MOO

MB & Jake enjoying their yummy burgers and soup.

There's a new burger place in Ottsville that we tried out for dinner on Saturday night.  It's called MOO.

It's not just your typical burger joint, however.  They use organic and locally produced ingredients in all their offerings.  The place is decorated with big portraits of some of the farmers that produce their ingredients. 

MOO started as a food truck in Wrightstown and has branched out with the restaurant that opened on January 23.  You can read more about how MOO came about in this article from Bucks County Taste.

They offer a somewhat limited, but tasty-sounding menu--burgers, hot dogs, fries, salads, grilled cheese sandwiches, chili, soups, birch beer floats, locally-made (NJ) sodas, etc.  The prices aren't the cheapest, but considering what you pay in a McDonald's or Burger King, it's well worth it.

Mary Beth ordered the Moo Burger--a cheese burger that comes with lettuce, onion, pickles and "moo-goo" (their version of special sauce).  Jake ordered just a plain burger.  I went with the Moink--the same as a Moo Burger, but with bacon.  (Get it?  Moink?)  MB also got some homemade butternut-apple soup.  Jake and I got fries, too.

I wish I could report that everything was wonderful.  Nothing was bad, but, for example, the fries were a little limp and could have (should have) been more crispy.  They made a mistake on our order--brought Jake's burger with cheese when it was supposed to be plain.  I chalked these problems up to simply being new.  I look forward to tyring it again in a month or so once they get their "restaurant-legs" under them.

As for the burgers, they were delicious.  The meat is ground on-site and you can tell.  The patties are hand-formed and have a nice crust on the outside.  They are incredibly tender and flavorful.  Mine was a little on the rare side, but I didn't mind since it was freshly ground.  So if burgers are what they're known for, then they're on the right track. 

When we got there, we were the only ones in the place.  But soon, it filled up--good to see for another local business promoting good, local food.

MOO is located at 4010 Durham Rd, Ottsville (right where 412 and 611 intersect).  Hours are 11AM-7PM, Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays at least during the winter).  You can find them on Facebook or call 215-317-3317.  Cash only (although there is an ATM on the premises). 

The Original Ham-Burger

I made a very tasty burger over the weekend that I thought I'd share with you.  It's kind of unusual (no beef), very easy and really yummy.

It's from Ted Reader's Hot and Sticky BBQ cookbook.

THE ORIGINAL HAM-BURGER
Makes 12 burgers

INGREDIENTS
1 lbs ground pork
1 lb (1/4" thick) slice smoked ham or back bacon, diced
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp ground dried sage
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
12 burger buns
1/2 cup melted butter

1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. In a large bowl, combine pork, ham, onion, garlic, mustard, parsley, black pepper, red pepper, sage, cayenne and salt.
3. Form into 12 equal-sized patties.  (A flatter burger will cook more evenly and faster than a more ball-shaped burger.)
4. Grill burgers 4-5 min per side for medium-well.  (They will be dry if you overcook.)
5. Brush buns with melted butter and grill cut-side down until crisp and golden brown.
6. Top with your favorite cheese, veggies, mustard...whatever you want!

Musings

Your days are numbered, Tom.

Well, we're in Thanksgiving week--usually a pretty crazy week for most of us.  Whether you're cooking or cleaning or traveling or whatever--there's lots to do. 

We're not hosting Thanksgiving--we'll be doing the usual 2-Dinner Marathon--but I'll be making some Cranberry Relish, Rocky Road Fudge and Roasted Asparagus (or Green Beans--haven't decided yet) for the 2 meals.  It's nice to have both families close by so we can spend the holiday with both, but it sure is a lot of eating.  It's all in the pacing, as we like to say.

I ate at Five Guys Burgers & Fries for the first time yesterday.  So greasy.  So messy.  Sooooo gooooood!  They really are good burgers (and the fries are tasty, too).  I got mine with grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, cheese, ketchup and jalapenos.  Sat in my gut for much of the day, but it was worth it.

To make up for the nutritional deficiency of lunch, I made a tasty, smoky Barbecued Salmon for dinner.  Very easy and yummy.  And healthy!

Jake and I are disgusted with the over-abundance of Christmas songs, etc.  Once Thanksgiving comes, then, OK.  But it's just too much too early.  I feel the same every year, but it seems like it gets earlier and earlier every season.  Oh well. 

Well, in case I don't get to post anything else before Thursday, I want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the food and family! 

I Like a Good Burger, But...

Have you heard about the $5000 burger? 



                                          Photo courtesy of Kirvin Doak Communications

 

 Chef Hubert Keller's new Las Vegas restaurant Fleur, offers one.  Yes, it's made with some of the world's best ingredients--Kobe beef, foie gras, black truffles--and it comes with some good wine.  But 5 grand? 

Well, it's a gimmick and some bajillionaire will pay for it just to say that he did.  I wonder if they serve Heinz or Hunt's ketchup...

Read more about it in this article from Speakeasy.

The "Best"

Jake and I went out to dinner the other night.  He wanted to go to Wendy's.  I tried to convince him to go somewhere else--Duck Deli, Luberto's--somewhere with decent food.  Well, guess who's choice won?  Yes, that Baconator was delicious.

We don't go to fast food restaurants very often.  Probably once every couple of months.  It's usually when we're traveling somewhere and we need something really fast.  Or as a special "treat" for Jake--it's the toy in the kids' meal that's the real treat. 

But for many, fast food is a way of life.  (As a personal chef, it's my goal to make this way of life disappear--heating up one of my meals is quicker, more nutritious and a heck of a lot tastier.)  A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless (and mindless) once uttered the words: "McDonald's?  Oh, man, I LOVE their food!"  I seriously don't think I've ever heard anyone speak about fast food with such passion and exuberance.  He's lovin' it.

Zagat's, the well-respected travel raters, have recently put out their survey on chain restaurants--both fast food and full service.  The best fast food burger?  Five Guys Burgers & Fries (I've never been there, although I have heard that their burgers are good.).  The best fast food fries?  McDonald's. 

The restaurants are grouped as Large Chains (up to 5000 US locations) and Mega Chains (more than 5000 US locations).  Overall, here are the fast food winners:

Best Food: In-and-Out Burger (large) & Wendy's (mega--our fast food of choice)

Best Facilities: Panera Bread (large) & McDonald's (mega)

Best Service: Chick-fil-A (large) & Subway (mega)

Check out more of the survey here.