Gourmet Hamburgers

A few weeks ago, we were told about this place that "serves the best hamburgers" right on President’s Avenue in BF Homes in Parañaque. We did not manage to look it up until a few days ago when we had to have lunch on the road, meaning we needed to eat in the car to meet an appointment in Mandaluyong. The new place is called Boston Burger, where the young owners, a sister-in-law/brother-in-law team, have given the ever popular beef patties a new dimension, a gourmet taste and look.

As you order, you will be served a "dressed" sandwich. That means it is different from the others where you get it either with all the usual garnishings or you will have to go to a relish bar and smother your hamburgers with slices of tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, catsup, mustard and what have you. Here you have a choice of nine different burgers, which are all grilled, thus not fatty at all and each weighing at least 1/3 lb. Every burger comes with toppings that range from a variety of cheeses, mushrooms, sauteed onions and bacon. The most gourmet, to our taste, is the Blue Cheese, a perfect blend of fresh, naturally flavored meat and the delectable, nearly melting cheese. Other sandwiches offered include JFK’s Choice which is done with cured ham and cheese and the Cambridge Club, their version of the club sandwich consisting of three layers of bread with a filling of chicken, ham and cheese, coated with egg batter.

When you dine in, you will be immersed in an ambiance that is "Boston". In fact, it is like being in a mini-museum with artifacts and memorabilia–banners of the famous Celtics, a model of an old sewing machine, buttons, landmark photos, a beer mug from the once very popular TV sitcom Cheers, an old telephone (which was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in Boston).

Now, are there indeed typical hamburgers in Boston? The answer is–in any American city there are these patties but in Boston they make them special and it is this recipe that Boston Burger in the Philippines is executing in their busy kitchen. The enterprising young owners will be bringing this to other parts of the metropolis. Meantime, take out some (you get them in environment-friendly brown bags) or take in the Boston atmosphere with a sandwich and a drink (they give bottomless tea).

Word of caution–refrain from buying vegetables that are pre-packed in plastic bags. Hand pick your carrots, cucumber, Baguio beans, etc. You are not guaranteed fresh stock when you get them in plastic packets. A case in point were the packs we recently bought from S&R Price membership outlet at The Fort. Most of them were rotten when we opened the bags. It was good the store readily replaced them when we brought them back, but you can’t say the same for all other stores.

Prices are steadily rising these days. Note that a kilo of carrots now will cost from P78 to P90 a kilo, eggplants at P34. Mangoes are costing P90 a kilo and not all of them are sweet. The chicos we bought at Farmers’ Market were a disappointment (again!). After three days they did not ripen as the vendor promised. Lanzones at P85 a kilo are not a good buy either; most of them are still sour. There are lots of rambutan; pineapples are still abundant and are selling from P25 per. If you are lucky, sidewalk vendors might give them at P15 each.

Today, we are motoring early in the morning to Barangay Polo in the city of Valenzuela in Bulacan, where the residents are culminating the celebration of the San Diego de Alcala Fiesta with the Putong Polo Festival as its highlight. We are all familiar with this type of rice cake, much like the puto Biñan. This morning under the auspices of the office of City Mayor Emmanuel L. Carlos, the Putong Polo Bazaar will be launched with competitions and a parade. This should be an interesting day for us.

This week’s Christmas tip–the tiangge at Greenhills is your best source for baskets for your goodies. Most are attractively lined with the colors of the season. There are flatware baskets, twins for sauces, caddies for or with baking trays. They cost from P120 to P800 and you can bargain if you buy by the dozen.