I was a kid who did not want to eat my vegetables. It’s really no big surprise; many of us were. But, somehow, when I say it now, it always feels like I’m confessing a horrible, dirty secret. How could this Brussels sprout obsessed, broccoli-craving, cabbage-crunching, micro-green-snacking lady have ever turned her nose up at vegetables? Look, all I can say is, I was a different person when I was a child. Hopefully we all were. We should have all grown up a lot between then and now. (If you haven’t, it’s nothing to brag about. Seek help.)
No longer am I the petulant child who will pretend that I’ve forgotten how to chew when faced with the task of finishing all the carrots on my plate. I actually recently whined that the last time I cooked someone a nice dinner, I had to share too many of the Brussels sprouts. I immediately added more Brussels sprouts to my grocery list because I felt I didn’t get to enjoy enough of them the last time that I prepared them. Ridiculous; I know. But, I truly can’t get enough of those little green gems. Whether oven-roasted and served on their own, or topped with fried herbs and pepitas with a small sprinkling of cheese, or stuffed in a soft shell taco with some black beans and roasted butternut squash, or on top of a red-sauced pizza with bacon and red onion (shout out to Pizza Brain in Philly!), Brussels sprouts are the cruciferous savior that makes me wish I’d been less of a little shit when I was a kid because I now mourn all the years I wasted not eating Brussels sprouts.
I won’t say that my vegetable obsession makes me the healthiest girl in the world. (All things in moderation, right?) What I will say is that Oak and Alley is one of my new go-to burger and brew spots and they’ve provided me with a new type of burger to crave. Honestly, I might crave it more than my lost-love-peanut-butter-burger from back home that I’ve previously raved about. They call it ‘The Belgian.’
It’s filling, but not as heavy as a peanut butter burger. It’s not necessarily wild or adventurous: but I guess it depends on your level of gumption and how you define “adventure.” For me, this burger is tame, but it still packs a massive punch of flavor. It boasts aged parmesan, a strong and herbaceous taste of thyme–which I’m very much here for, creamy creme fraiche, crisp bacon, sharp red onion, and (drum roll please) Brussels sprouts! Honestly, if you’re not putting Brussels sprouts on your burgers, get your life together and just do it.
Sure; maybe as a Brussels sprouts fanatic I’m slightly biased, but if you’re one to ‘yuck’ on Brussels sprouts, I would urge you to give them another try as they are truly a small, green, gift from heaven. Furthermore, putting them on a burger is amazing and you’re worth it; you deserve it. The combination of toppings, specifically how the Brussels sprouts, creme fraiche, and thyme play together on this burger creates a bite that’s sophisticated without feeling even remotely pretentious. If you want to be next level, you can pair it with their sweet potato fries and horseradish dip. It’s worth any and all of the calories. Trust.
We are all born with roughly ten thousand taste buds. But, you don’t have the ones you were born with, because they are replaced roughly every two weeks. As humans, we’re constantly growing and changing; taste buds included. It’s really lovely that, as I settle into Midwest living, there’s a totally new burger to sate my comfort food cravings. The Belgian is a dreamy burger and, when friends and family come to visit, I will absolutely be pushing them all to give it a try. Who knew Brussels sprouts on a burger could be so divine?
Plonk & Pleasure 
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