The humble cheeseburger – a fabulous medley of flavours which never fail to strike those tangy notes on your tongue. You know the drill; it’s a grilled patty topped with a gooey slice of cheese, onions, pickles and a squeezing of tomato sauce and mustard, all packed nicely between an irresistibly soft, mildly sweet bun. Well, humble no more, Cherry Darlings Bakehouse has taken the evolution of the classic cheeseburger to the next dang level with their cheeseburger pie – indeed, pie.
The first time we were offered one of these peculiar creations, we low key cringed at the thought of such a thing. However, moments later this expression would become truly regrettable. The audacious golden pocket had us transcending – needless to say, it changed our life. Upon our return to planet Earth with our feet firmly on the ground, we made it our mission to honour the existence of the cheeseburger pie.
Each element inside the pie are stacked atop each other in a particular order, much like the classic cheeseburger – yes, the order matters. On the ground floor of the pie rests the mince which bathes in a rich, herbaceous, tomatoey sauce in the company of the onions. On level two, the cheese sauce is spread liberally across its bed of mince, ready and waiting to ooze. The penthouse is reserved for four perfect pickle slices, awaiting their time to release a sporadic pop of aroma. The trio of innards are encased by layers of homemade, flaky pastry which produce a symphony of crackles as you sink your teeth into the lustrous exterior.
Cherry Darlings owner and cook, Tim Salmon says, “The sauce in the pie has over twenty different herbs, spices and other sauces in it which really gives the cheeseburger pie its signature flavour – I always needed to go another step.”
It’s surprisingly sensational, it’s unreasonably good – it’s a carefully considered, handmade envelope of sorts and its been a staple on the menu since Cherry Darlings’ inception in 2014.
Oh, did we mention it’s completely and utterly vegan too? We double cheeseburger dare you to give it a go!