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NEW burger joint Blaze has combined a 'little and large' selection of tasty mini bites and enormous beefy delights in a bid to woo customers away from the household names on the island.
The gourmet burgers are freshly-made every day alongside 'home-made' crisps, dips and fries and the combination has created a culinary sensation in the popular dining out area of Adliya.
Offering a comfortable dining area too, the venue is now regularly packed with customers and business has been showing a monthly growth since its soft opening in February.
The concept came about when two young Bahraini fine food connoisseurs were craving a fresh burger that was both beefy and juicy ... but wouldn't empty their wallet. The restaurant was launched shortly afterwards by businessman Ebrahim Al Abasi bringing on board his family and friends.
Mr Al Abasi said: "We noticed that if you wanted a really good burger then you had only two options - fast-food or gourmet. With fast-food you are getting a cost-effective meal but often compromising on the taste of the beef patty as it is normally made of processed meat. If you want a gourmet burger then you have to head to a hotel restaurant and while it's good it can be expensive. That goes against the whole reason burgers were made in the first place - quick and good to eat without having to break the bank.
"Blaze aims to combine the best of both worlds, cost effective and juicy. They don't taste like cardboard!
"We have a selection of beef patties for the carnivores and some healthy burgers for vegetarians. There is something here for everybody.
"We wanted to create a friendly atmosphere, a great place to hang out and meals that fill you up without compromising on the quality. We use fresh ingredients and everything is done from scratch.
"Our patties are made from real beef cuts and our cheese is sliced from blocks of American cheese."
At Blaze customers can create their own dream burger. Firstly, they choose a patty. The favourite is the 'Signature' which is a half pound of freshly-grounded beef with a melted cheese centre marinated in a 'secret recipe' pickle mix.
For a healthier option the mushroom patty burger is made with a gigantic Portobello mushroom marinated and grilled. It actually looks like a beef burger but don't be fooled ... it's all suitable fare for the strict veggie!
Once the patty has been picked a choice of buns are available and diners can top it all off with a series of flavoursome combinations. The most requested is the 'Inter-State' which consists of mushrooms, cheddar, grilled onions and jalapeno mayonnaise. A spicier option is the Blaze special habanera sauce.
A favourite with the girls who love a good burger but don't want the hassle of the mess created by the larger variety, are the miniature burgers - bite-size chicken or beef.
The meal can be rounded off with a range of deserts including cupcakes and apple pecan crumble which is made locally.
Filipino chef Darwin P Tiglao, 35, is the mastermind behind the kitchen team. He has been in the restaurant business for five years and was one of the founding members of staff at the popular Brazil restaurant in Adliya.
He said: "We aren't making the same burgers all the time and we are always coming up with new recipes. Blaze is special for those who are health conscious and demand the freshest ingredients. Our crisps, for example, are even home-made and the oil is frequently changed for that added flavour.
"People love Blaze so much that some travel all the way from Hamala just for a burger."
First-timer Hassan Al Shaban, pictured left, 24, a banker, from Budaiya, said he enjoyed trying out new restaurants in the kingdom, and was mightily impressed. He said: "Often burgers can taste too salty or peppery but mine had an amazing balance of flavours. It was so good all I could say was 'mmmmmm'. It was a messy burger but the messiest burgers in my opinion are often the best!"
Noora Al Dosari, 27, a banker, from Hamad Town, is a regular customer. She said: "I am a big fan. The reason I love them so much is because they are so fresh. I eat here maybe twice a week and my favourite is the grilled chicken."
