"the counter" news and stories

You're not likely to find gruyère in most fast-food burger joints, but now you will, at the crossroads of America, New York's Times Square. Just in time for the city's New Year's Eve bash, there's a new burger joint in town: The Counter, a nearly 8-year-old California-born chain specializing in custom-built burgers with uncharacteristically top-notch ingredients. The new outpost just opened in Times Square yesterday -- the chain's 26th U.S. location -- at 1451 Broadway.

Oprah has already named their "Build Your Own" burger one of the "20 Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die," and GQ's Alan Richman put it on his list of best burgers in the country. At least with more than 300,000 possible combinations you'll never get bored. There are four types of patty (Angus beef, grilled chicken, turkey, veggie), 12 types of cheese (like Greek feta, provolone and soft-ripened brie), 33 toppings (house-made guacamole, sautéed mushrooms, and even a fried egg) and 21 sauces (like basil pesto, chipotle aioli and ginger-soy glaze). Then, top it off with one of six different buns, such as honey wheat or ciabatta.

Unexpected starters round out the meal, from sweet-potato fries to turkey chili and fried dill pickle chips. New York City's location is also the first to have shakes, malts, floats and a full bar with spiked shakes, beer and wine. Plus, they say all their meat is humanely raised and hormone- and antibiotic-free. Especially cool? The promise that each outpost includes some locally sourced market ingredients. Happy National Burger Day!

We could blather about burgers endlessly, and today, yet another one has left us breathless anew.

Flickr user Marshall Astor brought to our attention the beauty of this bacon, pineapple and Gruyere burger from El Segundo, Calif., restaurant the Counter -- and the brilliance of the chain's "Custom Built Burgers" motto. An unexpected combination, this burger promises an intriguing, complex burst of flavor, with the earthy creaminess of Gruyere, the salty chew of bacon, topped with the refreshing juice of a grilled pineapple slice.

On selection at the burger joints is a choice of 10 cheeses, four out of 28 toppings (from black olives to dried cranberries), three bun options, and -- gasp! -- a choice of 18 sauces, from Caramelized Onion Marmalade to Horseradish Mayo. Check the Counter's Web site for locations, get inspired by their menu to try your own concoctions or follow the Counter's tips to make your own burger at AOL Food.

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We've mentioned burgers here countless times here at Slashfood, and we've mentioned The Counter at least a couple of times. The Counter is a burger joint that opened about three years ago in Santa Monica, CA, where you can "Build Your Own Burger," or BYOB. The restaurant has quite a loyal local following, and apparently, national fans as well. Alan Richman mentioned The Counter in GQ last summer as one of the Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die. And more recently, Oprah mentioned it.

In fact, it was this mention on Oprah's show back in February that launched The Counter from a $40,000 a month to a $245,000 a month operation. Let's just call it the Oprah effect. 31-year-old owner/founder Jeff Weinstein has already opened a location in Palo Alto, and has plans to open 60 location over the next three years. Let's just hope that The Counter doesn't go the way of Krispy Kreme.

If you follow along in the burger world, then you might know about The Counter in Santa Monica, where their thing is BYOB - Build Your Own Burger. Alan Richman even named it one of the 25 burgers you must eat before you die in GQ.

Based on their list of topping choices, there are 312,120 different burger combinations, but at their new location in Palo Alto, Tim attempted to do it all in one shot. He ordered a 5 lb. burger with every topping available. At once. Served in a bowl, the burger almost looks like a sundae and it is not pretty. Neither is the aftermath.

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