burger guide from our kitchen to yours
A guide to building a better burger!
The
Bun
Start Strong build the base b
c c
a
traditional still wins Though every other part of the burger is getting the “out there” treatment, traditional white and wheat buns remain the most preferred breads for restaurant burgers. More women than men prefer a wheat bun, likely because they perceive it as healthier, but more men prefer a sesame-seed white bun, perhaps because they see it giving their burger premium appeal.
generation gap The under-35 crowd is much more adventurous when it comes to bun choice, driving demand for the still-popular pretzel bun and other trendy carriers such as French bread, brioche sweet bread, focaccia and potato rolls. As this Technomic study shows, if your establishment caters to a younger customer base, don’t be afraid to get a little bold with your bun options!
what type of buns do your customers want? 38%
white bun sesame seed, white bun
40% 40% 37% 39%
wheat bun 28%
kaiser roll
24%
onion roll pretzel bun/roll
22%
30% 32%
857643 64/3.5 oz Sliced Jumbo Hamburger Bun, 5”
24%
potato roll
bagel
857651 96/2.1 oz Sliced Hamburger Bun, 4”
359199 72/2.8 oz Sliced White Sesame Bun, 4.5”
28%
ciabatta roll
436459 12/8 ct Sliced Brioche Bun, 4”
436491 72/3.17 oz Sliced Hamburger Pretzel Bun, 4”
37%
27% 32%
sourdough roll
brioche
44%
254034 192/.9 oz Sliced Hamburger Bun, 2.675”
22% 9%
28%
20% 18%
10% Technomic, “Burger Consumer Trend Report,” 2015
18 - 34 35+
463524 54/2.3 oz Black & White Sesame Bun 371338 7/6 ct Sliced Artisan Brioche Bun
The
patty
crave worthy burgers build loyalty fresh patties When you want to give your customers the most high quality, flavorful burger available look no further than Braveheart Black Angus and Performance Custom Meats. Features include: Braveheart is 100% Black Angus Beef Burgers and ground beef have a 24 day shelf life
Performance Custom Meats patties are weaved together for better cooking performance
Produced to order Produced under Safe Quality Foods Level 3 certification
Many sizes available
Braveheart’s Path Proven Technology helps to insure consistency
Never any fillers or by-products added
frozen patties The West Creek Brand features freshly frozen ground patties, Angus patties and grinds. All of our high quality West Creek burgers are blast frozen, locking in the freshness. West Creek features include: Made from 100% FRESH domestic beef trimmings Rochester West Creek patties are Individually quick frozen with paper dividers
All Rochester West Creek patties are scored for quicker cook time
Can be cooked from frozen, a tempered state or totally thawed
All Plymouth West Creek patties offer round and homestyle patties
Produced under Safe Quality Foods Level 3 certification
All Plymouth West Creek patties are blast frozen
what types of beef do your customers prefer?
18%
Burger Alternatives
514252 32/4.5 oz Quinoa Veggie Patty 34%
3%
514244 32/4.5 oz Black Bean Patty Angus
15%
Standard Ground Beef Sirloin/Steak Kobe
30% No preference Technomic, “Burger Consumer Trend Report,” 2015
514251 32/4.5 oz Sweet Potato Patty
The
cheese
add flavor with cheese Cheese is a great way to add flavor and differentiation to your burger lineup. Cheeses with spicy or pungent flavors like pepper jack or parmesan can add depth, while cheeses with creamy textures or craft sources like brie or goat cheese convey a higher, more premium quality. Check out a few unique cheeses to put on your burger:
Swiss #158724
Blue #263721
Brie #516407
Muenster #2115877
Flavor: nutty, yet mellow Ideas: Top with mushrooms, onions or slices of fresh avocado.
Flavor: pungent - creamy Ideas: blacken the ground beef and call it a black and blue burger.
Flavor: nutty, mild, smooth Ideas: Add bacon and micro-greens for an upscale looking burger.
Flavor: sweet & nutty Ideas: Add jalapeños to create a creamy kick alongside this cheese.
Manchego #300674
Gouda #336132
Monterey Jack #65057
Gruyere #445387
Flavor: fruity, nutty, sweet, tangy Ideas: Add chorizo and a zesty romesco sauce for a Spanish spin.
Flavor: caramely, nutty, buttery Ideas: Top with chimichurri sauce
Flavor: mild Ideas: Melt cheese and create a taco burger with jalapeños and pico de gallo.
Flavor: sweet, slightly salty Ideas: Add caramelized onions to compliment the sweet cheese.
what type of cheeses do your customers want? 66% 67%
american
62% 64%
cheddar 38%
swiss mozzarella
37% 36%
monterey jack
35% 39%
white cheddar
blue
41%
35% 37%
pepper jack
muenster
46%
37% 40%
provolone
parmesan
51%
28% 22% 18% 22% 16% 21% Technomic, “Burger Consumer Trend Report,” 2015
18 - 34 35+
how to melt Getting the perfect melt is so easy to accomplish. Use a basting cover, an inexpensive aluminum dome that short-order cooks use in diners. It looks like the lid of a sauté pan, except that it is domed to fit over the burger. A basting cover allows just enough clearance, meaning the cheese doesn’t touch and stick to it but the cover can still hold in the heat to melt the cheese beautifully. If you don’t have a basting cover, a sturdy metal bowl will also do the trick. Alternatively, you can close the grill cover or you can even tent each burger with a square of aluminum foil.
The
toppings
Hashbrown patties are a great side or topping
Peanut butter pairs perfectly with burgers
BBQ pork adds sweetness and smoke Add natural sweetness with grilled tropical fruits
Pickles and red onion Don't skip out on theese crunchy classics Both fried or fresh bananas are great on burgers
Roasted peppers add color sweetness and umami flavors
Use ham as a bacon alternative
Enhance with in season heirloom tomatoes
on top of it Lettuce, onion, tomato. It doesn’t get more traditional than that. But is it right in your establishment? Toppings can help your burger make sense with the rest of your menu. Are you well known for your homemade fried pickles? Add a layer. Do people travel miles for your chili? Add a dollop. Bacon is always good—a peppered bacon, deep, rich Black Forest bacon, or even Inside Out Candied Bacon are all memorable. Toppings can also verge to the exotic. Glaze your burger with a little teriyaki and suddenly a slice of pineapple doesn’t sound too weird. Fresh avocado brings in a wonderful creaminess and adds brightness to the plate, or you could go way over the top and add a seared piece of foie gras for the ultimate in luxury.
the condiments House-made condiments are all the rage and an excellent way to make your burger sing. Perhaps a chipotle ketchup, smoky and earthy with a little tang from adobo sauce, the perfect accompaniment for grilled meat. Aioli is endlessly customizable. Traditional garlic aioli is excellent, on the fries as well as the burger. Add a little Asian flair with a wasabi aioli or a nod to fresh ingredients by adding in some fresh basil. Regardless, the fresh flavors and ease of customization make aioli another great tool in making your burger memorable.
ketchup add-in bbq sauce, brown sugar cumin, chipotle, lime juice lime juice, curry powder teriyaki truffles
mayo add-in
unique
sour cream, chipotle, lime juice
sun-dried tomato pesto (#378106)
garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, cayenne pepper
moonshine bbq sauce (#484738) sweet chili chutney (#534030)
dijon mustard, egg yolk, lemon, bacon, scallions, bacon fat
thai sweet chili sauce (#948164)
horseradish, thyme, salt & pepper
jalapeño relish (#517736)
Hunk-A-Hunk-A Burger Love West CreekTM Peanut Butter West CreekTM Banana, Sliced RidgecrestTM Bacon West CreekTM Mild Cheddar Cheese Peak Fresh Lettuce
308156 468269 229841 158820 902578
Chipotle BBQ Burger West CreekTM Pulled Pork West CreekTM BBQ Sauce Sweet Pickle Sandwich Slices Chipotle Mayonnaise
397771 234866 983637 69575
or try with ROMA Battered Onion Rings RidgecrestTM Bacon Boom Boom Sauce
416089 229841 152240
Big Island Burger Magellan Sliced Pineapple, Grilled 19852 Sliced Ham 45581 BacioTM Mozzarella Cheese 287632 West CreekTM Mayo 201350 Cajun ROMA Cajun Seasoning 435832 Aioli
Third Shifter Burger Nature’s Best Large Egg, Fried Hashbrown Pattie RidgecrestTM Bacon West CreekTM Mild Cheddar Cheese
537013 2027143 229841 158820
3 Pigs Burger ROMA Pepperoni 78616 RidgecrestTM Bacon 229841 Sliced Ham 45581 BacioTM Mozzarella Cheese 287632
Cordon Bleu Burger Pictured on back cover
Sliced Ham 45581 RidgecrestTM Bacon 229841 West CreekTM Swiss Cheese 158819 Peak Arcadian Harvest Lettuce 314438
Denver Burger Piancone Fire Roasted Peppers Peak Fresh Red Onions, Sliced Nature’s Best Large Egg, Fried West CreekTM Mild Cheddar Cheese
232061 64507 537013 158820
bacon caramelized onion sliders
asiago meatball sliders
16 oz. ground beef sirloin Salt and pepper 4 oz. BelGioioso Mascarpone cheese 8 oz. La Bottega di BelGioioso ® CreamyGorg ® cheese 8 Mini pretzel buns/Pretzel dinner rolls Caramelized onions with rum (recipe in back) 16 slices bacon, cooked Baby watercress
16 oz. ground meatloaf mix (beef, veal, pork) 1 large egg, beaten 1/2 cup BelGioioso Romano cheese, grated 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley 1/2 garlic clove, minced 1/2 tsp. salt
Featuring Mascarpone and CreamyGorg ®
Combine beef with salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Shape into 2 oz. patties. Refrigerate patties until ready to cook. In a bowl, mix Mascarpone and CreamyGorg® together until creamy. Refrigerate until ready to use. Grill or pan-grill burgers over medium heat on lightly oiled grill. Cook thoroughly on each side. Toast buns, cut side down on grill. Assemble sliders with 2 Tbsp. Caramelized onions, grilled burger, 2 slices bacon, 1/4 cup Mascarpone/CreamyGorg ® mixture and baby watercress.
Featuring Romano and Asiago
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs 1/2 cup lukewarm water 4 BelGioioso Asiago cheese slices 8 slider-sized hamburger buns, split 1/2 cup pan-grilled onion slices 1/2 cup prepared marinara sauce, heated
Combine ground meats with egg, Romano, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Blend in breadcrumbs. Slowly add water, mixing until moist. Shape meatball mixture into 2 oz. patties. Refrigerate patties until ready to cook. Grill or pan-grill meatball burgers over medium heat on lightly oiled grill. Cook thoroughly on each side. Add 1 slice of cheese, halved to fit, atop each burger. Cook 1 minute longer to melt cheese. Toast buns, cut side down on grill. Serve each cheeseburger with 2 Tbsp. grilled onions and 1 oz. warm marinara sauce.
CREATE A BETTER BURGER WITH
crumbly gorgonzola burger Featuring Crumbly Gorgonzola
16 oz. ground beef sirloin Salt and pepper 4 hamburger buns 1/2 cup pan-grilled onion slices 8 tomato slices 12 oz. BelGioioso Crumbly Gorgonzola, crumbled Combine beef with salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Shape into 4 oz. patties. Refrigerate patties until ready to cook. Grill or pan-grill burgers over medium heat on lightly oiled grill. Cook thoroughly on each side. Add fried onions, 2 tomato slices and 3 Tbsp. of Gorgonzola crumbles, atop each burger. Cook 1 minute longer to melt cheese. Toast buns, cut side down on grill and add burgers to buns.
Adding a slice of our award winning cheeses brings extra flavor to any burger. Feeling adventurous? Smear a mixture of Mascarpone and CreamyGorg® on the bun for a bit of earthiness. A burger topped with a slice of our Asiago is always satisfying. The options are endless!