The finale, Part 1: The Hutt bites back

So you know how I said I was a bit sick last week? Well I managed to find some pretty keen helpers to assist in finishing all of the 33 burgers taking part in Burger Wellington. (Three from the Hutt and one in Porirua).

First up is Millie Mirepoix of Gusty Gourmet fame. (Yeah, see she's a pro at this food blogging shizz. I bask in her olive oil-infused glory.) Here's her report:

I'm a bit ashamed to admit that my first reaction when I heard that Greer was sick and needed help eating burgers was one of total excitement. Normally I don't find joy in others' suffering but it had been a particularly long day, I was completely ravenous and a big, juicy burger (or two) was just what I needed. With Mum (conveniently visiting from overseas) in tow, I headed out to Petone.

First up was Gusto Bistro.

What: Lamb Baa'ger: Lamb rump & confit of Wharekauhau lamb shoulder patty with cracked wheat, sumac mayo and hand-cut chips

Where: Gusto Bistro, Jackson St, Petone

Cost: $22

Stars: 5  

Comments: Oh. My. God. I want to make a big call and say that this is the best burger I've ever tasted. Seriously.

Nothing about it was out of the ordinary burger formula - meat patty, lettuce, onion, tomato, gherkins, mayonnaise, sandwiched between two halves of a bun - but everything about it was extraordinarily well executed. The patty, which was about as thick as a decent-sized paperback book, was amazingly tender and juicy and well seasoned. The morsels of lamb confit were interspersed throughout, making it rewardingly rich and, well, amazing. The sumac mayo was the perfect accompaniment, though I have to admit I was too focused on the amazingness of the patty to have picked up on the sumac flavour. The lettuce, onion and tomato were first-rate - no soggy or mushy vegetables here, and the bun (ciabatta, perhaps?) was toasted enough to give that crispy-chewy texture. Divine.

The oversized hand-cut chips served with the burger were equally delicious: crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. I couldn't fault them if I tried. 

My only wish would be to have this burger again before I die.

Next stop was just across the road at Burger Wisconsin.

What: WoW - Wisconsin on Wellington: venison shoulder strips with chilli remoulade and fresh julienned winter vegetables and salad on a sourdough bun.

Cost: $11.90 ($14.90 with kumara fries)

Stars: 3.5

Comments: I actually had never been to Burger Wisconsin before, and was pretty interested in the fact that a (relatively) major burger chain was participating in Wellington on a Plate. But they're Wellington locals, having started in Petone around 20 years ago, so there you go.

This burger was actually pretty good. I think it was a bit unfairly overshadowed by the previous one I'd had moments before, because I wasn't "WoW"ed by it - but it wasn't bad either. Highlights definitely included the venison strips, cooked fresh to order by the owner herself; they were juicy, tender, and super flavourful. A bonus was that I was asked how I liked the venison cooked - I opted for it on the rare side and it was definitely a good choice.

I liked the array of julienned vegetables accompanying the meat: leeks, carrots, zucchini mixed with coriander and mint, and the chilli remoulade was tasty though I'm not sure if it went with the burger as a whole.

The minus for this one was that it was quite juicy and saucy, so by the time I was about halfway through the burger the bun was starting to get a bit soggy.

We chose the option with kumara fries and they were not bad, and it seemed like they had been pretty freshly fried, which is always a good thing.

Overall, I'd order this one again - if just for the delicious venison. And I heard they are thinking of putting this on the regular menu due to the positive response, so I may have my chance!

 *********************

The next to assist Burger She Wrote was Krystle Field - a Twitter follower who bravely put her hand up to sacrifice her taste buds in the name of Burger She Wrote. 

What: The Deli Burger- Chargrilled venison burger topped with gorgonzola dolce, rocket and pear, with a chilli chutney on a toasted muffaletta bun served with hand-cut fries and aioli

Where: Peppermill Delicatessen, Norrie St, Porirua

Cost $16.50

Stars out of five: 4.75

Comments: I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of venison so I wasn't sure what to expect with this burger but it was oh so yummy! The meat was very tender and tasty and the chargrilled flavour of the venison really made it extra delicious. The mix of gorgonzola dolce, rocket and pear worked really well together, the rocket was very fresh and the peppery flavour of it really brought out the flavours of the cheese and pear. The chilli chutney finished off all the flavours very nicely. Top marks for the "muffaletta bun": it was a great size to pick up with your hands and didn't fall apart.  The fries were chunky yet still crispy (a hard art to master!) and the aioli the chips came with was very fresh and tasty.

Overall a very yummy "gourmet" type of burger.

***

What: Big Bud - The chef's chunky burger with beetroot, fried egg, onions, lettuce and tomato

Where: Mayfair Cafe, 116 Main Street, Upper Hutt

Cost $16.50

Stars out of five: 3

Comments: This was a HUGE burger, I was very happy that I was sharing it.

It was definitely a more traditional type of burger with the Kiwi favourites of beetroot and perfectly cooked fried egg in there too. The meat patty was quite crumbly and sort of fell to bits when you tried to eat it but it was tasty, though it could have done with a bit more flavour to it.

The salad ingredients were nice and fresh but they were let down by the addition of the slivers of red peppers from a jar which were quite oily and had a strong taste that were a bit overpowering.

There wasn't a bun, as such. Instead there were two doorstop pieces of bread; the lid of the burger was placed off to the side with what looked like mayonnaise or aioli drizzled on it - it tasted very bland and a bit strange.

It could have done with some sort of sauce or cheese (a burger should always have cheese, I say!) as that seemed to be lacking and left the burger a bit dry.

This is the burger you would want to eat if you had a big appetite and weren't expecting anything fancy. It came with a huge serving of chips, which even two of us could not get through.

***

Thanks ladies - you're both legends! 

Next up today (keep checking back today!) are the final burgers of the competition...

Then I'll hand out my own awards!