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The Great Northern Colorado Burger Debate

I have been told, "If you want the best burger you have to go to......" You can fill in a slew of names. Is there such a thing as "the best burger?" It reminded me if a very funny episode of HIMYM (How I met your mother). If you are not familiar with the show this will not really matter to much the story holds. Marshall a boy from a small town in Minnesota comes to the big city of New York and just when he feels he cannot take it there any longer he finds a door with a Red neon sign above it written Burger. To him it becomes in his mind the greatest hamburger he has ever eaten. Years later the city again had been getting him down and his friends decide it is that burger they need to find again to lift his spirits. (Thus hilarity ensues and a guest spot by Regis Philman.) Will I wreck it for you by telling you if they ever find the elusive burger joint... no. If you've seen it you know and if you haven't you are still looking. Lets look together here in the NoCo area. Here is a list I have accrued as places I have to try the burger "It is the best." In alphabetical order not by preference because none has been made yet,

5 Guys Burger and Fries
Big Al’s
CB & Potts
Coopersmith’s
Fatso’s
JB’s
Jupiter Burger
Larkburger
Lucky Joes
Penelope’s
Poppy’s
Red Robin
Runza
Smashburger
Steakout
Stuft
The Tavern
Washington’s

Here is how the judging will go:
1. All burgers will be a single patty cheeseburger with mustard, onion, pickle and american or if not available cheddar cheese ordered medium untoasted bun. If they have a House Specialty Burger it will also be tasted but not entered in the judging, we will report on it.
2. On a bell curve scale where the middle is ideal and the ends are the extreams we will rate from 1 - 10
          - The Patty alone on moistness 1 as dry as the desert to 10 soggy, falling apart
          - The Patty Doneness 1 cow's a mooing to 10 shoe leather
          - Bun freshness (neg points for toasting bun as i am asking for it untoasted)
          - Ratio of bun to meat (we are looking for a 50/50 ratio)
          - Overall appearance
          - Overall taste
          - Type of Mustard, Pickle, and Onion used
          - Ambiance of place, am I likely to return cause the burger is just that good.
Everything will be entered into a rubric where each burger can be compared side by side by you the reader.

First up was CB&Potts (because we had a coupon). That will be another post though....

Zamperelli's is too good to be cutesy with a title.

Nancy and Jimmy's Zamperelli's (or Z's we call it) restaurant was one of the Ninja families regular haunts when we lived down south. Now anytime we are in a 20 mile radius of the place near a meal time we head back it is just that good.

Place maybe small but not the flavors.

Bread and dipping oil to start

Poached Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

Poached pears (and when in season local ones from Palisade) atop fresh greens lightly coated in a balsamic dressing and Gorgonzola crumbles and candied walnuts to finish. Good as a meal for one or better to split as a starter between two.  

Blood Orangecello Martini

Nancy and Jimmy make their own Blood Orangechello. So good on its own as a aperitif but even better made into a martini. (No longer on the menu but if you ask Nancy really nice like I did she may make you one too and you should ask because it is ssssoooo good. A Cosmo with 100% more flavor and depth.)

Eggplant Parmesan with Papperdelle Noodles and Marinara Sauce

The Eggplant Parmesan (also available in a kick-ass pizza) is my favorite dish on the menu. Not being a fan of Spaghetti noodles I always ask for mine with Paperdelle. (their is an extra cost but I don' care) I did it so often Nancy finally had to put a button on the computers so wait staff could enter it without a big to do. Why you say is theirs so good? 1. Super thin slices of Eggplant lightly breaded. 2. A ricotta cheese mix between the layers adds richness and a whole lot of flavor. 3. The sauce is real Italian marinara it is well I have heard from Italians it really is a gravy that you just put on everything. Perfectly seasoned, not salty or bland and you could put it on everything. 4. Do you see the amount of cheese on top? It can feed 1 very hungry person but I usually get 2 meals out of it.

Carne Pizza with Neuske Bacon

If you have never heard of Neuske Bacon than when you have this pizza you are in for a treat. As they say on their own site "Here's the bacon so good it's won national acclaim from The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Cuisine Magazine and been named Gold Award Winner in the Specialty Food Association's 2010 national competition."  Lean, meaty bacon patiently smoked 24 hours over smoldering Applewood embers. In other words the best. Add that onto a brick oven crust, imported pepperoni, Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese and it's awesome. The Ninja orders it all the time and I take a piece even when I have my own meal to devour. 

Next time you are going in or out of Boulder tack a little side trip to Z's and taste a little New York right here in Colorado. 

Hunter's Chop House having drinks

After friends helped moved another large stereo console took them to drinks on the patio. New Belgium's Summersault for The Ninja, vodka collins for me, ice tea for Marie.

Taking over Beauregard's is Hunter's Chop House

View from under the big tree in the middle of the patio.

Vodka Collins with a splash of Grenadine