International Burger Day was recently celebrated around the world, proving once again that a burger is not just another patty. The internet was flooded with lists detailing the best burgers (a sin we, too, are guilty of), and ketchup – and mayonnaise–fueled debates raged in forums over meat quality, the thickness and shade of the bun, the variety of toppings, and the texture of the fries.
A patty by moshavniks at heart
In this precise timing, Gouje Gouje opened, a new burger spot at a gas station between Tel Yitzhak and Even Yehuda. Behind the initiative are the owners of the esteemed Gouje & Daniel restaurant, veteran moshavniks who specialize in hospitality, agriculture, and Israeli produce. "From field research, we discovered that what exists in the area doesn't really meet the demand, and at the same time, we discovered there is a demand for something younger," they say.
Gouje Gouje, a nickname for the son of one of the owners ("who, since Gouje & Daniel, has grown up and become a teenager looking for where to eat a high–quality burger with his friends"), follows the pioneering path of the mother restaurant, which established the Sharon region's status as a culinary destination.
The meticulous attention to quality also continues, and for this purpose, the esteemed meat expert Chef Haim Klomiti, one of the well–known names in the industry, was recruited. From the collaboration, a burger menu was born from Holstein beef, which is an international quality mark for cattle.
The menu features four supremely excellent types of burgers: A classic burger with a thick patty, soft bun, and house aioli (NIS 80 – all prices include a side and a drink), a fiery Habanero with caramelized onion, pickled pepper, and a blazing–hot habanero aioli (NIS 84), a cheeseburger with provolone cheese and house aioli (NIS 86), and Brisket 8 – gently smoked beef brisket with mustard tartar sauce and sofrito onion (NIS 86).
All burgers are made from meat ground on–site daily, 200 grams of fresh local beef grilled with expertise that creates a crispy, sexy crust on the outside, leaving the inside at the precise degree of doneness to the customer's taste while maintaining full control over the process: From the butchering stage, through the grinding, to the grilling.
Vegetables from a nearby farm, beer from Emek Hefer
As befits a location in the Sharon, which is a distinctly agricultural area, a local touch has been added to the iconic American patty: The vegetables arrive from nearby farms, the pickles and sauces are homemade, and the beer is from the Alexander Brewery in Emek Hefer.
A spicy Maggie tomato salad with green chili and oregano (NIS 38) and a Caesar salad made of crisp lettuce hearts, classic Caesar dressing, and parmesan (NIS 44) reflect the excellent agricultural produce and whet the appetite, and there are several other intriguing dishes.
To pass the time until the burger arrives, they offer here carnitas tacos filled with slow–cooked beef short ribs in citrus juice, with cilantro and pico de gallo (NIS 32/52), and wings from the roaster in a lemon, garlic, and mustard sauce with a chipotle glaze (NIS 42/55). After this entire carnivore celebration, one feels like leaning back and patting the stomach, but before that, something small is needed for a final finish. Classic churros, a vanilla ice cream cookie with toffee sauce, and a chocolate crunch cake (NIS 28 each) close the loop and leave a sweet, good taste in the mouth.
Despite its location in the Sharon, Gouje Gouje's venue is not standard. You won't find pastoral views of green fields here, nor aromas from the cowshed, but rather a panorama of gas pumps and a look that throws the imagination to American movies, with a deserted gas station in the middle of nowhere.
The authenticity and the reference to cultural symbols of the big sister across the ocean create a rhythm and atmosphere that are perfectly tailored for a juicy burger in a soft bun with vegetables, sauce, and fries. All that's missing is country music in the background and a road stretching to the edge of the horizon, and Route 553 suddenly looks like the little brother of Route 66.
Gouje Gouje – Dor Alon gas station, Route 553, Tel Yitzhak