2011 Aug 24 The Beijinger Burger Cup: 24 Hours To Vote

So after a heated competition, it has come down to Blue Frog vs. Fatburger in the final of The Beijinger Burger Cup. Voting concludes at 4pm on Thursday, August 25. What better time to revisit what Tom O'Malley had to say about both burgers in the recent Burger Wars series? Exactly. Now read on and then get voting.
Fatburger

The brief. Look at that greasy beef glisten, like a meaty disco ball. Appropriate with A-Ha’s "Take On Me" playing as I order. Unusually for a fast food burger it really does look like its promotional photo. Good job. And it’s bound in paper too, giving it bonus points for mom 'n' pop kitsch.
The bite. Your teeth sink into this baby. In fact, it’s so soft and yielding a baby could probably eat it. (Note: This is not recommended.) The fluffy bread, the wilted lettuce, the squidgy, succulent beef, it could do with a bit of texture – a different or more crisply toasted bun, some crunchier fixings? It’s a nostalgic flavor profile, well-balanced and fast-food-y.
The beef. I ordered a double because, greed aside, the only other burger I’ve tried here was a single, and the patty was a bit overwhelmed by the bread and bits. Double is definitely better, and the meat – Australian, ground daily - wins out. Cooked well done but literally oozing juices.
The bits. On the advice of eaters on www.thebeijinger.com, I ordered it without mayo. I can’t see what more sauce would have done to help, apart from push up the calories.
Harmonious society. Well-put-together, tightly wrapped up in paper. A bit of greasy run-off from those shiny patties.
Fries? Steak cut fries are pretty darn good, non-greasy, unsalted (add it yourself) and a generous portion.
Blue Frog

The brief. It this burger was at school, it would definitely be a prefect/hall monitor. Neat and tidy, well-dressed and pressed, if a little over formal. Jeez, relax a bit.
The bite. Yes, yes yes! (Beefgasm). Thick, doughy bread eventually yields to a deep, succulent mouth of beef with lots of cheese in the mix. Salad 'n sauce back up in the cheap seats, where they should be. Very satisfying.
The beef. This is one beef sandwich you can (and maybe should) order medium, providing it doesn't mean you get less of a dark, smoky char on the patty, which really delivers in the flavour department. The pic above it's medium-well. A not-so-coarse ground gives it a bit of a chewy bite.
The bits. Just the right amount of fillings – onions, lettuce, tomatoes and a single slice of lettuce, all performing their supporting roles with grace and humility. Tastier cheese than Let's Burger.
Harmonious society. Bun is markedly heavy and dense (especially compared to Let's Burger), but it performs its containment role admirably, proving an impenetrable ooze barrier. The whole binds together remarkably well, thanks also to the neat, sparse toppings, build quality and tight ground on the beef, allowing maximum in-hand pleasure to the last bite.
Fries? Eat 'em quick. The kind of fries you just know will taste nasty when cooled a little.
That was Tom's opinion. Now share yours by voting in the final below.
You might also be interested in :
The Beijinger Burger Cup: And The Winner Is ...

Blue Frog vs. Fatburger, Fatburger Vs. Blue Frog. Whichever way you think of it this was the final matchup of The Beijinger Burger Cup. The results are now in, they've been checked for electoral fraud and the winner of the battle to find the city's best burger has been decided. And the winner is ...
The Beijinger Burger Cup Grand Final: Blue Frog Vs. Fatburger

So after a heated competition it has come down to Blue Frog vs. Fatburger in the final of The Beijinger Burger Cup. The Final Four were on the line over the weekend, the Frog and the Fat' joints scored resounding victories and will go head to head in the final. This leaves The Den and Union Bar & Grille to battle it out over third place.
Blue Frog walked all over the only Beijing original amongst the final four, The Den, by securing 72% of the vote to The Den’s 28%. In the second match, L.A. import Fatburger fried its competitor Union Bar & Grille by securing 61% of the vote over Union’s 39%.
This leaves us with the ultimate matchup –Blue Frog vs Fatburger. Who’s your choice? Vote for the victor – and help us select the third place winner -- sometime now through Thursday at 4pm, when we’ll announce the king of Beijing’s burgers.
Final Four voting closes at 4pm!

After two weeks of grueling matchups, the Beijinger Burger Cup is down to it’s Final Four, and only a few hours are left in voting to settle the contestants in the final head-to-head battle to crown Beijing’s best Burger joint. Vote here before 4pm.
The Final Four: Who Will Win The Beijinger Burger Cup Semi-Finals? You Decide

The results from the quarter-final are in and counted so The Beijinger Burger Cup is now down to the final four. So far 28 burgers have met their match and only this soon-to-be-revealed quartet remain in with a chance of winning the coveted Golden Burger trophy. Read on for the winners and losers from the last round, in what proved to be the closest races yet, and remember that voting for the semi-final ends on Monday, Aug 22 at 4pm.
Quarter-Final Results - winners in bold (% of vote)
Good Burger? Less Than 24 Hours To Vote For The Beijinger Burger Cup Semi-Finalists

The Beijinger Burger Cup is down to the last eight burgers. They're battling it out for the crown of the city's best burger and you have less than 24 hours to decide who you think should be in the semi-final. You have until noon on Friday, August 19 to have your say. Who will you pick? Read on to vote and get burger tips from an expert.
Quarter-Final Matchups -
- The Box Vs. The Den
- Blue Frog Vs. Home Plate Bar-b-que
- Union Bar & Grille Vs. Chef Too
- Fatburger Vs.. Vineyard Cafe
HOW TO DECIDE:




admin
Re: The Beijinger Burger Cup: 24 Hours To Vote
Here's what some Blue Frog partisans have to say about their selection:
"Consistent. Great meat. Good music, good service, good happy Hour and bound to meet friends there."
"The burgers are amazing, lovely juicy quality beef. Oh and love a bit of Buy one get one free Mondays ...... Come on Blue Frog!!!!"
"The perfect burger is the right sized patty, done to perfection on a bun which is robust enough to handle it without getting soggy, with the right toppings to make it special. Blue Frog has all that."
"The burger NEVER falls apart, from beggining to end you have the same amount of beef, cheese, lettuce and bread in every bite. It is a proper burger with no disguting drippings from sauces or the beef."
"Blue Frog produces the kind of burgers you think about when you haven't had a good one in a long time."
"Fantastic Burger Made as you like it - Great toppings and the choice of a Whole Wheat Bun - Enven my wife eats burgers there."
"Size matters, and so do your sides. Blue Frog is head and shoulders above the competition on this. Plus they offer an amazing assortment of toppings, great flavour combos and whole wheat buns. Add in the great Burger Burger Monday 2-4-1 deal, and you have Beijing's best burger."
Follow thebeijinger on weibo! http://weibo.com/tbjmagazine
admin
Re: The Beijinger Burger Cup: 24 Hours To Vote
Meanwhile, Fatburger fans sing its praises thusly:
"Fatburger's got a simple, down to earth burger that's as delicious as it is unhealthy. In my opinion, less is more when it comes to burgers and their toppings, and Fatburger's burgers fit that bill..."
“Its not even close....Fatburger is an institution that makes Blue Frog look small and weak...You don't hear Notorious BIG or Ice Cube talking about Blue Frog...Do you???”
“For a chain, by far the best bang for your buck. Used to do some work nearby and had to walk past Fatburger every day. Not much walking 'past' was done. New diet says 'no' to carbs, but still dream of those bad boys...”
“Fatburger just tastes so delicious... they remind me of the yummy diner-style burgers I used to love back in the States. (Five Guys, In-N-Out, Burgers Supreme etc.) I love the chopped up lettuce on top and the way they wrap up the burger halfway so you can eat it easily. Everything just tastes fresh! GO FATBURGER! :D”
“1) Truly delicious burgers - only put together once you get there - with what you want on them. 2) Fantastic sides - likes ultra thick milkshakes (that come with whipped cream), Fat Fries, Skinny Fries and great Onion Rings. 3) The cute little jingle of your order that the cashier sings out to the rest of her team - and then they sing/chant your order right back! 4) Fast Friendly Service"
“Just watching them make your burger fresh right in front of you is so appealing!! And mouth watering! You can taste your burger even before you touch it!!”
Follow thebeijinger on weibo! http://weibo.com/tbjmagazine