[psyang]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Review of the burger at the District

I have been a part of a few classes at Cookbook Cooks. During one class, the chef was discussing undercooked meat. Paraphrasing... Bacteria such as E Coli may live on the surface of a steak, and it actually is killed at a relatively low temperature. If your steak has grill marks, you should be fine. A burger on the other hand is a disturbed surface. If the middle of the burger is not heated to a sufficient temperature, if it is present it will survive. The contention that high quality AAA beef, organic beef, or beef watched with a keen eye is not susceptible to the presence of bacteria is unfortunately not true in any way.

Typically if someone asks how I would like a burger cooked, I will request that it be cooked. Haven't sent back a burger when it has shown up pink. I never really gave it much considerstion until the District Burger I ate about a month ago. Undercooked on the inside. Tasted fine. The subsequent 24 hour period alternately was spent with nausea, the chills and bound to the latrine. Nasty case of food poisoning.

Funny enough, a couple of weeks later I have lunch at Notable. Order the brisket and they gave me a sandwich made of pretty much the end. Tough, leather hunks of end. This sandwich was unacceptable, and the server, noticing that I was not devouring it with gusto, offered a replacement meal. I mentioned that I had an afternoon meeting so time was tight. She recommended the burger, as they can prepare it quickly. No request unfortunately of how I wanted it cooked, but I am not used to that question in Alberta anyhow.

I cut it in half, and the pink juicy center immediately set off warning bells. My dining companion was done at that point so I told the server I had to go. Made them pack it up, and took it home and cooked it myself.

Basically after sending back one crappy sandwich, I didn't want to be the guy that sent back the burger too.

The Notable burger was a pretty decent burger in the end, solid but nothing special. Not one of their adventurous ones, beef based. It was ok.

Funny coincidence. Was just at Notables yesterday to have the burger of the month (pork-based). Slightly pink in the middle, tasted fine, though. No nausea or chills, but basically had my system flushed last night - fast and painless. Because I feel fine today, I can't complain, but I will be more careful at eating pink burgers in the future.