The week's most ridiculous eats, including smokey duck fat poutine
October has passed, Halloween is over, and now we find ourselves in November. But if you thought we'd take this week off to nurse last weekend's sugar overdose... well, then you don't know us at all. Even when it's been filled with candy for three days straight, Fat Kid Fridays carries on, for it's the only way we know, and also because bacon mac 'n' cheese quesadillas and loaded Nutella crepes...
4. The Gabby Burger
Gabby's Burgers & Fries (address and info)
Nashville, TN
Approximate calorie count: 1,158
While we've never met Gabby, we're already pretty sure we'd be willing to give her half of our heart-shaped "Best Friends" necklace just for being the namesake of this work of art. The Gabby Burger boasts not one, but two 5oz beef patties, each topped with cheese, plus toppings ranging from jalapeños to banana peppers, mushrooms, and a fried egg. And if that weren't enough, you also get to pick a side, like crazy-good sweet potato fries. You're the bestest, Gabby.
Just make sure you save stomach space for Nashville's other best burgers...
3. Nutella & Banana Crepe
Nuteria (address and info)
New York, NY
Approximate calorie count: 1,255
This crepe comes from a place that is literally a temple to the all-mighty Nutella gods, and we gladly offer up our stomachs as sacrifice. Loaded up with creamy, chocolatey Nutella and a whole sliced banana -- plus a hefty scoop of ice cream -- this decadent dessert will make a believer out of anyone. Unless you don't believe in being happy, in which case please continue blasting Hawthorne Heights. Your black and white-striped fingerless gloves look great today, by the way.
This spot just opened up, so you should probably find out more about it...
2. Duck Fat Poutine
Blind Butcher (address and info)
Dallas, TX
Approximate calorie count: 1,500
Most poutine joints are content to cover fries with gravy and curds, then throw on some Bryan Adams and call it a day. Well, in Texas, they don’t abide Bryan Adams. And they also don’t believe in understatement. That’s why Blind Butcher fires up their spuds in duck fat, pours on the smoky gravy, then hits the pile with curds and pork belly. You can also get it with duck confit if you insist on keeping some of the French part of Canadian tradition, plus add foie gras. Which you should, because you’re really doing this all for love.
Dallas has oh so many other golden, perfectly crispy fries to offer you too...
1. Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese Quesadilla
Thrillist
Approximate calorie count: 3,823 (for six pieces)
Okay, so bacon mac & cheese is one of the best parts of being alive, but honestly, we're kind of bored with it (please don't tell it we said that). We needed to reinvent our beloved comfort classic, and, like the incredibly proactive, self-sufficient people we are, we made it happen. Using state of the art bacon-weave technology, we crafted tortillas that put those bacon-less corn or flour kinds to shame, then we stuffed cheesy bacon mac in between two for the greatest quesadilla since sliced bread (that's how that works, right?).
You better get to weaving, this thing isn't gonna make itself...
Rachel Freeman is a Food/Drink editorial assistant at Thrillist, and thinks bacon weaving is a true form of artistic expression. Follow her to bacon-centric MoMA exhibits at @rachelifreeman.