The Experience: This is week seven 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 treats. 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: The Lumberjack
The Taste: Three Aces thinks of itself as a neighborhood bar in Little Italy. Their Lumberjack Burger was a prime ground brisket and chuck patty topped with Red Flannel jam, smoked cheddar cheese, braised kale, caramelized onions, maple aioli, on a Turano German pretzel bun. I would have liked to taste the kale more, but it was hidden by all the other flavors. Nothing stood out in particular, as all the ingredients got lost in the mix with one another. It was a solid burger overall, but it was far from outstanding.
The Verdict: I guess this is a lesson in less-is-more execution. I’d be curious to taste this burger with any one or two of its toppings, and the rest left out.
Three Aces is located at 1321 West Taylor Street in Chicago, Illinois.
