Shake Shack Secret Burger Recipes

 

SHACK BURGER

at SHAKE SHACK

SCECRET SHACK BURGER RECIPE

NEW YORK CITY  

                                                                                                                 

This article was originally written and published by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke on January 16, 2012      Yes Boys and girls, we've got a Steak'n Shake. In new York that is. Not that very many of you have ever been yearning or heard of it. The popular Mid-West Burger (Not Steaks) and Shake Joint. Well I guess they must be thousands of native Mid-Westerners living in New York who've been dying for one, I'm sure at least 98% of New Yorker's ever heard of these guys. Until I saw them featured on a Food Show once, I'd never heard of them.      Anyway, they opened on Broadway and 53rd Street the other day. Went up there today to check them out.  Was checking out SeriousEats Burgers when I saw the piece and was reminded of them. Since I was just about to finish up my ritualistic Sunday Morning Coffee at Once Upon a Tarte and was thinking about what I was going to do for lunch, here it was. I'd jump on the 1 Train and take it up to 50th Street and try me one of those Steak'n Shake Burgers. A Original Double'n Fires to be exact, as I read in the SeriousEats piece that this was one the thing to get, and for just $3.99, a nice Double Patty Cheeseburger with Lettuce Tomato and onions, along with some Hand-Cut Fries. Got a Coke to go with that. I'll try a Shake on the next visit, along with their other signature Burger the 6 oz. Organic Beef Burger with Fries.     So I get to the Steak'n Shake and I'm happy to see there is no line, and not crowded. Just 1 customer ahead of me. I get to the counter and am greater by a tall Pretty Girl. Wonder if she's a Mid-Westerner? Well, she sure is pretty, and friendly to boot. I order my "Original" Double'n Fries and a Coke, and it comes to just a little over 6 Bucks. Not too bad for a Double Cheesebuger with Fies and a Coca-Cola to boot. And how will it taste. They say they're good. I believe them, and I'll find out soon enough. My buzzer lites up and vibrates, signaling that my order is ready. I get it.      Pull it out of the bag. It looks pretty good. Guess what? It is, pretty Dam Good that is. I like it. Not the best in the World, but very good. The Fries are excellent, Fresh, Crispy, seasoned properly, cooked just right. Yummm, I love em. And as for the comparison to my own top, New York's Best Burger (my Opinion and personal preference), it's the other Shake in the name Burger Joint that for me is new York's Best, and that's Shake Shack. Well, Shake Shack's # 1 Spot is intact. That's my top spot. Hold on now, stop your yelling and screaming. That's my own personal preference. I'm not saying they are the Best in New York, though for me they are the Best, and give me a minute and I'll tell you why. I know some will say Minetta's Black Label Burger get's the Top Nod (I like the Minetta Burger BETTER), some might say The Luger Burger at Peter Luger is Best and I love this one as well, New York's Best Burgers are many, but although I love the Burgers at Peter Luger, Minetta Tavern, The Spotted Pig, even The Corner Bistro now and then, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I really like McDonalds now and then. Yes I do. Hey i have the Balls to admit, they're actually better than many a "So-Called" renowned Burger of much higher prices and supposed High-Quality and Goodness. "Not!"     Now as to why I choose The Shake Shack Cheeseburger as New York's Best, # 1, First Prize, Champ, and I know I'm gonna get flack, hey this is my personal choice. But I'll tell you one thing about Me and Burgers, and this is fact. I know a hell of a lot more than most about this great American Invention. For one, I'm a food professional and former Chef. I have not recently jumped on the Burger Bandwagon in the past few years or so. I've been eating these bad boys for forty years and along with Sunday Sauce and Cannolis, I was weened on these things. My Dad took us to Diners Hot-Dog and Burger Joints all over the North East Coast of the United States chopping on Cheeseburgers and Dogs all along the way.      Now, let me tell you what, without question thee Best Burgers around are 4-6 ounce Patty's 1/2 to 3/4 inch think, no more, can be less. Big Fat-Ass 8, 9, 10 ounce Burgers are over done and plain just don't taste as good as a ones made of 4-6 ounce patties and no thicker then 3/4 of an inch. Also, they must "Cook in Their Own Fat" on a Flat-Top Grill, not a grated grill that lets the fat get lost and creates hard unappetizing grill marks. These Burgers that are usually about 4-5 ounce (can be 6) and that are cooked in their own fat on a Flat-Top Grill and served on a soft either Sesame Seed or Potato Bun, or regular seedless soft bun with White or Yellow American Cheese are tops and these kind of Burgers are known as  Diner Burgers. Forget those Thick-Ass 12 and 12 oz. burgers cooked medium-rare. They are too thick and too much rare ground beef just doesn't taste good, and especially if the meat is Dry Aged Ground Beef. Do you know what Dry Aged Beef is Actually? It's meat that is slowly under control deteriorating, and this kind of meat just doesn't taste good in ground form cooked rare or medium rare. Thick Burgers that are under cooked, do not have near the great taste of thinner burgers cooked through or close to thoroughly cooked at medium-well. Reason being that thinner burgers have a high ration of browned-meat to the whole total some of meat, and this is where the great flavor comes in, the two outside sides of a burgers patty that is browned, 90% of the flavor is here, and the thicker the burger the smaller the good  ratio of browned meat to not-browned is, thus making for a less tasty burger, a half inch  to 3/4 of an inch is best for the Tastiest Burger possible. These are just facts people, not opinions. This is the reason why a Shake Shack Burger taste better than a Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern. For what a Burger is (Ground Beef) and for the BEST way to cook it for Best Tastiest results, the burger should not be too thick, and it should be cooked on a Flat Top Grill to at least Medium or Medium-Well, not rare or medium rare. So there you have it, The Shake Shack Burger is the Best in Town, and the TASTIEST BURGERS all across America are these types of Burgers, about 4-5 ounces, not too thick and cooked on a flat top grill. Basta.    Oh, what about the burgers at Steak'n Shake. Well, they get high marks. They are very tasty, good quality beef, cooked on a flat top grill. Get em.


  Daniel Bellino Zwicke

  BEST BURGER in TOWN .... SHAKE SHACK BURGER

"SORRY BLACK LABEL ....IT'S NOT YOU"

 

MINETTA TAVERN, Macdougal Street GREENWICH VILLAGE New York

photo Copyright Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

   

The PERFECT BURGER Recipe

in The BADASS COOKBOOK

also

Recipe to Make The SHAKE SHACK BURGER

 

RECIPE ... The PERFECT BURGER

RECIPE for The IN-N-OUT Double Double

in

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

RECIPE for The IN-N-OUT Double Double

in

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

ABIDE in IT !

NEW YORK 'S BEST BURGER

WHITE MANNA

Hackensack, NJ

One of The NEW YORK Area's

BEST BURGERS

And Coolest All-Around Burger Experience

In The NEW YORK METRO AREA

NEW YORK'S BEST BURGER

SHAKE SHACK

SHACK BURGER

NEW YORK'S TOP BURGER

KEITH RICHARDS COOKS

THE ROLLING STONE

KEITH RICHARDS FAVORITE COOKBOOK

GOT ANY KAHLUA?

THE COLLECTED RECIPES of THE DUDE

"IT'S The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK"

The CRONUT Is GOING on SHAKE SHACK MENU ???

CROUNUT HOLE CONCRETE DAY

at SHAKE SHACK

Chef Dominique Ansel

Shack Burger

A Foodie's Dream, it said on the Shake Shack Website, speaking of what was billed as

Cronut Concrete Day at The Shake Shack Flagship Madison Square Park location on September 17, 2013 to Benifit The NY Police Widows & Childrens Fund and The Madison Square Park Conservancy. Uber-Hot Pastry Chef of The Moment, the creator of the Uber famous Cronut, Chef Dominique Ansel joined forces with Danny Myer and Shake Shack combining what is arguably New York's Best and most beloved Burger Joint, The Shack Shack with 2013's Hottest Food Item and story the Cronut which is Half Donut & Half Croissant into one tasty little pastry. New Yorkers line up for both. They are both super tasty items that are at the top of their games, and both democratically affordable for just about anyone, with a Cronut going for $5.00 and a Shack Burger at just about 5 Bucks as well at $4.90 ...  They are both as tasty as can be, and I will  go on record for about the 20th time right hear and now, since we're speaking of it, The Shake Shack Burgers are without a doubt New York's Best, A # 1, Best Burgers in Town .. I don't care if you say it's The Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern, "No Way," and actually thier less hyped Minetta Burger is the "better burger" at Minetta .. No, it's not The Brindel Burger which Josh Ozersky has now marked as his choice of NY'S # 1 Top Burger. No I like the Brindel Burger, but the Shack Burger has it beat for the true great American Burger. Yeah, I like the Burger at Peter Luger which is a sort of un-known secret and great value, but Shake Shack's Burger is better. I love PJ Clarke's and JG Melon is in my top 3 New York Burgers, but I'll still give an edge to Shake Shack. Well, there I go and said it again, Shake Shack Burger is the Best ..

Dam, I went off track there for a minute. Sorry, couldn't help it, when I'm on the subjects of Burgers and the awesome and wonderful Shake Shack.

Back to the Cronut and Cronut Concrete Day at the Shake Shack. The people at Shake Shack and Dominique Ansel, the Cronut Person put together a day to raise money for two great foundations, combining New York's Best Burger and NY'S Hottest new sweet dessert treat the Cronut. The Cronut offering was actually a collaborative effort combining Shake Shack's Butter Caramel Frozen Custard in a paper cup with Cinnamon Sugar Cronut Holes on top. Wow!

The day was a huge success with many happy fans of both items. And it has us wondering will Danny Myer be putting together a deal to bring the Cronut permanently to The Shake Shack? Hhmmm!!???? Would be interesting and quite wonderful. Time will tell ....

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

BELLINO & MINETTA BURGER vs OZERSKY & BLACK LABEL

MINETTA TAVERN

  photo Copyright Daniel Bellino-Zwicke    

The BLACK LABEL BURGER

MINETTA TAVERN

GREENWICH VIALLGE, NEW YORK

READ About BELLINO'S BETTER BURGER

    MINETTA BURGER "IT'S BETTER THAN THE BLACK LABEL BURGER" Minetta Tavern, Greenwich Village, New York, NY   "Yes," Minetta Tavern's Second-Tier Burger, The "Minetta Burger" is without question thee "Better Burger" served at Minetta Tavern. Noted Foodie, Writer (The Hamburger) Burger Authority Josh Ozersky would disagree. Well, Mr. Ozersky is entitled to his opinion, as well as I and Thousands of others and the majority who like the Minetta Burger better than the now Highly Touted Minetta Tavern Black Label Burger, who some feel is the top burger in New York, even the World some say.

So, I'm wondering if some say the Minetta Black Label Burger is New York's Best and even the World's, does that make The Minetta Burger, according to myself and the majority of those polled, "New York's" even the World's Best Burger. "Not quite."

    This is a very subjective matter and one of personal taste. I can see why Mr. Ozersky loves the Minetta Tavern Black Label Burger so much, proclaiming it New York's Top Burger and I believe he "May" said it is The Best in The World, but I'm not absolutely sure, so don't quote me on that. Yes it is a Good Burger, and if you feel it is Great, than Yes it is Great to You and Everyone else who says it is Great. As for me, without question the "Minetta Burger" is Better, "Hell, It's Tastier" and that's all that counts isn't it. And I'll tell you why it's tastier.

   First off, the Blend and Quality of meat in the Minetta Burger is "Better for a Burger." Note that I don't say that the meat is just better, but better for making a Burger. Why? Well, Dry-Age Meat with it's powerful gamey taste is not the best taste for Ground-Meat and a Hamburger. Fresher Meat that has not been aged, is much Better for a Burger, an it Taste a Hell of a Lot Better than ground dry-aged beef which did you Know that in it's aging process is actually deteriorating? Some people like that taste. Fine. I do not, especially in ground meat and in my Burger. I'd much rather have my ground meat for a Burger Fresh.

    And did you know that the Ground Meat Blend from Pat La Frieda for the Minetta Burger is a Blend of Prime Beef Short Rib, Beef Brisket, and Beef Clod, and this blend was La Frieda's "Premium Blend" before he came up with the Black Label Blend which is Dry-Aged Rib Steak, and cost a lot more, thus the more Expensive Price of Minetta Tavern's Black Label Burger at $26.00 for the Cheaper and Superior $17.00 "Minetta Burger."

   Just because something is more Expensive, does not make it better, and the Minetta Burger vs The Black Label Burger is a Classic example of more Expensive not being better than cheaper.

Why? Well, because of our current state of a bad economy, New York Steak Houses, Restaurants, and Meat Purveyors such as Pat La Frieda and others found that expensive cuts of Beef like Prime Sirloin Steaks and Prime Dry Aged Rib Steaks were not selling as well as they used to. Expensive, people have less money. Put 2-And-2-Together. So, these meat purveyors found themselves not selling as much as the High-Ticket Cuts. What to do? Well, as a result of a Bad Economy and Boggers Loving Burgers for there Affordability and Blogability, Burgers have become Insanely Popular in the past four years or so. Pat La Frieda has a great idea, make and Market Ground High-End Cuts of Dry-Aged Beef, give it a Fancy name, "Black Label," and the rest is part of Hamburger History.

  As for me, I'll take the Better Tasting Burger that just so happens to be substantially cheaper to boot, the Minetta Burger.

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

R.I.P. JOSH

Sadly since this posting Josh Ozersky passed away ... Josh was greatly loved by Foodies and Gourmands everywhere, but nowhere more than from his home-town fellow New Yorker's who called Josh our own .. Josh had a wonderful down-to-earth every mans look at the World of Food and dining out, and as a food-writer Josh had no equal with his special brand of food-writing and reporting that was uniquely Josh Ozersky. You've sadly passed Josh, but you'd be happy to know your great food journalism is till remembered and much loved, as are you.

BELLINO'S BETTER BURGER

CLICK to READ

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

RECIPES

.

SUNDAY SAUCE

RECIPES

.

MINETTA TAVERN "The COOLEST RESTAURANT In TOWN"

Yes "The Coolest Restaurant In Town" It's The Minetta Tavern, "nothing can touch it" in The Cool Department .. This Gem of a Restaurant has  "Thank God" been preserved by Restaurant Master Genius Keith McNally who acquired the space which luckily no-one had foolishly messed with any of the marvelous 1930s Greenwich Village Decor. McNally just spruced the Tavern up and inserted renowned Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson as Co-Executive Chefs. Keith added his special touch "He's a Master" and the rest is New York Restaurant History .  As with most of McNally's establishments Minetta Tavern quickly became the Hottest Restaurant and Hardest Table in Town, filled with: A-List Celebs and all the right people needed to make any place "Thee In-Spot" in town, the place every wants to be. Everyone in the know. In doing so, Keith McNally and his Minetta Tavern quickly became the # 1 Hottest Restaurant in town and dethroned Graydon Carter's "Waverly Inn" as the Top Celebrity Central Restaurant in New York, and a few years down the road, Minetta Tavern still is "The Place to Be."

Photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

 

 

    The place has the most wonderful ambiance imaginable, with tons of energy (from the Crowd), and Very Good Solid Bistro-Steak House Fare, along with two of the top Burgers in Town.     And speaking of the Burgers, take it from an expert "Me" The Minetta Burger is Superior to The Black label Burger which all the "Followers" think is the better of the two "Not." !!! Hey they're followers.    Yes Minetta Tavern is The Coolest Restaurant in town, with wonderful Cool, warm and exciting ambiance, excellent service, and dam good Eats. Check it! 

  Daniel Bellino Zwicke

MINETTA TAVERN

GREENWICH VILLAGE NYC

Photo Daniel Zwicke

SUNDAY SAUCE

NEW YORK ITALIAN RECIPES

CLICK HERE !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COOLEST PLACES to EAT in NEW YORK

Here are three "GREAT" places to go to eat in Downtown Manhattan;El Quijote at the famed Chelsea Hotel on West 23 rd Street for great Lobsters and Paella. The bar is

a great place to have a couple Great Cocktails as the ambiance

is Cool of Another Era Tacky. "You gotta Love IT!!"

Pearl Oyster Bar on Cornelia Street in The Village makes thee

BEST LOBSTER ROLLS in New York, even Maine. The

New England Clam Chowder is tasty as well.

Raoul's for our money is the Coolest, Hippest, Best All Around French Bistro in New York.

The food is really good, Classic Bistro Fare. The ambiance is Cool as Hell and the Music they

play, is the Best in the City. Raoul's is on Prince Street near Sullivan in Soho. "It's Great!!!!"

MINETTA TAVERN, Macdougal Street at Minetta Lane, Greenwich Village, New York ...    Without Question the Coolest Restaurant in Town ... This great old Greenwich Village Bar / Restaurant was the In-Spot of Prize Fighters, Newsmen, Sports Fihures, and the Downtown Elite way back in the 30s & 40s when the affable Eddy Minetta rant the joint. For the past 30 years or so, Minetta Tavern was run quietly and devoid of any fanfare by a string of owner who never did very much with the place. The Master Restaurantuer KEITH McNALLY got his hands on the place, kept everything more-or-less the same (allof the wonderful old decor was intact). Keith spruced the place up a bit, hired a couple great chefs, lent his Magic Touch and the place has been packed ever since. A major New York Celebrity Haunt as all of Keith's restaurants are, Minetta Tavern is the coolest place in town. Famed for its wonderful decor, massive Steaks done French Style, Marrow Bones, and Burgers, The Black Label Burger and the Minetta Burger .. Minetta Tavern can't be beat.


  Article and all photos Copyright Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Original article 2008 .. Updated 2014