Burger Fuel – Newtown (Burger Fest #3) & Gelato Messina – Newtown

It’s Sugar Witch’s birthday, well actually it was Sugar Witch’s birthday a month ago, but time constraints and social engagements have seen our date fall back further and further. In all honesty, it’s not even my date but it’s been so long since I’ve seen her that I crash her date with Sars from Infectious Designs(Sid) so that I can spend some time with the lovely ladies.Sid herself is a devout Burger Fuel devotee and despite my spruiking for Moo Gourmet Burgers she is insistent that Burger Fuel Burgers must be had.

I’ve been to Burger Fuel before and remember that there is a healthy twist to the burgers (not something I’m very big on when it comes to a burger) but also that walking into their Newtown store makes me feel like I’m stepping into a space station.

Beam Me Up Scotty.

The Menus in their space format

Vegetarian and Low Calorie Burgers

Gourmet Beef and Chicken Burgers

Sides and the Monthly Special

Health Comparison Notices and an ad for The Doofer

Explaining the health benefits of a Burger Fuel Burger

Inside the store there are many signs extolling the health benefits of eating at Burger Fuel as opposed to a Fast Food Chain, but let’s face it. No burger is really healthy and when you want to eat a burger, you want it to be a little bit bad for you.

Sugar Witch and Sid’s Mini Meals a Chook Royale and Humburgini with chips and aioli

Burgers in Bags

The Chook Royale – Chicken Breast, Pineapple, Iceberg Lettuce, Cheese, Tomato Relish & Aioli  $5.90 for the burger $9.50  for the combo

Sugar Witch loves her burger and noms in happily. It’s not for people who don’t like pineapple but she is quite happy, the chicken is tender and the pineapple is tangy. She doesn’t say much, but grins away.

The Hamburgini – Beef, Bread and Butter Pickles, Cheddar, Tomato Relish & Aioli  $4.90 or $9.50 for the combo

Sid is a Burger Fuel regular and knows her order. The Hamurgini is a smaller version of the 1/3 pounder and comes in a smaller combo like a happy meal. Sid, like me is not a pickle fan but is quite happy with the Bread and Butter pickles found at Burgerfuel and assures me that they make the burger, rather than sully it with a horrible pickley taste.

Kumara Fries $5.00 – Regular Size ($1.00 upgrade in combo)

I ordered Kumara Fries as both Sid and Sugar Witch had ordered Spud Fries. The contrast is a big one, while I know that the Kumara Fries are moderately healthier and they taste amazing. But they are not fries. I have a little bit of food envy and while I do love them, I miss my crunchy potato chips. Paying an additional $0.50 for what used to be free aioli also annoys me just a tad.

C’N Cheese Burger $9.70 or combo for $14.50

The C’N Cheese Burger with Melted Cheddar, Parmesan, Salad, Relish and Aioli

The only beef burger available in a combo is the C’N Cheese Burger which allegdly comes with Parmesan, although I can’t discern any cheese other than Cheddar. The beef is great, and the salad is fresh, but the wholemeal bun leaves something to be desired and overall, it does feel to me like a burger attempting to be healthy. That is, not to say bad, but still, not the beef and fat experience that I want from a Burger.

I know that the Wagyu Burger and the Bastard Burger both can avail me of this hit of fat I desire, but when it doesn’t come in the combo, and the additions will bring my total to $25, I’d rather be at Moo.

This is where Burger Fuel lies, in between the McDonalds of the world and the Moo or Charlie & Co. Not many people can countenance spending $30 on what is essentially a Burger Combo. Burger Fuel is not ridiculously expensive and it’s much better than a McDonalds or Hungry Jacks Burger. There are better pubs serving burgers, but at the same time, there isn’t a uniform of quality the way there is in this Burger Chain.

The Doofer for eating and driving

The Doofer is designed for eating and driving. Not something I think should be encouraged as surely eating and driving is dangerous, much in the manner that driving and texting is dangerous. Your concentration is elsewhere, not on the road it should be on. But the Doofer is a marvellous little invention that prevents burger juice running all down your hands.

Chicken Fenders $6.90

I also, for comparison’s sake, as we must do, ordered a round of Chicken Fenders, for $6.90 a pop they’re quite expensive for what is a Chicken Nugget, sans batter of any kind. These grilled chicken tenderloins are nice, marinated in sea salt, garlic and rosemary, but they’re a tad oily and I miss the battered crunch of a chicken nugget. Surely it can be done in a more healthy way?

Inside the first cabinet

More Gelato

As far as the eye can see

Panna Cotta on the bottom and Meringue on top

Chocolate and Hazelnut

Vanilla Bean and Nougat

The Gelato at Gelatomassi has been featured on Italian Food Safari and it’s of a high standard. I’m not big on sweets, but lately almost unconsciously, I’ve been sampling a lot of gelato. It seems like a slightly healthier option, and today is a special day so I give and try some of the Meringue and Panna Cotta gelatos. Meringue is a definite win, with swirls of crushed meringue throughout the vanilla gelato, but Panna Cotta is bland and a bit boring.

The Nougat is surprisingly good, and as an old standard the Vanilla Bean is wonderful.

Gelatomassi

Burger Fuel