Burger Club

[Suzanne F]

Ooops. Didn't mention a time for Blue Smoke on 12/13. Since it's Saturday, and there's no eclipse, shall we revert to 1:00pm?

I wonder if we end up with a large group, they'll put us downstairs in the Jazz Standard space? That's where I'm used to eating their burger, anyway. Anyway, I'll check with them after the holiday. So far, the RSVPs are:

elyse

Suzanne F and HeWho (as someone called him last night)

alacarte

MHesse

Picaman

Kirk

Keep those RSVPs coming, here or by pm.

[JosephB]

"should have went?"

Well, how's about Saturday, December 13th, at Blue Smoke?

Are we talking lunch? I can't do Sat. night, and I don't want to miss this one.

[JosephB]

Got it Suzanne. Put me down for 2.

[JosephB]

BTW guys, have a great Thanksgiving -- respite from burgers.

[tommy]

and HeWho (as someone called him last night)

LOL! that's an *awesome* nickname. damn, i wish i'd thought of that.

[Pan]

Suzi (Tarka), it was delightful to meet you, and have a safe trip back!

I'm not available at 1 P.M. on Saturdays. Have fun everybody!

[Felonius]

I'm waiting for felonius to come back.

Yeah I'm just chomping at the bit to have one of them Thalia burgers. Just let me know ahead of time so I'll have proper attire (black tie, or perhaps my all black "Dieter Schprockett" getup) clean, pressed and ready to go .

Sorry I was out of town last night. Sounds like I didn't miss an epic burger, but I would have enjoyed debating burger philosophy in such fine company again.

Edited November 27, 2003 by Felonius (log)

[sherribabee]

Ooops. Didn't mention a time for Blue Smoke on 12/13. Since it's Saturday, and there's no eclipse, shall we revert to 1:00pm?

I wonder if we end up with a large group, they'll put us downstairs in the Jazz Standard space? That's where I'm used to eating their burger, anyway. Anyway, I'll check with them after the holiday. So far, the RSVPs are:

elyse

Suzanne F and HeWho (as someone called him last night)

alacarte

MHesse

Picaman

Kirk

Keep those RSVPs coming, here or by pm.

Me! I'll be there, and I'll bring a friend or two.

Edited November 27, 2003 by sherribabee (log)

[Blondie]

I'm in.

[elyse]

The 13th works for me too. Looking forward to it.

I had a blast yesterday, sorry I had to duck out a bit early. I totally echo Elyse's sentiment that the company is the best part! To be honest, I'm starting to feel that the Burger Club is a wildy successful social experiement, but a flop as a culinary experiment.

Has anyplace yet delivered 17 or more burgers that have met group expectations? Is it just too much to ask? And as someone asked last night (maybe it was Blondie or Suzanne F), does the spotlight of scrutiny mean that you won't enjoy it as you might a less-observed burger?

Regardless of the crappy burgers we're finding, I think ti's still a good culinary experiment in that we are differentiating the good burgers from bad. I think it has nothing to do with social experiment at all, since we're consistently fab with that. Or is it just how long anyone can stand my rules without killing me?

About delivering 17 burgers at once, again. we're not exactly rating the restaurant, we're rating the burgers, and if they arrive unlike we had ordered them, they SHOULD GO BACK.

The more I think of it, the angrier I am with not mentioning the price hike, and especially the 18% tip for the total fuck of a waiter.

[elyse]

And as someone asked last night (maybe it was Blondie or Suzanne F), does the spotlight of scrutiny mean that you won't enjoy it as you might a less-observed burger?

it had occurred to me that perhaps the biggest thing coming out of this is that several people are basically having good to great burgers ruined for them under the microscope.

burgers are best enjoyed with a few drinks when your senses are a bit out of whack to begin with. like many things that are fun, you don't want to turn up the lights and have too close a look.

I disagree entirely. I usually have a coke with my burgers, and I ALWAYS scrutinize what I'm eating.

[tommy]

I disagree entirely.

and i suppose that's why i haven't joined your club.

Edited November 27, 2003 by tommy (log)

[picaman]

Could someone post the "evaluation form".

This, I gotta see...

Link to the Burger Club evaluation form

There were a couple of good suggestions made over the last couple of Burger Clubs that I need to incorporate. One is putting a ruler down the side so we can measure our burgers. Another was to improve the layout of the toppings checkboxes.

I'm going to try to get to these items this weekend. If anyone has any other suggestions, post them here!

Jamie

[Al_Dente]

How bout a scratch and sniff area where some of the burger grease could be applied for future reference?

[Suzanne F]

How bout a scratch and sniff area where some of the burger grease could be applied for future reference?

Oh, we get that without even trying. I mean, when you've got 17 people at a bunch of tiny bar tables . . . We're lucky it's only the papers that get in the food.

[elyse]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

[elyse]

How bout a scratch and sniff area where some of the burger grease could be applied for future reference?

That would be Mr Cutlets' form.

[elyse]

Could someone post the "evaluation form".

This, I gotta see...

Link to the Burger Club evaluation form

There were a couple of good suggestions made over the last couple of Burger Clubs that I need to incorporate. One is putting a ruler down the side so we can measure our burgers. Another was to improve the layout of the toppings checkboxes.

I'm going to try to get to these items this weekend. If anyone has any other suggestions, post them here!

Jamie

You know, this has been bugging me for a while... the subjectivity of the form makes no sense. If we rate juiciness or grease based on what we like, how can anyone read it objectively? If someone's looking for a moderate amount of grease, but we happen to like super greasy, or no grease, but juice, it skews how it's viewed. Not that this has anuything to do with the form... just an aside.

Also, now that I'm understanding the form better, I'd like to change my first two scores. They are definitely too high.

[alacarte]

How bout a scratch and sniff area where some of the burger grease could be applied for future reference?

That would be Mr Cutlets' form.

Speaking of Mr. Cutlets -- hard to believe that no one yet has mentioned that he showed up at Burger-fest toting a bag of ribs from Daisy May's (across the street).

The ribs smelled fabulous, and Mr. C was gracious enough to provide everyone with a sampling. They were the culinary highlight of the evening!

[Blondie]

Speaking of Mr. Cutlets -- hard to believe that no one yet has mentioned that he showed up at Burger-fest toting a bag of ribs from Daisy May's (across the street).

The ribs smelled fabulous, and Mr. C was gracious enough to provide everyone with a sampling. They were the culinary highlight of the evening!

Good point! Mr. Cutlets rules. And how about the real-life demonstration of his "Law of Punitive Extremes"? That probably deserves a thread of its own.

[Suzanne F]

. . . Wait -- has anyone mentioned that The Lurker and his friends came directly from eating at Daisy Mae's BBQ across the street? Fat guys in training (except they're all skinny    ). Or that Mr. Cutlets kindly consented to let us taste his Someplace-Dry-Rub Ribs, which were rather disappointing? Quick precis: too much rub, unpleasantly on the (sugar) sweet side, and the soft consistency of parboiled meat. Oh dear.

alacarte -- I did mention it, but I can kind of understand the mention getting lost.

Yes, we MUST have a thread on "The Law of Punitive Extremes." But unless Mr. C. gives permission for someone else, it's really his to start.

[sherribabee]

Saturday 12/13 1:00 at Blue Smoke.

I know some of you have responded here and some have probably PM'd your RSVP to Elyse or Suzanne, but I'm just curious as to what the headcount is so far. Who's coming?

[alacarte]

. . . Wait -- has anyone mentioned that The Lurker and his friends came directly from eating at Daisy Mae's BBQ across the street? Fat guys in training (except they're all skinny     ). Or that Mr. Cutlets kindly consented to let us taste his Someplace-Dry-Rub Ribs, which were rather disappointing? Quick precis: too much rub, unpleasantly on the (sugar) sweet side, and the soft consistency of parboiled meat. Oh dear.

alacarte -- I did mention it, but I can kind of understand the mention getting lost.

Yes, we MUST have a thread on "The Law of Punitive Extremes." But unless Mr. C. gives permission for someone else, it's really his to start.

Sorry Suzanne -- didn't mean to rob you of your props! I guess your report was more comprehensive than I'd realized.

it just tickles me that Mr. C really is the ultimate carnivore. Not many people would bring a sack o'meat to an eating event featuring a big ol' piece of meat on a bun.

Blondie, you are so right about "the Law of Punitive Extremes." For those who missed it, that's the law that says that when you send back your overcooked burger (which is what Mr. Cutlets received, unfortunately, despite ordering medium rare), the kitchen will punish you by sending back a burger so ridiculously rare it's still mooing.

[JosephB]

Speaking of Mr. Cutlets -- hard to believe that no one yet has mentioned that he showed up at Burger-fest toting a bag of ribs from Daisy May's (across the street).

The ribs smelled fabulous, and Mr. C was gracious enough to provide everyone with a sampling. They were the culinary highlight of the evening!

The Times did a piece last week on the man behind Daisy May. NY Times Nov. 26, 2003

[JosephB]

I'll be there plus at least one TBA.