Dermott travelled all the way to New Mexico to sample Bobcat Bite's hamburgers which are touted as the best in the United States. With a burger joint on almost every corner of every city and town, that's a pretty big claim.
Bobcat has won a stack of awards, including Best Burger in America by Bon Appetit magazine. The small roadhouse started out as a trading post, then became a gun shop. It was eventually opened as a restaurant and has been run by a series of 'mom-and-pop' operators ever since.
Small in size but huge in reputation the pink adobe building is about 10km outside Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico and has been there going on 60 years. It was named after the bobcats that came down from the mountains in search of leftovers. Walls are decorated with pictures of wild bobcats and traditional south-western Native American paintings.
Owners John and Bonnie Eckre have owned Bobcat Bite for nine years. Bonnie worked there for 25 years before they bought the business. Ownership has changed several times over the years, but the recipes and menu have stayed the same. They still cook on a 60-year-old cast iron grill.
Three-hundred gram patties are made each day from freshly-ground whole boneless chuck. Their famous green chilli cheeseburgers have locally grown chilli between the cheese and the patty. Burgers are so huge most people take half home for later.
You'll most likely have to wait for a table as it seats just 24, but customers waiting with you will say it's well worth it. It gives you the chance to go through the menu — hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, steak, pork chops and, of course, chips.
You write your name and number of diners on a blackboard and when the table's ready in you go.
Dermott decided on the famous green chilli cheeseburger and loved every bite. Bobcat Bite. The best spot to enjoy your burger is perched at the counter facing the hills.
Location
New Mexico in the south-west of the United States.
Cost
Bobcat Bite's green chilli cheeseburger costs around $9. They are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am until 7.50pm.
V Australia has flights to Los Angeles from:
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane $ 1625
- Adelaide $ 1925
- Perth $ 2225
On sale until October 15, 2011 and valid for travel between October 1 and December 9, 2011.
Prices correct at October 8, 2011.
For further information
Virgin Australia
Ph: 13 6789
www.vaustralia.com.au
Bobcat Bite
420 Old Las Vegas Highway
Santa Fe NM 87505
United States
Ph: 0011 1 505 983 5319
www.bobcatbite.com
info@bobcatbite.com
Visas: Most Australians do not need a visa, providing they have a machine readable passport with at least six months validity after the departure day, have a round-trip non-refundable ticket and do not intend to stay longer than 90 days. Australians need to complete a pre-travel authorisation at www.cbp.gov/esta.
Electricity: Electric current is 110V to 115v, 60Hz AC. Outlets take two-parallel, flat prongs. Australian visitors will need a US adapter and converter.
Time zone: The United States has nine standard time zones. Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaskan, Hawaii-Aleutian, Samoa and Chamorro. New York is GMT-5 hours.
Currency: American dollar.
Telephone code: International dialling code is 0011 1.
