the actual sliders, but you get the picture

2. Burgers Priest Vatican City:  Ok, so of course Burgers Priest has to be on this list.  Fairly standard for the Toronto Burger scene.  We all know what the Priest is about.   Take classic diner style burgers, slap some good old American cheese on them, and get down with Jesus.  It's the hottest burger joint to hit the big smoke, maybe ever.  I opted for their 'secret menu' which is relatively easy to find (go to their facebook page) and I decided to attempt their 'Vatican City.'  So the 'Vatican City' is basically a grilled cheese sandwich, two burger pattys,(both topped with cheese), and rounded off with another grilled cheese sandwich.  Now this is the first time I've jumped on the 'gluttonous mess' train and I enjoyed the ride.  It was tasty and indulgent and everything it was cracked up to be and I felt like had just spent the night with a tranny.  It better have been amazing, because there's no other reason to go to Queen and Coxwell.   Below is the video of me and the 'Vatican City.'

 

1. Holy Chuck The Holy Chuck: And so we come to the best burger I've tasted, possibly of all time.  It was a disturbingly hot day at the Honda Indy at Exhibition Place and I would eventually be escorted out of the grounds by security, but it was all worth it, for I had a religious experience.  Toronto Life Magazine rated Holy Chuck, Toronto's best burger, and they do not lie.  I was working without a permit on the grounds, doing the product sampling stuff I do, (i.e handing free stuff out to people) and I discovered my favourite area at any festival...the hedonistic pleasure zone known as the food area.  Like a little boy in a candy store, or a pervert in a strip club, I gleefully tap danced down the row of food options, trying to decide what to indulge in.  Then I saw the sign, Holy Chuck, and I was reformed. They had set up a stand there, and for some odd reason there was no line, so I stepped right up and ordered their signature burger; The Holy Chuck.  And holy shit it was good.  I stood there and marvelled at it glistening in the sun, a double cheeseburger, topped with caramelized onions and bacon, the disclaimer begs, 'PLEASE DON'T PUT ON ANY TOPPINGS,' and I obeyed.  And then I made sweet, sweet love.  Juicy, tender, melt in your mouth and all around orgasmic, it kept me going, until security ordered me to leave, took my photo so I wouldn't re-enter and pushed me to the exit.  P.s I saw Guy Fieri while I was being escorted out, super neat!  All in all, an eventful day and an even better burger.    

So that's it, my fav burgers I've had so far....there's so many amazing burgers out there, and I will never stop hunting them down.