Teach Middle East Magazine May 2014 issue 1 vol. 1 | Page 25

Taste It Share It

MORE THAN JUST YOUR
AVERAGE BURGER
By Richie Chin

I

admit it! I’ve become somewhat
of a burger snob. Before
experiencing the Abu Dhabi (AD)
food scene, I was content to eat
the popular American meal trinity of
burger, fries and a soft drink at any of
the standard fast food restaurants. You
know the ones I’m talking about. This
was until a friend introduced me to the
gourmet burger!
Since that first bite, I feel like I’ve been
on a quest to find the best burger
around town. As such, I’ve come
across quite a few in the past couple
years. Most have been good and lived
up to the reviews (word of mouth or
otherwise). A few of them have come
with a somewhat hefty price tag that,
I believe, is more a reflection of the
popularity of the establishment rather
than the quality of the sandwich.
The other day I came across a new
burger in town. It’s being offered by
the recently established Leopold’s of
London located in Sun Tower on Reem
Island. Their Black Angus Burger is
poised to be a strong contender on the

AD gourmet burger scene. The amply
portioned beef patty is lightly seasoned
allowing the flavour of the meat to
take center stage yet not overpower
the other elements of the sandwich.
For example, the buttery sweetness
of the toasted brioche (that acts as
the carrier) is not lost on the palate.
In fact, it perfectly complements the
earthiness of the beef and accentuates
the smoked, salty goodness of the
veal bacon. Still, the patty is the star
of the show and I suggest ordering it
‘medium’ as, in my opinion, this retains
the tenderness and juiciness.
Much thought and care is given, not
only to each component of the dish, but
also to how they are brought together
in harmony. The burger is served
open-faced with a delicately dressed
coleslaw nestled on top of the bun.
On the side are thin slivers of pickled
cucumbers and small pots of aioli and
homemade barbecue sauce. What
I like about this semi-deconstructed
presentation is that it gives the diner
more control of how much (or how little)
of the condiments and “fixings” are to

be added. It also prevents having the
limp vegetables and soggy bun that
often accompany hamburgers that are
served fully assembled. Who would
have that this humble American staple
could be elevated to such culinary
heights?
Of course, the meal would not be
complete without fries. The ones that
come with the burger are thick-cut and
fried to golden perfection. A drink has
to be ordered separately, but even so,
you will spend under AED 100 for the
entire meal. That makes this burger a
real contender on the AD burger scene
as it offers quality food at a good price.
If you’re ever on Reem Island, make
your way to the Boutik Mall and try out
this new eatery, relax on comfy sofa
seats inside or outside (you decide)
and sample their absolutely delectable
Black Angus Burger!

Photo courtesy
of Leopold’s of
London.

After The Bell

May 2014

23