Last weekend, I tried the limited-edition World Burger Tour menu at Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood (at Hollywood and Highland). My daughter, husband, and I had an early dinner with our friends (another family with one toddler), which was perfect – because there were FOUR exclusive burgers on the menu. As described in my previous post about the World Burger Tour, there are a total of eight different burgers, inspired by different Hard Rock Cafe locations throughout the world.
The Drinks
The dads ordered drinks, but I had a sip of each (I had to drive, and the other mom is pregnant). The one on the left is the All Jacked Up. It’s burger pairing is the Jamaican Jerk Burger. This cocktail features a mix of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, PJ, Orgeat and lime juice, garnished with orange and pineapple wedges and a cherry. The name sounds intimidating, but the juices calm the the rest of the flavors, so it’s not too strong for most palates. The one on the right is the Sweet & Fiery. This cocktail features a mix of Absolut Peppar Vodka, Canton Ginger Liquor, Blue Curacao, lemonade and ginger beer, garnished with a red pepper. The flavors mix together to create a different taste in each sip. The ginger beer downplays the firey notes. Similar to All Jacked Up, the name is more fearsome than the flavor. If I wasn’t driving, I could have easily downed one myself.
Burgers and Fries
The cool thing about the World Burger Tour is the fries pairing as well. We ordered an assortment of fries for the burgers (“The Ultimate Sidekick”), each paired to create the best flavor possible. I like thick fries as opposed to thin fries, so these were spot on. Nice and crispy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside.
English Breakfast Burger (served with fries and baked beans) – London, England
The English Breakfast Burger, inspired by London, England, contains a Certified Angus Beef® patty topped with sliced ham, a sausage patty, a fried egg, a portobello mushroom, arugula and garlic aioli and served with a side of baked beans. A “full breakfast,” popular in England is served all day, usually only eaten on weekends or while on vacation, and usually replaces lunch. This was the most filling of the burgers, and will keep your stomach satisfied for awhile (we didn’t eat dinner that evening!). A fried egg on a burger is always a favorite of mine, but combined with the additional toppings, my mouth wasn’t big enough for a bite! This is definitely a fork and knife burger. The fries were delicious, and the beans gave it an interesting twist.
Java Lava Burger (served with seasoned fries and jalapeno dipping sauce) – Seattle, Washington
The Java Lava Burger, inspired by Seattle, Washington, United States, contains a Certified Angus Beef patty grilled and dressed in a house-made espresso rub and topped with lava sauce, crunchy java onions, bacon, melted Cheddar cheese and garnished with a fried jalapeño. It’s served with seasoned fries and jalapeño dipping sauce. Because this burger was on the spicy side, my daughter could not try it (more for me…hahah). I enjoyed the crunchiness of the the burger, and the combination of flavors (because who doesn’t like bacon?). The espresso rub introduced a nice earthy flavor which combatted bites of the jalapeño. This was our table’s favorite burger!
Jamaican Jerk Burger (served with crispy fries and jerk dipping sauce) – Montego Bay, Jamaica
The Jamaican Jerk Burger, inspired by Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with banana pepper rings, mango jalapeño cream cheese and jerk mayonnaise. Once again, great for those who like spicy! The mayo, combined with the cheeses, combat the heat to create a wonderful blend of flavors. I have not been to Jamaica, but if the food over there tastes anything like this, it will be on my list of “must travel” destinations!
Tandoori Chicken Burger – Mumbai, India
The Tandoori Chicken Burger, inspired by Mumbai, India, contains a dark meat chicken patty seasoned with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, topped with mint mayonnaise and served with a side of cucumber. Instead of the seasoned fries that normally come with it, we opted for a side of poutine! The chicken patty is made with ground chicken, which allows the spices to distribute nicely. This is a burger that tastes great with the addition of hot sauce (because I like spicy food). My favorite way of eating it is by smashing it together and taking a big bite!
I love poutine, so I was happy to see it on the menu! Poutine is a Canadian dish, from Quebec. The gravy was really good, and the cheese curds add the right amount of saltiness. Definitely a must-try!
Hard Rock Cafe at Hollywood and Highland
Inside The Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, there is a promotional area for Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. My daughter was intrigued by the Whitney Houston (from The Bodyguard) wax figure on display.
This location is large, with plenty of seating and mood lighting. We had a booth in the upper area, which sat our whole crew comfortably. Because we weren’t sure if the toddlers would like the burgers, we ordered mac and cheese from the kids’ menu. It arrived in a cool guitar-shaped plate. If you are dining with little ones, be sure to bring your own crayons and toys to keep them entertained at the table if they get bored watching music videos on the surrounding television screens.
For more information
- Hard Rock Cafe locations in North America are celebrating the start of burger season with a menu showcasing international Local Legendary™ Burgers
- The limited-time World Burger Tour menu is available Sunday, May 1 through Thursday, June 30, 2016
- This year, Hard Rock is also offering a literal World Burger Tour, a travel package that takes the most adventurous burger enthusiasts on the road (and the skies) to sample offerings from the World Burger Tour menu at Hard Rock Cafe locations in London, Athens, Buenos Aires and Seattle!
For more information, on the World Burger Tour, go to: www.worldburgertour.com
Hard Rock website: www.hardrock.com
Hard Rock Twitter: twitter.com/HardRock
Hashtag: #worldburgertour
Disclaimer: The information, gift card, gift pack and giveaway have been provided to me by Hard Rock International
