Skyscrapers and Royales with cheese in Cape Town
The modern Hamburger is believed to be an American invention
inspired by the "Hamburg steak" which sailors brought with them
from Germany - a type of meatball, which was popular in this
European port city.
With a steady rise in the amount of 'gourmet burgers' that
appear on restaurant menu's lately, the days of bland patties
and soggy tomato on stale bread rolls, fortunately seem to be
over.
But what makes a good burger? In my opinion the patty -
preferably medium rare and flavourful - probably plays the most
pivotal role, although various other ingredients are essential
too. One that should definitely not be undervalued, is the
hamburger roll: it should be fresh and soft but sturdy enough to
support the patty and it's trimmings, and be topped with lightly
toasted sesame seeds. And then there's the toppings which can
include anything from the classic onion rings and tomato sauce,
to chutney, mushrooms, guacamole, sour cream, bacon or a variety
of cheeses.
In Cape Town, the gourmet burger is almost enjoying celebrity
status and can even be found on menus across the city.
At the quirky Royale in Long Street, a wide variety of gourmet
burgers are served in such inspiring variations as ostrich
patties with beetroot relish, chicken breast with brie and
cranberries, or even the plain 'Royale' with caramelised onions
and garlic aioli. The house speciality of sweet potato chips
served with sour cream and chili jam adds a delicious twist.
The meanest burger on the menu at the trendy Cafe Caprice in
Camps Bay, is also called a 'Royale', but here it's done with
bacon, cheddar, chilli and onion rings - with an added bonus of
consistently good looking client