2014 Burger Week Special

Back by popular demand, Halifax's Burger Week 2014 was held from March 20-27 - an extra day because a massive snowstorm derailed many people's plans to get an extra dose (or two) of cholesterol. In total, 50ish local restaurants participated - many offering a $5 special, others offering a special that included a donation to Feed Nova Scotia.

Just like last year, when I had seven burgers in seven days, my office diet competition coincided with Burger Week. But, well, screw that!

Thursday, March 20
Burger #1: I'd never visited Brewsters before, but the words "chicken and waffle burger" made it impossible to stay away. The venue was, in a word, "diverse" - there was a pool section, a VLT section, a horse-betting section, a dance area (where a weird networking schmoozefest was going on), and of course, the diner area with billiard-themed booths and the Dave Matthews Band blaring a little too loud on the stereo. But whatever. Fluffy Belgian waffles infused with a hint of maple syrup, a large crispy chicken breast and coleslaw slammed together and stuck together with a spit, topped with a tomato and a pickle. It was like the worlds of breakfast and supper collided in a flaming pile of awesome. Actually, it was like a "mature" McGriddle (chicken instead of egg). It was hard not to smile and grunt while eating this thing. If I could have done one thing differently, I would have had the coleslaw on the side and added bacon. And cheese. That would have been one hell of a sandwich!

Friday, March 21
Burger #2: I like Relish (the burger chain - the condiment is ok). I like sliders. I like macaroni and cheese. I like waffle fries. I like all of these things put together. But honestly, I wasn't really blown away and I left hungry - and that's after adding an expensive poutine. The waffle fry bun idea was cool, and who doesn't love adding mac and cheese to any main meal, but this was an appetizer, definitely not a main. The mac and cheese was also cold and not particularly cheesy. So, points for creativity, but not my top choice of the week.

Saturday, March 23
Burger #3: We had a hell of a time trying to find seating at Flipburger's new Argyle Street location, but dang, it was worth it. I wanted to give another "mac and cheese burger" a try, and I love Flipburger, so I gave it a whirl. I was NOT disappointed. The mac and cheese was basically a fried patty on top of the burger, along with a plethora of other ingredients including braised short rib (yes!) and pickled onion (usually NO! but on this, YES!). The mac and cheese was not the dominant taste but it worked very well with all elements of the burger. A big win, right here!

Tuesday, March 25
Burger #4: We reviewed Kempster's Cookhouse back in 2011 and it was...okay, but we haven't been back since. But they had an interesting offering for Burger Week, so we gave it a shot. Nacho Libre was a pretty awful 2006 movie featuring Jack Black's lousy moustache, but a nacho-themed burger? Had to try it. To be honest, it didn't feel particularly Tex-Mexy - it lacked that signature seasoning and spice, but it was definitely good - and beefy! It was a substantial sandwich for $5 - the burger was big and fresh, the bun was hearty and tasty, and all of the ingredients were good. Maybe some guacamole would have tied it all together? Not sure. But the julienned nacho chips (ON the burger) were an excellent touch. Definitely worth a try!

Thursday, March 27
Burger #5: We were heartbroken that a massive "spring" storm on the 26th coincided with the last day of Burger Week, but fortunately, many of the participating restaurants extended their offer until the Thursday. Thank goodness, because if not for that, we would have missed out on the best burger of the week! Last year, The Chickenburger's triple cheeseburger was good but not our top choice. This year, it was a cheeseburger topped with a hearty piece of buttermilk fried chicken, cheese, frizzy onions, spicy mayo and honey mustard. In truth, this sucker looked kinda small and homely (the bun was kinda squished). But, looks were deceiving. Holy crap! The burger was so fresh and the chicken was so tasty and had a fantastic crunch. The onions were a nice touch and the mayo and mustard were both subtle but critical to the success of this concoction. It was so good that I actually had to go up and order another one. Not because I was hungry, but because I needed another. It wasn't for my stomach, it was for my mouth. Wow. Hands down, the clear-cut winner of Burger Week. Bravo! And to think, we almost missed it!

Final Rankings:
#1: The Chickenburger
#2: Flipburger
#3: Brewster's
#4: Kempster's
#5: Relish

So, I wasn't able to stomach as many burgers this week as I did last year, but I'm not particularly sad about missing any of the others on this year's docket.

Big props to everyone who interacted with us via Twitter during Burger Week - it's always great to hear what you have to say!

One final remark - this time last year, we were on the cusp of surpassing the 1,000 follower mark. This year, we're just a handful away from 2,000. We're disappointed that once again, The Coast has snubbed us in their Best of Food survey's "Best Local Food Blog" category, but whatever - we really appreciate your support!

In a couple of days, we'll be announcing a special giveaway contest to our Twitter followers to coincide with a special event that J will be taking part in. Stay tuned...