Eating up the Hill: Smashburgers with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

One of the highlights of the Parliamentary reception circuit has long been the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association annual beef BBQ in the East Block courtyard, held before the Ottawa weather gets too cool.

It had to go away during the pandemic but thankfully it made a triumphant return to the Hill last week, and many a staffer and Parliamentarian made their way over and joined the lengthy que.

Traditionally, this has been the good ‘ol beef on a bun. But this year they decided to showcase a different form of delicious Canadian beef, bringing in the chefs from local eatery the King Eddy to prepare their signature smashburgers.

This explained the lengthy line, as they were cooking double smash cheeseburgers from scratch on the grill, topping each with sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickle, wrapping it and handing it off to the hungry masses with a bag of Old Ditch chips, some slaw and a cup of chipotle mayo.

My wait was maybe 30 minutes-ish and I got there early – the line was way longer when I left.

Was it worth the wait? Oh yeah. Delicious, fresh, hot, juicy Canadian beef smashburger and two slices of the dairy industry’s finest processed cheese – which is actually in my view the best cheese for this application.

I removed the pickles and inhaled the burger, not remembering until I’d had a bite to snap a photo you good people. The courtyard was rocking more than it had in years, and no one left hungry.

Thank you to the cattlemen! Looking forward to Beer, Beef and Whiskey next.

Who doesn't love a cheeseburger?

The courtyard was a rockin'.

Celebrity chef?

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Eating on the road: A smashburger in Muskoka

I'm always on the lookout for a good smashburger in my travels, and during my summer visit to Muskoka I was pointed to the Fare Food Co. It's a food truck located behind a Shell gas station on the way into Port Carling, and if you didn't know it was there you would never think to stop. Even knowing it was there, I wandered around a bit before finding in in a clearing behind the station.

They also have well-recommended chicken sandos, including a Nashville hot, but I was here for beef and ordered a double smash cheeseburger with fried and the obligatory diet coke. They promised to bring it to me when ready, and I found a seat on a picnic table up a small hill in a closed-in picnic area.

They cooked it fresh and brought it up to me when ready and I dug in. It was hot, beefy, cheesy and like a good smashburger will be, messy. It certainly filled me up. As far as smashbugers go it was fine, not spectacular but satisfied my craving. I'm not a fry person; they were just OK. With the Muskoka tax it wasn't cheap ($18 plus tax), but that's how it goes in cottage country.

Were I to go back I would likely try the Nashville hot chicken sammy but I don't think I'll get the chance. They were a summer pop-up and have closed for at least the season, if not forever, as they focus on a catering business in Toronto.

What will be the next great Muskoka smashburger? Or will Muskokans need to invest in oversized spatulas and start smashing their own burgers? Time will tell.

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