Serious Sandwiches: The Aussie Burger
Add beets, and you have got an Aussie Burger.
Is there anything greater than the breakfast burger? I love a decent burger, and if you top it with an over easy egg, something magical happens. And that magic is called egg yolk, covering your burger in gooey goodness. Last week I sampled the breakfast burger from Goodburger (a slightly upscale, NYC burger chain) along with some co-workers, one of whom remarked, "Add some beets to this, and you've got an Aussie Burger." Come again? Beets? Now that sounds like something I could get into.
Apparently, New Zealand and Australia know what they are doing when it comes to burger condiments. In addition to the standard burger toppings, you'll often have the option of adding pineapple, avocado, the all important egg, and—the most common—beets, to any burger you order. In fact, beets are almost as standard as pickles here in the U.S., meaning you actually have to ask them not to include them if you're not a fan.
I've never been to Australia or New Zealand, but this is as good a reason as any to go. The best looking version I could find online was this one, from Australia's Finest Burgers in Subiaco, Australia. If it tastes half as good as it looks, I'm sold. If you can't justify a trip down under for a hamburger alone, then we have nothing in common. But more important than that, you can make one yourself using a recipe our own Blake Royer posted here three weeks ago. How I missed it, I will never know! (There's just too much good stuff on this site to keep track of it all.)
About the author: Zach Brooks is the proprietor of Midtown Lunch, where he blogs about affordable lunchtime eats in Midtown Manhattan. The guy knows his sandwiches.
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14 Comments:
Indeed, the egg/beet/ burger combo is hard to beat. The Sunburnt Cow on Ave. C & 9th St. serves a great Australian burger with all of the above, plus grilled pineapple, bacon and cheese (!).
potatopunk at 2:48PM on 05/14/08
I went to Colby College in Waterville, ME. A cheeseburger topped with a fried egg is on their campus restaurant menu as a "Colby Eight", named after the college's men's a cappella group.
I made one of these for my BF shortly after we got together. Now it's what he requests every year for his birthday!
Amandarama at 3:08PM on 05/14/08
That Aussie burger photo is brilliant. I may have to try and recreate that, soon.
JustinH at 3:12PM on 05/14/08
Sheep Station in Park Slope has the Shearer's Burger, which is pretty rocking: beets, pineapple, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onions.
salty_sticky at 3:29PM on 05/14/08
I used to live in New Zealand and the McDonalds had what was called a Kiwi Burger (Since New Zealanders are called Kiwis)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwiburger
Tahitinova at 4:30PM on 05/14/08
Also.. Surprisingly enough the Aussie McDonald's version did not include the egg.
Tahitinova at 4:31PM on 05/14/08
In Charlottesville VA, you can go to the White Spot on the Corner and get a Gus Burger which is basically hamburger, cheese, and a fried egg.
feep at 4:53PM on 05/14/08
Has anyone tried it at Eight Mile Creek down in SoHo?
Emily Koh at 5:20PM on 05/14/08
I remember these from when I lived in Oz -- a 'Burger With The Lot' -- cheese, pineapple, beetroot, bacon and a fried egg plus the usual lettuce, tomato and onions...
tech9803 at 5:38PM on 05/14/08
Ruby's in NYC makes Aussie style burgers! I haven't been there in years, but I'd love to go back and see how it is.. :)
roboppy at 6:31PM on 05/14/08
To answer your question, yes, I can assure you there are LOTS of things greater than the breakfast burger...
film_score at 8:10PM on 05/14/08
Pineapple has no place on a burger! But I'd say (as an Australian) beetroot has as many fans as it has haters. Plus that restaurant you mentioned seems like one of those upscale burger joints that have been opening all over - touting their rather expensive burgers as a healthy option. Real heads know it's the local fish and chip shop that brings the goods.
billions at 3:01AM on 05/15/08
An Aussie once made me a super-tall, crusty buffalo burger on sourdough, and, knowing of a fondness for poached eggs bordering on psychosis, topped it with a lightly poached ova and hanks of tarragon. He said the buffalo was a nod to me, the egg was essential "at home," and that was intercontinental breakfast in bed. The beet sounds intriguing!
HappyHoarfrost at 10:56AM on 05/17/08
Billions is right. The burger on the Australia's Finest Burger website is a pale imitation of the real thing.
ndaws at 1:23PM on 05/24/08