Archive for the ‘Burger Joints’ Category

To all of my readers…I am SO sorry I haven’t posted in two months.  Shame on me.  I have just been so ill the last two months with morning sickness and I wasn’t able to do anything, let alone blog.  Now I’m feeling much better and am able to drink coffee again (hooray), which means I have energy and can get this blogging done.

Today I want to roll out the Sonic Drive-In  giveaway that I was suppose to do a good month ago.  Luckily, the people of Sonic are AMAZING and totally understood my situation as to why I was tardy with this.

Who doesn’t love Sonic??? I have never met a single person that would turn down a cherry limeade or some amazingly crunchy tots.  Sonic is America’s Drive in and their food is undeniably addictive.  My favorite you ask? Popcorn chicken and chili-cheese tots of course, with a diet cranberry limeade for the most delicious refreshment.

too much yumminess to choose from

Enter today to win a $25.00 gift card from Sonic.  For being so patient I am also sending the winner the remainder of my Sonic gift card, which is for $23.00 , that’s a lot of tots folks!!

Entry into this giveaway is easy, just follow these few steps and you’re entered to win. You may enter as many times as you like until Friday. If entering more than once you must refer a new friend to my facebook fan page.  Thank you so much.

1) Like Sonic Drive-In here on Facebook and here if you’re on Twitter

2) Like Food Tramp Diaries hereon Facebook and here if you’re on Twitter.

3) Suggest the Sonic Drive-In facebook page AND the Food Tramp Diaries facebook page to one friend (for every new entry you must suggest to a new friend)

4) The most important step: you must post a comment to this post as your entry and include your email address.  If you don’t comment, you haven’t officially entered. 

Good luck! I will choose a winner on Friday with the help of random.org

On August 3rd Red Robin began their fifth annual Kids’ Cook-Off which is a contest children ages 6-12 can enter for a chance to win their burger recipe on the Red Robin menu and Red Robin gift cards for one year! The grand prize winner also wins a family trip for 4 to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  This summer debuts last year’s cook-off winner Emma and her winning “Spicy Honey Glazed Bacon Burger.” 

I had the chance to preview this delicious burger the day before it hit the menus on August 3rd.  Emma’s burger will be on all Red Robin menus until September 12th and from now until September 12th children can enter the cook-off for their burger to be in menus next summer.

Spicy Honey Glazed Bacon Burger w/Havarti cheese

I’ve always been a fan of Red Robin, from their Red Robin Royal burger with the over easy fried egg on top, to the bottomless steak fries, you simply can’t go wrong.  I have to honestly say, that this spicy honey glazed burger thought up by a four year old, is the BEST burger I have ever had at Red Robin.  No joke, it was more than good, it was fantastic! I think it all has to do with the honey cayenne mayo that is on the bun.  This sweet,  spicy, and creamy sauce adds so much character and extra moisture to the taste of the burger itself.  You can’t get a Red Robin burger medium rare like I normally order my burger, but you can get it with “some pink” and with the glaze it was very juicy.  The bacon and the havarti cheese were a perfect combo also to accompany the burger.

Another great thing about the Kid’s Cook-Off burger is that fifty cents of each burger ordered will go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  NCMEC is an organization that Red Robin is passionate about fundraising for.  Since 2006, Red Robin has donated over $310,000.00 to this cause through the Kids’ Cook-Off as well as other programs.

The Food Tramp Diaries and Red Robin would like to give one of my readers a chance to win a $10.00 giftcard to Red Robin as well as a burger cookbook, “50 Gourmet Burger Creations From Kids Across the Country”. This will give you a chance to go in and try out Emma’s burger for yourself and give to a great cause.  I know you’ll LOVE this burger.

cookbook and giftcard

I will be running this giveaway until Saturday midnight.  Entry is per usual, follow ALL of these steps and you may enter as many times as you like.

1) Fan Red Robin on Facebook & follow them on Twitter (if you have Twitter)

2) Fan Food Tramp Diaries on Facebook and follow her on Twitter (if you have Twitter)

3) Suggest Food Tramp Diaries to two friends on Facebook

4) Leave a comment after this post of what you top your favorite burger with.

Good Luck!!!!!!!

25 Degrees is a super cool burger bar that opened up at City North.  It is one of only two locations in the United States, there is a third location in Beijing, China.  If you live in the Phoenix area you are seriously in for a treat as the burger I had here is definitely on my top 5 list of best burgers I’ve ever had!Also, for you thirsty folks there is a full bar and an amazing wine list and large selection of draft beer on tap. 

I recently came here for a “tweet up” and had a great time with foodie friends, enjoying 25 Degrees Happy Hour specials and eating some of their delicious food.  While sipping on my dirty martini I decided to order some bacon wrapped dates ($8.0).  In my bacon loving life I have wrapped a lot of things with bacon, but haven’t had the pleasure of dates.  They were delicious, soft and sweet in the middle with the smoky salty crunch of the crisp bacon on the outside.  Another item I recommend that I tried of a friends was the tempura green and yellow beans ($9.0).  The beans were fresh and not over fried with the tempura, they still had a great crunch and came with a yummy dipping sauce.

bacon wrapped dates

yum, tempura green beans!

After a couple martinis my hunger was substantial as I saw lots of burgers and dogs coming out of the kitchen.  I decided it was time to order up a burger to see for myself.  Granted, this is not your $5. burger, so if  you’re coming here, be ready to spend about  $10-$15 on a burger alone.  Everything is a la carte, so it can certainly add up, but it’s worth it in the end.  I decided to build my own burger when I learned that you cannot make any substitutions to their 4 specialty burgers on the menu.  So, here is what I ordered,  that I so lovingly dubbed, “The Food Tramp” : ground sirloin, smoked mozzarella, jalapeno bacon, caramelized onions, fried egg over easy, and thousand island dressing ($14.5). 

The Food Tramp in all her glory!

alternate view, check out that egg yolk situation!

I don’t quite know what to say about this burger, as it was just so damn good!  The burger itself was cooked medium with tender juiciness in every bite.  The additions I had on the burger added the perfect blend of spicy, salty, cheesy goodness.  Definitely up there on my list of top burgers along with Umami Burger , BLT Burger, and The Raft Burger.  The only thing I would change next time, is that I would get the garlic aioli instead of thousand island.  I am  a lover of garlic and didn’t notice it on the list when I ordered the other dressing.  I also had a bite of my friends bacon wrapped Sonoran Dog ($10.5) which was also super delicious and I am eager to order one of those as well the next time I am there.  Oh, and did I mention that they even have adult milkshakes??!! I didn’t get one, but I tried a sip of the “bourbon bacon” milkshake and it was just cool, creamy and yum-E!!! 

I throughly enjoyed everything about 25 Degrees.  From the atmosphere, to the beautfiul wallpaper of half naked sexy ladies in the bathroom, to the food.  It’s really a great place to go for a drink, for a burger or both! Check it out SOON.

I actually got a hot tip about Lobby’s Beef, Burgers, Dogs from one of my readers!!  What a good tip to get.   I’ve been very behind on being able to review restaurants due to my child’s health issues.  However, things are getting much better and I’ve been able to get out a little more, so Lobby’s has been on my list for months now, and I needed to check it off. 

Lobby Syregelas grew up in Chicago, and his family had always been in the restaurant business. Already owning Butterfields Pancake House, he knew his entreprenuership was not over.  He had fond memories of enjoying beefs at Portillo’s and wanted to share the love of Chicago style beefs, burgers, and dogs in the valley of the sun.  When you walk into Lobby’s you automatically feel the love and the passion from Lobby as he is up at the register greeting all of his customers.  “Hi there, this your first time here?” The first thing Lobby will say to you…if it is your first time, he will then explain the simple, but all homemade menu to you and offer suggestions.  He’s such a nice guy and his passion for this restaurant shows in everything they do.

My husband Jeremy really wanted to do the Lobby’s 3lb burger challenge. Ten years ago he had conquered a 96oz steak challenge in Tucson at the Texas T-Bone, so he figured a 3lb burger would be nothing! I wanted to try a single burger out myself and then at the last minute I added a maxwell sausage because I love caramelized onions.  Can’t forget an order of Chicago style fries, cooked up in older oil that gives them a deep color and great flavor.  Lobby only cooks french fries in his fryers and nothing else so they taste perfect every time. 

Mario putting J's 9 patties on the grill

Owner, Lobby Syregalas presenting the massive meat!

before the timer started

Jeremy had  ten minutes to finish this massive burger.  It was hot, temperature wise, and big…but I still thought he had this in the bag!! However, after seven minutes only 4 patties were down and I feared the worse.  I tried to encourage him, told him he had three more minutes and it was time to hustle…but he just couldn’t make it happen. He told Lobby that the meat was so good that he couldn’t eat it too fast..he was actually enjoying the flavor of the beef so much. 

get a load of that toasty bun and all that cheese

Lobby prepares all of the items on his menu when you order them, every morning they ball up their fresh ground beef even bigger than 1/3 lb so that when they cook it , you’re truly getting 1/3 lb.  Lettuce, tomato, your choice of real cheese, and even homemade pickles he orders from Chicago.  Lobby also makes a simple sauce that goes onto all of his burgers.  I’m tasting mayonnaise, ketchup, and cayenne pepper, he says I’m partially correct, but won’t spill the beans.  Another thing I love are the buns..not your normal sesame seed bun, it’s a lighter bun and the grill master Mario butters them and toasts them on both sides so when you take a bite, you immediately taste the toasted seeds…IT’S SO GOOD!!!

I’m not gonna lie, I ate my whole 1/3 lb burger, the maxwell dog and the fries.  Maybe I should have taken that challenge, lol.  Lobby’s maxwell was the bomb!  The onions were caramelized when I ordered it in real butter and you could totally taste it, I was hooked.  The bun was a traditional Chicago style poppy seed bun, yum.  The fries are a crinkle cut, and normally I really don’t like any crinkle cut fries, but these browned right up and with a little salt tasted delicious, no ketchup needed.

I can definitely say that this is now my favorite Chicago style eatery in the Phoenix area.  Simple menu, fresh ingredients, and quality you can taste!  I’m already craving another bacon cheddar burger and thinking about asking for those caramelized onions on top, YUM!

You better listen to Lobby!