There’s nothing more all-American than a burger. In this series, we ask chefs to divulge the mouthwatering details behind their favorite restaurant burgers. Today, we chat with Chef Gregory León of Amilinda. León will be among nine featured chefs at the fifth annual Moveable Feast event at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
When Chef Gregory León talks about burgers, he puts an emphasis on balance.
"For me the ultimate burger is not about the costliness of the ingredients, but about their quality and their ratio in relation to one other," he says. "It should have a good sturdy bun; not hard, but something that is going to hold everything in place and be easy to bite into. It should also include a nice portion of meat, simply seasoned with salt and pepper; you want to be able to taste the meat."
As for toppings, he prefers to skip the tomato, which can make the bun soggy. Instead, his ideal burger capitalizes on flavor with a combination of condiments and vegetables.
"An equal amount of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise … lettuce, pickles and onion … all topped with a slice of melted American cheese and preferably grilled by my grandfather in his backyard grill."
Favorite burger: The Tuesday night burger at Goodkind
"By far my favorite burger in Milwaukee is any burger that comes out of the Goodkind kitchen on a Tuesday," León says. "I’m always looking forward to [Chef] Paul Zerkel’s weekly creations. The meat is cooked perfectly. The bread holds everything in place and the different combinations of textures and flavors never disappoint."
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.