Sarah Robbins Mouth-Watering Burgers Interview

Australia's obsession with gourmet burgers has exploded over the past 12 months and the hysteria is set to continue. Mouth-watering Instagram feeds, trendy new burger creations and queues right around the block, all to get that perfect burger! However, for those avoiding gluten, they often have to miss out on that burger indulgence or sacrifice taste in order to meet their dietary requirements.

Helga's has launched Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls, with the view that now gluten avoiders too, can enjoy their favourite burgers because these rolls taste so great, you would never know that they are gluten free.

To celebrate the launch of their Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls, Helga's has partnered with leading Australian burger aficionados Chur Burger and Bar Luca to create a series of gourmet gluten free recipes that anyone can replicate at home. Head Chefs, Sarah Robinson (Bar Luca) and Warren Turnbull (Chur Burger) are available for interviews to discuss the partnership, recipes and their top tips for creating the perfect burger.

The recipes, which all feature Helga's Traditional White or 5 Seeds Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls, will be available to sample on the restaurant menus for a limited time (22 May – 25 June).

Each pack of Helga's Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls contains five individual rolls, and is available nationally at Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers from May 2017, RRP $6.99.

Interview with Sarah Robbins, Bar Luca Head Chef

Question: Why did you decide to partner with Helga's?

Sarah Robbins: I've teamed up with Helga's to launch their new Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls as I'm a firm believer that coeliacs and gluten free avoiders shouldn't have to miss out on indulging in a delicious burger! The new Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls, which in my opinion taste just like real bread, are an awesome alternative for gluten-free eaters, giving people an authentic burger experience. We've developed a range of delicious gluten free burger recipes incorporating the rolls, which you can replicate easily at home. Check them out below!


Question: How important is offering a gluten-free option at Bar Luca?

Sarah Robbins: I think it's really important as we want to make burgers accessible to everyone and we're seeing more and more customers coming in and asking for gluten free rolls. We want to be able to offer them the closest thing to a real bread experience.

Question: Why are we so obsessed with gourmet burgers?

Sarah Robbins: I think social media has had a huge influence on the burger scene really taking off in Australia, in the past couple of years. Chefs are getting more creative and are being much bolder when playing with different flavours and textures. There's no rules or limits to what you can do with a burger anymore.


Question: Can you describe your favourite burger, to us?

Sarah Robbins: Because we run a new special each week my favourite burger changes all the time, but at the moment it's -Mr T Ruffle'. This is one of the recipes we've created with Helga's using their Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls. It includes a beef patty, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, streaky bacon and truffle oil – the flavour combinations are out of this world!


Question: Can you share with us some of the recipes created using Helga's Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls?

Sarah Robbins: I think everyone at home will love these recipes as they're so easy to make – and are the ideal choice for a lunch or dinner party if you're trying to impress friends. *You can find all the recipes at the bottom of this interview.


Question: What are your top tips for creating the perfect burger?

Sarah Robbins: If you can grind your mince yourself – do it. If not, get your butcher to blend you a mix of chuck and brisket cuts with a 80:20 meat:fat ratio. You want to have a nice juicy patty, not something that's going to dry out and don't add any salt to your patties until you're just about to pop them on the grill.

Buns! You want something that's going to support your burger and hold all the ingredients, but not detract from the flavours that are going on inside. The Helga's Gluten Free Gourmet Rolls are great for this, and if they can hold up one of my burgers, then they'll work for you at home.

Play around with your cheeses. Try mixing a savoury cheese with a sweet sauce, you might discover a whole new flavour!

Question: How do you make burgers -healthy'?

Sarah Robbins: There's heaps of small things you can do to make your burger that little bit healthier. For example, choosing a lower-carb or gluten free bun is an easy option. You can also make your own sauce, so you know exactly what you're eating and be confident it's as natural and unprocessed as possible.


Question: What are the five ingredients you couldn't live without?

Sarah Robbins: Salt
Butter
Eggs
Bacon
A great bun


Interview by Brooke Hunter