BURGERS N' BLING: MOB BROOKLYN

I'm no food critic—just a fashion girl who loves a good piece of red meat. Not one to let an opportunity pass me by, I created this column as an excuse to eat burgers while wearing jewelry on a regular basis and tell you about my favorites. Welcome to Burgers N' Bling—accessory features with a side of beef. 

(from left): Mob Brooklyn burger (available here); Issy Salomon Friendship bracelet and Memphis bracelets in blue and orange (available here)

CALIFORNIA MOB BURGER @ MOB BROOKLYN, $14

525 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

I will probably never eat another vegan burger again -- I adore red meat and these imposters just aren't as photogenic. However, if I do venture to the darkside again, I can assure you it'll be the signature California Mob Burger from Mob Brooklyn. If i've learned anything about vegans it's that they may pass on the beef, but they definitely don't scrimp on the fat or salt. Covered in gooey caramelized onions, creamy herbed cashew cheese, and hefty chunks of avocado, I probably wouldn't have even noticed if the crimini mushroom patty wasn't there at all. A choice beef imposter, I learned from my vegetarian lunchmate, for its similarity in texture, this particular shroom not only satiated me like a real burger -- I left feeling overstuffed. Packed between a deliciously soft potato roll and served with a heap of thick-cut potato wedges (or salad if you're having a fat day), the California Mob Burger is the next best thing to not being vegan. 

California Mob Burger by Mob Brooklyn: crimini mushroom burger, house baked sweet potato roll, avocado slices, herbed cashew cheese, caramelized onions 

(from left): Issy Salomon Memphis bracelets in pink, yellow, & purple and Dinosaur necklace (available here) 

---

BURGERS N' BLING: BILL'S BAR & BURGER

I'm no food critic—just a fashion girl who loves a good piece of red meat. Not one to let an opportunity pass me by, I created this column as an excuse to eat burgers while wearing jewelry on a regular basis and tell you about my favorites. Welcome to Burgers N' Bling—accessory features with a side of beef. 

(from left): Lulu Frost Ravenna cuff and Lucid bracelet (available here and here); David Yurman ring; Bill's Bar & Burger Spicy Jalapeño Burger (available here); George Frost Enemy ring and Allegory charm bracelet (available here and here); Vintage watch

SPICY JALAPEÑO BURGER @ BILL'S BAR & BURGER, $10 

85 West Street, New York, NY 10006

Pepperjack is an extremely underrated cheese. Zestier than cheddar and classier than nacho cheese, pepperjack deserves to be more than just the most overlooked cheese at the deli. Who the hell is handling the PR for pepperjack? Someone bring in the people behind those "PORK: The Other White Meat" and the "got milk?" commercials STAT before it disappears from our lives forever. But there's hope. Some people, namely the chefs at Bill's Bar & Burger, have taken notice of this dairy underdog and served it up in the best way imaginable—melted on a Pat LaFrieda beef patty and covered with jalapeños. Crisp, spicy (with a little extra fire from chipotle aioli sauce), and deliciously juicy, the Spicy Jalapeño Burger is a must-try for any adventurous beef lover—and don't forget the cheese fries. 

Spicy Jalapeño Burger by Bill's Bar & Burger: roasted hatch chile and jalapeño, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, chipotle aioli

(from left): Bill's Bar & Burger Spicy Jalapeño Burger (available here); George Frost Enemy ring and Allegory charm bracelet (available here and here); Vintage watch

And because another burger on the menu, the Fat Cat, caught my eye with its "CNN Top 10 Burger Award" credential, we went ahead and ordered round two...  

(from left): Lulu Frost Ravenna cuff and Lucid bracelet (available here and here); David Yurman ring; Bill's Bar & Burger Fat Cat burger (available here); George Frost Enemy ring and Allegory charm bracelet (available here and here); Vintage watch

FAT CAT @ BILL'S BAR & BURGER, $11 

85 West Street, New York, NY 10006

Boasted as one of the best burgers not only in NYC but in the entire country, I knew I had to try Bill's famous Fat Cat, particularly because its brief menu description already summed up my idea of the perfect burger. Served on an english muffin (my choice bun due to its petite size that allows one to focus on the savory fillings), the Fat Cat is just that—meat heavy and melty. Not one but two Pat LaFrieda patties are covered in gooey American cheese and caramelized onions, in a way where there's little need for condiments (and I'm usually a ketchup or die kind of girl). In fact, you don't even need the standard garnishes of lettuce, tomato, and pickles that come with it—with this kind of meat and cheese, the Fat Cat definitely punches above its weight.

Fat Cat by Bill's Bar & Burger: caramelized onion, american cheese, english muffin, ltp

[Photos by Christina Mannino]

---