This Is North Devon
07:00 - 13-November-2008
Everyone has a different food that they like to eat when the weather gets cold. Some like hot chicken soup, others prefer a chunky beef stew and many look to spicy dishes like curry or chilli to warm their bones during the winter months.
I, however, have always preferred a piping hot burger served with thick cut chips or Cajun potato wedges (a particular favourite), a healthy dollop of ketchup and maybe a bowl of relish for dunking.
Imagine my excitement then when I discovered that a gourmet burger bar was operating in my home town of Ilfracombe.
I was particularly taken aback because, after further enquiry, I found out that it had in fact been open throughout the summer.
That I, a hungry man-about-town, had not heard about such a gastronomic development was preposterous — I simply had to find out what it was all about.
The restaurant in question, simply know as Temptations Gourmet Burger Bar, occupies Temptations Café in Ilfracombe high street.
When the cafe closes its doors in the afternoon, every Friday and Saturday it re-opens at 6.30pm to serve hungry punters with mouth watering burgers, numerous in variety.
I went along with my girlfriend in the hope of sharing burgers and thus doubling my taste intake (and of course clearing away any scraps she could not manage in the process).
The menu is mind boggling with a vast array of accompaniments for the discerning burger-buff.
Everything from blue cheese and pineapple to tuna burgers and even a breakfast offering featuring a fried egg and bacon.
Also boasted on the front cover of the menu is the fact that all the ingredients used at the restaurant are sourced from within 100 yards — coming mainly from Ilfracombe high street.
Between us we went for the Mexican and the chorizo — opting for the smaller 6oz option as opposed to the 12oz mammoth.
When they came out, still sizzling from the grill, the burgers were presented with a healthy portion of chunky homemade chips and two bowls of spicy dunking chutney — a condiment I have yet to encounter in other burger bars but one that worked incredibly well.
As impossible as it appeared from the outset, I eventually managed to stretch my mouth around the gigantic burger like some sort of ravenous anaconda.
Inside lay a 'real' beef burger, thick slabs of tasty chorizo, melted cheddar cheese and all the usual trimmings.
Half way through I swapped with my girlfriend for her Mexican offering — a chilli burger with spicy relish and cheese.
Both were delicious and complemented extremely well by the chunky chips and dunkilicious chutneys.
As we slouched back into our individual sofas (another major perk of this restaurant) we rubbed our full bellies while the candle light flickered in front of us.
It's as romantic as a burger can get.
Two burgers, two beers and a glass of wine came to £24.90. For more information or to book a table contact Temptations on 01271 879803.