Welcome to the Weekly's list of our 100 Favorite Dishes for 2011! Tune in every day until we get to número uno! Now, on to the latest entry.
Trying to agree on a great burger is debatable; everyone has their favorite. That combination of doneness of the patty, preferred condiments, and select toppings are like a quadratic equation for flavor. Change one variable, even slightly, and the end result can be completely different. While the adage “less is more” might be true for a lot of things, in the case of a Marc Cohen burger, more is definitely more.
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His indulgent take on Americana starts off with three kinds of meat: Angus chuck, sirloin, and short rib. That alone ups the drool factor. The half-pound of meatiness is supported by an aioli and red onion marmalade to add some depth. Plant some field greens to catch the juices, situate in a golden brioche, and all is sitting pretty…right? So wrong.
While many establishments are known for a signature burger, he offers six custom options. Fancy cheeses, foie gras, even crab cake is featured. However, the stand-out features duck; a rich, shredded duck confit, to be exact. Who knows what devious thoughts were going through his mind when taking one indulgent meat and placing it atop three more, but it works. Like a multi-course dinner being chewed on by Veruca Salt Violet Beauregarde, the multitude of carnivorous tastes string themselves together with a flourish of creamy brie. The menage of beef pleases one's taste buds, but the extra oomph of confit pushes it further.
At this point, the house fries that accompany this beast are an afterthought. Show them some love before they go cold. You'll get drawn back into the meat feast soon enough. Fearful of the impending food coma? There's always a brisk walk along PCH to elongate your stomach.
Click here for our 100 faves from 2010! The list so far this time around:
No. 70: Korokke Pan at Cream Pan
No. 71: Chorizo and Quail Egg on Toast at Sol del Sur
No. 72: Fried Brussels Sprouts at 320 Main
No. 73: G-Style Fries at G Burger
No. 74: Fried Cuttlefish at Benley
No. 75: Roti at Bangok Taste
No. 76: Wet Burrito at 301 Cafe
No. 77: Pork Curry at Miyabi-Tei
No. 78: Bánh Tieu at Bánh Mì So 1
No. 79: Any Sandwich at the Crosby
No. 80: Fish Pho at Pho Vinh Ky II
No. 81: Quesadilla Chilanga at Alebrije's Grill
No. 82: Lobster Roll at Lobsta Truck
No. 83: Nem Nuong Cuon at Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
No. 84: Wild Boar Balinese Sausage at Valhalla Table
No. 85: Comida Corrida at Taquería La Raza
No. 86: Breakfast Burrito at Troy's Drive-In
No. 87: Mandoo at L&M Liquor and Deli
No. 88: Chicago Dog at Chicago Harv's
No. 89: Sweet Potato Tater Tots at Pee Wee's Famous
No. 90: Kaya-Stuffed French Toast at Chomp Chomp
No. 91: Egg Breakfast at Rick's Atomic Kitchen
No. 92: Sticky Rice With Chicken at Quan Hy
No. 93: Beef Koobideh at Hen House Grill
No. 94: $5 Fish Bento at Bentoss
No. 95: Milanesa Sandwich at Piaggio's Gourmet on Wheels
No. 96: Samurai Burrito at Wafu of Japan
No. 97: Carnitas Gordita at Bodega R Ranch Market
No. 98: Spam Musubi at k'ya Street Fare
No. 99: Tortilla Andorra at Anepalco's
No. 100: Lemongrass Chicken, Extra Spicy at Vietnam's Pearl
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A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.