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Burger Lounge isn’t just for meat-lovers anymore as vegans are flocking to its Amwaj venue to tuck into its celebrity burger, Alia Almoayed’s Approved Burger.
GulfWeekly’s health columnist kick-started the restaurant’s Local Celebrity Burger Campaign with the aim of putting nutrition into burgers one bite at a time.
The mother-of-three is a nutritional therapist running a busy consulting office in Riyadat Mall in A’ali offering advice to the community. She is the author of four books, runs TV and radio programmes on health and nutrition, holds popular workshops, offers one-on-one nutrition coaching and heads a number of weight loss projects.
She recently put her expertise to the test by creating a vegan burger that is filling and a lot more appetising than people may think.
Alia said: “Burger Lounge contacted me to take part in their celebrity burger campaign where they call upon personalities in the kingdom to create their own burger to add to the menu.
“I challenged them as I explained that I can’t do a burger for them because burgers aren’t healthy. They insisted that they can and asked what my ideal burger would be.
“I said ‘well it would be with no meat, can you handle that?’ We went back and forth with different recipes and all the while they were supportive as well as accommodating.
“It’s nice to see restaurants in Bahrain that want to offer customers a healthy option and are willing to take risks.”
The ‘AliaApproved’ burger, which costs BD3.800, is a grilled patty made of brown rice, lentils, onions, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes wrapped in romaine lettuce. It comes with a side of sweet potato chips and avocado guacamole.
Many health fanatics attended the launch of Alia’s burger and they definitely approved. Her son, Laith, 10, a student at The Bahrain Bayan School, in Isa Town, loved the burger and advises other youngsters to give it a go as its good for them.
Alia said: “The event was great and so was the feedback. People who tried it expected not to like it but actually ended up enjoying it and were surprised.
“This is exactly the effect I wanted to have. I know people don’t usually eat vegan burgers but I just wanted them to try it. I also made it flavourful by adding a lot of Indian spices. It is filling as well. It’s not just a lettuce and cucumber sandwich where you are still starving afterwards. It still is meaty enough to feel good. I feel optimistic that health is not a dead-end road.”
Eating a non-meat burger was going to be a challenge as I am a devout carnivore. Nonetheless, I sliced my lettuce with a knife and fork, as I didn’t quite know how to pick it up, and took my first bite. It actually tasted good. I was having rice and veggies after all, just shaped like a burger. The sweet potato chips and dip were my favourite and I couldn’t stop nibbling on it.
Although some customers didn’t finish their plates, I noticed quite a few who did.
The AliaApproved burger is meant to only be available at the Bahrain-based business, belonging to Remas Group KW, for the month of January. However, depending on the demand, it can be a lasting addition.
Alia’s husband, Suhail Algosaibi, also created a fish-based burger to be added to the Lounge’s menu later on. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, marketer, mentor, a reconciliation activist and the chief executive officer of Falak Enterprises as well as the owner of the DreamBody Centre brand.
Burger Lounge’s managing partner, Ebrahim Hejairi, said: “We have wanted to tap into the vegan market for a while, but with freshly made patties. We are thrilled to have collaborated with Alia as it’s been a huge success.
“Usually we are full of beef lovers so to see vegans fill up the place is great. Alia’s burger fits our billing of organic and fresh food. We are a local start-up with fresh goods from the kingdom and that is how we would like to keep it.”
The restaurant is located in Amwaj Island’s outdoor shopping strip, The Lagoon, and can seat 82 diners comfortably.
A second Burger Lounge branch will be opening in Seef around April this year. The interior will be more natural with bamboo and other elements.
For details, contact 77055772 or 39158592.
