Mini Burger Truck

As a general rule, I don't eat food that comes off of a vehicle. But there seems to be this gourmet food truck revolution going around and I want to get on the bandwagon. Then I heard there was a food truck that serves burgers. It's no secret that I love burgers so I was overcome with excitement when I received this news!

After obsessing over it for a number of weeks, I finally decided to feed my burger beast. The Mini Burger Truck did NOT disappoint! 

Allow me to explain: you get the choice of having two or three of your typical slider mini burgers. Of those two or three, you have the choice of five kinds of burgers which includes the monthly seasonal burger (think soup of the day). The money from seasonal burger purchases is donated to a different charity monthly. Sides include fries, chips, and sweet potato TOTS (get these)!

I ordered a three pack with sweet potato tots. Of the three burgers i chose "The Cowboy" (pepperjack, bacon, bbq sauce), "The OG" (an In-N-Out type) and "Da Philly" (mushrooms, provolone, grilled onions). Wow! The burgers were cooked to perfection! Size really doesn't matter! I was amazed at the quality of the food. The Mini Burger Truck has many great days ahead. Keep up with their daily locations by following them on Twitter!

Formoli's Bistro

I've come to harbor high expectations for restaurants with the word "bistro" in their name. Formoli's Bistro is no exception. The dining room is a very nice open area but I wasn't there for ambience. I was told the Whiskey Burger is among the best in Sacramento. Obviously, I had to find out for myself.

Formoli's Whiskey Burger is pepper encrusted with a whiskey demi-glace (rich brown sauce), cheddar cheese, habanero aioli, and mixed greens on a ciabatta bun. Sounds fancy, huh? My first impression of the burger was "where's the whiskey?" A hit of whiskey flavor or a whiskey aftertaste was what I was looking for but apparently a whiskey demi-glace doesn't lend itself to have a strong whiskey flavor.

Unfortunately, my mind set as I was eating the Whiskey Burger was "is this better than Tuli's Atom Burger?" It isn't. It is delicious but plain. The quality of the meat is amazing like the Atom Burger but the Whiskey Burger has just a different fusion of flavors.

Restaurant Thir13en

Another lovely Sacramento Downtown restaurant, Restaurant Thir13en is housed within The Sterling Hotel. This restaurant is under ownership of those who also manage the outstanding Tuli Bistro so naturally I would have to stifle my excitement. Needless to say, expectations were high.

It was a beautiful day so my family and I ate outside. The ambiance was wonderful. We were served water with cucumber. It is extremely refreshing!

Obviously, their Capitol Burger was in my crosshairs. I was curious about the taste of Misami Ranch beef (chuck) which was the meat used in the burger. The time it took for our orders to arrive was a bit extensive, but in their defense we showed up during the lunch rush. When the food arrived I ravenously took my first bite. The burger was okay. It was a little too juicy. By the time I was finished there was a grease/juice puddle on my plate (ew) and the tomato was cold so it skewed the temperature of the beef. Not as good as Tuli's Atom Burger. I only use this comparison because Tuli and Thir13en are under the same ownership.

Restaurants are not perfect because they are ran by we, imperfect people. That's why I do not get upset if my meal does not come with a ribbon tied to it. I will give Restaurant Thir13en more chances because ownership is outstanding.

De Vere's Firestone Burger

The second week of #SacBurgerMonth (5/8-5/14) at De Vere's Irish Pub featured one of the most unique burgers I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. This burger houses many different flavors and they all come together very nicely.

The double ground beef is kicked up a notch by adding smoked pork and is cooked in a red wine, shallots, balsamic vinegar based sauce. Then we add smoked cheddar goat cheese and fried onions. The Grateful Bread local bakery supplies the bun.


There are two items here I've never had on a burger: goat cheese and shallots. Not only do these ingredients help make the burger what it is (awesome) but they add a dimension of flavor I have never experienced until now. The shallots give the burger its sweetness, off-set by the (delicious and funky) goat cheese. The bun is perfectly soft. It doesn't get soggy from the juices of the burger and shallots. I would have never thought to use shallots and goat cheese on a burger. The amazing combination of flavors further proves to me that the hamburger is the most versatile entree in the history of the WORLD!!

Burgers & Brew: A Sacramento Gem

Not far from R15 bar in Sacramento sits a burger restaurant that should have been built in my backyard. Burgers & Brew is perfect for those who have an affinity for... well... burgers and brew!

As soon as I walked in, I knew this place was something special. The rustic decor was fitting for Sacramento's Midtown and it was populated with the young adults of the city which made for a vibrant atmosphere.

Now the food. Every burger is a half pound! The bacon cheeseburger (with guacamole) was my prime choice and I heard the onion rings are second to none. They did not disappoint. My food arrived at blazing speeds and I couldn't wait to dig in. My burger came decorated with a toothpick sheathed down its center as most burgers do. I removed the toothpick, picked up the burger and took a bite. The next thing I knew, guacamole oozed out of the top of the burger like a volcano! That gave me quite a laugh! The burger was cooked perfectly, the bacon was crispy, and the bun wasn't soggy. I was in Heaven.Burgers & Brew also boasts an impressive list of (you guessed it) beer. I heard about Banana Bread Beer and I had to give it a try. Wow! The amber colored beer was delicious as it housed a hint of banana!

What an amazing experience! Burgers & Brew will have my business for the rest of my life!

The Squeeze Inn!

After much anticipation built up by my co-workers Chris Burrous and Scott Zetner, I finally had to make a visit to The Squeeze Inn. Critically accliamed by Food Network's own Guy Feiri (there are pictures of him and 'Sac's best' magazine covers all over the restaurant).

I've already been there twice and I must say, this place is wonderful. It's a little ol' orange building on Fruitridge Avenue and Power Inn Road. Inside, is one row of bar/diner type seating. Outback, there are tables for anyone who cannot fit inside or take their food to-go. A weekend customer should definitely count on wating in a line that stretches in front of the building.

The most popular item on the menu is the Squeeze Burger with cheese. It's almost a normal burger except for the cheese. It is prepared with shredded cheese. The cheese is added on the burger as it cooks on the grill so it melts and surrounds the whole burger as if the burger wore a cheese dress. A customer could even add other toppings such as (but not limited to) bacon, mushrooms, or jalepenos. The Squeeze Inn also offers tacos (delicious) and assorted sandwiches.

After visiting the Squeeze Inn the second time I met Mark. He puts the burgers on the grill. I had to confess my love for him after eating my Squeeze with Cheese (yes, you will fall in love with him after a taste).

Not only does the Squeeze Inn get a "MMM, this IS a tasty burger!", but it also gets a "oh... this is what CRACK must feel like!!!" A rating that is not easy to recive in my book.

Burger Generosity

One day, I came into work at Best Buy. A little hungry, I downed a lot of water hoping it would fill me until I took my lunch break. As I walked to the Home Theater Department, my friend and co-worker David says to me, "hey Julian, I brought some burgers from The Habit for you guys." I stopped what I was doing and stared at David.

"Really..?"

"Yeah, bro. Is there a problem?"

There was a problem, because I almost shedded a tear. I ran to him and gave him a big man hug (nothin wrong with guy love).

Now The Habit has a really good burger. The char-grill all of their patties and they have 4 different burgers: The Char-burger, The Double Char-Burger, The Teriyaki Char-Burger, and the BBQ Bacon Char-Burger. They all have the option of adding cheese, bacon, or avocado. I've tried all except the BBQ bacon. Oh, the milk shakes?!? Incredible! They also offer sandwiches and salads. The Habit has made things worse for me. Now I'll really have to practice self-control!

So if you know a friend who is feeling down, give them a burger. It'll be sure to brighten their day!

"MMM! This IS a tasty burger!"

Homemade Burgers ;)

On Easter Sunday my family and I got together like we do on most holidays. My uncle, Arnold (Pop to us) always barbeques ribs, chicken, franks, AND... BURGERS! Yes my uncle is our go-to-guy for some tasty barbeque. He makes his own sauce that is mouthwateringly delicious. I love to take my burger patty and dunk it in the pot of BBQ sauce and just adding some cheese. The combonation of the burgers, potato salad, greens, and mac & cheese makes this a beasty meal. It's simple yet elegant!

I even fooled around and made my own BBQ sauce. I was told it came out wonderfully, but I can't find the dang recipe... :( I'll figure it out.

Home cookin is the best! You could really let your imagination run wild with adding sauces and toppings (fried egg, guacamole, peanut butter). I bust out the Foreman's Grill sometimes and grill up some turkey burgers and my Daddy gets crazy with veggie burgers. The "patty" is a big ol' mushroom!

"MMM! This IS a tasty burger!"

Carl's Jr Is On Fire!

Man, I gotta hand it to Carl's Jr. They're menu is unique and has classic selections as well as new crazes. The Six Dollar line of burgers has become more interesting by allowing any burger to be downsized to a single or double.

I finally got a taste of the Kentucky Bourbon Burger (the single). The bourbon sauce and the crispy onion straws transform what could have been a normal burger to what my uncle Pop would cook up on the barbeque grill. As I crunched into the onion straws the combonation of the bourbon sauce and bacon made for a savory beginning. I really like this one.

Now that there are eight burgers of the Six Dollar variety, Carl's Jr has a tempting selection of excitement and uniqueness. It seems I have a another reason to pull the 'Lac into the drive thru.

"MMM! This IS a tasty burger!!"

Bernie's Wimpy Burger!!!

Alright friends, I made it to the International Deli with Andrew and Thad. The restaurant seemed more like my grandpa's kitchen. Old navy pictures on the walls, a big old Hitachi tv playing The History Channel. It was a "manly" establishment.

I was greeted by a former Navy diver named Bernie. He was quite beasty. First thing Andrew says, "get the Deluxe Wimpy Burger with cheese!" How perfect is that??? A burger named after me!!! Of course the name "Wimpy" as quite a reputation, but I digress.

Bernie delivered my Deluxe Wimpy con queso and a plate full of fries. Needless to say I was foaming at the mouth. It was a basic burger: beef patty, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. But there is a bonus. The burger was like eight to ten inches long and it tasted great! The Wimpy was better than fast food and can rival chain restaurants.

After Andrew, Thad, and I inhaled our food, we joked about how some food just isn't good without the grease!

"MMM, this IS a tasty burger!" -Jules Winfield (Pulp Fiction)