In Notting Hill, one restaurant has crafted a burger so elusive that it draws people from all over for just a chance to try it. The dish has created a cult following built on quality and extreme rarity, with only ten of these burgers made a day. It’s not about booking months in advance or knowing the right people, it’s simply first-come, first-served.
Dove’s dry-aged beef burger
The dish in question is the 50 days dry-aged beef burger with gorgonzola, available at Dove on 31 Kensington Park Rd. When Chef Jackson Boxer decided to limit its production to just ten a day, it wasn’t a marketing choice, but a necessity based on the ingredients. The beef is a 50-day dry-aged meat sourced from a special herd in Yorkshire, and the chef can only acquire a small amount, making each patty precious.
The policy to get your hands on a burger is strictly first-come, first-served. People have offered to pay any price or tried to reserve one after flying in from across the world, but the answer is always no.
The thick patty is cooked to reveal a rare centre. It’s then topped with a generous layer of lyonnaise, a rich onion confit made by slowly cooking onions in butter. To counter the sweetness, a pungent gorgonzola from Italy is melted over the top and then caramelised with a blowtorch. The entire creation is housed in a glossy, toasted potato roll. You can also add a side of their duck fat chips to complete the meal.
Priced at £18, this isn’t an everyday lunch, but it delivers on its promise of flavour. If you’re up for the challenge, a trip to Dove in Notting Hill should be on your list.
