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Burger van not quite a well-oiled machine
TRUDGING round huge shopping outlets in search of some home improvement or other is my idea of a nightmare.
The business site on Worksop’s Babbage Way is packed with these DIY places and normally I would avoid going within metres of them.
But when I was stuck in traffic up Gateford Road, I spotted a reason to go closer, and parked up outside Wickes.
A white burger van called the ‘Meal Machine’ offers a selection of burgers, bacon sandwiches and other hot and cold snacks from the site between 9am-5pm.
When you’re hungry and you’re in that area of town, it would be very convenient to slip off from the traffic queue and have a sneaky burger break.
The woman serving food from the van was sitting outside in the sun chatting to what appeared to be two other customers.
As I approached the counter, she got up and greeted me in a very cheery way and didn’t get at all impatient with my inability to make decisions on food.
The menu was certainly not healthy – there was little hint of a salad, and I doubt it would fare well on a calerie-counting diet.
I decided on a cheeseburger at the very reasonable price of 2, and investigated what else was on offer as I watched it cooked.
All the classic fastfood favourites were there, with Cumberland sausage, bacon and mushrooms and tea and coffee.
The winning idea looked to be a breakfast tray offering a full breakfast and a cup of tea for a bargain 3.50.
There was a good range of sauces to go with my burger and a copy of The Sun newspaper on the site to read while I waited.
In the drinks fridge, there were milkshakes, juices and all the usual fizzy pops but I went for a bottle of Dandelion and Burdock.
I was trying to avoid being overly unhealthy, but caved in at the last minute and asked about a portion of chips.
With a smile, the woman explained that the frier had 'blown up' so chips were off the menu for the moment.
My burger was very enjoyable without too much grease, and served up in nice floury bread that actually had some taste to it.
I think this is probably not the best burger van in the area, but it's in a brilliant place to offset that infuriating DIY store frustration.
It may never have happened, but I like to imagine a scenario where a family is painting a room in their house, when they realise that they’ve not got enough paint to finish.
I like to think that they argue about who should go out and buy another tin, but no-one wants to go.
Eventually, the dad begrudgingly decides to get in the car and nip over to one of the stores on Babbage Way, where he spots the Meal Machine.
He sits in the sun enjoying his bacon sandwich ,while his wife and kids slave away over the paintbrushes at home.
Don't expect miracles (or perhaps even chips), but do remember that fastfood probably tastes best after hours of home improvement debates and hard graft.
by Jen Foster
star rating HHH
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Weather for Worksop
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
