Casual Eats curated by Mass Foodies

The Bison Burger from BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge, MA

When you think of BBQ, the first thing that probably pops into your mind is either down south in the Carolinas or Texas, maybe even Kansas City…big plates of smoked meats perfuming the air, smothered in sweet and tangy sauces, or dry; letting the meat speak for itself. You probably don’t think of Sturbridge, Massachusetts when the BBQ conversation starts. However, over the last several years, B.T.’s Smokehouse has been establishing a reputation for offering not only some of the best BBQ in the state, but also the nation! It has slowly evolved from a small, roadside operation to a full blown sit down facility that will even do catering for a larger event; all the while gathering awards and accolades and hoards of countless BBQ fanatics who love the product they are serving on a daily basis.

Being a BBQ place, I found myself feeling strange ordering a burger. Watching the huge plates of brisket and racks of ribs with all the fixings’ pass me by made me regret not going for some whole hog BBQ fest. I figured that any place that can do legit BBQ justice can probably handle a burger. But not any burger… a bison burger. This is the first game meat burger that I have had the pleasure of trying in my burger adventure for Mass Foodies. I have had bison before and enjoyed it, I figured why not give it a shot. Given the nature of the bison and its healthy diet, bison meat tends to be extremely lean and quite the healthy alternative to ordinary ground beef. The bison burger at BT’s is advertised as a 9 oz. local buffalo patty with chunks of Beef Brisket and Caramelized Onions. No Cheese Needed! ($10).

I know that good BBQ is worth the wait and I get that, however this order seemed like it took forever, and frankly the final product paid the price. The marketed meal said that the burger came topped with beef brisket and caramelized onion… as you can see from my picture, not such toppings adorned my burger. I was disappointed right from the get go. Luckily, the quality of the meat saved the day. Even though the burger patty was grossly overcooked to the point of hockey puck status, the meat was still juicy and flavorful. Being that it is bison, it did have a slightly game meat aftertaste (in the best way possible). The meat did have what seemed like a house made sauce smothering the top. This sauce was tangy and helped stifle the crunchy edges of the burger. A side of cucumber salad helped mellow the gamey taste and add some tang and brightness to the dish. The bun was also too small to support such a hefty burger. I think that the chunks of brisket and onions would have made a world of difference in the final outcome of this meal, but alas I was left wondering “what if?”

As I sat in the cozy dining room with the other patrons, I enjoyed watching the Sox run up the score on the hapless Oakland A’s. I was able to reflect upon where this journey has brought me as I remembered some of the other places I have dined on the lustrous burger. BT’s was certainly one of the most unique places, with its charm and flare, as well as one of the more unconventional restaurants around. Like one of the signs in the dining room said, BBQ to some is more like a way of life, a religion if you will. It is much more than slapping a steak on a grill. It is attacking something with passion and vigor that comes out in the food that they serve to their customers. I can understand this passion and mindset whole heartedly. This passion shows in every meal they put out. Just next time, I will make sure I get the brisket with a side of mac and cheese and corn bread.

Where will my burger odyssey take me next? Have a suggestion? Tweet me your suggestion just might make my list! Until next time…
Tweet to @EDioufUC5

The Wagyu Burger from Hangover Pub in Worcester, MA

Let’s take a second and talk about bacon…crispy, wonderful, fatty, rich…bacon. Something hasn’t been loved this much by the masses since The Beatles came over from Liverpool. This one piece of pork has been so widely revered over the last few years that it has inspired countless pieces of merchandise, advertising, cult-like followings and not to mention a booming business for purveyors of Miss Piggy (my apologies to the Muppets). And like so many of the gullible yuppies that fell into any one of those categories I mentioned, I was right there with everyone else. I am a bacon junky. So you had to understand my enthusiasm when I learned that the first bacon themed gastropub in New England was opening up on Green Street was downright childlike. I had visions of me swimming in pools of bacon like Scrooge McDuck did with his money, except my fantasy was much more delicious and satisfying. So I had to check it out!

Located almost directly across the street from the newly renovated Cove Music Hall and taking the place of The Center Bar & Grill (thank goodness), stands the current location of The Hangover Pub. The interior is still cozy on the inside but there’s evidence of extensive renovations to make the atmosphere more inviting, modern and less sticky. Neat wooden accents around the bar bring focal points to array of local brews on tap, and the red walls slowly morph into a black slate chalkboard which reads the menu all around the restaurant. But enough about the inside…let’s get to the food!

Considering this is a burger blog, I got the only burger on the menu…the Wagyu Burger ($12). Advertised with Grey Hill bleu cheese, baby kale, bacon-onion jam, layered on a brioche bun with house fries and smoke sea salt. I mean, the description alone makes your mouth water. For those of you unfamiliar with the Wagyu, it refers to a Japanese cow. While there are several different breeds, these cows are the most desired in the world because they are genetically predisposed to better marbling, meaning better flavor. Many cows enjoy a life of daily massages, and a steady diet of beer and sake are meant to make the animals happier, therefore producing a higher quality of meat.

The meal came presented on a wooden plank, with a brown paper bag of French fries on one side and the burger on the other. The buttery top of the brioche bun glistened in the lights cast above the table. As I began to enjoy the burger, the first thing that came to mind was how tender it was. Cooked to a beautiful medium, the warm pink center was the way every burger should be cooked. The baby kale took the place of lettuce on a normal burger, but added a nice fresh crispness to the bite, while not taking anything away from the meat. The kale also added a nice temperature contrast by being cooler than everything else. The bacon-onion jam reminded me more of caramelized onions, making me wish there was more bacon on the dish. With that being said though, the onions added another level of sweetness to a normally rich burger. Unfortunately, the bleu cheese got overshadowed in this dish. I’m not sure whether it was because there wasn’t enough or the other flavors were too pronounced, but I wanted something more melty. Bleu cheese is usually very assertive, and I just missed that aspect of it in the bite.

As the night winded to an end, and I polished off the last maple glazed zeppoli for dessert (must try – out of control!), I was happy with my experience at The Hangover. The food was delicious and extremely unique. Everything on the menu is priced right and almost seems priced to encourage a group to order several items; as if the owners want you to try everything on the item in one sitting (which I could probably do but shhhh! – don’t judge me) There was so much more on the menu that I didn’t get to try, but there’s always another day. I am glad that this bacon pub is in my neighborhood, now I just need to make sure I visit my doctor more regularly. But where will my burger adventure lead me to next? If you have suggestions, tweet me @edioufuc5. Until next time…

Category: Casual Eats

BT’s Bison Burger

The Cure To A Hangover: Wagyu Burger