Northwest Fast Food

My recent trip to the northwest was by all accounts delicious.  I already shared our train adventure with you, and while there are some elaborate meals that I will divulge in due time, I'd like to share one of my favorite guilty pleasures with you: Burgerville.

 
Those of you who live in the northwest may be rolling your eyes a bit, but if so, you truly don't know what a little gem you have.  While many of us try to stick to fresh and healthy foods, sometimes only a basket of onion rings and a milkshake will fit the bill.  Now, imagine if  those onion rings were made from local Walla Walla sweet onions and the milkshake was flavored with blackberries from a family farm 20 miles away.  This is something I took for granted when I lived in Portland, but miss when I am looking for some kind of "fast food" in Chicago.

Burgerville was founded in 1961 on three tenets: Fresh, Local, Sustainable.  They use local, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free beef in their burgers, cage-free eggs in their breakfast items, and hormone-free milk.  They even include biodegradable garden pots and vegetable seed packets in their kids meals. The menu changes seasonally with local ingredients and you don't have to be embarrassed about making meal modifications based on allergies or dietary choices. 

Oh Burgerville...  You make me want to franchise.

-------------------------------------------------------------

In other news, I will be on the tasting panel at the first annual Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon this weekend. (September 7th from 11 am to 5 pm.)

Featured chocolatiers and confectioners include: Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, The Chocolate Traveler, Cyndy's Sweet Treats, Guittard Chocolate, Confection Diva, Chocolate Gourmet , Katherine Anne Confections, Divine Chocolate USA, rr Chocolats, Mayana Chocolate, Coco Delice Fine Chocolates, Nespresso, Ventana Vineyards, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueur, igourmet.com, Chocolate For Your Body, and more.

Tickets are $17.50 in advance; $20 at the door.