Burger Saturday: 5280 Burger Bar & a St. Paddy's Day Recap!

Got a case of the Mondays?

I have the cure: a double post! Doesn't that just make everything better??

I'll start with a review of 5280 Burger Bar (this weeks stop for "Burger Saturday") and then I'll recap our St. Paddy's Day weekend. Good?

Annnnnnnnnnnd... go!

Burger Saturday: 5280 Burger Bar

This weekend's stop on our great Denver burger tour was 5280 Burger Bar on the 16th Street Mall.

Last week, my Aunt Nancy sent me a FB message with a link to 5280 BB's website and suggested we check it out--we're always looking for a new place so I was sold! Unlike last week's Burger Saturday, we had our adorable little 3rd wheel along with us, so our lunch was a little bit more rushed and stressful (we had to alternate eating so one of us could be holding & entertaining the babe at all times--I took first shift, Brandon took second), but still very yummy!

The restaurant is conveniently located in the Denver Pavilions, so it is easy to find and is surrounded by several fabulous stores--perfect for a little post burger workout (the "walk and carry")! The decor of the restaurant is very hip and modern with lots of cool pictures of Denver and decorated glass. The atmosphere had us concerned about the price of the burgers--I was worried that the cheapest thing on the menu would be $30, but everything was priced just right.

Choosing our burgers was tough.. this is the one I really wanted:

For the sake on my infant son's stomach, I decided against getting this.. but I made Brandon promise me that we'd come back once I'm no longer nursing so I could try it!

..and this is the burger I ended up getting:

(minus the onion, of course)

You guys.. their 5280 Sauce is delicious. It's like McDonalds "secret" Big Mac sauce.. except good. Brandon's burger didn't come with the sauce so he dipped a fry in some that had dripped off my burger and agreed that it was amazing (amazing enough for a second, third, and fourth dip)! The burger itself was a little too rare for me (which was my fault--the menu even said that the burgers were cooked to "medium perfection" unless ordered otherwise), but was still juicy, flavorful, and fresh tasting.

Brandon also had a tough time deciding which burger to try and decided on this bad boy:

He enjoyed this innovative burger and said the pulled pork added a rich and smoky flavor that you don't normally get with a burger. When I asked if he'd ever get it again, he responded with a confident "yep." 

5280 Burger Bar only serves fresh, Colorado beef and makes all their buns in house from scratch and believe me, it shows.

This is definitely a spot we'll be hitting up again (especially after Jax is finished nursing) and I suggest you do too!

St. Paddy's Day Weekend Recap

Happy St. Paddy's Day, all! May the luck o' the Irish be with ya, laddies and lasses (wait, is that Irish or Scottish?)! We had a wonderful, low key weekend (see: Burger Saturday) and enjoyed celebrating with our little family. Here's what we did:

Saturday

• Slept in.
• Finally set up new bank accounts (at an actual Colorado bank) and a savings account for Mr. Jackson.
• Shopped for patio furniture & stuffed our faces with samples at Costco. 
• Lunch at 5280 Burger Bar. 
• Walked and shopped around the 16th Street Mall. 
• Petsmart run for fancy new kitty food for Bits (we'd been getting her Meow Mix since "cats ask for it by name" but decided to step it up for her health and for our sanity.. she's been shedding like crazy and we read that foods rich in Omega 3s can help with that).
• Church. 
• Kicked back at home and watched "Dateline Saturday Night," "Nightline," and "20/20." 
• Bed.

Our little shamrock.

5280 Burger Bar

Sunday

• Light cleaning around the house.
• Lunch (nachos, spinach dip, & beers--yum!) and girl talk with my best friend.
• Long nap with Jacksie.
• Family walk around the park.
• Healthy dinner of tilapia and rice.
• "The Voice" and "Anchorman 2". 
• Bed.

Mmm lunch..

I can't believe we've been friends for over 12 years--time goes by so quickly!

This is pretty typical Jen & Ann.

It was a very laid back and perfect weekend--don't you just love those?! I hope you all had a fun & relaxing weekend and that you have a fabulous week!

Burger Saturday: Park Burger

Disclaimer: This is an opinion post and is not sponsored by Park Burger; they have no idea who I am or that I'm doing this post (though we do follow each other on Twitter now.. so I guess we're kinda BFFs!)--I'm telling you about Park Burger because it's delicious and everyone should try it. You're welcome.

Since moving to Denver, Brandon and I have dubbed every Saturday as "Burger Saturday" and have tried a new burger in a new place each week. It's a fun new tradition we have that gives us an excuse to explore our new home..and eat a cheeseburger.

On our first Burger Saturday, we drove up to Fort Collins and had burgers at Buffalo Wild Wings.

On the second, we drove to Boulder and hit up Old Chicago.

Third, it was Castle Rock & Five Guys.

This week, Park Burger in Denver (our first legit Colorado, non-restaurant chain burger)--and it was ah-may-zing.

Before heading over to the Park (that's what us locals call Park Burger.. or at least, that's what we should call it), we went to my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Rolf's to say hi, pick up their air mattress, and to see if they wanted to join us for lunch--turns out they had already eaten, but my aunt asked if they could watch Jack for us.

Brandon and I actually went on a little non-baby date--something we haven't done since our one year wedding anniversary in January (I forgot what it feels like to eat with both hands)!

Look at the adorable little face and all of those chins!!

Park Burger is located on the historic Old South Pearl Street (which is near my favorite neighborhood in the whole entire world: Washington Park) and is tucked away between fun and quirky shops, salons, and galleries. The ambiance inside the restaurant is quaint and modern with brick walls, minimal decoration, and several flat screen TVs--the picture below is toward the back of the restaurant, where Brandon and I sat.

The Park was as delicious as ever! Brandon and I treated ourselves to a few pre-meal PBR's (at $2 a pop, how can you not?!) and indulged in the most mouthwatering, tantalizing, and lip smackingly good burgers that we've had in a long time. I enjoyed my usual Turkey Park Burger (with jalapenos, of course!) and Brandon tried their Croque Burger (1/3 lb. beef patty topped with ham, fried egg, and swiss) and agreed that it was one of the best burgers he's ever had. PB only uses the freshest meats in their burgers and, let me tell ya, it shows.. or in this case, tastes. Pair your burger with some of their perfectly salted french or sweet potatoes fries and you've got yourself one incredible meal.

I truly wish I could eat there every day (but for the sake of my waistline, it's probably for the best I don't..)!

#truth

If you live in the Denver area, or are planning to visit, do yourself a favor and visit Park Burger in one of their 3 Denver locations--you can thank me later (or you can just wait and thank me there because I'm sure you'll see Brandon and me sitting in the back, chowing down)!

Santa Monica Honeymoon and Crab Mac & Cheese

Today's post is going to be a bit of a cluster so bear with me.

Brandon and I are back home now and are still trying to get into the regular swing of life.. oh, we miss our California honeymoon so much.

On our last day, we headed up the coast to check out the beach and Santa Monica Pier in, you guessed it.. Santa Monica!

My mom gave the adorable hat for Christmas--I looked so cool while we strolled the pier!

For lunch, we went to the Blue Plate Oysterette, which my friend had referred us to. Oooh, we're so glad she did. The BP Oysterette (as I like to call it because it makes me sound like a local.. assuming that's what locals call it..) was a cute and quirky little restaurant with the most original seafood dishes we ever tasted.

It. Was. Delish.

Seriously, how cute is this? The indoor portion of the restaurant was very quaint and intimate with only a few tables and seats.

My shrimp and spinach quesadilla with guacamole--yes, its as good as it sounds!

Brandon's lobster mac & cheese--also amazing. But can you ever really go wrong with mac & cheese and/or lobster?

*sigh*

I wonder if they make lobster mac & cheese here in Kansas? And if so, would I want to try it..? So many questions.

Anyway, back to the beginning.. we're missing our California honeymoon! So to bring a little slice the Golden State to the Sunflower State, Brandon made this delicious crab macaroni and cheese for dinner on Tuesday.

Now you may be thinking "why crab?" Well, its simple:

We had crab legs to get rid of!

It is SO good. And creamy. And rich. Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm.

Brandon found the recipe for Ina Garter's Lobster Mac & Cheese and substituted crab--yum! And here's the recipe:

Anngredients:

• Kosher salt
• Vegetable oil
• 1 pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni
• 1 quart milk
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 12 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (4 cups) (*WE USED SWISS CHEESE AND IT WAS JUST AS GOOD!*)
• 8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 1/2 pounds cooked lobster meat
• 1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
3. Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of butter and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. Still whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and lobster and stir well. Place the mixture in 6 to 8 individual gratin dishes.
4. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.  

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