The Experience: This is week two of my ten-week, ten-burger series chronicling my experience at the Hamburger Hop event at “Chicago Gourmet: A Celebration of Food and Wine” presented by Bon Appetit. Top area chefs battled in a burger competition while guests enjoyed tasty, gourmet burgers, along with beer, wine, and other boozerific treates. A celebrity panel of judges, including Graham Elliot, Hubert Keller, and Yoshi Katsumura determined the city’s Best Burger. But before I reveal the winner (sure you could Google the spoilers, but wouldn’t it be more fun to follow along?) I am going to continue to tell you about all the other great burgers on hand.
Burger Ordered: Kimchi Burger
The Taste: Howells and Hood prides itself on serving classic food with a unique twist, and their offering at the Hamburger Hop was lockstep with that philosophy. The Kimchi Burger is a brisket and chuck patty topped with kimchi, bread and butter pickles, aioli, and carrot bacon, served on a brioche slider bun. The carrot bacon had an amazing texture and crunch, and was quite unique indeed. I loved the pickeled taste of the kimchi. Aside from the mediocre bun, this was an excellent burger.
The Verdict: In hindsight, maybe I should have led my Hamburger Hop series with this entry, as the burger was far more enjoyable than last week’s go-around. Call ahead and see if Howells and Hood is offering the Kimchi Burger, and try it out if so.
Howells and Hood is located at 435 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
