gorgonzola Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

May 23, 2011 by Janey

Sometime July last year, I was invited for a “Secret Taste Test” and fortunately, I came out of it alive –alive and ready to kick for some more! I tasted a range of burgers and wings that Saturday and left the venue panting because I was working hard… eating… and eating… I couldn’t stop eating, even if my belt was complaining of near explosion. This got me eagerly anticipating for the opening of that restaurant.

READ MORE:

The Secret Taste Test

Now, the diner that haunted my burger/fries/wings fantasies stands like a small David in Xavierville. The small diner offers only approx. 30-seating capacity but don’t let the cramped space deceive you. It offers a Goliath of taste and personality that will make you change your mind about other burger places.

To simplify, everything almost starts with the Hero Burger, which is Boulevard Diner’s classic recipe of green ice lettuce, fresh tomatoes, beef patty, and pickle relish. It’s that familiar comfort taste that your taste buds would time and again come home to… that classic burger that withstood the test of time. Boulevard Diner cooks it medium to medium-well so as to keep the savory juices in. If you like it well-done, the kitchen can grill it some more upon request.

Let’s line-up again the full cast below:

Larry Lana’i PHP 175

Hero Burger, cheese, smoked bacon, grilled pineapple, red onions

Different layers of flavor in one simple Hawaiian burger. Dig the crunch of the crispy smoked bacon and contrast it with the soft sweet and citrus mellow of the pineapple… then sprung to a biting tinge of the red onions. As all other bacons, this one also can’t stay in place. Definitely one of my Boulevard Diner favorites!

Gorgon-zola PHP 180

Hero Burger, cheese, sautéed oyster mushroom, gorgonzola dressing

Using the classic burger taste as the foreground, bite into a chunk of tender oyster mushrooms that doesn’t compete with the meat’s beefy-ness and instead compliments it. The gorgonzola dressing is the tie that binds it all with its partly sharp and creamy essence.

Sgt. Slaw-ter

Classic burger coupled with cheese, red cabbage slaw, peanut-sesame dressing

This burger gives a pleasant surprise with its red cabbage slaw is tossed in a delightful peanut-sesame dressing that has a touch of citrus and tang that tastes refreshing.

Nuclear Bean

Hero Burger, cheese, special chili beans, chopped jalapeños

It’s definitely a number of things. The special chili beans aren’t soggy at all and add a depth of texture to the burger with an unusual bite. I’m not a big fan of beans unlike Bubba but this one caught my interest and opened my mind a bit. The chopped jalapeños make it more appealing to me. It’s such a happy mess to eat. You cannot miss not to try it.

Sha-Zam!!! PHP 195

If you’re like me that sometimes opens the top bun and puts fries in the burger for that extra layer of starch and bite, Sha-Zam is a must-order. The burger served with crispy potato strings and a fried egg in its ingredient roster.

Wingerangs PHP 130 / ½ lb and PHP 255 / 1lb

Their heat-o-meter ranges from the cowardly Hickory to Lust, Fury, Love, Smoked, Death and Better than Hell. As the name implies, you’d actually get what you’re asking for. If you’re Lust-ing for buffalo wings with just enough heat that’s tolerable, then this is what you should gun for. Lust has chili and lime flavor to balance out the taste.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or so they say. Level with a scorned woman’s anger with Boulevard Diner’s Fury Wingerangs. Love Wingerangs is their chocolate-spiked wings while Death and Better than Hell is the heat torture that you’re aiming for.

Cheddar Charles PHP 170 / ½ lb

Other than the flavorful wings, these cheese-stuffed potato tots are my favorite sides to my burger at Boulevard Diner.

So if you’re a big grub eater like me who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES cheeseburgers, fries and wings, Boulevard Diner is going to be one of your top favorites. You will be so happy like me every time you see that Boulevard Diner is OPEN 😉

Yes, you know me too well, my dear readers, you’d probably bump into me at Boulevard Diner again. SOON.

Photo Courtesy:

Richard of TalesfromtheTummy.com

Carlos of FoodieManila.com

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The Secret Taste Test

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The Secret Taste Test

July 6, 2010 by Janey

Saturdays are made for sleeping in but what better reason to wake up early (okay, 11am is not early) than to get ready for a Secret Taste Test that afternoon? My friend ZP (a.k.a Carlos Palma) invited me to this Secret Taste Test he’s been harping about for a couple of weeks now.

Bubba and I reached the place without any hitches and were happy that the house door opened to a table of burger selections. Burgers of sorts are laid on the table and they seem to call out my name. I was sorta snobbish at first… say, a bit guarded. It was the first meeting after all and I can’t be too easy. I was in love with a burger once… and before “burger” broke my heart, it first broke my belt.

But then, as Mariah Carey belts out, a hero comes along…

Hero Burger is Alvin Ong’s recipe of green ice lettuce, fresh tomatoes, beef patty, and pickle relish. This hero is the burger classic –simple but with a lot of class, an unbroken taste. And that’s where the clan of supreme burgers comes from.

Let’s meet the rest.

On the Table

Gorgon-zola

Hero Burger, cheese, sautéed oyster mushroom, gorgonzola dressing

Using the Hero Burger as the foreground, get a chunk of tender oyster mushrooms that doesn’t compete with the meat’s beefy-ness and instead compliments it while the gorgonzola dressing unifies all the taste with a partly sharp essence.

Larry Lana’i

Hero Burger, cheese, smoked bacon, grilled pineapple, red onions

Cat got my tongue? No, this burger got my tongue. Different layers of flavor in one simple Hawaiian burger. Dig the crunch of the crispy smoked bacon and contrast it with the soft sweet and citrus mellow of the pineapple… then sprung to a biting tinge of the red onions. As all other bacons, this one also can’t stay in place.

Sgt. Slaw-ter

Hero Burger, cheese, red cabbage slaw, peanut-sesame dressing

This burger was a nice surprise especially when people are used to red cabbage slaw slathered with mayo. The red cabbage slaw is tossed in a delightful peanut-sesame dressing that has a touch of citrus/tang that tastes refreshing. Simple but still different and holds its own.

Nuclear Bean

Hero Burger, cheese, special chili beans, chopped jalapeños

Wings of Fury

½ lb chicken wings with extra hot chili sauce

It’s another happy mess to eat. Finger-licking good wings coated in extra hot chili sauce that drips on my fingers and I don’t mind at all. It kinda reminded me of this or this and this but difference is, I had maybe 8 pieces that Saturday afternoon. 8 pieces in one sitting!

Justice Fries

½ lb imported potato fries with grated parmesan cheese

Photos and styling are greatly done by ZP (these are photos from the previous taste tests). The burger flavors aren’t that complicated and you can taste freshness in each bite like it was made simply from home.

But I’m glad that it won’t be made only from home anymore… a restaurant/diner will soon open that serves these burgers and wings -in probably 1-2 months. Crossing my fingers tight that the same will be for the diner! 😀 I’m thrilled that it will open around the area I frequent. At least, that’s what the owner is currently trying to work out.

It was a scrumptious afternoon of secret taste test. It’s the secret you want to be in.