Zaitzeff - Yet Another Great Reason To Be on Avenue B

Zaitzeff
http://www.zaitzeffnyc.com/
18 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

THE CONQUEST
Since opening up the NYC East Village bars Idle Hands Bar and Billy Hurricane's with some of my friends, I have been taking the time to sample all the local businesses. It's a fantastic neighborhood rich with fantastic local businesses. In fact, other than a chain drug store, that is all you will find on Avenue B. While we're having a great time serving bourbon, beer and rock we are also loving what our neighbors have to offer.

On this week I finally stepped into one of NYC's most raved about burger joints, Zaitzeff. They have a simple concept; "Our formula for hamburgers is simple. We get the best ingredients and fuss with them the least. Our American style Kobe beef comes straight from a ranch in Nebraska, so you know it's fresh. Our sirloin, which we grind ourselves every day, is grass-fed. We cook our hand-cut fries in cast iron skillets which enables us to change the oil daily." Known as a quaint, foodie friendly restaurant that serves all of their burgers on an amazing Portuguese muffin that is their claim to food fame. Their East Village location is still awaiting their liquor license but that shouldn't stop you in the least to eat in or order out from Zaitzeff.

THE BURGER
Believe it or not, it does happen and some days I just don't feel like eating a beef burger. I know, I know, don't worry, we will all be OK and how do I know? The turkey burger at Zaitzeff told me so. It's fresh and delicious with the slightest of seasonings that remain subtle allowing the delicious meat to be the star of the show. I won't lie though, the turkey patty is jealous...VERY jealous of the Portuguese muffin. This Portuguese roll has all the taste one would expect of this style but in made into what I could only describe as a sturdy pancake. Add in American cheese and a fried egg and you got yourself one darn tootin' turkey burger.

I'm definitely headed back to try their beef or perhaps their heralded Kobe burger. Thankfully, I'm on Avenue B A LOT. So should you be.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
302 burgers

The Dirty Burger Maker at Idle Hands / Billy Hurricane’s

The Dirty Burger Maker at Idle Hands / Billy Hurricane’s
http://idlehandsbar.com
http://billyhurricanes.com
25 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

THE CONQUEST
I grew up on cartoons, Buck Rogers and Colecovision and swear that these 3 things have caused a deep seated attention deficit disorder within me that when matched with the OCD my Mother gave me by repeated bed room cleaning demands, allows me to stay focused as long as there is constant change in my life. It plays out well in the bar I own, Idle Hands when we get to put together unique events like our “Pumpkin Picking Party” where we served the last 15 pumpkin beers available in NYC or our “Trick-Can-Treat” Halloween bash that featured 19 different beer in cans. Our love for events and fun parties recently brought the Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race” victors, Grill ‘Em All into the bars to host a limited serving of items from their competition winning menu.

Just after their departure, we invited Dan Petersen from Brooklyn’s “That Burger Tent” over to take over our kitchen to serve up his tasty “Jersey Burger.” He is normally found on Saturday’s on the corner of 6th and Bedford in Williamsburg cooking up his limited menu just outside the Artists and Fleas market. A few days later, while taking a keg count, I found 2 full boxes of Burger Maker patties, along with some fresh Cabot pepper jack cheese, a crate of sesame seed brioches and truffle oil, that had been left over by Grill ‘Em All on their "NYC Victory Lap.” Looked like another burger event was in store.

Kyle, one of the owners of Billy Hurricanes, offered to jump into the kitchen and serve them up, but with a twist…he was going to make them “Dirty” style. Kyle also is a partner in Thunder Jackson’s, home to the “Dirty” burger (and also a stop on the Grill ‘Em All NYC “Victory Lap”.) It’s a fresh and delicious concoction that is spicy and sweet. While TJ’s won’t reveal the secrets of the Dirty Burger, you can read more about it here. Thus was born, the Dirty Burger Maker Burger at Idle Hands.

Wednesday nights at Idle Hands are typically reserved for specialty beer events and tastings where breweries are invited down to the bar to let our customers try new brews at a discount price and often times of limited edition beers. On this Wednesday in particular, we were hosting one of the USA release parties for the new rum casked beer from Innis and Gunn. Made using the highest of artisan ideas and standards, this beer’s barrel aged taste it’s absolutely beer drinking heaven. Read more here.

Sounded like a great pairing for a burger and Cajun Truffle Tots and priced at $15 was a gosh darn steal.

THE BURGER
It's sweet. It's spicy. The “Dirty” preparation is so unique and to have it served on top of an amazing piece of ground steak meat cut and formed into a patty, was a very special treat. While you can still try out these wickedly delicious spices at Thunder Jackson’s, this one time specialty is no longer available. You can still get the order the crispy, golden and extremely delicious Cajun Tater Tots at Billy Hurricane’s, but don’t expect to have them served in the same truffle oil used by Grill ‘Em All. For that, you’ll have to pay a visit to the truck in LA. You can get them with Kyle’s very own smoky chipotle ketchup, which adds an unnecessary extra kick that is pretty damn delicious.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
301 Burgers