#cheeseburgerweek

[pasadenachamber]

The Pan serves oj in a tiki glass. Order some with a burger for Pasadena Cheeseburger Week. @thepan_pasadena @oldpasadena #pasadena #pasadenachamber #pasadenachamberofcommerce #cheeseburger #cheeseburgerweek (at The Pan Pasadena) https://www.instagram.com/p/B767-9BDmCS/?igshid=16unpbbuzfde7

[tomsburgerblog]

Lucky Baldwin's Signature Burger at Lucky Baldwin's (Pasadena, CA)

Old Town Pasadena's only authentic British pub.

On the fifth day of Pasadena's Cheeseburger Week 2017, I braved torrential downpours and ventured into Old Town Pasadena for a lunch time burger at Lucky Baldwin's. They were really playing up Cheeseburger Week, way better than any other area restaurant so far. Their menu offered two burgers, and after a short moment of consideration, I decided to try the Lucky Baldwin's Signature Burger.

Overall Appearance: 4 Points (of 5)

Lucky Baldwin's is a British pub, so it was no surprise when my Signature Burger arrived with a side of homemade crisps (although, and I'm trying to be impartial here, the crisps I make at home are better). The burger itself was quite tempting, even if the lettuce kind of dominated the presentation.

Bun: 6 Points (of 10)

The Signature Burger is served on a standard brioche bun, light and airy where it needed to be but substantial enough to hold up under pressure.

Meat: 20 Points (of 30)

The patty is a generous eight ounces of meat, and while this one spent a little too long on the grill (my medium-rare request had creeped into the territory of medium-well), it still had a respectable amount of flavor. Plus it had bacon, which is always a good thing. But because it was overcooked, it lacked a juiciness that I look for in a good patty.

Cheese: 10 Points (of 15)

The Signature Burger is crafted with a generous sprinkling of blue cheese, which I thought was a great choice. There wasn't so much that it dominated the other ingredients. Instead, the sharp bite of the blue cheese really brought the burger together.

Vegetables: 8 Points (of 15)

Lucky Baldwin's keeps it simple here with a crisp piece of iceberg lettuce and two slices of tomato. Nothing fancy, but it worked quite well with the bacon and blue cheese.

Sauces: 6 Points (of 10)

From what I could tell, this burger had only one sauce, a rich bacon jam (yes, bacon jam!) that (obviously) enhanced the bacon-ness of the burger.

Messiness: 3 Points (of 5)

I really wanted this burger to be a bit messier, but it suffered in this category due to the aforementioned lack of juiciness.

Burgerness: 7 Points (of 10)

Overall Lucky Baldwin's Signature Burger is a decent burger choice. It offers the connoisseur a slightly different burger experience while still maintaining a certan burger integrity. All that said, I'm not quite sure why Signature is italicized on their menu, but I stuck with it.

Burger Score: 64

Lucky Baldwin's Signature Burger is $13 at Lucky Baldwin's, 17 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105. This one was consumed on January 12, 2017.

[pasadenachamber]

At The Counter in Pasadena. Delicious! @thecounterburger @thecounterpasadena @pasadena_restaurant_week @pasadenayouthworks #pasadena #burger #cheeseburgerweek #pasadenacheeseburgerweek #pasadenachamber https://www.instagram.com/p/BrMFittBaet/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qmficb0h0fxj

[pasadenachamber]

Last chance. Have you tried any of our great burgers? Www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com @pasadena_restaurant_week #pasadenachamber #chamber #chamberofcommerce #shoppasadena #pasadena #pasadenachamber #cheeseburgerweek #cheeseburger (at Pasadena, California)

[pasadenachamber]

Take the Cheeseburger Challenge. Vote for your favorites at pasadenarestaurantweek.com @pasadena_restaurant_week #cheeseburger #cheeseburgerweek #pasadenachamber #chamber #chamberofcommerce #pasadena #shoppasadena (at Pasadena, California)

[pasadenachamber]

Thank you KTLA 5 News for featuring Pasadena Cheeseburger Week this morning. #ktla #pasadena #chamber #pasadenachamber #chamberofcommerce #cheeseburgerweek @ktla5news @pasadena_restaurant_week

[pasadenachamber]

Cheeseburger Week featured on KTLA Weekend News! Thanks for the coverage. @ktla5news #ktla @pasadena_restaurant_week #pasadenarestaurantweek #cheeseburger #cheeseburgerweek #pasadena #pasadenachamber #chamber #chamberofcommerce (at KTLA5)

[pasadenachamber]

Cheeseburger Week is almost here. @pasadena_restaurant_week #pasadenachamber #chamber #chamberofcommerce #shoppasadena #pasadena #cheeseburgerweek #pasadenarestaurantweek #cheeseburger (at Central Park Restaurant)

[pasadenachamber]

Central Park Restaurant in Pasadena for breakfast. Try them for Cheeseburger Week. #pasadenachamber #chamber #chamberofcommerce #shoppasadena #pasadena #centralpark @centralparkrestaurant #centralparkrestaurant @pasadena_restaurant_week #cheeseburger #cheeseburgerweek (at Pasadena, California)

[pasadenachamber]

Rounds takes the Cheeseburger Challenge for Cheeseburger Week in Pasadena.. @pasadena_restaurant_week #cheeseburger #cheeseburgerweek #pasadena #shoppasadena #chamberofcommerce #chamber #hamberger @roundsburgers #roundsburgers (at Pasadena, California)

[pasadenachamber]

Find out how your favorites fared in the 2017 Cheeseburger Challenge. Visit www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com for results. #pasadena #chamber #cheeseburgerweek #cheeseburger #pasadenacheeseburgerweek (at Take the Cheeseburger Challenge)

[pasadenachamber]

Have you visited the Pasadena Restaurant Week website yet? Find all the info at www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com #pasadena #chamber #cheeseburgerweek #pasadenacheeseburgerweek @centralparkrestaurant @elcholopasadena @flemingssteakhouse @mipiacepasadena @meatdistrictco (at Take the Cheeseburger Challenge)

[pasadenachamber]

Day four of Cheeseburger Week. How about a change of pace with the Inside Out Quinoa Burger at Food Kitchen? @true_food_kitchen #pasadena #chamber #cheeseburgerweek #pasadenacheeseburgerweek (at Take the Cheeseburger Challenge)

[tomsburgerblog]

American Old Faithful Burger at Meat District Co. (Pasadena, CA)

Farm to table, Pasadena to Sydney.

On the third day of Cheeseburger Week 2017, I headed to Meat District Co. in Old Town Pasadena for their enticing "burger and a beer for $15" special. The lunch menu showcased a few different burgers, but the centerpiece was clearly the American Old Faithful Burger.

Overall Appearance: 4 Points (of 5)

There aren't any plates at Meat District Co. Instead, the American Old Faithful Burger arrives at your table on a cleaver-shaped cutting board with a huge steak knife jammed right through its center. I'm not sure what message this is supposed to send, but with a half-pound patty, The Old Faithful is certainly one imposing burger.

Bun: 5 Points (of 10)

A dense bun with the slightly yellow tinge of egg bread topped off with a smattering of sesame seeds. It's also grilled, as evidenced by the char marks on it (this is a thing in Pasadena it seems). It was interesting to discover, however, that his bun may be too much for this burger—when the meal was over, I was left with a few hunks of burger-less bun on my cutting board.

Meat: 30 Points (of 30)

With a name like Meat District Co., the meat you offer had better be top-notch—and that's certainly the case here. The Old Faithful comes with a substantial half-pound patty that was delicious, perfectly cooked, and stands out as one of the more satisfying grinds of meat I've ever had.

Cheese: 7 Points (of 15)

The Old Faithful doesn't normally come with cheese, but for Cheeseburger Week, they're giving diners the option to add a slice of aged cheddar (the only cheese choice they offer). I do like cheese on my burgers, but this relatively thick slice did seem to be a bit of an afterthought.

Vegetables: 8 Points (of 15)

The Old Faithful comes on a bed of mixed greens and tomato slice. There are also a few pickles (although they got a little lost in the mix) along with a hearty—perhaps a little too hearty—helping of caramelized onions. The lettuce provided a nice crunch that worked to counterbalance the smooth sweetness of the onions.

Sauces: 5 Points (of 10)

The burger is dressed with Meat District Co.'s house sauce, a mayonnaise-based concoction that worked with the rest of the ingredients, although it didn't really stand out.

Messiness: 3 Points (of 5)

It's hard to eat a burger with a knife sticking out of it, and when I removed the knife, the burger started to fall apart—mainly due to the slipperiness of the carmelized onions. Of course eating a half-pound patty can be a challenge on its own, and the integrity of this burger couldn't stand up to the dual-sided slickness of the onions and the tomato.

Burgerness: 7 Points (of 10)

The Old Faithful is a solid burger, both in heft and execution, that comes with one of the most flavorful patties I've ever had. It's definitely worth trying, however, a different bun would help elevate this burger to epic status. And that knife thing ... it's a little weird.

Burger Score: 70

American Old Faithful Burger is $10 for lunch ($15 for dinner) at Meat District Co., 69 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103. This one was consumed on January 10, 2017.

[tomsburgerblog]

Wood Grilled Cheeseburger at Seco (Pasadena, CA)

This one comes with "the works."

Cheeseburger Week 2017 continues today with a visit to the newish Seco New American, a "new American" grill on Lake Street in Pasadena. The menu offers two burgers, the fancy American Wagyu Burger and the more traditional Wood Grilled Cheeseburger. As much as I enjoy a fancy burger, I want to stay true to the original concept of the cheeseburger whenever possible, so I decided to go for the more conventional-sounding Wood Grilled Cheeseburger.

Overall Appearance: 5 Points (of 5)

Seco's Wood Grilled Cheeseburger, despite having a slightly confusing name, looks like a classic burger—it's even delivered to the table wrapped in a white paper sleeve. This is the kind of burger you just can't wait to dig into.

Bun: 7 Points (of 10)

A decent bun, light and fluffy yet sturdy enough to support the overwhelming number of ingredients included in "the works" garnishing the burger. The bun obviously spent a little time on the grill (it even has little char marks on the inside), lending it a little extra sturdiness and a bit of toasty crunch.

Meat: 24 Points (of 30)

The burger part of the the Wood Grilled Cheeseburger is a substantial patty that's cooked just right. The blend has good flavor and just enough fat to keep it juicy without falling apart.

Cheese: 8 Points (of 15)

A thin slice of cheddar, almost an afterthought, is meltingly draped across the top of the patty. The cheese kind of gets lost with the rest of "the works" that dress up the burger.

Vegetables: 7 Points (of 15)

"The works" in this case means shredded lettuce, a substantial slice of tomato (it was almost as thick as the patty), and a smattering of pickles. I found it odd that onion, which would have helped combat the powerful mix of sauces, wasn't part of "the works."

Sauces: 3 Points (of 10)

The Wood Grilled Cheeseburger had four (that's right, four!) sauces—mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and relish. This made each bite overpoweringly sweet (the mustard was all but lost in the mix). So many competing sauces really took away from the flavor of the patty. In many of the bites I took, all I could taste was sweetness.

Messiness: 5 Points (of 5)

I was glad Seco provides thick cloth napkins, because this burger was perfectly messy. After each bite I had to wipe the corners of my mouth and when it was all over, my hands needed a good wiping as well. Yet this was a well-constructed burger, and the whole thing stayed together through the final bite.

Burgerness: 7 Points (of 10)

This was a good burger. It looked great and the meat was tasty. However, including pickles and relish together was a curious choice. The relish was very sweet and the pickles were savory, resulting in conflicting flavors. If it weren't for this—and the excessive sweetness and competing tastes of too many sauces—this could be a top-notch burger.

Burger Score: 66

Wood Grilled Cheeseburger is $16 at Seco, 140 S Lake St, Pasadena, CA 91101. This one was consumed on January 9, 2017.

[tomsburgerblog]

Zacatecas Burger at El Portal (Pasadena, CA)

A California Burger by way of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Pasadena's much-anticipated Cheeseburger Week 2017 kicked off yesterday (January 8), and one of the contributing restaurants for this year's celebration is El Portal. This Mexican restaurant doesn't normally offer a burger on the Yucatan-themed menu, so I was intrigued about their special offering for Cheeseburger Week, the Zacatecas Burger.

Overall Appearance: 3 Points (of 5)

When the Zacatecas arrived, it was obvious that this was not a typical burger. The bun was a little squat and there was a slice of ham peeking out from under the edge. It definitely didn't look like a traditional burger, but then again, this wasn't a traditional burger restaurant. Also, unlike many burgers I've eaten, this one arrived at the table already sliced in half.

Bun: 5 Points (of 10)

The Zacatecas Burger is served on a telera roll, which is traditionally used in tortas. It reminded me a little of a ciabatta bun, but not as hard. In fact it was perhaps a little too chewy.

Meat: 20 Points (of 30)

The relatively thin patty is a combination of ground beef, ground pork, and chorizo, which were blended well gave the burger a slightly spicy flavor. And, as if that wasn't enough meat, El Portal added a thin slice of ham on top of the burger.

Cheese: 6 Points (of 15)

Nothing special here, just a slice of American cheese indulgently reclining atop the the patty and underneath the ham slice.

Vegetables: 7 Points (of 15)

Some leaf lettuce and a few rather thick tomato slices provided a little bed for the patty.

Sauces: 5 Points (of 10)

A thin layer of "special chipotle sauce" garnished the bottom of the top bun. It had a very distinct Thousand Island flavor with just a hint of the advertised chipotle smokiness coming through. Overall this sauce was a bit overpowering, distracting from the interesting flavors of the meat.

Messiness: 3 Points (of 5)

This was not an easy burger to keep together. The ham, slicked up by the special chipotle sauce, combined with the lettuce and tomatoes made for a very slippery sandwich. On my first bite, the patty, along with most of the toppings, squished out the opposite side.

Burgerness: 5 Points (of 10)

The Zacatecas lacks a little burgerness, it does offer the connoisseur some interesting flavors and a cure for the standard burger blues. Overall, a decent burger for the first day of Cheeseburger Week 2017.

Burger Score: 54

Zacatecas Burger is $10 at El Portal, 695 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101. This one was consumed on January 8, 2017.