On the list of the world’s most dependable and reliable foods, the burger has to rank pretty high. It’s the sort of food that has been tinkered with, stacked to unimaginable heights, and blown apart and put back together. But it’s also a dish that can be at its best in its simplest form. After all, it may just be (at its core) a patty inside a bun – but that framework holds so much room for interpretation. One of the latest iterations to hit London is Heard.a smash burger spot from two Michelin-starred chef, Jordan Bailey.
The goal of Heard. is a simple one: “to take an everyday classic and make it exceptional”. To do so, Jordan Bailey “applies the same skill, precision, and obsession with flavour to (creating) the ultimate smash burger.” Bailey spent a year researching and developing his perfect burger before he even launched the burger venture.
What started as a roving food truck operation quickly transformed into a pop-up phenomenon. They first touched down in London at Market Place Vauxhall, before taking over a site in Borough’s Flat Iron Square. And now they’re slinging Michelin-quality burgers and beef salt fries, all day, every day.
Smash burgers at Heard.
Each burger at Heard. comes with double smash patties and is made with “world-class aged British beef topped with English cheese and home-made pickles, served in a signature butter-toasted, roast potato bun.” The burger menu includes, among others:
- The Heard – jalapeño hot honey, Ogleshield, white onion, secret Heard. sauce, pickles
- The Boring Burger – aged Cheddar, white onion, secret Heard. sauce, pickles
- Wild Umami (V) – House-made, spiced black bean and wild mushroom patty, Cheddar, secret Heard. sauce, kimchi, green leaf, pickles
And in a ridiculous-but-I’m-here-for-it Michelin-y twist, you can upgrade your burger by adding caviar to it. When you do so, the ‘Boring Burger’ becomes the ‘Not So Boring Burger’. But… Caviar! On a smash burger! (I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to try it…)
Naturally, since this is a burger place with Michelin talent behind it, the drinks have been carefully selected. There are even specially selected drink pairings for each burger. Grabbing the Boring Burger? They recommend you sip on a locally made lager or a glass of Portuguese Tempranillo on the side. Or have you opted for the Wild Umami? Forest Road’s WORK IPA or a glass of Spanish Garnacha Tintorera would pair perfectly with the gourmet vegan burger.
Image: @heard.burger, via IG
If you fancy a sweet treat at the end of your meal, they’ve got an organic yoghurt ice cream sandwich. This is made in-house, using single-origin chocolate. Oh, and they pair it with a glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry. Because of course, they do.
So, what do you say? Want to try a Michelin-level burger? Then head on down to Heard.
