Every year in New York City, its 8.4 million people wait out the winter siege for a few months of summer bliss. With summer comes the standard trip to Coney Island, concerts on Randall's Island, and movies in Bryant Park. Yet, for the last five years one of the City’s top summer spots is the weekly food festival known as Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. While this gathering of food trucks and venders alike has now expanded to several locations since opening in 2011, after a few drinks our go to bar, Freehold, the Bae Burger crew decided to explore the original location in the trendy waterfront neighborhood of Williamsburg. Between the perfect weather, perfect backdrops for a summer selfie, and some of the best food of the season the Bae Burger crew was not disappointed.
Sometimes our stomachs seem to have a mind of their own, and with Smorgasburg’s overload of choices one could easily develop food ADHD. While the main attraction for our day would be the infamous Ramen Burger, it didn’t stop us from trying another hidden gem. Our first stop was at Landhaus, for quick side bar from the beef patties we all know and love. Their farm to sandwich menu paints a meat rainbow of worthy treats, but we decided on the Landhaus lamb burger for our first course of the day.
Lamb with its ever increasing popularity in America, has found its way onto many menus across New York City. Landhaus without a doubt has taken the flavor train off the tracks to their own destination. This lamb burger’s main feature is the lack of that typical irony tang that comes with lamb patty, which for many is the draw to lamb. The lamb burger is fairly unassuming visually, but after one bite you’ll forget all about the need to Instagram as you’re devouring the rest of this treat. The firm and thin patty pair well with a crisp bun, but it’s the addition of harissa, cilantro, and whipped feta that truly make the burger. This combination of Mediterranean influenced ingredients leave you with a sweet, salty, slightly spicy, and peppery burger that is like no burger. While this “appetizer” truly was a welcomed surprise, we took our adventure to the main attraction, Ramen Burger.
In a world where the croissant and doughnut’s inter-pastry relationship (re: cronut) has made food-porn history, it seems that odd couples can reign supreme. Smorgasburg’s east meets west, burger fusion is the king of this food castle. Ramen Burger’s line while normally a test of ones patience was pleasantly quick on this perfect summer Saturday. Waiting alongside the tent, gave us a sneak peek into our burger future as we watched cooks create more methodically than Henry Ford’s model T factory. At the front of the line, freshly churned out and wrapped burgers are dispensed as fast as they can make them.
With a warm noodle “bun” finally in hand it was time of judgment. The original ramen burger is the brainchild of ramen fanatic and mastermind, Keizo Shimamoto, combining his ramen wizardry with the ideal beef blend from beef barons, Schweid and Sons.
The alien looking burger accomplishes its out of this world taste with the addition of scallions, arugala, and Keizo Shimamoto’s homemade shoyu sauce. Shoyu, which is a Japanese soy sauce made from a mash of wheat and soybeans, really sets the flavor stage for the Ramen Burger giving it a salty but sweet taste you won’t find in other burgers.
The burger is relatively small in nature, which holds together well between the fresh cut ramen noodles. The ramen buns are grilled into a familiar bun shape featuring a crispy outside and soft inside, making for a unique experience. For burger purest questioning the use of ramen, there won’t be disappointment as the overall experience is still very much a burger at heart.
Smorgasburg is the pinnacle of New York City’s summer. Good food, while the main attraction, can be found anywhere in the city all year round, but this gathering of flavors is so much more than just food. Taking your freshly bought burger and sitting alongside the East River, taking pictures in that new black dress from Reformation, and talking to new friends who share the same interest; the love of food.
Open Outdoors Every Weekend April-November
Saturday + Sunday, 11am-6pm
Saturdays in Williamsburg – 90 Kent Ave. (at N. 7th St.)
Sundays in Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5
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