FOOD NEWS
What To Look Out For When Eating A Supposed 'Gourmet' Burger
By Ashlyn Frassinelli
Not every burger described as gourmet deserves the title. A true upscale version features the best quality meat, the freshest toppings, and a balance of high-end ingredients.
Grade-A or Prime beef is a must — ground in-house is even better. Kobe or Wagyu beef is even more special, but Wagyu is sometimes falsely labeled in the U.S. restaurant sphere.
Freshness is key when it comes to toppings. Some restaurants craft their burgers with seasonal ingredients, such as juicy local summer tomatoes instead of imported winter ones.
Balancing ingredients is also essential. A little goes a long way with expensive toppings like shaved truffles, caviar, and foie gras.
Plenty of restaurants slap "gourmet" on sub-par burgers, so be sure to read the menu carefully and look for specific language describing why the burger has the moniker.
While fast food chains offer gourmet options, they typically won't be able to guarantee the same quality as sit-down restaurants that source their ingredients from local farmers.