In Paris, Burgers are the New Black

16 October 2017 by Margaret Kemp    1117    1
In Paris, Burgers are the New Black
Margaret Kemp
By Margaret Kemp
“I had a dream last night that a hamburger was eating ME!” — Jerry Seinfeld According to a recent poll, the French scoff around 1.1 billion burgers annually and they feature on the menu of 75% of traditional restaurants. Today, from basic fast food outlets such as Five Guys (Barack’s fave) on the Champs Elysées to high-end Michelin-starred restaurants, the hamburger’s top of the pops – a former fad has become a way of life. So much so it inspired Mandarin Oriental’s ** Michelin star chef Thierry Marx to challenge GOKU restaurant’s chef Vincent Boccara – winner of “France’s Best Burger 2017”- to a Burger Battle – to be fought out at the MO’s chic Patrick Jouin & Sanjit Manku designed Bar 8! The burger competition took place last March at Porte de Versailles – during the annual Sandwich & Snack Show – and was organized by Socopa (since 1953) wholesale meat suppliers to the catering industry, 170 candidates entered throughout France, and, to find the winner, 25 were tasted at the show after eliminating rounds. So, from 16th October- 12th November it’s up to you to decide as the two chefs cook their creations from noon until 6pm: “Le Black OG” ( as in, “Original Gangster” – an homage to chef Vincent Boccara’s favorite actor Takeshi Kitano), and the limited edition “White TM” (Thierry Marx) (€38 for un burger, frîtes, mesclun salad). Burger purists should look away now. Boccara reveals that his black charcoal and sesame bun burger is American, filled with beef, cheddar, pickled cucumbers and red onions – but – with sprinkles of Japanese spices. His sauce is a mix of BBQ and Jack Daniels – the mayo’s yuzu spiked, seasoned with herbs from the land of the rising sun. As for Marx (a black belt martial arts fanatic who teaches Judo in his spare time), he tells BP that he designed his burger to honor his guest chef. Marx’s cornbread bun (don’t forget he also has a boulangerie) is stuffed with slices of pastrami, romaine lettuce leaves, fried onions, a touch of piment d’Espelette and tasty honey mustard. May the best burger win! See you there! 251 rue Saint Honoré, 1st arrondissement. Metro: Tuileries/Concorde, Tel: 01 70 98 78 88. Website: www.mandarinoriental.com Related article: Superchef Thierry Marx’s Latest Project is at Gare du Nord
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Lead photo credit : Thierry Marx and Vincent Boccara

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By Margaret Kemp

Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !

Comments

  • Lauren Golden
    2017-10-20 21:43:43
    Lauren Golden
    The problem is that the French eat hamburgers with a knife and fork. It may be more fastidious but doesn't allow all the flavors to blend. The American way, messy and delicious, is to hold it with both hands and begin taking small bites, and then larger. Miam-miam!

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