Confessions of a burger-loving politician

Over the past few months, Orange City Life has noticed an emerging theme on our local MLAs social media and we decided it was time to confront him about it.

“I am partial to a hamburger,” said Member for Orange Phil Donato, when questioned about the prevalence of photographic evidence of him in burger joints across the Central West.

“So, generally in our travels will stop into a local cafe, bakery or another local business for lunch, and yeah, we've been trying and sampling hamburgers as we travel around.

“There is something about driving around the countryside, popping into a local takeaway and getting local burger that's quintessentially Australian… and I remember, as a kid, every Friday night was hamburger night; we'd make our own meat patties and my parents owned a fruit shop so we had fresh lettuce, tomato, onions and all that stuff fresh, beetroot and there are some good memories there too I guess.”

Full disclosure; your humble correspondent is also quite partial to a hamburger and has built a pretty good knowledge of our city’s burger menus. So, given the travelling Phil undertakes as our state representative I couldn’t help but grill him as to where he felt the best burgers were in the wider electorate.

But he was hard to pin down.

“Out at Trundle, the Butcher's Brew Cafe, their hamburger was quite good. Bella’s Bistro at Spring Hill — they've actually won a Triple M Central West award for best burger! I've tried a few on the list and their burgers are quite nice; I know they have a special seasoning mix for their mince patties, and they make good beef jerky too!

“At Parkes there's Burger Hub. And at Forbes, there's Isabella's, we went there last week and that was quite a good burger! Stan's in Orange, their burger is quite good! We are very spoilt for choice actually…”

Yes, we are, but where’s the best burger Phil?

“Oh, and the pub at Tullamore has a good burger, quite hearty! And Molong, at the Freemason's Hotel, I've had a burger there and at the Telegraph hotel as well! Manildra; I’ve had a burger at the cafe in the main street too,” said Phil.

“They are all pretty good! In fact, I don't think I've come across a bad one yet… I can honestly say I haven't had a bad burger anywhere!”

So, what is it that wins the vote of our local member when it comes to a great burger?

“Good premium lean mince, I don't like it too fatty, obviously some seasoning, fresh tomato, lettuce, a good bun! I find some of the big burger chains, their bread is sweet, which I'm not overly fond of; I like quite a savoury bread, even a damper bun,” said Phil.

“And beetroot, I don't mind beetroot on a burger, and good caramelised onion, but a lot of it comes down to the meat, good quality meat is the key.”

Given his love of the hamburger, we had to ask Phil if his appetite ever strayed to other items on the menu?

“I'm not much into the deep fried sort of stuff, but I don't mind a schnitzel, a parmigiana, or a steak sandwich as well. Chips, I don't often eat a burger and chips, usually just get a burger, but if I do get chips, they've got to have chicken salt on them and they got to be crunchy!

“Oh, I do like vinegar on chips, some white vinegar and lemon juice! A couple segments of lemon and freshly squeeze it on… this is making me hungry!”

Us too Phil!

Okay readers, if you think you know where the best burger is in the Central West, both Phil and the team here at Orange City Life want to hear from you.