Apparently it seems that every month, and just about every day, is national something or other, celebrating everything from pancakes to ice cream on a daily basis. If it’s bad for you, and of course tastes damn good, then it has its own special day. The month of May, by the way, is National Hamburger Month and May 28 is actually International Hamburger Day.

And the folks at Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro, with locations at The Grove in Los Angeles and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, have come up with their very own Burgerfest 2014, celebrating American craft beers and house-made burgers throughout the month of May.

From forward-thinking Chef Diro W. Shiferaw, Morels has created three wonderfully tasty pasture-raised, grass-fed beef hamburgers for you to sink your teeth into. These bad boy burgers are a complete meal unto themselves, served with French fries of course (take that snooty and nearby Short Order). Forget appetizers and probably even dessert, if you’re chowing down on a burger during Burgerfest then just go for the prize and feel free to pair with wine or an American craft beer.

Speaking of American, the first burger we tried was called the American and it included BBQ sauce, onion rings, Iceberg lettuce, and smoked cheddar cheese. This is a solid, hearty burger for people who love their fare on the classic side. This isn’t a fancy burger, its blue collar cuisine that will aptly satisfy any hamburger craving you have.

Now the Mexican—that’s its name—has some heat to it. Prepared with Pico de gallo, avocado, queso fresco, cabbage, and chipotle, this is fiery, smoky treat. By no means is it too spicy for most people but it does pack some heat, which is a good thing. It just means you’ll want to wash this down with a nice, cold beer. I thought really Chef elevated his game with this creation.

And let’s not forget the French burger, which we found to be the best of the bold burger trio. A play on the Croque Madame—a favorite French breakfast sandwich—this newfound fave is served with “Open Faced Tartine” white toast, with whole grain mustard, truffle cheese, mayo, arugula, and topped with a fried egg. There’s just so much flavor going on here, and the cracked egg just adds a delicious sauciness. Eat it while it’s hot and wash down with a good beer.

On the subject of beers, choose on-tap craft beers including the very pairing friendly and tasty Mother Earth Brewing “California Cream’N from Vista, California. I must admit, while I’m not the biggest brew fan, I was able to find very tasty beers among the Morels draft selection, including the Bear Republic Racer 5 PIA from Healdsburg, and the Saint Archer Blonde from San Diego (damn good!). Other craft beers on tap for Burgerfest include Modern Times Fortunate Islands, Smog City Saison from Torrance, and Black Market Brewing, Bavarian-style Hefeweizen from Temecula. Burgers are $16 each and craft beers range from $8-10.

Bon appétit.

Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro is located at The Grove. Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:30 am to 11 pm; Friday 11:30 am to midnight; Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to midnight. Call(323) 965-9595.

Story by Jose Martinez
Photography courtesy of Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro