Finding the right complement for that delicious burger
Food truck creations worth the trek just north of Peterborough
I want to share with you another food-truck-trekking experience paired with wine that I enjoyed this month. Food magazine publisher Karen Irvine and I enjoyed lunch at Wild Water and Wheels, located at 1650 Chemong Road in Peterborough.
This is the coolest food truck! Owned by Lindsey Morrison, this joint offers a line of burgers and associated side lines like dogs, fries, onion rings.
If you are in search of an absolutely delicious burger to pair with your wine, this place is worth the trek. Each week, she changes the menu based on a new theme. Themes can be inspired by pop culture, music or movies. Each new burger offers a new topping combination.
If your custom topping combination includes jalapenos, then be sure to pick a wine with sweetness. An off dry white or rosé will do the trick, such as Calamus Off-Dry Riesling (CSPC 483982), $12.75. This is a lovely Riesling made from grapes grown on the Vinemount Ridge appellation. The nose and palate showcase notes of apple and lime. The palate is similar, balanced with bright acidity and enough residual sugar to match. Even though this wine is sweet, take it easy on the heat! If you insist on a burger filled with jalapenos, choose beer instead. Wine is not built to partner with too-heavy heat and spice.
Pet Cemetery features a 6 ounce beef patty smothered in feta cheese, tzatziki, lettuce and onion. Due to the weight of beef and tanginess of the cheese and tzatziki, this burger demands a white wine with good acidity and weight to match. A big, fat Chardonnay will serve its purpose in this partnership. The wine has enough weight due to its alcohol content to stand up to the fattiness of the beef, while its acidity will bridge with the tangy toppings. If this burger is no longer available, you can still request the same topping combo ($9.50).
Enigma Chardonnay (CSPC 428854), $15.95, is a perfect partner for Pet Cemetery. The wine offers fresh notes of pear and peach on the nose. The palate is so creamy and rich with flavours of apple and pear and just a hint of nuttiness on the finish. Its decent weight can stand up to the burger and its trimmings. Being a huge fan of big, fat whites, I love this gem.
You will be blown away by the size and flavour combinations of the Dirty Burger. This burger combines two (6 ounce) patties topped with smoked sausage, bacon and old Cheddar. In pairing this burg with red wine, ask for pickles on the side. The vinegar in pickles will make the wine’s acidity taste rancid. The fattiness of the meats and cheese requires a big, red wine with enough weight and fattiness to match ($14.50).
Bad Henry Shiraz (CSPC 557496), $12.90, is the ideal quaffer for this burger. The wine brims with aromas and flavours of blackberry and spice. With 14 per cent alcohol, this Bad Henry has big viscosity to harmonize with all the fattiness of this burger. Blackberry and spice take centre stage in the flavours, ending in a decent finish.
Six Feet Under ($9.50) is a six ounce burger with blue cheese, bacon and a mustard glaze. Also an appropriate burger to eat with a glass of Bad Henry.
Bad Henry also complements the Lost Boys Burger. On this burger you can chow down on a combination of beef with cheddar, bacon and garlic Parmesan sauce ($9.50).
Be sure to save room in your tummy for either the deep-fried pumpkin pie or deep-fried cheesecake. They are downright sinful!
The truck is open from noon until 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. Sunday hours run from noon until 4 p.m. The truck is closed on Mondays starting in September.