If we're honest, we're happy any day to make a deliberate detour that gets us a Shake Shack burger, but an upcoming special will definitely be worth crossing town for.
On 9th November, they're joining up with Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana (three Michelin stars, number three in the World's 50 Best) to create a special burger, The Emilia. A joint creation between Boturra and Shake Shack culinary director Mark Rosati, it features a custom-blend 100% Aberdeen Angus beef patty ground with cotechino sausage and parmigiano reggiano, topped with salsa verde and Villa Manodori balsamic mayonnaise made with Chef Bottura’s Villa Manodori Artigianale balsamic vinegar from Trebbiano grapes grown in Italy. Sounds very impressive indeed.
As Bottura himself says - "I’m especially excited to be bringing the flavours of my beloved Emilia-Romagna—cotechino sausage, parmigiano, and balsamic vinegar, my flesh, bones and blood—to Covent Garden.”
It's all to celebrate the British launch of his latest book, Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef (Phaidon, £39.95) which he'll be signing on the morning.
Shake Shack will open at 11am on 9th November - and there are only 500 of the burgers available on the day. So if you really want one, you'll need to get in that queue very early indeed. The Emilia will cost £8.25.
Shake Shack is at 24 Market Building, The Piazza, Covent Garden, London, England WC2E 8RD. For more information, follow them on Twitter @shakeshackUK
Photo by Evan Sung
