#FridayFood: Praying to the Burger Gods

What makes me happier than a burger? Not much. Except maybe finding out that my favourite Toronto-based burger chain, Burger’s Priest, has opened a location in Ottawa! Just in time for my arrival. My gosh, I truly couldn’t be happier. 

After living in Toronto for many years, a couple of things have happened. Covid, for one, has made being employed very hard. Two, paying rent on your own, when finding employment in two Covid-hit industries that Toronto is known for–media and food–isn’t happening, making enough money to pay exorbitant rents is near impossible. CERB doesn’t cut it in a places like Toronto and Vancouver.

Given an opportunity, I’ve opted to come to the Nation’s Capital, where effective today, Ottawa is entering Stage 3 of reopening. But Toronto, as of today, saw 28 new Covid cases, and is not reopening with the majority of the province.

Do I feel I’ve made a good choice? Yes. Not to mention, getting a better bang for your buck in the rental department isn’t so bad. Sure, I’ll take an entire townhouse for the price of my basement apartment in Toronto.

Might I suffer a few niceties in this move? Sure.

But, not this one, not now. You see, this girl loves a burger.

I have a Top Five. And I’m fussy. I want the burger I want for a reason. Here is why, and what my reasons are, in descending order. Keep in mind, I’ll travel across town for any of these burgers when the mood strikes, and suggest you take this same advice. (Ottawa friends, you are in for a treat).

Especially now with food being dropped right on your doorstep.

5. Burger King Whopper - The Whopper was invented in 1957 and originally cost 37¢. A Whopper^® has a ¼ lb of savory flame-grilled beef topped with cheese, juicy tomatoes, fresh lettuce, creamy mayonnaise, ketchup, crunchy pickles, and sliced white onions on a soft sesame seed bun. Overall, this is a nice sweet mix.

Recently, Burger King posted this video, showing how a Whopper rots. Not overly appetizing, but it makes the point about the ingredients being fresh.

4. MacDonald’s Big Mac - Is there anyone who does’t know what is on a Big Mac? Two all beef patties, sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Why would I think everyone would know that? It’s the sauce! The sauce! There are even recipes to make your own special sauce. But here’s how I really know, it’s this catchy little tune. There is truly no reason not to eat a Big Mac on McHappy Day.

3. Wendy’s Single Classic with Cheese - Apparently, a Classic is made just the way Dave intended. I like that. Dave seemed like a nice guy when he used to appear in their commercials. He convinced me he actually flipped burgers, not just ate them. It has a quarter-pound of fresh beef, American cheese (which I think just means it’s yellow), crisp lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo, and onion on a toasted bun. My all-time favourite drive-through burger. Not to mention, the fries travel well. And a baked potato is an option if you don’t feel like a fry. Skip the salad. Baked Potato.

2. A&W Mama Burger - From the Burger Family, the Mama Burger has a perfectly seasoned patty of 100% pure beef – raised without artificial hormones and steroids – topped with pickles, a slice of onion, ketchup, mustard and Teen® sauce, served on a freshly toasted sesame seed bun. Again, the sauce. And with A&W’s push to use Canadian Beef, they make us feel pretty good about eating it. And sometimes, you can get 2 for $4. Also, upgrade, get onion rings.

1. Burger’s Priest Blue Steel - Last, but certainly not least, and my very favourite burger of them all is the Blue Steel. It is by far the simplest one. It’s got a premium beef patty, and blue cheese. It’s absolutely delicious. I add pickles, and lettuce. You can choose a single or double patty. The double is featured in the above photo. Mmmm. (Don’t forget to ask about the secret menu).

Enjoy your burger!

image: https://twitter.com/burgerspriest/status/1009458547778818048/photo/1