[CH] Habanero Hamburger
Joan Sullivan Rph (joan@adobedrug.com)
Sun, 7 Oct 2001 20:05:03 -0700
I'd seen enough mention on this list & in the press of the Habanero
Hamburger served at the Prince of Wales Pub in San Mateo, CA that my
interest was piqued & I've been looking for the chance to try it.
Yesterday I drove my husband to the hotel he was going to bunk-out at before
his flight this am from SFO (6:00am flight requiring a 3:00am check-in!!) &
saw my opportunity. We had a late lunch/early dinner there before his nap.
The pub is "real," as far as American pubs go. Local, after-work crowd.
Not too tidy. Beer garden out back. Guinness that's not ice cold (tho
since my spring trip to Ireland that beer of beers has been ruined for me).
Big interest in local sports (lots of talk about Barry Bonds' big night
before.)
The burger comes with fries and the chance to get a bumper sticker if you
finish it. It's served open-faced with a healthy layer of orange habanero
mash layered on the patty. The aroma was enough to strike fear in the
hearts of our bartender & my ever-suffering husband. The cook came out to
see what kind of macho jerk my husband was to order it. They never assume
that I'm the chile-head.
The flavor was wonderful. Classic. I can't say it was the hottest thing
I've ever eaten in my life, but it was the most of that kind of heat that
I've eaten all at once. The bartender thought I was pretty tough because I
wasn't turning bright red. My husband could tell I was working it because
he reconizes the seriousness of the occassional dry cough. I needed the
help of two pints, and a side of mayo, but finished it. I claimed my bumper
sticker which reads "I Survived the New Century's Hottest Habanero Hamburger
Prince of Wales Pub, San Mateo, CA."
Evidentally the owner of the joint is some kind of chilli-making champion.
I'd have to assume he puts out a good product. Every Thursday is chilli
lunch day.
An all together enjoyable experience. I treated myself to an Its-It ice
cream sandwich & smiled contentedly/smugly at my neighbors. Was feeling
pretty proud until the bartender mentioned that the record of hab burgers
eated in one sitting is five!!
Cheers,
Joan