FOOD Smash burgers clobber competition 08 DRINKS Celebrities bring star power to wine choices 10 CANNABIS Stash the Zig Zags, check out our vape-r tales

FOOD GET SMASHED!

The Pastrami Burger from Toronto's Happy Burger

THE SMASH BURGER CONTINUES TO BASH its way into foodie hearts with its delightful, retro-simplicity hiding the culinary craft at the core of these crispy-edged delights.

The smash burger has been winning the bun battle at the best American fast food joints like Shake Shack and In-N-Out, for years. The smash patty is as simple as a regular chuck burger flattened down into a thin patty that’s then sizzled on the flat top until its shaggy edges are crispy and the centre is tender.

Making a permanent mark north of the border, smash burger joints across our NEXT Three Cities are giving those fast food spots a run for their money. Sporting only the quintessential cheeseburger toppings and a no-muss-no-fuss attitude, smash burgers are the new classic of the burger family.

WHERE TO SCORE GREAT SMASH BURGERS IN YOUR TOWN

TORONTO:

Matty’s Patty’s 923a Queen St. W., mattyspattysburgerclub.com Celebrity chef Matty Matheson’s Queen West burger shack is taking the chef’s heralded recipe from his pop-up collab. with RVCA’s Pat Tenore at 2018’s RVCAloha (Tenore’s Hawaiian skate-and-surf event), making it the centre of his newest restaurant.

Serving only the classics — single, double and triple cheeseburgers — along with their impossible burger counterparts, these “Patty’s” are slathered in American cheese and Matty’s special sauce, which includes the “holy trinity” of burger sauces (mayo, mustard and ketchup) with diced pickles and white onions.

Happy Burger 76 Lippincott St., happyburger.ca Happy Burger makes customers smile with freshly ground chuck and brisket patties served on the go-to bun for smashing, Martin’s “pillow soft” potato buns. These juicy burgers come dressed in a couple more options than just the classic cheeseburger. The pastrami-topped smash patty is a standout with griddled pastrami, American cheese, the works (lettuce, onions, pickles) and a happy sauce. EXTRA BURGER 269 Dunn Ave. extraburger.ca This Parkdale burger joint is slinging out the ultimate in classic smash burgers. With only its double or single cheeseburger on the menu, Extra Burger isn’t very extra at all. With no menu filler, this spot is focussed on creating the perfect beef patty (or Impossible patty for vegetarians) for you to grab and go.

CALGARY:

Lil’ Empire Burger 4323 1st St. SE lilempireburger.com Inspired by the golden age of roadside drive-ins in Southern California, Lil’ Empire Burger is a fast, casual burger joint focused on serving the perfect cheeseburger. Using local Alberta beef, this burger spot has a small menu that centres on sustainability and the quality of the ingredients. Try the staple Empire with Cheese or go plant-based with Beyond Meat patties. Boogie’s Burgers Renfrew: 908 Edmonton Trail Marda Loop: 2129 33 Ave. SW boogiesburgers.com Crowd-pleasing, creatively topped, savoury patties on soft buns have helped Noel Sweetland and Kipp Teghtmeyer create one of the biggest destination burger spots in Alberta — well, two locations actually! Boogie’s boldly features smash burgers piled high with toppings like butterflied hot dogs, fried mac and cheese wedges, and pepperoni and pizza sauce. Iyycburg 19 Sunmills Dr. SE iyycburg.com With smash burgers made from locally sourced meat and dairy, this spot is made by Calgarians for Calgarians. The menu here is simple: pick your patties (3-ounce single, double or triple) and watch as it gets loaded up with Iyycburg’s classic toppings and served on a lettuce wrap or Martin’s potato bun. Vegetarian? Iyycburg has a samosa smash burger, which can also be added to the smash burger of your choice.

VANCOUVER:

GTO Burger Last Pop-Up at 1950 Triumph St. instagram.com/gto.burger Mark Perrier, the former chef at Vancity’s Savio Volpe, is taking his burgers across Vancouver, working exclusively from different pop-up locations. Operating in a “slow fast food” mentality like fast food joints of the ’80s and ’90s, Perrier and his partner, Drew Dunford, put a ton of care and thought into their grass-fed and hormone and antibiotic-free smash burgers. Their Dressed Burger, a classic double smash topped with the works, is served on a sesame seed bun and lathered in a GTO sauce. Mimi’s Burgers 2287 W. Broadway mimisburgers.com Kevin Doyle and Jesse Harris are making hand-pressed smash patties in honour of Harris’s late mom, Mimi. The burgers here are made from quality beef and are handrolled and pressed to order. With only Mimi’s cheese, classic, double or beyond-meat burger the focus is on quality, taste and hospitality. Make it a combo and try Mimi’s colossal and crispy onion rings. ↑ Between2Buns 105 W Pender St. instagram.com/ between2bunsburgers Between2Buns is serving up some serious takeout smash burgers in Chinatown. Owner Tony Hua takes on a simple menu of cheeseburgers, focusing on making sure each cheesy-layered burger is made to perfection.

Try the Jalapeño Bacon Cheeser featuring the classic cheeseburger layered with bacon strips and pickled jalapeños.

LEARN 3 WAYS TO COOK SMASHBURGERS AT HOME

DRINKS SIPPING CELEBS

Solar power may be dimming as summer finally comes to a close (sorry, Lorde), but not to worry. We’ve picked the best celebrity wines from the vine so you can bless your fall feasts with star power instead. From France and Niagara to the best in film and the father of dropping it like it’s hot, we’ve scoured the market for celebrity wines that actually taste good. Be the ultimate dinner guest by showing up with one of these VIP bottles. The NEXT Taste Test Kitchens have deduced they’re worth the hype.

By LAURA ROBINSON

Snoop Dogg Cali Red 2019

19 Crimes Available in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto $20 It’s got bark, it’s got bite — just like the Dogg on the label. Grown in the California heat, this renegade Cali red is bursting with dark fruits and smooth body, with just the right amount of tannins to make it a bold sip. No doubt Martha Stewart and Snoop will be sharing a bottle over a candlelit roast beef dinner this fall.

Cuddy by Tawse Chardonnay 2016

Tawse Winery Available in Toronto $26 In their early days as a bar-playing band, Blue Rodeo would often be paid in beer. Developing a more sophisticated palate, guitarist and vocalist Jim Cuddy turned to wine and developed his own blends with a Niagara-based vineyard. This full-bodied blend is barrel-fermented and oaky but still has fruity notes of pineapple, pear and caramel apple.

SCAN THESE LINKS TO FIND THE WINES IN YOUR CITY: TORONTO VANCOUVER Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker Available in Calgary $25 This classy little package packs a passionfruit punch — from the first splash and sniff, aromas of the tropics dance in the glass. Blending the craft of a New Zealand Sauvignon blanc with the sophistication of a New York City It Girl, it’s the perfect not-too-sweet treat to pair with an episode of Sex and the City. And Just Like That… the entire bottle is gone. Rosé

Maison No. 9 Available in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto $30 Dear Post Malone: congratulations. This rosé is the perfect little blend of blushing strawberries, melon and lavender all wrapped up in a sleek and sexy bottle. It’s such a bright, refreshing sip that one taste instantly transports you to a gargantuan yacht on the French Mediterranean — where the wine is produced — as Post treats you to a private serenade.

CALAGARY BON APPÉTIT: SOMMELIER TRIES 16 CELEBRITY WINES The Tragically Hip Ahead by a Century Chardonnay 2019

Stoney Ridge Estate Winery Available in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto $22 Got the invite to a classy charcuterie soirée? Whip out this silky, citrusy Tragically Hip chardonnay. Because it’s only partially aged in oak barrels, it’s got a rich palate, but it’s not too oaky — think notes of smooth vanilla and sumptuous peach. Raise a toast to Gord with this luxurious blend, created in honour of the iconic Canadian band’s six-time platinum album Trouble at the Henhouse. Diamond Collection Claret 2018

Francis Ford Coppola Winery Available in Vancouver, Calgary (other Coppola wines available at LCBO in Toronto) $27 When the silver screen just wasn’t enough to conquer — see: The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders — legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola started a winery and wrapped the best bottles in gold. The crown jewel of the Coppola Diamond collection, this California-grown Bordeaux blend is a full-bodied, fruity-spicy red that’s the perfect companion for dinner and a movie.

VAPE TRAIL

VAPE PENS ARE THE PERFECT TOOL FOR ON-THE-GO ELEVATION. Get lifted discreetly with sleek and stylish pens that carry oil cartridges for all kinds of high. With rechargeable 510 thread batteries, you can find cartridges that will take you to familiar skies without the hassle of rolling up. Vaping also eliminates the skunky smell of smoking.

Whether its high-grade distillate, CO2 oils or live resin cartridges, we’ve got the products that will ensure you the best vape experience the market has to offer.

By NICOLE RICHIE

SunFarms Pennywise 1:1 Full Spectrum 510 Cartridge

Potency: 26% – 32% THC, 39% – 45% CBD, 0.5 g cartridge B.C.’s Sun Farms makes some great bud, which is why this isn’t the first time you’ve seen its products featured here in NEXT.

This cartridge has a substantial amount of both THC and CBD, giving smokers a balanced and clean high that will stimulate their minds and relax their bodies. This hybrid strain is preserved and extracted to create the cleanest oil for a smooth pull, every time. Greybeard KISH Live Resin 510 Cartridge

Potency: 82% – 88% THC, 0.2% – 0.10% CBD, 0.5 g cartridge Extracted from live flower instead of dried and cured bud, live resin results in a more natural and terpene-heavy vaping experience and features indica-dominant strain (Shishkaberry, better known as KISH) grown outdoors in Simcoe, ON. These powerful vape cartridges are very strong — perfect for sleeping, relaxing or pretty much any activity that doesn’t require moving for long periods of time. Dosist Pen Rechargeable in Arouse

Potency: 84% – 89% THC, 0.5 g cartridge Dosist recently released a rechargeable version of its iconic dose pens. The “arouse” terpene profile is aimed to enhance your senses, elevate your mood and give you a burst of energy — ideal for getting in the mood with yourself or a partner. It also works wonders for moments of meditation and self-care. Available in either 100 or 200 precise 2.5 mg doses with every puff, this pen allows you to get the perfect hit every time. Marley Natural Black 510 Cartridge

Potency: 70% THC, 0.5 g cartridge This naturally winterized cannabis oil is made from some of the cleanest Washington State flower and some of the highest cannabinoid content on the Canadian market, with pure oils providing a consistent high that’s made to last.

Marley Natural is known for its CO2 extraction method, which uses no filler or added flavouring to create its cartridges. The “Black” or indica-dominant cartridge is left with a clean taste and aroma, showcasing the best of its bud.

baby keem

the DeBUt ALBUM

Trailblazer Glow 510 Cartridge Solei Unplug Lavender Fog 510 Cartridge

Potency: 35% – 37% THC, Potency: 65% – 71% THC, 0.5% CBD, 0.5 g cartridge 6% – 11% CBD, 0.5 g cartridge Great for social gatherings, this IncLUDIng hI Solei Unplug is a sativa-dominant t sIngLes low-THC hybrid strain gives a ter-Montero (cALL Me By yoU cartridge that’s reminiscent of r nAMe) & InDUstry BABy pene-rich experience to smokers, lavender-infused tea; it’s calming, without sending them into oblivi- relaxing and leaves you ready on. With its ceramic atomizer, this cartridge safety heats up the oil oUt to snuggle up under the covers after a long day. noW with each pull. Sweet, with very little cannabis

Trailblazer’s Glow has a sweet taste, this vape cartridge is great and floral scent, which is domi- for smokers who are looking to nated by the myrcene and caryo- feel the effects of a high THC phyllene terpenes in this strain. vape pen without the harsh hit or Known for providing a focused, taste. Solei’s extracts are made uplifting and calming high, this from quality sun-grown Ontaris a great smoke for moments of io flower and use no additives creativity or to give you that extra during the extraction process. push in a social situation.