Rock-Hard Buns: Regain Element’s Wine-Injected Burgers and Beer
In the wake of our 2018 Beijing Burger Festival and the ongoing Burger Cup, our Rock-Hard Buns
series will whet your appetite by taking a look at those vendors who
slung their wares at the veritable meat fest that just past. Remember to
vote for your favorite here!
Having opened last year in Wudaoying Hutong, Regain Element's two-story brewpub with a white-painted façade, outdoor tables, and in-house made brews attracts patrons wanting to take a break from the alleyway's endless window shopping. The venue's beer is produced in three large fermenting tanks situated on the first floor, which join other imported brews on the venue's 16 taps. Customers can choose from pints for between RMB 35 to 65, or grab a flight of four for RMB 80.
Those in the mood for food, however, may be drawn to the kitchen's somewhat curious wine-injected burger (pictured at top). In it, you'll basically get a thick and solid patty wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese, lettuce, raw onion, a slice of tomato, and a sprinkle of fried onion. The kicker is that it also comes pierced with a plastic syringe, though upon our attempts to force the liquid inside, we found the patty was too firm to absorb it. For that reason, you may want to opt for one of the more conventional patties, which come big, full of bite, and between two crunchy toasted buns.
Following their return to this year’s Beijing Burger Festival, we spoke to the Regain Element team to find out more about what makes their burgers special (past the syringes).
In your opinion, what are the most important elements in making a great burger?
We carefully select every ingredient to ensure its quality and freshness, and we also use a special sauce to season the beef patty. The most important element is our grilling method, which helps the patty maintain the same texture and quality throughout.
Tell us about your signature burger.
Our signature burger is the bacon, cheese, and beef burger. We use selected Australian imported beef to make the patty and then slow cook it while seasoning with spices. We then add our special sauce, cheese, and cook it with wine. After that, we use bacon to wrap the patty. The burger is then served with a syringe filled with alcohol or juice, allowing the customers to inject the meat to match their taste.
What drink from your menu goes best with the burger?
Beers and burgers always go well together, so we recommend pairing the burger with one of our brews. The wheat beer has a special malty flavor that pairs well with the complex texture of the burger and is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Aside from your own restaurant's burger, what is the best burger you've ever had?
The classic beef burger at Slow Boat Brewery, which pushed the benchmark of American-style burgers in Beijing to a high level; the pure beef meat flavor matches the soft bread perfectly.
Only your vote can help push your favorite burger through to be crowned Beijing's Best Burger. Read up on Slow Boat and Great Leap, this year's two finalists, and then scan/extract the QR code above to have your say!
Images courtesy of Regain Element
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