Smashed Burger is opening at Hamilton and celebrating with half-price burgers on Friday and Saturday.
A smashed burger, I am told, is made by pressing a ball of ground beef onto a hot grill, creating a thin patty with crispy, caramelised edges. This technique "locks in flavour and maximises the crispy exterior, making it different from a regular burger, which is typically thicker with a softer texture".
So, basically the patties are crispy and "smashed" with bold, gourmet toppings.
All the beef burgers at Smashed Burger use a double patty. Everything in the restaurant is "100 per cent halal".
The menu includes beef burgers with the option of Smashed Umami and Truffle Mushroom Swiss Smash for a premium experience; the Spicy Nashville Fried Chicken and Fiery Grilled Chicken; lots of loaded fries including the Smashed Loaded Fries and Grilled Chicken Loaded Fries; and chicken ribs and wings with flavours like Spicy Gochujang and Lemon Pepper.
The owners of the first ever Smashed Burger have chosen to keep their names private for now.
Smashed Burger opens at 39 Beaumont Street, Hamilton, at 5pm this Friday, September 20, with half-price burgers for customers who drop by on Friday and Saturday.
Boydell's Long Lunch in the Vines
Spring has sprung and the team at Boydell's have been busy.
On Saturday, September 28, Boydell's Restaurant at Morpeth is hosting the Boydell's Hunter Culinary Tour Lunch from noon, where head chef Paula Rengger will prepare six courses to showcase the region's best seasonal seafood, beef, poultry, pork, greens and cheeses. Each course will be paired with Boydell's wines and Hunter Region producers will be sharing their stories with guests. Tickets are $150 per person and bookings can be made at boydells.com.au.
There's also Boydell's Long Lunch in the Vines on Sunday, October 20, at Boydell's Farm in East Gresford. It's the winery's flagship event and the new Barrington range of Boydell's Wines will be released on the day.
Guests can enjoy a three-course lunch, canapes, a glass of sparkling on arrival and live music, and take home a keepsake Boydell's glass. Drinks are also being served from noon to 4.30pm at The Lunch Bar. Coach transfers are available from Maitland and Newcastle (bookings are essential and close on October 12) to enable you to leave the car at home, which is always a thoughtful offer. Tickets are $160 per person (early bird $150 per person until sold out).
There is also some exciting news coming up about Boydell's Restaurant - but for now, my lips are sealed. Watch this space.
Martha turns it on at Belmont 16s
A spur of the moment decision to join friends at Belmont 16s Sailing Club on Saturday afternoon proved to be a wise one. Cocktails and nibbles on the balcony upstairs at Martha in the late afternoon sun, overlooking Lake Macquarie ... stunning. And I must make mention of the passionfruit vodka martini with chocolate flakes. Delicious.
Paired at Peregrin
The Beach Hotel at Merewether will be hosting the third Paired at Peregrin dinner on Friday, September 27. This time around the intimate, long-table dinner features the award-winning Tyrell's Wines, a family-run business that has a place in Hunter Valley wine country's history dating back more than 160 years. Tyrrell's chief winemaker, Andrew Spinaze, will be there on the night to guide diners through the menu and its pairings. Tickets are $135 per person at peregrinmerewether.com.au.
Best of the Valley at The Station
Don't forget, Taste of the Hunter Valley is on at The Station Newcastle this Sunday, September 22, 11am to 7pm. There will be food trucks, cheese, deli and market stalls, live music, mini golf and lawn games, a petting zoo, face painting, celebrity chefs Anna Polyviou and Jacob Leung on the cooking stage, and more. Tickets are on sale now at eventbrite.com.au. Children are admitted free.
Short and sweet
Connoisseur has released two new ice-cream flavours: Honeycomb & Australian Honey, and Murray River Salted Caramel.
Scratchleys is hosting a five-course 35 Year Anniversary Dinner on October 18, with three courses inspired by a decade the waterfront restaurant has been in business (1990s, 2000s, 2020s). Sounds like fun. Tickets are on sale now.
Hunter Belle Dairy Co will soon be milking their own herd of Brown Swiss cows near Scone.
It looks like The OId George and Dragon at East Maitland is setting up for a relaunch.
Chef Luke Mangan is joining The Wood Restaurant's executive chef Sean Townsend in the kitchen at Brokenwood Wines on September 24 for a five-course, wine-paired dinner. A free local shuttle bus (within 15 kilometres of Brokenwood Wines) will be running on the night. Tickets are on sale now.
Wandin Estate is hosting three Spanish Spring Evenings (September 20, October 18 and November 22) with live music, sangria, paella and tapas.
