"Greek Lightning" - PEI Burger Love 2018 - Part 8

The final day of April is always a sad one on PEI, it means Burger Love is over. So when a co-worker asked our lunch group if anyone wanted a burger for lunch today the answer was a quick yes. Since Pizza Delight is just around the corner and they could be ready in 10-15 minutes we decide to get them to go and torture the guys that said no to the offer with having to watch us eat them.

The burger was: Two 4 oz Island Beef Patties, Cheddar, Greek Feta Dressing, Spinach, Red Pepper, Red Onion, Maple BBQ-infused Bacon on Toasted Focaccia Bread, topped with a Whole Black Olive. 

The bacon alone was worth the price, possibly the best I've ever had, and the burger was no slouch either. I've never given Greek salad the time of day but I think it might be time to change that. Great group of flavours and although the burger will be gone tomorrow I'm hoping that the bacon will be here to stay!!

Rating 9.5/10

"Greek Lightning" from Pizza Delight in Summerside. If they had the bacon as a side dish I would order it all day long. So good. @PEIBurgerLove #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/1CDOYse1kH

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 30, 2018

"The Bourbon Barrel" - PEI Burger Love 2018 - Part 7

So deciding to try 3 burgers in a 6 hr time frame might have been a bit too much. But after a break at Red Shores Casino and leaving with my wallet a little thicker we decided to try one more before calling it a night.

We settled on the "Bourbon Barrel" from Montana's since it was on the way out of town, plus it was on the list of ones we wanted to try. Their burger last year, "Ol Smokey", was right at the top of our list so the bar was set pretty high going in. 

This years entry consisted of a 6 oz Whiskey-infused Island Beef Patty, Leaf Lettuce, Sriracha Maple Bacon, Apple Butter Sauce, In-house Braised Beef, Chipotle Dip, Cheddar, Cajun Onions on a Toasted Pretzel Bun, topped with an In-house Smoked Pork Rib.

The burger was similar to last years with a few changes but it maintained the BBQ theme. When I order ribs at Montana's I get the apple butter sauce so was glad it was included. It was a pretty busy creation and was tough to eat without parts falling out so I attacked it with a fork and knife.

The burger was ok, a bit too messy and wasn't really very warm. I also would have liked to see a bit more of the braised beef and a little more sauce. Maybe being our 3rd burger of the day, and the longish wait affected my taste buds but didn't enjoy it as much as last years burger.

Rating - 7.5/10 
 

Final stop of today's @PEIBurgerLove tour, Montana's for the "Bourbon Barrel", sweet and tangy. Not bad, somewhere in the middle of the pack. #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/sMuFR3eEJF

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 29, 2018

"One-Eyed Jack" - PEI Burger Love - 2018 - Part 6

The Pilot House is one of our favourite restaurants in Charlottetown. The food and atmosphere are great, it's 3 restaurants in one; formal restaurant, pub/bar and the "Queue" which normally houses private functions.

Normally we'd make a reservation but since it was a last minute decision to head to Charlottetown we decided to just sit on the bar side since there was a wait for a table in the restaurant.

The "One-Eyed Jack" is made up of a 6 oz Island Beef Patty, Tomato, Spring Mix, House-made BBQ Braised Beef, Housemade Panko-crusted Deep Fried Monterey Jack Cheese Slice, Garlic Aioli, Housemade Candied Banana Pepper Jam on a Warmed Steak Spiced Bun.

Many of the burgers go over the top with different ingredients and toppings, but this one wasn't super complicated. I was a little hesitant because of the potential "heat" in the banana pepper jam, but it was more sweet, similar to a sweet chili sauce, versus hot. The deep fried cheese slice was delicious and paired well with the BBQ's beef and burger patty.

Suspect that this one may end up taking home the title this year, one of the best I had this year.

Rating - 9.5/10 

The "One-Eyed Jack" from The Pilot House. Heard great things about it all month, didn't disappoint. Taking @PEIBurgerLove right down to the wire. #PEIBURGERLOVE pic.twitter.com/XdkzwouLwj

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 28, 2018

"Grape D-Vine" - PEI Burger Love - 2018 - Part 5

Final weekend of PEI Burger Love, after being away for two weeks of the month I was feeling a little guilty that we hadn't gotten to try as many burgers as we normally do.The plan was to remedy this injustice over the next couple of days.

We set out Saturday to try a few that we had been hearing good things about during the month. Thankfully we split them and don't order a side. Even so, eating several half burgers over the course of 6 hrs is a task on itself.

We decided to make the trek to Charlottetown to try a couple but on route we stopped at Family & Friends restaurant in Kensington to try the "Grape D-Vine", the reviews were really good so we wanted to try it too.

The burger consists of: 6 oz Balsamic-glazed Island Beef Patty, Feta Cheese, Smoked Gouda, Bacon, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Caramelized Onion, Candied Walnut, Housemade Quick Dilly Pickles, Crispy Pita Strips, Red Grape Slices on a Toasted Potato Scallion Bun, topped with a Crispy Pita Chip, Cucumber and a Red Grape.

I'll admit seeing cut up grapes on the burger kinda freaked me out a bit at first but after that first bite I was sold. Burger was seasoned well and juicy, the smokey flavour of the gouda and roaster aioli offset the sweetness of the grapes. The candies walnuts were a nice touch.

Definitely near the top of the list for this years burger love.  

Rating - 9/10

If someone says putting fruit on a burger is crazy they might be right but still tastes pretty good. Family & Friends in Kensington @PEIBurgerLove entry "Grape D-Vine" is great. #PEIburgerlove pic.twitter.com/bnZPQqGUjn

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 28, 2018

"The Golden Knight" - PEI Burger Love - 2018 - Part 4

Our Burger Love journey always includes a trip to 511 West in Summerside, located right at our Arena. Since I spend so much time at the rink we are usually there a few times over the course of the winter, not a difficult decision since chef Emily makes great food and her burger love entries are always very good.

This year's entry "Golden Knight" is appropriately named in honour of Summerside's own Gerard "Turk" Gallant coach of the Vegas NHL squad. 

6.5 oz Island Beef Patty, Golden Beet & Pickle Slaw, Bacon and Onion Jam, Goat Cheese, Tumeric Lemon Garlic Mayonnaise, Banana Peppers, Arugula on a Grilled Black and White Sesame Seed Bun.

I'm not usually a fan of pickled anything but Chef Emily always seems to have a way to combine a group of unique ingredients or flavours, whether it be different types of slaws or jams, to deliver a delicious burger love entry each year.

Rating 8.5/10   

The @PEIBurgerLove journey continues with the "Golden Knight" from @511west in Summerside. Great burger that I suspect Turk of the @GoldenKnights is hoping stays on the menu so he can try it this summer. #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/yRk6cGR0rP

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 24, 2018

"Hickory Dickory Broc" - PEI Burger Love - 2018 - Part 3

The one and only downfall about going on vacation in April is that you end up missing part of PEI Burger Love. Being away for 2 weeks meant having to play catch-up to try and get in several burgers over the home stretch before months end.

So after arriving home late Friday afternoon we knew our supper plans would include a burger. Since we had to go back to Charlottetown in the evening for the PEI Roadrunners banquet we decided to stop in at O'Shea's Pub in Kinkora to try out the "Hickory Dickory Broc". We've been a fan of this pub for several years and the burgers that Richie and his crew put together each year always end up near the top of our list.

This years creation is no exception. The burger consisted of: 6 oz Island Beef Patty, Shredded Blend Cheese, Maple Bacon, O'Shea's Signature Sauce, Onion Tanglers, Hickory Sticks, Lettuce, Tomato on a Grilled Brioche Classic Bun, topped with a Broccoli, Cheese, and Bacon Wedge.

If you've been following along since I started writing these reviews you know that I like the 3 B's, BBQ and bacon. OShea's signature Jack Daniels BBQ sauce and maple bacon certainly set this one apart and the crunch from the onion tanglers and hickory sticks make this one a bit unique. Plus even if you hate broccoli you'll love the topper since it's deep fried with cheese and bacon. If you are looking for a burger to try out in Prince county before the end of the month this one is certainly worth the trip. I might just head out to trivia Friday night and have it again. 

Rating 9/10

After being away for a bit one of our first stops was @OSheasPub for @PEIBurgerLove. Richie's "Hickory Dickory Broc" did not disappoint. Excellent burger. #PEIburgerlove pic.twitter.com/Y8Zu45ozrA

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 20, 2018

"Mr. Irresisti-Bull" - PEI Burger Love - 2018 - Part 2

Being away with the Western Capitals this past weekend and vacation only a couple of days away I'm trying to fit in a few burgers before we leave. Today I walked off the bus at the rink, hopped in the car and headed to try out the "Mr. Irresisti-Bull" from Holy Cow. The restaurant is in Morell, PE, about an hour away, but they also have a food truck and decided to send the truck to the western end of the Island over the course of the month. So today it was set up only 10 minutes from home. 

I'm really glad they decided to do this. The burger consists of: 8 oz Sweet BBQ-glazed Island Beef Patty, Sweet Onion Marmalade, Housemade Potato Chips, Crispy Bacon, Gouda, Beefsteak Tomato, Greenleaf Lettuce, Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise, Pickle Slices on a Toasted Black and White Sesame Seed Bun, topped with a Bacon-wrapped, Cheese-stuffed Wonton and Cherry Tomato.

I've had their burgers the past couple of years and they always rank near the top of the heap and this one is no exception. The mix of sweet from the BBQ glaze and marmalade mixed well with the tang of the garlic mayo. The burger itself was cooked to perfection and the bacon wrapped cheese wonton was a nice topper.

If you are in the Morell area or have a chance to get to their food truck I would highly recommend trying out this burger. The Holy Cow knows how to cook a great burger and this years creation is worth a try.

Rating 9/10

Thankful that the crew from Holy Cow Restaurant in Morell decided to send their food truck west to spread @PEIBurgerLove goodness. Really enjoyed "Mr. Irresisti-bull" today for a late lunch. #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/hb9EK4p8eN

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 2, 2018

It's back!! PEI Burger Love - 2018 Edition - "The Maverick" - Part 1

PEI Burger Love is back again with 85 delicious creations spread across the Island, from Tignish to Souris and all points in between. For Islanders this really is the most wonderful time of the year. Burger lovers eagerly awaiting the delivery of the "Buzz" magazine on Thursday morning hoping that someone didn't already scoop out the Burger Love insert.

Luckily we get a large number delivered to our office so snagging a copy wasn't an issue. With a short week in the cards our work lunch group decided to hit up our normal Friday spot, West End Bar & Grill, a day early. 

The Maverick consists of: 6 oz Island Beef Patty, Smoky Mozzarella, Smoked Bacon, Sweet Bacon Jam, Shredded Tangy Pickles, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Shores Signature Southwest Sauce on a Toasted Brioche Bun.

Overall a pretty good burger, nothing fancy but I like bacon so when you put two types on a burger I'm usually going to give it the thumbs up and this is no exception. A good start to the 2018 Burger Love adventure.

Rating - 7.5/10 

Forgot to post this one yesterday. First of many @PEIBurgerLove victims in the books. "The Maverick" from West End Bar and Grill was a good start. #PEIburgerlove pic.twitter.com/tQD6KOLqUT

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) March 30, 2018

"The Outlaw" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 12

Stop #12 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

The second stop of the day was the Holy Cow in Morell, a small community about half and hour east of Charlottetown.

"The Outlaw" was made of 8 oz Island Beef Patty, house-made Smoky BBQ Glaze, Arugula, house-made Poppyseed Mayo, Hothouse Tomato, Dill Pickle, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Onion Rings, Maple-Glazed Bacon, house-made BBQ Ranch Sauce on a toasted Potato Onion Bun topped with a Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Popper, Cherry Tomato and Dill Pickle.

As a fan of BBQ, I liked this one. I really liked the smokey flavour of the burger and the maple bacon was plentiful and delicious.  

Rating 8.5/10

Although we set out with great intentions at the start of the day, planning to have 3 or 4 burgers, we ended up having to tap out after this one. A little disappointing at the time, but likely the right choice.  

Next @PEIBurgerLove victim, "The Outlaw" from Holy Cow in Morell. Now I need a nap! #peiburgerlove pic.twitter.com/TzRwNpKwb7

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 29, 2017

"PiggyBack" - PEI Burger Love - 2017 - Part 11

Stop #11 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

As we've done the past couple of years, my wife and I spend the last Saturday of PEI Burger Love doing a little tour, one last chance to try a few burgers. We always set out on this day with great intentions and a list of "several" we want to try but even though we split the burgers and don't order any sides we are usually pretty full after a couple. With that in mind, we try to make sure that the first two are ones we really don't want to miss and go from there.

We both wanted to try the "PiggyBack" from Gahan House so we decided to start there. Their burger consisted of 7 oz Island Beef Patty, Aged White Cheddar, Bacon, Crispy Onions, Sweet Sriracha Slaw, Granny Smith Apple Chutney on a lightly grilled Iron Bridge Brown Molasses Bun topped with a Molasses Bun & Maple Stout Pulled Pork Slider and a Gherkin.

I'm glad we started with this one. The sweetness of the apple chutney and the molasses added balance and a great flavour to the burger. The pork slider on top was a nice bonus. I put this one right at the top of the list with O'Shea's "Wingin It" as my favourite for this year. 

Rating 9.5/10

Great start to the @PEIBurgerLove tour. "PiggyBack" from @GahanPub. One of those ones I wish we weren't splitting, so good. #peiburgerlove pic.twitter.com/NYUxyBlqpT

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 29, 2017

"Wingin It" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 10

Stop #10 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

O'Shea's Pub is a great little pub in the small community of Kinkora about 15 minutes from our house. Although we don't get there as often as we'd like it's always a great time and Richie and the staff always make us feel like family when we are there.

Last years Spud's McWhiskey and the Shea-Nanigan in 2015 were one of our favourites each year so we figured this one would be good too and we weren't disappointed.

Richie and the crew knocked it out of the park again this year. The "Wingin It" had 7 oz Island Beef Patty, O'Shea's Signature Sauce, Savoury Onion Fritter, 2-year Aged White Cheddar, Bacon, seasoned Sauteed Onions, Lettuce, Tomato, seasoned Lattice Fries on a toasted Brioche Bun topped with a Salt & Pepper Chicken Wing.

Rating 9.5/10

Reward after a tough hill training run, "Wingin It" from @OsheasRichard in Kinkora for @PEIBurgerLove. Excellent. #peiburgerlove #RunAtCan pic.twitter.com/26ReDQqGf1

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 28, 2017

 

"Beauty-n-the-Beef" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 9

Stop #9 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

So after a couple of weeks away from little 'ol PEI it was time to get back into some burger love action.

It was a friends birthday this past Wednesday (26th), and another friend does trivia at a pub near their house so it was an easy decision to check out "Beauty-n-the-Beef" at Friends & Family in Kensington.

Their burger was made up of a 6 oz Island Beef Patty with Pepsi-Glaze, Roasted Garlic Cream Cheese & Caramelized Onion Spread, Arugula, Dill Pickle Slices, Apple Matchsticks, Havarti, house-made Bacon Jam, Roasted Red Peppers on a toasted Garlic Buttered Brioche Bun topped with Apple Petal & Cherry Tomato with Pickle Leaf.

A really good burger, even without bacon on it! The flavours really melded together well and the apple matchsticks added a nice sweetness to each bite.

Only a few days left and so many burgers.  Hope to be able to sample a few more before the end of the month.

Rating 8.5/10

Solid @PEIBurgerLove entry from Friends and Family restaurant in Kensington. Loved the apple slices. #PEIBurgerlove pic.twitter.com/TGeoKTOfZq

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 27, 2017

"Ol' Smokey" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 8

Stop #8 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

The journey continued with "Ol' Smokey" from Montana's. As a fan of ribs, lets just say I wasn't disappointed when our daughter decided that she wanted to go there for lunch.

Their entry comprised of 6 oz Island Beef Patty, 12-hr Smoked Pulled Pork, Bacon, Cajun Dusters Onions, Leaf Lettuce, shredded Smoked Cheddar, Mayo, Honey Chipotle Glaze on a grilled house-made Bun topped with an in-house Chipotle Honey Smoked Pork Back Rib.

It was like they snuck into my head and picked out the combination of ingredients that make me do this......

My only (small) criticism would be the bun, it was pretty plain. If it had a bit more flavour or if it had been toasted I'd be hard pressed not to give this one a Nadia Comaneci. I really like BBQ, and this bad boy had me licking my fingers and wanting more. 

Rating 9/10
 

If you're a fan of BBQ sauce like me you'll enjoy "Ol' Smokey" from @MontanasBBQ for @PEIBurgerLove. Highly recommend. #peiburgerlove pic.twitter.com/3bxwpKUzEQ

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 17, 2017

"Pickled & Cured" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 7

Stop #7 of the 2017 Burger Love tour.

Open Eats is one of our favourite spots to dine in Summerside, it's a quaint, smaller venue but the food it unique and always top-notch. We don't get there as often as we like but when we are looking for a nice evening out and a special meal, we always choose Open Eats.

Their entry this year is the "Pickled & Cured" and after reading executive chef Megan Beairsto's bio on their website you won't be overly surprised by the "pickled" part. The burger consisted of Custom Smoked & Cured 6 oz Island Beef Patty infused with Ground Bacon and Umami Ketchup Glaze, Sauerkraut, Cabbage & Onion Slaw, grated Gouda, Horseradish, Green Tomato Chow on a warmed house-made Seaweed Bun topped with a Pickled Brussel Sprout.

If you've been following my reviews over the past couple of years you know that I'm not a fan of anything pickled (sorry Megan) but my wife is, so she was eating the burger this time while I ordered off the regular menu. The pasta I had was delicious, would definitely recommend as an option to anyone. I also tried a couple of bites of the burger, and if my pasta wasn't so good I would have been disappointed that I didn't order it too. The burger patty itself was easily the best one I've tried so far.   

We also lucked out, Alex was "testing" his baking skills and asked if we wanted to try a Cod Pie he was working on. Based on all of our other experiences there we knew it would be good so we took him up on the offer. It looked similar to a calzone, but the pastry was like a pie crust, light and flaky. The pie was filled with flaked cod, mozzarella, tomato, and seasoning. It was so good and I really hope it gets added to the menu. I would order it in a heartbeat.   

Rating 9/10

Awesome lunch @OpenEats today. Thanks for letting me be the guinea pig Alex, please put that Cod pie on the menu!! #foodie #peiburgerlove pic.twitter.com/VEqAooDljD

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 14, 2017

"All.In.Burger" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 5

Stop #5 of the 2017 PEI Burger Love tour. 

As many may all ready know, I do some work with our local Jr. A hockey team, Summerside Western Capitals. Today was a game day so we decided to try the burger at the restaurant that is part of the recreation complex here in town, 511 West. We go there on a regular basis and my go-to order is their 2015 Burger Love entry the "Sugar Daddy" and it was my favourite that year so was expecting big things.

The "All.In.Burger" didn't disappoint, it's comprised of a 6 oz Island Beef Patty, house-pickled Vegetables & Jalapeno, Candied Bacon, Aged Cheddar, Spinach, 'All In' Chipotle Sauce on a grilled Brioche Bun. Not an overwhelming amount of ingredients but packed full of flavour and I really, really liked the candied bacon. Mmmmmmm bacon.

At $12 for the burger and a couple more bucks for a side, this has been one of the best values so far. If you are looking for a burger to try in the Summerside area, I'd recommend putting this one on your list. It won't disappoint.

Rating - 8.5/10

Since I was going to the Caps game, I opted to continue @PEIBurgerLove and try the "All.In.Burger" @511West at the rink. Glad I did. pic.twitter.com/75zmokSSIH

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 4, 2017

"Life on Mars" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 4

Stop #4 of the 2017 PEI Burger Love tour.

I don't even know where to start with this one. It is definitely unique, but based on their previous creations it wasn't a surprise. We had no intentions of stopping at the Frosty Treat but when we were driving by it didn't take much convincing for us to pull the car in. Boy am I glad we did. 

Such a crazy combination of ingredients, the Life on Mars included 5 oz Island Beef Patty, Bacon, Deep Fried Mars Bar, Caramel Sauce on Two Funnel Cakes and topped with a Sprinkle Vanilla Ice Cream Cone!! I know it sounds crazy but it works.

It's a tricky one to eat since the bun is funnel cake, yep cake! We had to use a fork and knife to deconstruct and eat it, but tried to get as many flavours with each bite as we could.  We all really, really liked this one.

The cake was nice a crispy on the outside and moist and full of flavour on the inside. The burger had that great, unique, dairy bar taste, plus the bacon (need I say more). Top it off with a deep fried mars bar drizzled in caramel sauce. Delicious.
   
Even if you don't try the burger, if you've never had a deep fried mars bar, I suggest stopping in and having one. So good.

It's early in the month but this burger takes the club house lead and suspect that it'll stay near the top of the list.

Rating 9/10

This may well have been the most ridiculous yet delicious @PEIBurgerLove I've ever eaten. "Life on Mars" from Frosty Treat. #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/NjYbluhzd8

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) April 2, 2017

"Meat Me on Broadway" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 3

Stop #3 of the 2017 PEI Burger Love tour. 

This was my first visit to Broadway 45 in Kensington. It's been open for less than a year but has already established a reputation as a great spot to eat. Very open concept with 20+ ft ceilings and an additional loft area with extra room for dining plus lounge chairs and couches if you wanted to enjoy a drink in front of the fireplace. We were seated in the loft area and it was a great spot to enjoy our meal.

Craft beer fans will also enjoy the variety of different brews on tap from several of PEI's microbreweries. I went with one of my favourites, Blueberry Ale from PEI Brewing Company. Friends with us went with the selection from Moth Lane Brewery.

Now to the burger, the "Meat Me on Broadway" consists of 4 oz Island Beef Patty, 2 oz Beef Tenderloin Medallion, 2 oz Braised Beef in Green Peppercorn Demi Glaze, Herb & Garlic Gouda, Green Tomato Salsa Spread, Bacon, Tomato, shredded Iceberg Lettuce, Grilled Onions, Grainy Dijon Mayo on a toasted Potato Scallion Bun topped with Pepperoncini Pepper.

A lot of ingredients but still easy to eat like a regular burger. Let me say that when you put 4 different kinds of meat on a burger you're starting off in the right column with me. The beef tenderloin medallion was tender and very tasty. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of dijon or peppercorn and you could taste those flavours in every bite.

As far as price, it was $16 for the burger which is a bit on the high side. You have the option of adding a potato side for $3 or risotto for $6. Overall a pretty good burger but didn't have that "wow" factor. Had the sauce been something sweet like a BBQ or rib flavour I would have rated higher.

If you want an enjoyable dining experience in a great atmosphere check out Broadway 45 and if you like dijon and peppercorn, this burger will be one you will want to try.

Rating 7/10

"Rizzo Burger" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 2

Stop #2 of the 2017 PEI Burger Love tour.

PEI Burger Love is one of the reasons I run and go to the gym all year. Thankfully, my wife and I normally split the burgers but as you can see from the pictures these aren't your typical hamburgers.

I love trying out the different creations that the chefs come up with and it's nice to see so much hype and buzz across PEI because of it. Restaurants are packed and, in most locations, a reservation is recommended during the month of April.

The Rizzo is comprised of two 4 oz Island Beef Patties, Rib Sauce-flavoured Bacon, Aged Cheddar, Chipotle Mayo, Onion Rings, Lettuce, Tomato on a toasted Garlic-Buttered Brizzolio Bun.

I'm a sucker for bacon and rib sauce, this bad boy had oodles of both and they didn't disappoint. The chipotle mayo added a tiny bit of heat, but not too much. Overall a pretty tasty burger and one I'd recommend people try.

On the negative side, the price of $15 + tax for just the burger was a little steep in my opinion and takes the overall rating down a bit.

Rating 7.5/10

Going to need to run extra kms tomorrow. Stop #2 @PEIBurgerLove, "The Rizzo" at Pizza Delight. Bacon + BBQ = good eatin'. #PEIBurgerLove pic.twitter.com/6gGgHEabsq

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) March 31, 2017

"Big Red" - PEI Burger Love 2017 - Part 1

Stop #1 of the 2017 tour.

So it begins, this year for PEI Burger Love there are a record 84 beefy creations to try across our great Island.

A group of us from work normally go out to lunch at the West End Grill every Friday so we figured it would be a good place to start this year.

The "Big Red" consists of 6 oz Island Beef Patty, Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli, Smoked Bacon, Aged White Cheddar, Tomato Peach Chutney, White Balsamic Vinaigrette, tossed Arugula on a toasted Brioche Bun.

The burger was cooked well, slightly juicy and thick. There weren't any overpowering flavours, but also none that stood out. It was a good burger but not one that I would need to try again. I tend to feel a bit bad for the 1st one I try each year as I tend to stand it up against the best one from the year before. In this case it's a couple of notches below.

On the plus side, the price point of under $14 including a side will help bring people in to try it out.

Rating 7/10

1st @PEIBurgerLove stop, "Big Red" from West End Bar & Grill. Burger and bacon were tasty. #peiburgerlove pic.twitter.com/EeLwfcKlwP

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) March 31, 2017

Three Little Pigs - Porktoberfest 2016 - Part 3

* Stop #3 of the 2016 Porktoberfest adventure.

The PEI Marathon was this past weekend, unfortunately I opted not to run this year but my wife was doing the 10 km race. A trip to Charlottetown to get her race kit meant an excuse to make another Porktoberfest stop.

When checking out the listing on October 1st the "Three Little Pigs" sliders from the Quality Inn on the Hill jumped out as one she wanted to try, and of course I wasn't going to say no to pulled pork. It certainly isn't a spot we'd even considered going for a meal before, neither of us had actually been there before, but during Porktoberfest (and Burger Love) we go by the description and if it's something we want to try, we go; regardless of the location.

The sliders are comprised of 6 oz of PEI Pulled Pork and homemade BBQ sauce:

PIGGY #1 - Pulled pork with homemade apple sauce and topped with a cinnamon apple chip.
PIGGY #2 - Pulled pork with hickory sticks and topped with a deep fried mac ’n cheese wedge.
PIGGY #3 - Pulled pork with our sweet chili mayo, fiesta onion rings and topped with a bacon wrapped scallop.

Also included in the $15.95 price tag is homemade coleslaw, and maple bacon seasoned PEI potato skins fully loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream, green onion topped with pulled pork. 

The sliders were so damn good, the homemade BBQ sauce was delicious and the pulled pork was smothered in it. The addition of the potato skins covered in BBQ sauce and pulled pork were a welcome addition and really completed the meal.

If you are in the hunt to add to your Porktoberfest count I'd highly recommend checking out the Quality Inn. The Three Little Pigs are certainly worth stopping in for.

Rating - 8.5/10

Some @Porktoberfest action for lunch today, the Three Little Pigs sliders from @Innonthehill were really, really good. #PEIPorktoberfest pic.twitter.com/kNqciv1FAd

— Rod Gallant (@Rod_Gallant) October 15, 2016