Oceania Burger Special - Grill’d
There are burger outlets aplenty on this earthround.
A myriad of mediocre ones, novelty ones, ones known for having heart attacks to go on their menus, ones with semi-secret menus and secret handshakes that need to be applied to get something prepared in an especially decadent way, et cetera et cetera.
Every now and then one comes across one that does not necessarily reinvent the wheel but ticks all the boxes when it comes to sustainable, tasty fast food that leaves one elevated rather than being dragged down by a conglomerate of carbs and fat.
Enter Grill’d, an Australian etablissement with a strong focus on community needs and sustainability.
Each purchase comes with a Local Matters token, which the distinguished customer can use to add to one of three jars, which signify three rotating local community groups that are doing good. The one with most tokens will receive a monetary donation at the end of each month.
Now, let’s get to the chow chow, shall we?
The concept of Grill’d can be encapsulated by their focus on local sources and farmers, i.e. keeping food distribution footprint (food miles) low and ensuring that the ingredients in their burgers are as fresh as possible. Needless to say that standards are calibrated at a level where animal welfare standards are highly regarded – think goods free of hormones and antibiotic-free, free range is a must and the concept of farm to fingers is highly regarded.
The packaging is sourced from sustainably planted forests and fully recyclable thanks to water-based coatings and the avoidance of petroleum-based chemicals with event the interior of the respective restaurants being recycled finishes.
Carnivores are served grass-fed, free range Australian beef, ground coarsely with their signature relish & herbs to ensure that it is moist and flavoursome.
My favourite Grill’d items circle around the newly added Beyond Burger concept: Plant-based burger patties free from soy, gluten and GMOs that form the basis of an exercise in deliciousness that tries not to mimic the flavour of meat but manager to create dishes that reign supreme in their own league.
Usually adding one of the rich salads and smothering it with the special hot sauces they have available to put the spicy cherry on top, eating at Grill’d in different cities has proved to be an experience that anchored me in the busiest of times – a recurring experience that is enhanced by the staff that are usually engaging in a non-intrusive manner, which is rare to be found.
The fact that their franchises are licensed does not hurt either and the selection of the libations on offer is an extension of their carefully calibrated menu.
If you find yourself on terra australis, Grill’d is a place you’d want to check out – no matter what your burger preferences are.
