Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries, and Shakes

by Bobby Flay, Stephanie Banyas, Sally Jackson

After a long day spent in one of his restaurants or taping a television show, what Bobby Flay craves more than anything else is … a crusty-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside burger; a fistful of golden, crisp, salty fries; and a thick, icy milkshake. Given the grilling guru’s affinity for bold flavors and signature twists on American favorites, it’s no surprise that he has crafted the tastiest recipes ever for this ultimate food trio.

Though he doesn’t believe in messing with delicious certified Angus chuck (just salt and pepper on the patty–no “meatloaf” burgers here), Bobby loves adding flavorful relishes and condiments to elevate the classic burger. Once you’ve learned what goes into making that burger (from how to shape it so it cooks up perfectly to melting the cheese just so), go to town with Bobby's favorite combinations of additions. Try the Cheyenne Burger, which gets slathered with homemade barbecue sauce and then piled high with bacon and shoestring onion rings, or the Santa Fe Burger, topped with a blistered poblano, queso sauce, and crumbled blue corn tortilla chips. And although Bobby’s personal preference is for beef, turkey can be substituted in any burger, and a handful of salmon and tuna burger recipes are included for those looking for leaner options.

After you’ve mastered the burger, discover Bobby’s secrets to cooking up the best French fries–whether they’re fried, grilled, or oven roasted, or made from spuds, sweet potatoes, or even plantains–as well as homemade potato chips and onions rings. Wash it all down with a creamy shake, from Fresh Mint—Chocolate Speckled Milkshake to Blackberry Cheesecake Milkshake (or a spiked adult variation).

With the opening of Bobby’s Burger Palace in Lake Grove, New York, on Long Island–and with more locations to come–Bobby has achieved burger, fry, and shake bliss in the world. For outdoor summer bashes and casual weeknight meals that even the kids will get excited about, Bobby Flay’s Burgers, Fries & Shakes will share that bliss and remind you just why the burger is such a beloved American original.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2009

About the author

Robert William Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of five restaurants: Mesa Grill and Bar Americain in New York City; Mesa Grill in Las Vegas; Mesa Grill in Bahamas (Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau); and Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Flay has hosted seven Food Network television programs and appeared regularly on an eighth. He has also appeared as a guest on other Food Network shows and hosted a number of specials on the network.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, I've enjoyed this book a great deal! Fascinating ways to enhance the burger, and tips on fries that I will try. I have yet to read about shakes. I will definately crack this book open many times on my countertop!

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Bobby Flay is an original cook who owns several focus based restaurants which have allowed him to hone his recipes over time. he is a master of sauces and flavors and that lends itself to this book. With the arrival of plant based burgers a whole new range of recipes have opened up for me and so burger flavors become important. There are great recipes here. recommended.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictures of Recipes? Some
Commentary on Recipes? Yes
Nutrition Facts? No
Recipe style? Everything seems very tasty, but I'm probably not going to put that much effort into burgers and fries.
Any keepers? One or two.

[Ed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess if you want to know more than 100 ways to cook a hamburger this would be a good reference. I wasn't all that interested.

The sections on fries and shakes are minimal and not very helpful.

I did learn one usable thing. Using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of the raw pattie so that it doesn't arch up while cooking. This prevents the need to flatten the hamburger with a spatula while it's cooking, thereby saving the juices.

Needless to say, I did not read this book word for word. I did spend enough time with it, though, to know it was an instant candidate for my Bookmooch inventory.

The only possible reason, I can think of, to buy this book would be as a gift for someone who cooks a lot of hamburgers and needs help with variety.

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, basic hamburger book. I just re-read the book and for some reason ended up liking it a lot more than I did the first time through. Flay likes to let the meat speak for itself, and jazzes things up with condiments and toppings. There are a few recipes for fishburgers, and most of the recipes can be made with turkey. I really liked the sections on toppings and condiments, as well as his secrets to making fries.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, since I am unhealthily obsessed with Bobby Flay, I had to read his cookbooks!!! This one had lots of good advice for burger cooking, and sides, and milkshakes. It all looked really good. The only thing I found sort of annoying was that all the burger recipes were exactly the same; apparently the whole point of the recipes was to put different toppings on. Whatever. The cookbook was well written, AND it had full color photographs. :)

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this for the Onion Straws recipe. They are perfect! Handed the book to the boys to pick their burgers. They devoured them. Finished with shakes for dessert. The men in my house were happy for a delicious break from our normal whole, healthy food plan. Will use this book again for an upcoming party -variety tray of 4 different Silders from the burger recipes....Caesar, Mushroom Cheddar, Bleu Cheese, and Buffalo maybe? -with a bowl of Onion Straws in the middle of the tray. Yum!

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The secret to a great hamburger is not the burger itself but what goes on top and along with it.
Bobby offers up a multitude of ways to cook one of America's favorite sandwich's and fry's and shakes to go along with it.
This will be one cookbook I keep close to hand as we head into the summer grilling season.

[tiasreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook is not meant to be one you reach for every day. It targets a specific audience- omnivores looking for a junk food hit. It gives classic recipes and creative spins on old favorites. Try the sweet potato fries.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The burger recipes were intriguing, but I was really in it for the fries and shakes. I was surprised at how easy it was to make both. I liked the explanation about the cheeses. The photographs were done beautifully.

[Janastasia Whydra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cookbook that focuses on burgers, fries, and shakes. Plenty of recipes to try for the summertime. Artful pictures that correlate with the recipes, but not what the novice's burger is going to look like.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the restaurants, love to try making the burgers at home. Simple writing-- basically many variations on a theme-- but what a yummy theme. And oh, if you make the Meyer Lemon mustard, there is no going back!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun cook book with lots of ideas on great burgers. Out favorite recipe in this book is the Louisiana burger. My only complaint with this book is that many of the recipes just offer toppings for burgers rather than a unique BURGER. Still, this is a great cookbook with lots of flavor.

[Rebecca JW Jindra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children live this book and the food. They argue over which burger to try next. They even now eat arugula on burgers with enthusiasm. This is a great way to get teens and kids to try new flavor combinations.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby Flay is one of my favorite FoodTV stars and he proves himself with this burger & more cookbook. Lots of different burgers, sauces, fries & milkshakes...can't wait to try them (without the buns).

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milk Shakes in this book rock! Awesome burgers too

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes!

[Margaret Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have learned a lot from Bobby Flay; books and TV.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmmmm, burgers. Mmmmm, fries. Oh, and milkshakes? Yeah, that brings ME to the yard.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only cookbook I've ever read where I want to make/eat everything in it!

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bobby flay is interesting. Hamburgers are my favorite food. Had to check out this book. Delicious!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only is this a great cookbook it is very readable. Great information!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely delicious.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas for the burgers, heres a tip - use venison and mix it with ground pork or chorizo.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically, Bobby Flay KNOWS burgers. And is pretty brilliant in his flavour ideas and combinations for burgers. I would DEFINITELY make any and every one of these burgers!!!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the burger ideas in this book.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While everything sounds delicious, nothing stood out to me as something I would have to make immediately (okay, besides the blackberry cheesecake milkshake). I liked the variety that he had, though.

[Trevor]

makes me feel bad for only putting mustard on my burger. I need to make some of these.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed looking at this but didn't try anything new.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake is quite a treat!