DeRushaEats: A Peanut Butter Burger

I had such glorious plans of eating much more healthy in 2011. Things aren’t working out so well for me.

I remember Dara writing about a crazy peanut butter bacon burger, created by Chef Nick Bullick at The Ugly Mug, on First Avenue in the Warehouse District. Finally, I got over there and saw it on the menu.

I asked the bartender how it was, and she said, “If you like peanut butter, you’ll love it.”

I love peanut butter. I love bacon. I love burgers. It seemed like a good idea.

For $10, you can get the “Juicy Peanuty Butter and Bacon” with a side of french fries and a soda. Of course, you might want to go off the board and get one of the 21 beers on tap. You know, if you’re a have-a-beer-at-lunch kind of a guy or gal.

When it arrived, I could see a small amount of peanut butter oozing out of the middle of the juicy lucy-style burger. Two slices of bacon were on top, perfectly crispy.

When I took the first bite: perfection. It wasn’t exploding with peanut butter, so I could still taste the bacon and the burger. It was really a delicious combination.

The Ugly Mug has a really great lineup of lunch specials, all priced at around $10. My friend Joe had a really delicious cuban sandwich; the list of specials includes a reuben and a turkey burger.

But if you dare, and you should dare, go get that peanut butter and bacon burger at The Ugly Mug!

UPDATE: I just talked with chef Nick Bullick, and this burger just got even better. Nick told me they use Parkers Farms creamy peanut butter from Coon Rapids, MN. “The buns are from New French Bakery, and we just recently started buying our beef from Swanson meats, so it is fresh ground daily by Swanson,” he said.

The Ugly Mug doesn’t really market the local angle to their food (maybe they should), but for $10, this is a heck of a deal.

The Ugly Mug
106 N. Third St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-343-5930

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Don’t forget, this weekend is the Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience at Target Field.

My wife and I will be there on Sunday (tickets still available), so make sure you say “Hi” if you see us. Or say “You’re an idiot.” Say whatever you like, just say something!

350 fine wines and 75 beers! They should think of changing the name to Food, Wine & Beer Show.

This year the Local Chef Challenge will NOT be at the show, because it moved to Target Field, and we don’t want it to be too crowded. Plus the Chef Challenge has become a big enough deal it deserves its own event. Dara will have more details, but the chef challenge will be March 26 & 27 at Mall of America. See you there too!