[Unfortunately Jamie’s closed down in late 2018, after Avotaco took over the Msida area by storm]
Here’s a big existential question: what if a Mexican had invented the burger steak in the 1880s? It would definitely look different from the bread sandwich we know today. And that’s exactly what popped up in our minds today, whilst hanging around for lunch at Jamie’s in Msida. This exuberant food shop with a beautiful view of the Msida marina has carved its own niche in the food-packed neighbourhood, by offering all sorts of Mexican street food, together with the classic express food (Noodles, Tortellini, Curry rice and even Timpana) we all love. Everything has a vibrant taste of homemade food, thanks to owner Yan and chef Liam, who are always serving patrons with a happy smile. The place has only been open for 3 months, but it’s buzzing with insatiable clients eager to experience a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine without breaking the bank. If you love the Tacos from Amigos, wait till you taste the real thing at Jamie’s!
Jamie’s has a varied burger menu, but this week we’re looking for unique and eccentric. So Yan has devised a burger patty sandwiched between tortillas and nachos and filled with classic Mexican flavours. It’s meant to be a hybrid between a Quesadilla and a Taco. A quesadilla is a closed flour tortilla which is filled with grilled cheese and a mixture of spices and vegetables. A taco is a rolled corn tortilla with a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken, vegetables and cheese, and garnished with salsa, avocado and guacamole. Since this creation has no name yet, we’re bold enough to christen it The Maxi Nacho burger!
The base is made from 2 grilled flour tortillas, which are alternatively spread with Guacamole and Refried beans, which is essentially a paste made from Borlotti beans. The Guacamole has a good avocado texture and a delicious punch of lime with a slight heat from the peppers. Two 6″ round nacho corn tortillas go on top. The nachos are fried to perfection and are glistering hot and crispy all the way through, exactly as one would expect. On top goes the hero of the day, a 270gr Angus beef patty, which is covered with melted cheddar cheese. The patty is pressed in-house from chuck and ribeye cuts and is well packed with coarse ground meat. It has been craftily modelled flat and wide, to fit perfectly within the diameter of the tortilla and nachos, and it’s one of the largest patties we’ve ever seen. A large mountain of Pico de gallo salsa and Jalapenos goes on top. There’s a lot of jalapenos which are reasonably spicy. The Pico de Gallo is made from chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro and is really fresh and tasty, and is the perfect alternative for the more classic tomato slice we see in many burgers. All this is covered with melted Nacho cheese. The juices from the jalapenos and the Pico tomatoes intermingle with the cheese and produce an extra kick. Before the burger is closed, the other half of the tortilla and nacho are covered with sour cream.
Indeed this is one of the sauciest burgers we’ve ever laid hands on and is as messy as it can be! Tacos are generally eaten without utensils, and luckily this one comes in its own wrapping, which makes it possible to enjoy without any spill. Despite its XL look, we managed to eat it all with no regrets! The guys at Jamie’s have really excelled themselves by showing creativity and inventiveness, and at the same time, all the condiments display a whole palette of vibrant colours. This melding of the iconic American burger with faithful Mexican flavours, creates an arsenal of texture, zing and spiciness in one burger package. We’ve seen burgers with nachos and Doritos inside, but The Maxi Nacho burger is a hands-down winner and will definitively be on our summer menu, week in, week out. Hasta la vista!
