Pirate's Cove - Chiang Mai

This is The Pirate's Cove Burger. The photos don't really do it justice. It is cheaper than Mike's and much better. The patty is a blend of Grade A Thai beef, mixed with some ground pork. In Thailand Grade A refers not just to quality, but also to fat content, so pork is needed to get that proper juiciness you want in a burger.
While I am a burger purist, meaning I don't believe in adding flavouring to the meat, Mark adds a blend of herbs that perfectly compliments the flavours of the meat.
I suppose most people when making burgers just get to heavy handed with adding stuff. Eggs to hold together, then breadcrumbs to dry it out a little, and far to many spices, to the point where you no longer taste the meat. Also the mixing required caused the fat to emulsify, which give you meat loaf not a burger. Ho, ho sorry I am getting off topic here.



If you are craving a good burger when in Chiang Mai, Pirate's Cove is the place to go. The bar always has friendly ex-pat faces, (over the years it has become a favourite meeting point before a night out). It is not just the food that is good and cheap. The happy hour specials are great, and the Chang Draught comes without the major hangover of bottled Chang.
The bar has a wall of fame/shame for the 60 in 60, which is 60 shots of Chang Draught in 60 minutes. It sounds easy, but it is not for the faint of heart; many, many have tried and failed.

Mike's Burgers - Chiang Mai

Mike's Burgers is a local chain and institution in Chiang Mai. They have new owners who have opened more locations, but the old style burger counter just left of the gate holds many memories for Abby and I of living here. They are open late, and at two in the AM when the drunks are rolling out of the bars this place is packed.
Mostly I remember standing here some un-godly hour half drunk with a broken nose, my friend Dan with a head full of pills, and almost getting in a fist fight. Some drunk Yank thought it would be funny to try and touch my nose. I had my fist cocked when common sense prevailed, I got Dan to get my food while I beat it back to our apartment, before things got ugly, and they were going that way fast.
Abby and I decided to make this our last meal in Chiang Mai before we headed for the train. You know just for a walk down memory lane. It was a 2 minute walk from our apartment and it was open late so it often filled the late-night snack gap. Chili fries when drunk are like 7-11 chili nachos...irresistible!

Mike's main location, just outside the gates.

Mike's Burgers lunch counter.

Abby reading the paper, waiting for our lunch.

Mike's Cheeseburger.
It has gotten smaller with the new owners.

Chicago Style Fries.
The new name for chili cheese fries

The Blue Goose

Abby and I cut our HKG to BKK flight pretty close. Famished and cashless we needed a restaurant that took plastic, meaning a western restaurant, so we opted for the Blue Goose Pub.
I had the Blue Goose Burger, a standard burger topped with "blue cheese" presumably some type of stilton. It was pretty good, although I ate it so fast all I really tasted was the tangy cheese. A serious plus was that they had Ginger Ale, which Abby had been craving to ease a nervous tummy.

McPepper

Every country or region has its own special McCreation.
Hong Kong's special burger is the McPepper...a standard 1/4 pounder with a black peppercorn gravy. Burger King, while not having a major presence in the rest of Asia has a few outlets in HK. Their rival burger is the aptly named Black Pepper burger. I did not try it as I felt queasy enough after the McPepper.

Early Days

From my kitchen.
Burger w/ Smokey Blue (from Rogue Creamery in Portland) and Caramelised Shallots.
Served w/ Herbed Oven Fries and Microgreen Salad.