I love a great Cheeseburger and I love a great Taratre, as long as it doesn’t have onions. I think most people like a good burger and I’m sure some don’t like Taratre, but that’s not the point of this article. Also, I’m not a vegetarian, so I’m not talking about a fake veggie burger either.
But in BC, every time I order a burger I’m very disappointed, you just can’t get a great burger in BC. Now I expect you’re going to tell of your favorite place and where I can get the best burger, but the problem will be the same no matter where in BC I go.
You see, in the wisdom of our BC Gov they legislate “bad-burgers.” It’s true.
Under the BC Food Safety Act restaurants are REQUIRED to cook all burgers to a “well-done” state, basically drying them out and killing the flavor of the meat. OK, I know some people like their meat well-done. Fine, that’s your choice, but that’s my point, it’s YOUR CHOICE!
I can go to a fine-dining restaurant and order Steak Taratre (RAW ground or chopped steak) but if I order a burger at that same restaurant it must be served well-done.
I’m sure you’ve heard the oxymoron; “Government Intelligence?” Well to me this is right up there as the epidemy of that stupidity. So, I wonder if I ordered my burger “raw” if that would break the rules? Likely, but I’m not sure why to be honest, but I’m just sure it would. Isn’t that just a “Burger-Taratre?”
Virtually every other jurisdiction I’ve travelled to around the world I can order my burger as I like it, “medium.” (steaks medium-rare) I spend a lot of time in Scottsdale, AZ and whenever I order my burger they ask me; “how would you like that done?”
But here’s the kicker; I don’t see people being poisoned or dying from eating burgers that aren’t grilled to a crisp! There’s zero logic to this archaic law. Well, actually I don’t think it’s been on the books that long, likely about twenty years. (I think) I’m seem to remember that this law was put in a number of years back, but I don’t remember why and I could be mistaken. That’s not the important aspect though.
What is, is that this doesn’t make sense and I’m certain that most decent chefs in the Province would welcome the opportunity to serve their burgers as they or the customers see fit. I also expect that these same chefs would tell you that they are 100% confident they can prepare a burger safely, even if it is not well done!
It’s time to reverse this law and give the preparers of our food the ability to cook it as we choose, not as the Government dictates! I’m looking for something I can agree with the BC Government on, if they make this simple change, I’ll be first in line to congratulate them and give them credit for doing the right thing.
