IVY Finally Falls In Love- With A Burger

There’s a spot in the city I like to occasionally escape to- dating  back to the 1920’s,  influenced by both the Ottomans and the French is the authentic Albergo Hotel, located at the heart of Ashrafieh.  But this is not about their  (oh-so-romantic) suites  rather this is about their tree-friendly rooftop overlooking the city, and more specifically, their  3 Mini-Burgers on the menu.  It’s cruel I tell you, how one could fall so in love with something so small, yet so unforgettable.

I usually make my way to the Albergo’s cozy rooftop for a nice bottle of wine, after a long day at work during Spring time.  I didn’t intend to eat, let alone have a burger. But our eyes met on that menu list, and my curiosity got the best of me, three different  mini- burgers? cheese? onion and tomato?

I never thought I’d be one to be out of words, but the utter joy that came over me as I bit through the precious buns was so overwhelming, I’ve been searching this city in and out for the best burgers it has to offer and all this time,  right under my nose,  I had missed these tiny treasures. So good and sinful, it should be against the law to make them any bigger, surely they’d be  hazardous to your health otherwise. And the fries, the thin, golden, elongated,  crispy on the outside, soft on the inside fries.

The perfect petite yet thick patty-the fine grind so professionally seasoned, it stays intact but falls apart right as it enters your mouth. I just couldn’t pick a favorite, it was like asking someone to choose between their parents- each was special in their own quirky way.

This discovery calls for one of my favorite burger quotes ( yes I actually have one), from How I met Your Mother, when Marshall finds his favorite burger and gives  Robin this hilarious speech:

“Just a Burger? Just a burger. Robin, it’s so much more than “just a burger.” I mean…that first bite—oh, what heaven that first bite is. The bun, like a sesame freckled breast of an angel, resting gently on the ketchup and mustard below, flavors mingling in a seductive pas de deux. And then…a pickle! The most playful little pickle! Then a slice of tomato, a leaf of lettuce and a…a patty of ground beef so exquisite, swirling in your mouth, breaking apart, and combining again in a fugue of sweets and savor so delightful. This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread, Robin. This is God, speaking to us in food.“

Bisoux