Burgers, burgers and more burgers

I love burgers and consider myself somewhat of a burger connoisseur. So I got really excited when I read that Bon Appetit will be posting their favorite burgers - one each day until they decide they've named them all - on their Facebook page.

So I guess I have a new fan page to "like." First up? The Onion Burger from Sid's Diner in El Reno, OK. A burger patty with caramelized onions smashed into it, then seared on the flat top. Sounds like a good start to me.

(And where the eff is El Reno? Sounds like a road trip to me.)
(Oh, and in case you wanted another reason to follow Bon Appetit, they are giving away a trip to Paris to one of their Facebook fans. Sounds like a fair trade to me.)

Sometimes I wish I'd taken French, not Spanish (Ghyslain)

I think most of my friends know by now that I'm in love with most of the new restaurants popping up in the Germantown/Butchertown/NULU districts. I tend to lean towards American and Latin comfort food, probably because that's what I love to cook at home, but I do love the more upscale spots as well. I had the opportunity to stop in at Ghyslain on Market for lunch, and let me tell you, while I may not know how to pronounce the name (debatable), Ghyslain offers some seriously good eats.

My sister and I strolled in on a Saturday early afternoon, just beating the late brunch crowd and were stopped by a menu with a fantastic array of options. We'd already known about Ghyslain's fabulous desserts, thanks to our Momma's designer Easter Egg baskets (Ghyslain creates the most extraordinary chocolates, we still have two large hand-painted bunnies that are too pretty to eat). But I had no clue the lunch menu would look so tasty and I had a very hard time choosing.

B.Blaze and I chose to "split" two sandwiches - which really means that we each just get a bite and only continue sharing if we're equally pleased with the other's choice - and we couldn't have chosen a more opposite pairing. I delved in to an espresso BBQ pork sandwich on brioche (duh, favorite) with leak scalloped potatoes. Beth opted for the curry chicken wrap with mint cole slaw. We both were craving beet salad but alas they were all out of beets (that only creates a perfect excuse to make the 2 minute trek back for more food at a later date).

Beth's curry was good, albeit a little sloppy to eat, and the slaw was fresh and bright. My BBQ was topped with melted provolone and caramelized onions, and while I'm used to extra sauce on my BBQ, this didn't need any. The real show stopper was the leek scalloped potatoes. Served nestled in an individual-size baker dish, I had the sudden urge to run to the grocery on the way home and start making potato casseroles. So amazing, perfectly seasoned, and, surprisingly, just as homey and comforting on a 90 degree Summer lunch is it would be on a 40 degree Winter supper.

We finished our meal with a refreshing mango tartlet and a couple handmade Chambord and key lime chocolates. The salads and soups floating by towards other patrons looking equally as delicious as everything we'd tried.

I will be looking for any excuse to go back, and I might just walk away with only beet salad and scalloped potatoes. I'd be just fine with that.

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Ghyslain on Market
FKS Scale (1-10): 9
Pros: leek scalloped potatoes; French inspired BBQ; mint slaw; beautiful desserts and chocolates
Cons: some items may seem pricey, but the flavors are worth it; those itty bitty diet coke bottles for $2.50; wanting to try everything