Hard Rock Cafe is one of those institutions that welcomes you with open arms, pretty much anywhere in the world. When I first visited Thailand, Bangkok completely overwhelmed me. It is extra hard when the language is symbols rather than letters, but the Hard Rock Cafe sign was such a welcome sight that I went straight in. I know exploring is all about trying local dishes, but at that moment, it was just what I needed.
The company have just announced the biggest shake up of their menu in its history and I was honoured to be invited to the Manchester restaurant to try some of the new additions.
The pun was totally intentional as they have launched some pretty impressive freak shakes, which are also available without alcohol. The Strawberry Cheesecake option is topped with Party Ring biscuits, which is the absolute icing on the veritable cake if you ask me. Unlike other boozy shakes, you can really taste the alcohol in these, which is a bonus for me.
Now to the menu, and the new Steak Burgers are seriously exciting! The patties are made with 4 different cuts from 100% Aberdeen angus beef to create a juicy and flavourful burger. The most interesting item on the menu is the 24-Karat Gold Leaf Burger, where the patty is topped with edible gold leaf! Decadent, yes. The lovely news about this burger is that a portion of all proceeds will go to the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, making sure something goes back to the community. Did you know that, despite Hard Rock Cafe being a global brand, they source their bread rolls from local suppliers? I was humbled to hear this as the majority would just order in and use what is sent to them by the main head office.
You can also find the most interesting vegetarian burger I have ever seen. The Moving Mountains Burger uses beetroot juice for sweetness and a little ‘blood like’ appearance. They taste seriously good and are an excellent choice if you are looking to reduce your red meat intake.
Other new options include a Double Decker Cheeseburger, BBQ Bacon Burger and the Big Cheeseburger, featuring THREE slices of cheddar cheese.
What will you choose?
