RZA Burger

I’ve discovered one of my favorite new foods. I recently started getting into the music of the Wu-Tang Clan and its members (many of whom are vegetarians), and when reading up on one of their albums I stumbled upon an interview in which the RZA describes one of his signature dishes..

“A RZA burger is a veggie patty with a fried egg, cheese, lettuce, pickles and all that, smashed between two delicious waffles. Spread mustard and mayo on it with a little butter and put that shit together. Trust me, son, that shit needs to be in stores.”

As soon as I read that I knew I had to make one. I sat on the idea for a while, but finally whipped up my own version: two buttermilk waffles, a portabello garden-burger, fried egg, american cheese, some caramelized onions, and to top it all off, a leftover chile relleño from Chevy’s. I poured a glass of cold water, turned up some Orchestra Baobab, snapped a few photos, and dug into one of the most intensely satisfying meals I can remember. Every flavor came through in perfect balance; sweetness from the waffles combined with umami from the mushroom and egg, slight saltiness from the cheese, and just the right amount of heat from the poblano pepper. Delicious.