Burger lovers who don’t like soggy buns prefer brioche
No one wants a hamburger bun that falls apart. That’s one big, sloppy mess.
A reader last week asked for recommendations for a Delaware bakery that makes brioche rolls for burgers and sandwiches. And the suggestions have been, well, rolling in.
It’s perfect timing given Labor Day (Sept. 5) barbecues are right around the corner. September? So soon? Hey, what happened to summer?
It ain’t over until it’s over. And if you’re batty about burgers and the enticing, smoky aroma of grilled meats, then you must attend the fifth annual Delaware Burger Battle on Saturday, Aug. 27.
This rain-or-shine competition challenges 16 Delaware restaurants and operations to produce the best burger. Proceeds benefit the Ministry of Caring. It starts at noon at The Cauffiel House, 1016 Philadelphia Pike, Bellevue, across from the Bellevue Mansion. Free parking is available nearby at 200 Bellevue Parkway.
Tickets are $50 through 6 p.m. Friday, or until they sell out. Tickets at the door are $60. Admission for ages 13-20 is $25, and children 5-12 is $9. Free for children younger than 5. Drinks, including beer, wine, mead, cider and soft drinks, are included.
Attendees, my advice? Pace yourself. There are 16 burgers to sample. Sixteen. Come hungry. Visit www.deburgerbattle.com
Before getting into places to find brioche, let me first share Peter Martinez’s idea how you can (somewhat) avoid a soggy burger or sandwich bun.
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In a recent email, Martinez wrote: “Put a healthy dose of greens – romaine, etc. – on the bun, then put the burger on top of the greens.
“It cuts down burger drippings, making the bottom ‘roll’ still intact. It works with toasted slices of bread as an alternative to buns.”
Another easy hack: Toast the bun on both sides before adding the burger.
Wanted in Delaware: More bakeries
I would say if the reader wants to take a drive to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, he can find those rolls at Metropolitan Bakery or if Le Bus is still alive they have them.
Another place that I would recommend is Whole Foods Market or Janssen’s Market in Greenville. Also, Bings Bakery in Newark may have them.
Bakeries are so needed in Delaware!
Cindy Dunn
Cindy, I agree Reading Terminal Market, an indoor urban farmers market at 51 N. 12th St., is worth a visit, but for so much more than rolls. It was founded in 1892 and has more than 100 merchants. Former Philadelphia Inquirer food columnist Rick Nichols has said “it is the defiantly beating heart...of old, original Philadelphia.”
Metropolitan Bakery does have a stall there, but Le Bus does not. However, there is a Le Bus bakery retail in Philadelphia’s Center City at 129 S. 18th St. It’s off Rittenhouse Square.
Reader Deb Oleck also suggested Janssen’s Market in Greenville.
Give Wegmans a try
Not a stand alone bakery, but I find good brioche rolls at Wegmans Food Market in Concordville, Pa., if I’m up that way. I’d also like to know of any places, particularly closer to the Newark area.
Lisa Minto
Super G rolls don’t ‘fall apart’
Surprisingly, Super G Market usually sells brioche rolls (hamburger and hot dog) in their bakery department. They do not fall apart and are delicious!
Stephenie Truitt King
Big Sky Bread has ‘terrific’ rolls
For the reader who is seeking a sturdy burger roll – not specifically a brioche roll, butBig Sky Bread Co.in Branmar Plaza makes a Lite Cracked Oat burger roll that is terrific.
Living on the opposite side of town, I buy them atNewark Natural Foods in the Newark Shopping Center.
Katherine Granfield
Wilmington
New Fresh Market ‘good place to spend money’
The Fresh Market, new in Rehoboth Beach, has brioche rolls and brioche bread. However, they are baked a long way off, in France. Both are delicious if people don’t mind the long trip. By the way, if you haven’t already come down, the new store is very appealing. It’s a good place to spend money.
Louisa Watrel
Thanks, Louisa. The Fresh Market, an “upscale grocery store chain with an Old World vibe,” is located at 30098 Veterans Way in Rehoboth. It’s in the Rehoboth Gateway shopping center off Del. 1.
Another reader also wrote to say, “The Fresh Market, on Pennsylania route 1, in the Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Shopping Center, (turn right onto Pennsylvania route 1 from U.S. 202 north) usually carries brioche rolls and they are quite good.”
Head to Lewes bakery for brioche
Keith Irwin’s Old World Breads in Lewes at 32191 Nassau Road, Unit 4, in Lewes, bakes brioche hamburger and hot dog rolls. Call (302) 313-5191 or visit oldworldbreads.com.
Bernard and Dolores Fiegel
Lewes
Several stores off U.S. 202 have good rolls
I’ve found the best brioche at Whole Foods Market in the Glen Eagle Shopping Center, near Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and, sometimes, at Trader Joe’s in Talleyville on U.S. 202. Whole Foods has the best assortment of fresh baked goods in the area, sold either loose or packaged.
Of course, if you’re that far up U.S. 202 you might as well go a bit further to Wegmans and you’ll find more brioche.
Bud Neu
Newark
Reader says new Milford eatery worth a stop
If you’re in the Milford area, you may want to try this restaurant, USS Delaware Restaurant.
It is at 319 S. Rehoboth Blvd., and has fresh American cuisine. It has gotten quite a following from the locals. The menu is small, but in talking to the chef and owner, there will be specials coming soon.
Johnny Joe
You can find more about USS Delaware on its Facebook page. Interestingly enough, the restaurant was just featured in an article on the eatmagazine.net as one of “11 New Restaurants in Delaware That You Have to Try.”
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Author Kim Magaraci writes: “Their burgers always hit the spot, and their prime rib is the best in the area for sure. Stop by for lunch or dinner Tuesday through Sunday.”
Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 orptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter@pattytalorico