‘The B.B. King’ Review
Burger Blues
Heading a menu list of the finest blues pioneers, “The B.B. King” represented a classic burger accompanied with the freedom to choose any cheese.
In a pleasantly uncomplicated arrangement, Mozzarella cheese was melted generously over a freshly grilled burger and placed far away from any accompanying veg. The top bun was adorned with one tomato slice too many (removed) and thick cut pickle (eaten) for some dynamic flavouring. Inviting smells of beef pervaded even before plate hit table, but did so looking a little too symmetrical to be fully trusted. Once built, the immediate concern was the overwhelming amount of bread relative to a now undersized patty.
Perhaps the softest bread to grace a burger on this journey, but the volume would still give even revered blues players the chokes. Requests of a medium-cooked burger were missed substantially, but the thin-to-medium-thin meatdisc really didn’t need all that much cooking and a higher temp from the start over less time would have produced a much needed crisp to the outside.
Somehow the first bite was still considerably satisfying. Juices flowing hot, the burger was seasoned with a light amount of salt, but unfortunately an even lighter amount of pepper.
As the burger diminished, juiciness dissipated and what little beef taste was present weakened considerably. Quality of meat while not poor was astounding nobody, and bearing witness to a cylindrical tower of beef patties defrosting on the side was enough to give anyone the blues.
The Taunt Test soon proved the overzealous serving of bread was too much, with near reluctance at having to face an increasingly dwindling ratio of beef. The end result was marginally better than a factory frozen meat disc and a rank under the Benchmark.
~ Pilgrim Mage
‘The Son House’ Review
Grillin’ In Your Face (*punnage*)
Slim’s is an appropriately named narrow bar on one of the outlying streets of Wan Chai. It is somewhat blues themed in that blues music is played in the background, and the burgers are all named after blues artists. I opted for one named after legendary bluesman Son House, which came with Bacon, Mushrooms, Onions and Pepper Jack Cheese – his absolute favourite toppings (I suspect that is not true).
Like brothers Jake and Elwood, the Pilgrims are on a mission from God (less musical, more meaty), so would Slim’s provide us with that revelatory hallelujah moment?
With an opportunity to view your patty being grilled, expectations were high. Procedures for cooking said patty involved all the tricks of the trade, with a good dose of seasoning applied before the burger was smacked on the flat top grill, and left alone to do its thing.
Left for too long unfortunately. The ‘medium’ patty arrived a uniform shade of brown, and absent any mouthwatering crust (I suspect the flat-top’s temp. needed cranking up a bit, or that these were some El Grande Concepts concoction made in a warehouse somewhere, and shipped to their various establishments that morning – lot’s of suspecting this week).
Still, despite the brown internals and the pointless enormity of salad that came with it, the overall burger looked good. It tasted good initially too. The bun (soft, buttery, tasty) had more char on it than the pitifully crustless burger. Nicely seasoned beef crept through most bites, often overshadowed by salty, slightly thick and chewy bacon that I eventually got rid of (and chomped after). The pepper jack cheese would have had Howlin’ Wolf well…howling with delight, but the onions and mushrooms, whilst tasty on their own, were the unnoticed triangle player hiding in the back of this blues ensemble.
Despite appearances, The Son House Burger was the ultimate in mundane, generic burgers. I was tired of eating it long before I finished, which is a positive for size I suppose, but also a clear negative for overall enjoyment.
The Taunt Test issued The Son House with its final death letter (it’s a Son House song. Admire my reference!). I took ample time to pick at chips and quaff some pint, safe in the knowledge I wasn’t missing out on much. Eating ain’t supposed to be exercise, but that is exactly what it felt like masticating my way through the last few bites.
Instead of leaving Slim’s basked in that post-feed euphoria, I was left preachin’ the burger blues. Our mission from God remains unfulfilled.
~Pilgrim Pickles