Audacious new burgers at Sugar Bistro

Saturday, 16 July 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Text and pix by Shiran Illanperuma

Just in time for 4th of July celebrations, Sugar Bistro launched a new line of gourmet burgers in celebration of the iconic sandwich that has become a staple of American cuisine.

Known for its classic burger, Sugar now has an additional range of 12 delectable burgers that have carefully curated by the dynamic duo of Aussie Consultant Chef Timothy Witherow and Sugar Bistro Executive Chef Nimal Bandara.

The range of burgers on display feature audacious experiments and nods to regional variants of the standard bun, meat and vegetable combo.

The Daily FT sampled three of these immense creations including the ‘Macho, Nacho’, the ‘New Orleans’, and ‘Farmer John’. All were unique and fairly well-executed variations of the now iconic Sugar burger however some fared better than others. There’s little fault to be found with Sugar’s excellent beef patties, however their chicken ones are on the dry side and don’t pack the same succulent punch.

Farmer John

Farmer John was the most unique of the lot, being the only burger to forgo the traditional bun, instead replacing it with a slice of French toast on either side. It’s an exciting idea on paper and though the pictures looked delectable enough the actual execution made for a very sloppy meal.

The wet and soggy French toast fell apart almost instantly though the burgers filled with a sumptuous beef patty and crispy bacon managed to salvage what turned into a soppy mess. In terms of flavour the burger managed to deliver a unique and relatively harmonious profile, though ultimately I was left wanting a better execution of the concept.

New Orleans

The New Orleans was a fairly simple yet extremely satisfying take on a Surf and Turf style burger with a dash of Cajun flair. The juicy fried prawns on top of Sugar’s generally excellent patty made for an intoxicating combo especially when lathered with generous quantities of English mustard and aioli. Rounding off the burger was also fresh lettuce, tomatoes and pickles which lifted the entire burger with a range of textures.

Macho, Nacho

By far the star of the show was the Macho, Nacho, a fairly common Mexican-inspired take on gourmet burgers, and for good reason.

When executed well this intoxicating mix of crispy bun, jalapenos and guacamole always hits the spot. And of course what Mexican-themed burger would be complete without the requisite crispy nachos.

We had this burger with a beef patty and the combination of pickled jalapenos, creamy guacamole and crunchy doritos was as satisfying as it was unforgettable.

Sugar’s offer is set to continue until the end of the month though Sugar Group Managing Director Dinesh Wijesinghe says that fan favourites from the range of 12 burgers may find a permanent place on the menu.