Ned Ludd's Jason French Fires Up a Berkshire Pork Burger

As part of Eater's first ever burger week, chefs at four Portland restaurants that are a tad burger-phobic agreed to make a special Eater Burger, just for us. Every day we'll highlight a new off-the-menu creation (some of them you'll actually be able to go and eat yourself!), starting with today's Pork Burger (aka the Axe Burger) at Ned Ludd.

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[Photography by Dina Avila]

Head-scratcher of the day: Is it possible to cook up a tasty burger with only a wood-fired oven at your disposal? All signs point to yes: For his Eater Burger, Ned Ludd chef Jason French creates what he calls a brunch-appropriate "dreamburger," a locally and seasonally inspired sandwich that, in a departure from the usual iceburg lettuce, features a whole pile of fresh-picked greens.

For the burger, French whipped up a Berkshire pork patty (sourced from Afton Field Farms) that went into the famous Ludd oven. Once done, he topped with that sauteed leeks, raab, and fresh herbs (including chives, sage, and thyme), and finally drizzled the whole shebang with green garlic aioli (made from eggs courtesy French's own chickens), a little bit of oil, and lemon (a layer of Romesco lines the bottom "bun"). One large smush-ing motion, and that baby's ready to eat.
· Ned Ludd [Official site]
· All Previous Ned Ludd Coverage [Eater PDX]