Thursday, March 15, 2012

Bareburger and Its Ingredients: The Wave of the Future?

Are the ingredients (and openness about those ingredients) used at Bareburger, a chain of hamburger restaurants in New York City, the wave of the future? Judging from the mission statement on the home page of Bareburger's website, let's hope so:
"At Bareburger, people are sometimes puzzled to hear that little of what we do is actually 'new.' Since the dawn of farming, people have eaten the same organic, all natural, free-range, grass-fed meats; organic and all-natural cheeses; and organic vegetables that we offer. By partnering with local artisans and working with sustainable farmers, we're returning to an old-fashioned emphasis on quality. It’s tastier, it's better for you, and it benefits our community."
Since I haven't eaten at a Bareburger yet, I can't attest to quality. But at least I'd feel comfortable eating there; many ingredients—including the beef, homemade ketchup, vegetables, ice cream, butter and eggs are organic.

Here's a list of the meats used to make burgers and sandwiches; even the non-organic ones are hormone- and antibiotic-free:

Beef: 100% organic, grass-fed, 85% lean
Bison: 100% organic, grass-fed, 91% lean
Turkey: 100% organic, free-range, 94% lean
Elk: 100% all-natural, pasture raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, 92% lean
Wild Boar: 100% all-natural, pasture raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free
Ostrich: 100% all-natural, pasture raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, 95% lean
Lamb: 100% all-natural, pasture raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, 90% lean
Chicken: 100% all-natural, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-free
Bacons: 100% all-natural, hormone-free and nitrate free
Sausage: 100% organic

I just wish this attention to quality sourcing was more prevalent, but we have to start rebuilding somewhere after decades of neglect.

Has anyone eaten at a Bareburger?

3 comments:

lady elle said...

yes! we ♥ bareburger! their menu is extensive & delicious in addition to being so conscious.

Chef Rob said...

lady elle,

That's great to hear! I'll have to try it ASAP.

mattucee said...

I've had the bison, ostrich and boar at bareburger, on Laguardia Place in Greenwich Village and in Forest Hills Queens where I live. The quality is consistant between the two restaurants and it's excellent. The meats are rich, tasty and highly nutritious while having less fat and cholestoral than the same size serving of chicken. Even the buns and fries are exceptional!