Cheeseburger Macaroni Cheese from the MacBar, New York.
[FOODTRUCK] Anna Mae’s / London / Comfort Food A-Go-Go
Dude, you put those on a brick and I’ll eat it.
I bowled down to the Vintage Festival on the Southbank to try and grab a taste of Anna Mae’s pulled pork sandwich. But I didn’t read the interwebz right, and arrived to find she was serving her Mac’ n Cheese instead. Did I walk away disparaged? Hell no, I love Mac’ n Cheese.
I liked the sound of all the combos that were on the menu, but opted for the Kanye Western; partly due to the name, but mostly because the additional toppings were barbecue sauce and hot dog pieces – dude, you put those on a brick and I’ll eat it.
It was pretty good. The ‘dog pieces were smarter than your average frankfurter, but not distinctively by much. It was the BBQ sauce that got me excited: sweet enough with a nice tangy backdoor. The only minor niggle I had was the sauce slightly overpowered the dish: The just-sloppy-enough consistency of the Mac ‘n Cheese was great, and if the cheesy component had been a touch sharper it would have provided a more interesting flavour contrast.
But that’s minor. I enjoyed it, it helped to sort out my hangover no end, and will venture back for definite. But I’m going to check with the internets first, because I’m gunning for the pulled pork next time.
Rob.
★[ON TOUR / REVIEW] The Big Ass Burger / The Roaring Fork / Austin, Texas
The patty was as good as you’d expect in a restaurant at this level - well seasoned, delicately pink in the centre and wicked juicy.
The Roaring Fork is slap bang in the middle of downtown Austin, cuddled up to the InterContinental and just down the street from the lovely Paramount cinema. This is classic steak and cocktail territory, the kind of thing other national chains base themselves around, but with a distinctively upscale cowboy vibe.
We snuck in for a quick burger lunch to escape the heat.
The tantalisingly-monickered $13 Big Ass Burger awaited. A hefty, shiny, properly laid out steakhouse burger, easily a half-pounder, with poblano peppers, American cheese and bacon. Elsewhere on the menu is a $15 Kobe beef option, but the pesto aioli meant we left it on the sidelines this time.
The Big Ass Burger arrived closed with a healthy portion of fries and a side order of green chili macaroni cheese. On first glance the shine and colour of the bun was hugely pleasing, and when split the burger held its structure very well and was beautifully soft. The patty was as good as you’d expect in a restaurant at this level - well seasoned, delicately pink in the centre and wicked juicy.
The green chilli mac didn’t pack as much heat as the name suggests, but was a rich ‘n saucy poshed-up example. Solid, but not life-altering.
Overall this was one of the tidiest Austin burgers we’ve had, despite its ample proportions. Great service and a welcome escape from the bustle of downtown Austin. Recommended if you want a relaxed sit-down lunch instead of chasing down a local foodtruck.
- Simon.
