Roasted Green and Yellow Beans
Yes, that’s all I had for dinner – eaten with my fingers at my desk. All because earlier this afternoon I was lured away from my healthy bowl of black bean and sweet potato soup lying in wait in the fridge, into the comforting arms of Boogie’s Burgers.
(Boogie’s Burgers: I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I had heard your burgers were really great, but I was too busy judging a book by its cover. The signage never lured me in. And then Gwen did – the power of suggestion is strong with me. I’m like a Skywalker or something.)
Upon sliding into the booth after touring the room with W, playing twenty-five cent games of pinball, Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac Man, Mike just looked at me and said, “well I feel like a schmuck for never coming here before.” I was thinking the same. We got our Coke in a GLASS. And our fries in an actual ceramic BOWL. The burgers were the size of W’s head, but not in an over-the-top way.
I had the Fay Burger, which I can only deduce was named after someone who really loved mushrooms. Sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, mushroom sauce and bacon. Somehow I missed out on the cheese, which, lets face it, I probably didn’t need.
Mike opted for the Sam burger – if there is a burger with a fried egg on it on the menu, he really can’t choose anything else. The patties are the polar opposite to those at Rocky’s Burger Bus – where theirs are baseball-shaped, Boogie’s are more reminiscent of a Frisbee. But in a good way; Mike described it as the meat layer of an interesting sandwich (as in, between the bun was a thin patty of lovely beef, lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, cheese, and a fried egg) rather than the main event (as in, the bun barely contains the ball of meat inside). Interestingly enough neither of us had a preference; they each hold their own.
(Ha – I just noticed that back on the day I went to Rocky’s, I had edamame for dinner. It’s like burgers are a sin and beans are my penance. And if I’m going to have one, it better be good.)
Next time I’m going back for a shake – but maybe not the Fat Elvis.
Oh right – the roasted beans. Are you still listening? Do you still even care about beans? I found green and yellow ones in my crisper, forgotten, and remembering the success with the kale (and even the roasted broccoli – remember? Roasted with some oil and a toss of Parmesan toward the end? I forgot about that!) I decided to give beans a whirl. Roasting can truly make any vegetable infinitely tastier. Tossed with oil, sprinkled with salt and roasted at 400F for about 15 minutes, shaking once or twice. They weren’t pretty, but I’d like to offer up a suggestion of these roasted beans instead of a side of fries beside your next burger.
One Year Ago: Big Salad with Grilled Raspberry Chicken and Plum Browned Butter Bliss
August 11 2009 08:08 pm | eating out
thepinkpeppercorn on 11 Aug 2009 at 8:42 pm #
The beans! Yes! The beans – I DO care about the beans! YUM!!!
If I tell my husband about Boogie’s, I think he’ll move in!!!
AnotherDeb on 11 Aug 2009 at 8:44 pm #
Yum — I agree, roasting makes any vegetable even tastier! I’ve never tried beans, but will now.
Cheryl on 11 Aug 2009 at 9:05 pm #
Mmmm…. burgers. Sorry, did you say something about beans? I wasn’t listening.
Jen on 11 Aug 2009 at 9:33 pm #
That burger looks fantastic!!!! My mouth watered when I looked at it! I just picked a big ziploc bag of beans from my garden…I shall give them a try they look delicious!
Carolyn on 12 Aug 2009 at 3:50 am #
The beans sound delicious — agree they wouldn’t win a beauty pagent, but I’ll try them tonight. I’m wondering about the recipe for the black bean and sweet potato soup you mentioned — can you share the recipe?
Charmian Christie on 12 Aug 2009 at 4:26 am #
Glad I’m not the only one to have eaten an entire meal of fresh-from-the-garden beans. Add some basil and walnuts and I’m in heaven.
I second Carolyn’s request for the soup recipe.
Dana McCauley on 12 Aug 2009 at 5:17 am #
Good looking burger and fries!
You know, my mom and Oliver make roasted green beans all the time and they call them bean fries.
I’ve got haricot verts this year and I’ve been devouring them by the bowlful. They are great just with butter and salt but I have a few other ‘dress ups’ I love, too:
http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/green-bean-dress-ups/
Try the tonnato – so good!
Kate on 12 Aug 2009 at 5:51 am #
Yep, the beans are great. We especially like roasting the yellow waxed beans.. for just the reason you give.. they are a great healthy alternative to french fries. They are delicious.
Sprout on 12 Aug 2009 at 6:01 am #
I live very close to Boogies, and we lived in the neighbourhood for years before we tried it, we were also informed about it by somebody more ‘in the know’ than us. So now we will occasionally indulge – every time we go we try something different and as you said, every burger holds it’s own, and they are all delicious (and huge!).
I can’t wait to try the beans!
Barb on 12 Aug 2009 at 6:08 am #
Maybe Boogies will open a second location further south? Like about 100 miles? I know a number of people who would support them!
I am a great bean lover, too. Pretty much any way shape or form. Can’t get enough of the fresh ones when they are in season. Frozen always seem watery to me. Maybe you should pickle a batch of them in a dill brine for cocktail hour garnishes? Also very good.
erin on 12 Aug 2009 at 6:19 am #
Julie and all,
Do you have any suggestions for what to do with older beans? We went away for a few days and returned to find my garden full of big fat seedy beans, which, I know, I can just suck it up and eat them like that, but I much prefer the young tender ones.
I was thinking of cutting them up small and freezing them for soups, etc. but if anyone has any other ideas I would love to hear them.
Thank you!
JulieVR on 12 Aug 2009 at 6:29 am #
Erin – good question! Everyone here is brilliant about coming up with ideas! I might add them to a marinated bean salad?
And here’s the soup recipe! http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2008/06/06/day-158-sausage-black-bean-and-sweet-potato-soup/
Foodelf on 12 Aug 2009 at 10:29 am #
It never occured to me to roast beans! Sounds and looks wonderful, could you provide a few details, please?
Thanks,
Foodelf
JulieVR on 12 Aug 2009 at 10:38 am #
Toss with oil, sprinkle with salt and roast at 400F for about 15 minutes, shaking once or twice, until golden.
Anonymous on 12 Aug 2009 at 4:39 pm #
I’m guilty of judging that same book by it’s cover too. I’ll have to work i a trip there this weekend. Thanks for the roasted bean recipe too – much more interesting than steaming them.
By the way I finally made it to the Hillhurst Farmers market and met Aviv; what a sweetheart and his bread is aaaaamazing! I took home a loaf of ciabatta, some preserves and a berry tart. Well, the bread was demolished by the kids (and yours truly) by the time we made it to the driveway! (no wonder my capris are getting tight hehe)
Avery on 12 Aug 2009 at 9:05 pm #
Isn’t Aviv’s bread wonderful?? We had his olive levain bread with herbed goat cheese spread on Monday, and on Tuesday we sprinkled the rest of the spread onto home-made mac n’ cheese with the bread cubed on top a la croutons… sooo good. And it all goes to such worthy causes.
Julie! I made your crumb cake last night (I used past-their-prime blueberries and a nectarine) and it turned out great! Thanks!!
Kathryn on 13 Aug 2009 at 4:00 pm #
Here’s something weird. Years ago I had my eyebrows waxed at Boogies. Well, the actual waxing happened in a totally separate, tiny salon accessed by walking through Boogies. Boogies itself is a very reputable establishment with nothing weird going on in the back. But I’ve never actually EATEN at Boogies, even though we have lived within walking distance for 10 years. The Fay and Sam burger, I believe, are named after the former longtime owners of the restaurant.
I noticed on Twitter that you were headed to Boogies, Julie, and I actually thought about grabbing my 4 year old and running over to join you. But it seemed a bit stalkerish.
JulieVR on 13 Aug 2009 at 7:35 pm #
No way! That would have been cool!!
Kathryn on 14 Aug 2009 at 9:47 am #
OK, prepare to be stalked! Next thing you know I’ll be jumping the line and squeezing in at your table at Diner Deluxe… LOL!
Beverley on 18 Aug 2009 at 8:20 am #
Don’t forget the roasted cauliflower! I am not a cauliflower fan generally (I’ll eat it, but if there are other options I’ll skip it) but we tried it roasted as you suggested, and YUM.