Burger Bar: Build Your Own Ultimate Burgers [Hardcover]

Hubert Keller (Author), Penelope Wisner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Take your burgers from everyday to extraordinary with Chef Hubert Keller.

"There are burgers and then there are Hubert Keller's Burger Bar burgers. In this book, Hubert Keller turns out original and delicious burgers and raises the bar for everyone else."—Alain Ducasse

Drawing on his experience as a four-star chef and using only the finest fresh ingredients, Chef Hubert Keller, the creator and owner of the popular Burger Bar restaurants in Las Vegas, St. Louis, and San Francisco, reveals how to re-create his sophisticated, succulent burgers in your own home.

Burger Bar features more than 50 inspirational recipes for Keller's burgers and sides that emphasize high-quality ingredients, fabulous flavor combinations, and simple preparation techniques. From meaty delights such as the New York Strip Surprise Burger and the Greek Burger, to the off-the-beaten-path Crab Sliders and Buffalo Burger, to must-have sides and sauces such as Perfect French Fries and Piquillo Pepper Ketchup, there's a recipe to delight every palate.

Packed with professional tips on preparation and presentation plus Keller's "Build Your Own" techniques, Burger Bar is the go-to cookbook for anyone who wants to know how to build a better burger.

Exclusive Recipe Excerpts from Burger Bar

Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon Sliders

Burger Bar Milkshakes

Perfect French Fries

From the Inside Flap

"Every chef dreams of extending his vision to appeal to as many people as possible. Keller has done that with his restaurants and this book, by sharing with cooks how to build the best burgers."—Guy Savoy

"We knew everyone loves burgers, but we wanted to offer something new. What if we reimagined burgers and applied our fine-dining culinary training to create the best-tasting burgers possible? We would take them seriously because, we noticed, burger lovers take the subject seriously. Very seriously."

Those are the words of Hubert Keller, nationally acclaimed chef and owner of the dining hotspot Burger Bar with locations in Las Vegas, St. Louis, and San Francisco, and host of the PBS-TV series Secrets of a Chef, explaining how he and his colleagues brought their passion for high-quality food to everyone's backyard favorite: the burger.

In Burger Bar, Chef Keller and Penelope Wisner show you how to create a mouthwatering, out-of-body burger experience—the ultimate burger. Through easy-to-follow recipes illustrated throughout with gorgeous color photographs, this cookbook features a collection of 50 succulent burgers complete with Keller's personal suggestions for sauces, buns, and condiments.

Just imagine a rich beef burger stuffed with luscious melted blue cheese, a BLT turkey club burger, or a smoked salmon burger. There's an unforgettable lamb burger with a Provençal flair. You can go vegan with the Southwestern Bean Burger or a seasonal temptation that features pumpkin and quinoa. And let's not forget dessert: wow your family and friends with a knockout s'mores "burger" or tease your eyes and palate with a rich chocolate-hazelnut ganache "burger" draped with a slice of mango gelée "cheese" and enclosed in a warm glazed donut "bun."

The real beauty of this book—other than the burgers themselves—is that you can re-create the customized, build-your-own concept of Burger Bar. You can suit your taste, time, and budget by paring down presentation or by borrowing condiments or sauces, and even techniques, from one recipe and applying them to another. Keller encourages you to try the burgers that have won over thousands of fans and make your own burger masterpieces.

In addition, you'll find recipes for spectacular fries and sides, as well as guidance in selecting meat, forming patties, pairing burgers with beer, and cooking the juiciest burgers you've ever tasted.

If you aren't wishing for a burger by now, you will be once you sample the culinary wonders that Burger Bar has to offer!

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (April 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470187670
• ISBN-13: 978-0470187678
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Battle of the Burger Books April 22, 2009

By John Goecke

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently purchased both "Burger Bar" and Bobby Flay's "Burgers, Fries & Shakes." Must be the summer of the burger cookbook. Last summer it was star chef grilling books. Anyway, I have to say the "Burger Bar" wins. Flay's book is all about the toppings. It really is more of a salute to his new restaurant chain. "Burger Bar" focuses on different approaches to burgers. In addition, "Burger Bar" offers a nice set of recipes for side dishes, sauces, and drinks.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Much, much more than a book about burgers. July 22, 2009

By E. Samuels

Format:Hardcover

This cookbook is far more than a book about burgers. It is a book about great flavor combinations, cooking technique and presentation, all brought to you through manageable recipes. Most burger recipes are paired with a "condiment" recipe, some of which can be time consuming, but have no fear, don't feel like making the "spicy aioli" from scratch... don't bother making your own mayonnaise, just take out the Hellman's and add Chef Hubert Keller's additional ingredients (worked for me - - I'm not making mayo).
The "Mustard Seed Chicken Burger" (including a grated apple that adds the moisture lacking in most poultry burgers - without adding any flavor that doesn't belong in a burger) and the "BLT Turkey CLub Burger" are both amazing, easy to make and most importantly result in clean plates from the pickiest of eaters.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Create Your Own Burger Masterpieces at Home June 16, 2009

By Brooklyn Foodie

Format:Hardcover

Hubert Keller was amazing in the first episode of Top Chef Masters, and in Burger Bar he shares many of his secrets to creating the ultimate burger experiences at home. There's something here for everybody -- beef, lamb, poultry, fish and vegetarian burgers -- many of which will simply astound with their creativity and combination of flavors. There's even recipes for sides and desserts. A burger book unlike others, and a trip inside the mind of a chef who is as creative and innovative as they come.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's All About The Meat! June 30, 2009

By ronedee

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book! Many creative ideas. More than I'll probably use. The bottom line in Kellers opinion is: "you can't have a great burger without great beef." And the bread is important too! I tend to agree here. So save on all the prep time, expensive mushrooms and ingredients, and buy some Kobe or other highend beef, and a fresh bulky roll for your "puck"! You won't care what is on it at that point. Bon appetit!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the restaurant, and Love the Book February 3, 2010

By Curtis Barton

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

i wasn't expecting as much as this cookbook provides. It has plenty of recipes and lots of good tips to help with preparation. It was a little surprising how much complexity can go into making burgers but the result is worth it. Also, there is a bit more than just burgers. The cookbook also has recipes for sauces and sides that go well with the burgers, veggie burgers, fish, and other burger type sandwiches in the recipes. Have fun in the kitchen and on the grill with this cookbook.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth it...(if you have some time to prepare) May 7, 2012

By Paul

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fan of burgers on all their forms this guide provides a lot of ideas for all types of burgers, going from meaty to veggy through sweet and fishy ones.
The explanations are clear and the picture parsimoniously inserted into the book gives you "l'eau à la bouche" as the French would say. In step by step clear guidelines the author provides comprehensive way to prepare and cook perfect burgers...clearly different from the cheeseburgers you should be used to.
Enjoy reading and bon appétit!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Burger Reference August 28, 2009

By Douglas Appelt

Format:Hardcover

I always enjoyed watching Hubert Keller's "Burger Bar" segments on his PBS cooking show - the Burger Bar is his Las Vegas burger restaurant at the Mandalay Bay hotel. This book is chock full of great ideas for creating hamburgers out of various ingredients and in various culinary styles, and pairing them with interesting side dishes. I made the "Pesto Burger" (actually a Cilantro-Arugula pesto) and it was one of the best burgers I ever tasted. This book is the best burger reference out there. If you want to have fun in the kitchen and at the grill, this book is for you.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but impractical May 31, 2010

By Anna H.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like the whimsy of this book. There are some very inspired burger recipes to be found here (and a lot of good information about technique). I've made a few of the recipes from this cookbook, and I have been very satisfied with them. The only real problem here is how impractical some of it is -- I live in a small town that doesn't have access to some of the ingredients in this book (e.g. ostrich meat, duck fat, etc.). Most of these burger are rather sophisticated, so be prepared to put some time into them (and some money for all of the ingredients). In sum, if you want to have a cookbook that will help you expand your burger arsenal, this is it. If you are looking for something that will help you cook a plain burger for your cookout this weekend without any frills, this isn't your book.