Miami Squeeze - Roadside Juice Bar + Top Falafel!

Let's say you were trying out falafel in Miami for the very first time, and wanted only to try the very best. In this hypothetical contest, you have two options: Maoz Vegetarian, which gets huge taste and flavor points for their zesty, perfectly peppery falafel balls (slung out daily by the thousands factory-line style in their South Beach restaurant), is a strong contender.   But for truly beefy, spicy, divinely crispy and fresh falafel, Miami Squeeze gets the title for top garbanzo bean fryer.

       

This hip roadside juice bar creates stuffed, and I mean stuffed (like packed and filled to every wheaty corner stuffed) falafel pitas that runneth over with those delectable green balls + tomato salad, romaine lettuce and homemade hummus. 

   

Their unique location along West Dixie Highway on the southern edge of Aventura has a pleasant open-air bar vibe, except it's fresh juices and blended smoothies flowing from the tap. There is lemon and herb infused water placed around in pitchers for your complimentary refreshment, and - no stinginess here!- their house made sauces and dressings are served all-you-can-squeeze style in large condiment bottles. 

It's a good thing, because their balsamic and tahini dressings are seriously creamy, delicious creations and one small cup of each is not nearly enough. 

The balsamic vinaigrette is especially recommended - thick,smooth and tangy, it is a perfect complement to the falafel, or with any of the other entrees for that matter. The vegan-friendly menu features dozens of healthy wraps, sandwiches and platters, from veggie burgers to a full-on vegetable platter. Plus their smoothie list looks pretty fantastic - I want to take a whirl on the Blue Marlin Smoothie next time I stop by.

                        

 But the real attraction here is that amazing falafel. If there is better fried mashed chickpea ball in Miami-Dade County, I don't know what it is. And frankly I don't want to know, because I've discovered Miami Squeeze Juice Bar and it has my falafel-loving heart. You could say it's my main squeeze. 

Why I Love Fake Meat

Okay, I know a lot of people go vegan or eat vegan food for their health, and that’s wonderful. I really do admire the health aspects of veganism. But a lot of people also choose to go vegan and eat animal-free foods because they care enough animals and simply don’t want to contribute to the suffering on factory farms. These vegans care less about the health and nutrition aspects of eating vegan, in fact, any health benefits may be purely incidental to them. Their main motivation is reducing animal suffering – not necessarily eating super-healthy, green and leafy plant-based dishes at every single meal for the rest of their lives. Many, if the majority, of these vegans still dream about and crave bacon cheeseburgers, philly steaks, BBQ ribs, fried chicken, sausages, wings, pepperoni, ham, shish kabobs and all the other thousands of popular meat dishes the rest of civilization enjoys.

 The problem is we occupy a strange, nebulous  space – we’re against the killing and suffering of animals for meat, but we’re actually not against meat. Not at all! After thinking on this subject for a while, I realized that I really enjoyed eating meat – I just don't want any animals to die for my meat enjoyment. It sounds strange, but it’s true. Most people identify meat solely as a disembodied food on their plate with no connection to an animal.
 When we sit down to a burger, or a plate of ribs or baon or a chicken fillet, it presents itself as just that – food. We don’t need to and don’t want to think that it used to be part of a living, breathing animal. And the truth is, most people don’t. They just eat and enjoy meat, and push any unpleasant thoughts about where it might have come from out of their minds.

                        

Well, with animal-motivated, ethical vegans, we similarly separate meat “the food” from meat “stuff that came from a suffering slaughtered animal” and simply want to enjoy the first one without worries or guilt. If you think about it, this is not all that strange a concept. Many meat-eaters I know (almost all my sisters for example) will only eat meat if it’s completely dissociated from a living animal. They can only stand to eat meat if it looks like “meat” – ground up beef, or steaks or ribs or fillets or cutlets or strips. They won’t touch anything strange like organ meats, tails, feet, heads or even whole fish. They want the origins of meat to remain murky and out of sight, and when they make the connection between meat and a living animal, it has profound effects.

So meat-loving vegans are not against the consumption of meat or even dairy or eggs for that matter – we’re against the standard cruelty that goes into making these products, not against the end products themselves. It’s kind of a complicated subject that I don’t think people talk enough about. But it badly needs clarification and better understanding in the vegan community, because I see so many internecine fights break out over the “healthiness” or "appropriateness" of consuming meat alternatives. A lot of health-motivated vegans are against it because it tends to be processed and/or fatty and salty, so they demonize and declare it unfit for true vegans to consume. I understand this point of view, but I have to respectfully disagree. And ultimately these intra-vegan arguments are self-destructive, ridiculous and completely unnecessary. 

I hear a lot of people say that fake meats are good for helping new vegans/vegetarians in the“transition” to a meatless diet, but I disagree on that point also. I think fake meats are eaten because that’s what people want to eat – not to help them along their way to 100% green leafy plant-based foods all the time. Whenever I go to Whole Foods, there’s a reason that Boca Burgers, FieldRoast Sausages, and other popular meat alternatives are always low or completely out of stock. Because that’s what they – both vegans and non-vegans – want to eat. Period.

Speaking of Boca Burgers, why are they most popular kind of veggie burger, since like, ever? Because they're the veggie burger that tastes the most like a real backyard BBQ burger! Why was Field Roast made the official veggie sausage of the 2014 Superbowl? Because it tastes good and tastes like real, animal-based meaty sausage! Whether you find that offensive or not, the truth is most people like the taste of meat. The problem remains the inherent violence and cruelty involved in producing meat.
But if we can create meat alternatives that delivery the texture, appearance and (most important) taste of real meat, then we get to have our cake and eat it too. And that’s a win-win for both people and animals, and that’s why I love fake meat and unashamedly consume it and encourage its dissemination and popularization. 

So, I hope the issue of fake meat and why vegans and vegetarians choose to eat meatless meat stands better clarified. It sounds complicated, but it's actually not complicated at all. Vegans and vegetarians like meat, just like almost everyone else. But we want it without cruelty or any moral compunctions, and as you can see, we'll go to great lengths to do that!

 Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post - The Case for a New Vegan Dictionary - where I'll discuss the need to create new names for fake meat, because the words we use now are inadequate and generally suck. 

Thanks for listening! Yours truly, Janay

Enjoying Tea With Strangers

Today marks a week since I had the pleasure of joining a very special tea party at Panther Coffee in Wynwood - Tea with Strangers, that is! Jordan  Magid of the University of Miami hosts this special itinerant event, which gathers a group of 3-5 people at different places for an informal sit-down of tea, coffee, and simple good conversation.
The idea behind the event is to meet new strangers and let your precious guard down to let others know more about you, and reciprocally, become better acquainted with people you here-to-fore knew nothing about. The central idea of every session is to listen (no impatiently waiting-to-talk, no interrupting) while others around you speak, and not worry about the need to sound witty or funny or smart.

As someone who has a bad habit of talking excitedly over others, this approach to pure listening helped a lot - I found it rather therapeutic and calming to not consciously worry about the tempo and time lapse of the conversation. It was good enough just to express myself and then listen to others do the same. There's no pressure- only opinions, beliefs, ideas and a healthy dose of acceptance and understanding.

By the end, you are sure to feel closer to these new strangers/friends, and will likely find yourself warmly hugging someone you barely knew only an hour or two before. Tea with Strangers really works some special social magic, and Mr. Magid's mellow, soothing demeanor certainly adds to the peace-loving mood.

All in all, I give it an A. Go do something different and take a seat at one of these very special "tea parties" - it'll be tea time you won't soon forget. www.teawithstrangers.com/miami

Strangers No More! 

From left: Me, Namir, Francine, Jordan, Isabella, Laura

Want a Free Foot Massage?

     Sitting almost unnoticed under a shady grove of fern and oak trees at Nova Southeastern University you'll find an unexpected novelty: a Reflexology Path. This special path uses an array of variegated stones and pebbles that are supposed to touch and soothe different parts of your body - from your head and neck to your heart to your stomach - through specific pressure points on the bottom of your foot. All you have to do is kick off your shoes and walk, rub,and massage your feet over these textured and molded rocks to experience some delightful massaging and therapeutic stress relief. Technically, the path is only meant for the use by students and faculty at the college, but if you're a visitor walking around the campus there's nor reason you can't stop and partake in this awesome free treat.



Besides, whenever I visit there's nary a soul to be found in the area - it's like the students don't fully appreciate it or notice it's even there. Therefore more people should stop and visit to show it some love and actually use it.
There's a sublime feeling that comes from removing your shoes to walk around barefoot in a quiet garden, especially one as shady, soundless and zen-licious as this one.






As an even nicer touch, the path is punctuated with inspirational quotes about relaxation and mind-body harmony with nature.




It'd be so nice if someone installed a path like this in a large public park in Miami, but I won't hold my breath on that one. In the meantime, if you find yourself broke or could use a good discount on a therapeutic massage, consider a sojourn to Nova Southeastern's campus and take a unique stroll along the Reflexology Path. But if you're not a student, make sure you do it on tiptoes.

You're Invited! VEGAN SPEED FRIENDING! May 30 @ 8 PM

For our May installment of Vegan Drinks, we're heading over to the lovely Choices Cafe again, this time to play a cool round of Vegan Speed Friending! If you didn't know, "Speed Friending" is a platonic twist on "Speed Dating", where everyone will meet and talk to another person for 5-10 minutes and when a timer rings, move to another table/area to talk to someone one new.This highly efficient method of meeting people ensures that you can meet dozens of new people in just an hour or two. There will also be special "ice-breaker" cards you can use to ask questions, and after the event you're free to hang out and enjoy a drink with (hopefully) a new friend!

The aim of this activity is to network and form new connections, friendships, and bring SoFla's vegan and vegetarian community a little closer!

This event is open to everyone (including nice meat-eaters) and completely free of charge, though you're welcome to order drinks or munch on one of Choices' delicious desserts.
The event starts promptly at 8:15 PM so if you plan to participate please do arrive on time.

So come out to join us next Friday for awesome drinks and fun, and maybe meet a new bestie!

FRIDAY, May 30 @ 8:00 PM

Choices Cafe Upper East Side - 646 NE 79th St

                      

Miami Juice - Deceptive Veggie Burgers... But Good Vegan Chocolate

Let me start off by saying what this post was supposed to be about. It was supposed to be a raving review of Miami Juice's amazing veggie burger and the incredible soy cheese they use that melts, oozes and stretches shockingly like the real thing. I was going to gush and praise this awesome vegan cheese and wonder aloud why other vegans haven't discovered this incredible product yet, because it was sooooo good and way, way better than Daiya. I was prepared to heap endless praise on Miami Juice for having one of the best veggie burgers anywhere based on this amazing vegan cheese alone.





 But alas, it was not to be. Because after gorging on this wonder burger I did some research on the soy cheese in question and discovered it's actually not a vegan cheese at all. It's called Soy-Kaas (you've probably seen it in the cheese/ dairy case at Whole Foods and other health stores) and it deceptively resembles a dairy-free cheese substitute. But nah, it's just another cheese product altered to remove lactose, leaving the vital dairy components - most prominently casein - intact.
                           
Upon learning this I felt an acute sadness, having been duped into believing there was a vegan cheese was out there that perfectly replicated the melty, oozy qualities of the actual stuff. And I was also kind of miffed that Miami Juice didn't explicitly state on the menu their soy cheese wasn't vegan -  it's kind of important information, since most of the people who would opt for soy cheese are probably vegan.

                                     

Besides the cheese debacle, I really can't recommend much else about their veggie burger. The patty was rather thin, made of various bits and chunks of vegetables like peas and carrots, and was strongly flavored with a particular, earthy seasoning that made it reminiscent of Thanksgiving stuffing. It was edible, but at over $10 after tax, not really a burger I would recommend.

What I do recommend is a short trip to their small but near-comprehensive mini-market, which is a like a natural foods supermarket compressed into 80 square feet. They carry a fresh produce case, frozen/refrigerated items and three aisles of natural food products, including a whole aisle of protein/ granola/ chocolate bars. I was happily surprised to find this treat: an Organic Nectar Milk Chocolate Bar  made from cashew milk. As any vegan knows, vegan milk chocolate is a tough commodity to find, especially one that tastes good.  These particular bars, made from creamy, fatty nut milk promise to replicate a real dairy chocolate bar. The catch? 5 bucks for a 1.4 oz bar. That's kinda hefty, but worth it if you want to a experience some vegan chocolate bliss.

Miami Juice also boasts an extensive veg-friendly menu of sandwiches, salads, pizza and smoothies, and I especially heart the #57 Smoothie  wth dates, cashews and soymilk. So if you're in the mood to get your natural eatin' on or splurge on some serious vegan chocolate, Miami Juice has all the goods. Just skip the veggie burger and don't let the soy cheese fool you. 

 

Anyone want some Olives-to-Go?

This rather strange sweepstakes prize arrived in a package on my door step... I like olives but have never felt an urge to snack on them like potato chips. But hey, they're liquid free!

Sorry but I'll take mine "For-Here"

Whatever Happened to Mushaboom?

This month marks one year since the sudden disappearance of Miami's lone vegan food truck - Mushaboom. 

This particular food truck really bothers me, because I was almost never able to catch up with them as they drove around and made far-flung stops around South Florida. When I finally did,  they closed down at the event early and shut the ordering window in my face. This was after I had parked half a mile away and trudged under a grueling sun to reach them outside an environment fair. They literally took the person in front of me, and when I got to the ordering window announced they were closed (mind you, a full 10 minutes before they were scheduled to close) and just slid the window shut. Shortly after that, they stopped posting scheduled events on their online calendar, and not too long after that, apparently closed down for good.

Too bad, because their food looked delicious and I really wanted to try it.
They made scrumptious-looking burgers out of everything from black beans and chickpeas to falafel and mushrooms. And all who tried it posted rave reviews. I so badly wanted some Mushaboom, but they were either never in my part of town, or they only came around during very inconvenient hours, usually when I was at work. The day I finally caught up with them at the environment fair was a day 2 long months in the making, I cannot describe the shock and disappointment I felt when they closed down on me, after I had waited so long to try their food.

                       

                  

         

But what really sucks is that this humble little truck serving genuinely delicious vegan fare had to go out of business, when Miami is so starved for vegan eateries. Well, I guess it was nice for while it lasted and for the lucky ones who enjoyed it. RIP Mushaboom. I only hope a new vegan burger truck comes around soon to take your place.

Images courtesy of  roaminghunger, miamifoodtrucks and bisousbrittany

One of the Best People-Watching Spots in Miami

Want to take a break from daily life to just sit back, relax and watch the maddening crowd go by? Then take a second-floor bench seat in Aventura Mall, where you'll be treated to the sight of the awe-inducing Star of David water fountain (which occasionally shoots a tower of water dozens of feet skyward) in the pristine, air-conditioned pleasantness of Miami's signature swanky spot.
Next to Lincoln Road, this is definitely the choicest spot for indulgent people-gawking.

 

Best Vegan Pizza in Miami (Part 1 ) - Alaska Coffee Roasters

Looking for delicious vegan pizza in Miami? Like REAL pizza, not some sad cheese-less option you special ordered from Pizza Hut or Papa John's or Dominoes, using 5 toppings to try and cover up the lack of cheese on a naked crust?

Well take heart pizza missers, because there is actually some excellent vegan pizza in Miami. As is usually the case, it's found in a somewhat obscure and unsuspecting place that doesn't even advertise it sells vegan pizza.
Alaska Coffee Roasters in North Miami is a humble coffee establishment that puts out some seriously good food. From a lush dessert case filled with humongous cake slices, brownies, cookies and cannolis to gourmet soups, sandwiches and exquisite roasted coffee. But the star food item here (and what almost everyone in the lunch crowd comes for) is the pizza - made from hand-stretched dough and fresh toppings and baked in a huge wood-fired oven.  The oven bakes the doughy crust, sauce and veggies into something crisp and intensely flavorful, while Daiya cheese is transformed from plain, half-inferior imitation cheese to something that really resembles melty, tangy mozzarella. It's almost like magic!

The pizzas go for $8.50 and $10 for 10 and 12-inch pizzas plus an extra $2 for the Daiya. I highly recommend  the Aegean - with spinach, olives, red onions and diced sweet peppers - and the classic Marguerita topped with cheese, basil and tomatoes. Their rich, garlic-suffused marinara sauce is also divine and worth ordering an extra side of.

Forget vegan - this is some of the best pizza you will find in Miami, period. For a wild slice of pizza heaven, make the trek through Miami's wilderness to Alaska Coffee - their pizza will transport you.

Alaska Coffee Roasters
13130 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami, FL 33181
(786) 332-4254

Please Starbucks - Start Offering Some Vegan Desserts!

Dear Starbucks, get your act together and start offering vegan options in your dessert case! I have grown quite tired of staring at those shiny, golden iced lemon pound cakes and banana chocolate chip cakes coated with luscious chocolate chips through the plexiglass. I am thoroughly sick of ogling and longing for those brightly-colored spring flower cookies and whimsical, happy little frosted cake pops.




 Can you PLEASE throw us vegans a faux bone and put out something we can enjoy?

Is it really so much to ask for some milk-free and egg-free options? Years ago, you took the amazing initiative to offer organic soymilk in every store, which is way more than other coffee chains like Dunkin Donuts have ever bothered to do.  It really can't be that difficult to introduce a vegan pastry or two in every store as well. And considering the amazing wealth of vegan baking resources and businesses these days, it's easier than ever to find a good  supplier. 

A little while ago, I wrote a letter to Starbucks airing my dissatisfaction. This was my letter followed by their emailed reply. 

March 10, 2014

Hello, as a loyal Starbucks customer who is also vegan, I am thoroughly disappointed at the lack of vegan baked goods currently sold at your stores, especially since Starbucks offers non-dairy options for their beverages. Many people do not consume dairy or eggs for health, diet, or religious reasons and should have the option to purchase pastry goods that do not contain these ingredients. I believe that all patrons deserve the chance to enjoy a delicious muffin, cookie or piece of cake with their Starbucks beverage. 

I urge you to consider adding appealing vegan pastries to your existing menu - I especially advocate adding vegan versions of popular items like the Chocolate Chip Banana Cake, Iced Lemon Pound Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Blueberry Muffins. Delicious vegan alternatives to these treats are simple to make and could be enjoyed by all, vegan or not! By adding one or two vegan desserts to your current selection, you will positively contribute to the sustainability of our environment and animal welfare by offering alternatives to eggs and dairy. 

And I am sure countless patrons will thank you for your forward-thinking attitude toward different diets.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely,
Janay Laing 

And their friendly but basically useless response:

March 11, 2014

Thank you for contacting Starbucks.

I think that your request for more Vegan pastry options is a great idea.

We always want to hear what you think would improve your experience with Starbucks.  
I appreciate you letting me know how much customers would enjoy this.

I would also like to invite you to visit www.MyStarbucksIdea.com. This website is a forum where you 
can share your ideas, tell us what you think of other people's ideas and join the discussion that will 
help shape Starbucks future.  Many of the ideas shared have already been turned into action.

If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Sincerely,

Demetra A.
customer service

Well, I indeed went over to My Starbucks Idea to check out the site, and surprise! There are countless - perhaps thousands- of other requests for more vegan food options at Starbucks, with a list of comments that stretches back several years. Why has Starbucks not responded to this clear and vocal demand for a more vegan-friendly menu? In so many respects, it is such a modern, forward-thinking company with a strong awareness of environmental and animal welfare concerns. So it is truly strange that their food options are so thoroughly unfriendly to vegans, and that they seem to have no intention of changing it. 

Well, hear is my plea again again, Starbucks - please bring out some vegan desserts! So many of your most loyal patrons are eagerly awaiting this next step in Starbucks' evolution as a company that stays with the times, and the times are clear - plant-based food and ingredients are in, and people want more of them. 

Please take your customers' dietary allergies, preferences, and variations into account and provide more diverse food options. It really is not that hard. 

Vegan Drinks Has Come to Miami!

For the past 5 months, I've been the proud host and organizer of the Very Vegan Miami Meetup. So far we've enjoyed an-all vegan pizza party at Alaska Coffee , watched a screening of the film "Vegucated", ate a Saturday morning pancakes breakfast and enjoyed an outdoor screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" at Soundscape Cinema on Miami Beach.
Now, yours truly is playing host to Miami's version of Vegan Drinks, a social and networking event that takes places in different cities around the country from New York to San Francisco.
For this special first event last March, we headed to Yard House in Hallandale Beach, which boasts an incredible all-Gardein menu. Their Buffalo Chicken Tenders and Chicken Salad are killer dishes that are indistinguishable from real chicken. If you've never tried their food before - you seriously need to!

Yours truly arrived armed with a dozen colorful gift bags filled with vegan swag for the attendees - a Mahalo Candy Bar, some Xyla all-natural chewing gum, and a mini-pack of Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies. I met so many wonderful people - Hannah Sentenac (who writes a vegan column for New Times), Frenchy, Josh Rosen, Joe, Daniel Barrocas, Scott and Lori and Alex of Choices Cafe!

For the festivities, we played a lively game of Vegan Trivia with 10 questions I came up with, plus this tie-breaker question: Can you guess how many seeds are on the outside of a strawberry?

The lucky 1st place winners were Alex and Lori (of Choices Cafe) who shared a $20 gift card to Whole Foods, while 2nd and 3rd prizes went to Frenchy and Joe who won a gift card to Bunnie Cakes and Starbucks, respectively. Overall, a great time was had by all and Miami's very 1st Vegan Drinks was a great success!

Miami's Vegan Blessing - Choices Cafe

If you live in Miami and have done some vegan dining out lately, then you are likely no stranger to Choices Cafe. You know all about the huge, scrumptious wraps, the famous "La Pixsa", the heavenly organic smoothies and the cold-pressed juices and raw desserts.

Choices is a no-B.S. establishment for all those who want their food fresh, whole, and real. No preservative-laden, additive-added, artificially-colored, pesticide-covered junk will be found here, nor any meat or animal products - they are over 90% organic and committed to 100% plant-based everything. Their extensive menu overflows with a ridiculous number of - what else? - choices and covers every palate preference from meaty sandwiches and wraps (Insane Mexican, Chicken Homie) to fresh-from-the-earth, leafy-greeney feasts (The Everything Salad, California Wrap) to delicious novelty items (Mental Lentil, La Pixsa) that will send you straight into plant-induced nirvana.

They now have 3 locations to choose from, starting with the original, a little-too crammed space in Brickell in "The Roads" across from the quiescent Triangle Park, the much airier and open free-standing restaurant on 79th Street just east of Biscayne Boulevard, and the newest, slightly-different outpost called Choices Kitchen. This last one is something of a Choices Cafe Lite which serves prix-fixe lunch and dinner plates and hosts a small market and salad bar.

Miami is quite blessed that Choices and founder and owner Alex Cuevas planted roots here. We so desperately needed a friendly, inviting all-vegan cafe, especially one whose food stands on par with the non-vegan places out there (And there are too many!) Thank goodness Choices is here to fill that plant-based, organic hole in our hearts.

www.mychoicescafe.com

Choices Cafe - Brickell
397 SW 15th Road
Brickell, FL 33129

Choices Cafe - Upper East Side
646 NE 79th Street
Miami, FL 33138

Choices Kitchen (New)
711 NW 27th Ave.
Miami, FL 33125

Images courtesy of mychoicescafe.com, candied-life.com, and foodspotter.com

Friday Night Special - Wildwood Southwest Veggie Burgers

Starting Friday nights I'll be featuring a scrumptious, picky-vegan worthy food product that I love and have made a must-have staple. As a straightforward, not-that-into-cooking vegan who just wants to find good food, fast with no fancy prep or work involved, I've scoured countless market shelves and freezers for the best edible vegan products, and it is my pleasure to share these tried and true treasures with you.

To kick off this new series, I am pleased to introduce to you to the Wildwood Southwest Veggie Burger.  Wildwood makes at least 3 varieties of veggie burgers, of which I've tried the Original and Southwest, and I can confidently say I only recommend the Southwest burger. Why? Because the Original, in plain terms, was tasteless, under-seasoned,  lacked a definite flavor personality, and was just not that good. The Southwest burger, on the other hand, is packed with bold flavoring and spices and will have you licking your eager fingers.

They come 2 in a pack for $3.79 at my Whole Foods are super simple to cook up. They're refrigerated which means you can simply throw 'em in a pan or heat one up in the microwave in under 1 minute. No complicated defrosting inside folded napkins or turning over on the stove. Nope! These are the simplest and simply one of the most delicious veggie burgers you'll have the pleasure to bring home from your local Whole Foods. Haven't tried them yet? Get out and buy one of these things! If you like a little flavor with your veggie burger,  you'll thank me.

Wildwood Southwest Veggie Burger