We are now a mere 4 days away from one of my favourite events of the year! Come this Friday, Halifax Burger Week will be in full swing, and restaurants will be packed with burger-lovers wanting to sink their teeth into the many great creations that this city has come up with.

So with the week being within reach, I’m back with Part 3 of the Burger Week Preview Series, and this time I’m giving you 4 burgers to feast your eyes on. Take a look at what The Fireside, Gahan House, The Foggy Goggle, and Relish will be cooking up for you this year!

The Fireside

Burger: Chorizo & Beef Burger – A mildly spiced burger topped with caramelized onions and blue cheese

Price: $6

Blue cheese lovers look no further! The Fireside knows what’s up when it comes to this bold cheese, and they don’t hold back when putting it on top of their burger patty. This burger is a regular menu item throughout the year, but they’ve decided to scale it down (by 2oz to be exact) and offer it up for $6 during Burger Week.

As soon as I bit into it, I was hit with all that blue cheese flavour. I found that it worked really well with the mild spice of the patty, and it sort of mellowed it out so you aren’t hit with any excessive heat. The caramelized onions were plentiful, and overall, this creation offered some really unique flavours unlike any I’ve had before on a burger. This is definitely the place to go if you’re looking for a simple burger, that’s by no means simple in the taste department!

Gahan House

Burger: Atlantic Canadian sirloin beef, ADL cheddar cheese, in-house coleslaw, crispy fried jalapeños, bacon, smoked onion jam, Sydney Street stout BBQ sauce on an Iron Bridge brown-ale bun

Price: $15 with $1 going to Feed Nova Scotia

Last year, Gahan House snuck its way into my heart (and my top 3) with the delicious burger that they created for Burger Week. The burger was packed full of meat, sauce, and pickles, and everyone on Team LOB agreed that this burger was amazing! Well this year they have brought their A-game yet again, and the burger they have created is going to be pleasing a lot of burger-hungry people.

It all starts with the awesome patty that provides the base for the burger. The beef was so juicy, and it was cooked perfectly so it really retained all of the great flavours that you want to taste in a piece of meat. There was a generous pile of coleslaw on my burger, and the super soft, lightly toasted bun absorbed the moisture from the slaw, which allowed it to keep that freshness in every bite. There was a perfect amount of fried jalapenos, which gave the burger an even amount of heat, but still kept it somewhat subtle so that those who don’t like a lot of burn can still enjoy the burger.

I was pretty blown away with the overall deliciousness with this burger. They have found the perfect amount of everything, and it all works really well together. I can’t give enough praise for this burger, and I highly recommend you try it during Burger Week because it is already a contender for one of my top spots!

The Foggy Goggle

Burger: Bulgogi Mushroom Burger – Soy-marinated mushroom and black bean patty with pickled red cabbage, cucumber and tofu “mayo”

Price: $7 with $1 going to Feed Nova Scotia (add $2 for gluten-free bun)

While the idea of a week dedicated to burgers usually brings thoughts of copious amounts of meat, we can’t forget about those Haligonians that don’t eat the stuff. For those that are looking for meat-free options this Burger Week, you’re in luck because there is a handful of restaurants participating this year that have you covered. I figured it was only fair that I include a preview of at least one of them, and that’s where The Foggy Goggle comes in.

In my experience, finding a good vegetarian patty has always been a struggle. I find that it’s very easy for them to become really dry, and that tends to be very off-putting. Thankfully, Foggy Goggle managed to create a burger that didn’t disappoint. Incorporating the mushrooms with the black beans was a great call as it livens up the flavour and texture of the patty. Both the red cabbage and cucumber, while giving a great crunch to the burger, also added a lot of moisture to it, and it really helps the burger not have that dry texture that other veggie burgers can have. Admittedly, I am not a big fan of tofu, so I was unsure about what to expect with the “mayo”, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. Made from silken tofu, the house-made condiment worked really well with the patty, and added an almost creamy element to the burger.

I’m assuming that most vegetarians already have their eye on The Foggy Goggle as a place to visit for Burger Week, but I also recommend that you meat-lovers switch it up and give a meatless option a try too. Who knows, maybe it will be one of your favourites of the week!

Relish

Burger: Chips and Dip Burger – Angus beef or vegetarian patty stacked with hand-cut chips, house-made chip dip, lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic mayo and hand-made relish

Relish: $6

At Relish, you’ll find a regular menu that is full of unique and delicious burger creations. They use a wide variety of different toppings, which make each burger there like nothing else in the city, and with Burger Week on the way, they’ve come up with yet another creative burger to satisfy your taste buds.

I’m a big supporter of including chips in a big meaty sandwich, so it only makes sense that they would also work as a burger topping. As far as I know, there is not a regular menu burger in the city that includes chips as a topping (if there is one, please let me know!), so this Burger Week entry is a great idea. The hand-cut chips provide a great crunch, which lasts throughout the entirety of the burger. The real stars of the show, however, are the various house-made condiments. The chip dip is exactly what you want it to be and then some. It is a thick blend of savoury flavours, and it coats every bite that you take. Below the patty you’ll find the delicious roasted garlic mayo, as well as the hand-made relish, both which work together to provide a perfect accompaniment to the patty. This is one you don’t want to miss during the week, and with two locations serving it up, you really have no excuse not to stop by!

I’d love to hear from you about anything Halifax Burger Week! Follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram (@lifeofburgers) and tag me in any pictures, thoughts, or comments you have about the week!