In Need of a Taste from Home

I agree on the burgers for sure!  I can't figure out why British restaurants feel the need to put breadcrumbs in their burgers. So unnecessary and adds nothing. I stick with making my own in my cast iron griddle. Or five guys if I'm feeling lazy.


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I can't either, how can something so simple be so difficult!? Perhaps because they've never had the real thing and so don't know any better. Making them at home is definitely the only way. You can also ensure they come on a plate and not a wooden chopping board with a toothpick to hold it together! lol

I can't either, how can something so simple be so difficult!? Perhaps because they've never had the real thing and so don't know any better. Making them at home is definitely the only way. You can also ensure they come on a plate and not a wooden chopping board with a toothpick to hold it together! lol

Apparently (according to a Google search), eggs and breadcrumbs act as a binding ingredient... though I assume the main reason for using breadcrumbs as a 'filler' is because it allows the meat to go further and therefore saves money.

Apparently (according to a Google search), eggs and breadcrumbs act as a binding ingredient... though I assume the main reason for using breadcrumbs as a 'filler' is because it allows the meat to go further and therefore saves money.

I know that's true in theory. But ground beef holds together just fine on its own. I feel the same way about breadcrumbs in sausages.

There is one burger joint in Cardiff that everyone goes on about but I can't get on board with them at all because of the breadcrumb thing.

Of course my primary annoyance with all this stems from the fact I have celiac disease so the unnecessary filler garbage means I cannot eat all kinds of foods I would always be able to eat in the states. Nothing makes my blood boil quite like finding out that asking for a burger without a bun doesn't solve the gluten problem.


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I have celiac disease

Listen, there is way more to that than I had thought. My wife was having digestive problems, and as the cook, I tried different diets in an attempt to isolate the culprit.

Gluten-free is tough....the risk of cross-contamination....I found flour in my favourite seasoning....had to keep the kitchen spotless....pretty much a separate set of dishes and utensils...food planning becomes much more difficult....

I feel for you, dining out must be challenging, even with heightened awareness in the industry...

Apparently (according to a Google search), eggs and breadcrumbs act as a binding ingredient... though I assume the main reason for using breadcrumbs as a 'filler' is because it allows the meat to go further and therefore saves money.

Yeah, sadly that's probably true. Alton Brown says half chuck/sirloin and salt, I'm inclined to trust his judgement.
Five guys might be the closest thing the UK has to a real burger but my husband won't go to five guys, says £8 is too expensive for a burger lol

I just went to Gourmet Burger Kitchen for lunch and had a peanut butter shake for desert. 

There didn't appear to be anything in that burger but meat and it was good.  I'm slipping into a food coma, somebody come wake me gently at 5.


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Yeah GBK don't put fillers in. But o have never been particularly impressed by them.

I made some last night with just salt and pepper and they were fantastic. And much cheaper than five guys.

I can't deal with five guys prices over here either  TBH. Not when I know how much less they are in the US.


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Yeah GBK don't put fillers in. But o have never been particularly impressed by them.

I made some last night with just salt and pepper and they were fantastic. And much cheaper than five guys.

I can't deal with five guys prices over here either  TBH. Not when I know how much less they are in the US.


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The price is crazy isn't it? When people go into Krispy Kreme I can only stare in amazement! 

Alison, my husband was diagnosed as Coeliac two days before Christmas while my parents were in town visiting (they are Americans).  If I had a pound coin for everytime my mom said, "Just order a burger without the bun" I would be a RICH RICH woman.  She could NOT grasp that nearly all the burgers and sausages in the UK have breadcrumbs in them.   

We have discovered that all of Asda's "extra special" sausages and burgers are gluten free.  Have you discovered Wheatfreebakery.co.uk?  The bread is the best around according to my husband and his aunt (Coeliac for 25 years and just discovered them).

The price is crazy isn't it? When people go into Krispy Kreme I can only stare in amazement! 

It shocks the heck outta me how expensive a single glazed Krispy Kreme is here. But if you do get one and microwave it for 7 seconds... It's like it's fresh off the fryer machine. Oooh, that was nice a few weeks ago.

Alison, my husband was diagnosed as Coeliac two days before Christmas while my parents were in town visiting (they are Americans).  If I had a pound coin for everytime my mom said, "Just order a burger without the bun" I would be a RICH RICH woman.  She could NOT grasp that nearly all the burgers and sausages in the UK have breadcrumbs in them.   

We have discovered that all of Asda's "extra special" sausages and burgers are gluten free.  Have you discovered Wheatfreebakery.co.uk?  The bread is the best around according to my husband and his aunt (Coeliac for 25 years and just discovered them).

We always keep those asda sausages in the house. . I just finished eating some actually.

I haven't used that site, but I don't frequently purchase specialty GF foods like bread and cookies and cakes and whatnot. Over the last 7 years I've been GF I have just gradually changed my diet so that I rarely eat anything that would normally contain gluten. Most meals I cook are just meat and veggie so I don't have to worry. I do keep GF flour and corn flour in the house for gravies and occasionally making dumplings though.

I also had a shockingly easy time planning food for my wedding. Our venue was fantastic about getting me food I could eat, including cheesecake! And our entire wedding cake was GF as well. We found a great bakery that specialised in that sort of thing and they did a great job.


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Especially don't get excited about "American-style breakfast." Because you will be so, so disappointed.

Totally agree on the burgers, though there's a chain called Byron that I've found to be pretty decent. Pricey but decent. At this point I think I'd pay £8 for a Five Guys burger, though what I miss most is a decent sandwich. Two measly slices of meat and a piece of cheese? No thank you!

...Clearly there's a reason why America has an obesity problem...

Especially don't get excited about "American-style breakfast." Because you will be so, so disappointed.

I've had one utterly fantastic American style breakfast here and that was at Barnutopia, in Shropshire. 

It was absolutely perfect, even included a pancake eating contest which was for the kids but the pancakes were so good I almost accidentally won. 

If anyone is feeling homesick, the people there will put you back right.

This is a little late but for your next trip, The Lockhart in Marylebone. Mississippi chef. Excellent. He also runs Shotgun in Soho, but they don't have fried chicken on the menu whereas The Lockhart does.

It's not a restaurant, but I find the sirloin burgers from our aldi are quite tasty! I just miss the dill pickles to go with them.


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