Big Ass Burger Turlock Style

On Tuesdays Turlock Sale Yard opens and there is a Swap Meet, beginning at 7am. There is also a small cafe which serves up some serious grub.
Ten seats tops with a small flat top in the corner, covered with pots of warming beans, soup, and whatever else she has on there..giving herself maybe a square foot for making eggs, bacon, breakfast burritos and these gigantic hand formed burgers.

Steven and I sat at the counter late one Tuesday morning and each ordered a cheeseburger. The cook/owner (thinking her name is Nayteba?) peeled off about a pound of 80/20 ground round per burger, formed it into a patty and slapped it down on the hot flat top. She shuffled about, hand peeling and washing iceberg, slicing onions and sending a friend out for tomatoes.
There are rules about cooking burgers, certain things that you are taught as a short order cook and a chef that you should not do... #1 No pressing the burger: it releases juices and causes the burger to by dry out. #2 Don't turn it but once, when the juices/blood pools on top. However, this woman can do whatever she wants because she turned out a perfect burger...after pressing it down continually with a weight, and flipping it at least 3 different times. she also covered them after adding the cheese and top bun, thus steaming the bun.
Don't think that this was fast food... we were there, watching and waiting for at least 20 minutes, and well worth it!

The burgers were AWESOME! Ooze factor 8, cold lettuce and tomatoes squished together with the blazing hot meat and sliced American cheese. Needless to say, the caloric intake for that day was astronomical. We will for sure go back, to at least try breakfast... but by far the best burgers we've had since coming back from Texas...
Open Tuesdays only, to at least keep you away from chain stores once a month.. from 7am to 5pm.

The Sandwich Shop-Modesto CA

Definitely the place to go on a Saturday for a big ol' sandwich. The Sandwich Shop in Modesto, on Kansas has certainly had it's fair share of customers. It does a brisk business Monday through Friday catering to the Foster Farms Dairy across the street and the various body and automotive shops within walking distance. But, Saturdays, they are quiet, and that's where we decided to start this little culinary adventure into the best of what Modesto has to offer.

With it's kitschy interior decor, cows, country and paper towel holders on the table, the Sandwich Shop certainly delivers some of the finest in sandwich art. Steven ordered the Club, and I got the pastrami. I love a good pastrami sandwich, piled high, dripping with au jus, mustard and melty Swiss cheese. That is exactly what I got. Steven's Club sandwich was at least 4 inches tall; freshly shredded lettuce and tomato piled between the crisp sourdough toast and topped with crispy bacon. Nice looking sandwich, they work fast and efficiently, but there is care in creating these sandwiches...They use good ingredients, lots of them and everything is fresh!

Now, with the amount of business these women do during the week, their customer service is weak, however, give them a break. You try dealing with hungry-hard-working-in-a-hurry-men all week and not be a little rude or impatient...

Their menu is large, with lots of different choices to build your own sandwich or they have their specialties. I haven't ever tried their sides, potato or mac salad, and I would really like to come on Thursday when they have a more home-style plate of baked ham, scalloped potatoes and veggies, they also have lasagna occasionally.

 

At least 12oz of Meat!! Seriously Crazy Turkey Club

 

Pastrami on Roll w/Swiss and mustard! 

Pastrami AWESOMENESS!!!!!

We give The Sandwich Shop a 2 thumbs way up... I guess we need to work on a scoring system..
Anyhow, we do recommend visiting on a Saturday, as it's not that busy.

The Sandwich Shop 442 Kansas Avenue, Suite A
Modesto, CA 95351

209-578-3515

In the Beginning

Steven and I are venturing out into the great Central Valley of California to find the best of stuff we like to eat... Now, we like to eat a lot of things and this is only the beginning.
We haven't figured out the logistics, but we are going to do it once a week and go from there..

Since moving back from Texas and spending time in OC, we have come to the conclusion that there really isn't anywhere GOOD to eat in the Central Valley. When I say that, I should set my criteria.
Set aside all the Mexican, Chinese and basically any ethnic cuisines... now find me a real good burger joint. Hmmm...anything? Not really, right?
You can search Yelp! in this area and come up with a few... Scenic Drive-in, the old A & W downtown Modesto and Sno-White out in Oakdale and the newer Grizzly Rock Cafe in Turlock...that's what...4? Sheesh...
While in Houston, there were burger joints and bbq shacks everywhere! It isn't a wonder really why Texas is the most obese state. But, aside from that, the people in the kitchen took care and pride into what they were preparing and I think that is why it was always sooo good from so many different places.
So, we are going to start with those 4..
Get your Alka Seltzer and Tums ready, cos we are going on a culinary rollercoaster!