Though I am often in the depths of misery,
there is still calmness, pure harmony
 and music inside me.

Vincent Van Gogh

Photography by

Carl Pierre Blasor

RELAY STOP AT THE
YAMBURGER

Imaginative use of wood turns
the entrance to the restrooms into a
genial work of assemblage art.

In the days of Genghis Khan, the yam was a Mongol army
messenger system based on relay stations where messengers
carrying important information and intelligence could rest, eat,
and access fresh horses for the next leg of their journey.

This, of course, has nothing to do with the Yamburger, that most
delectable eatery in Miramar ( an old section of Old San Juan
noted for its beautiful residential homes), except that one could
easily describe it as a relay station of sorts in which to rest from
the stresses of the day and enjoy a simple but appetizing meal
built around that most ubiquitous of dishes, the hamburger.

Of which there are plenty of options to choose from, both in
terms of what goes between the buns as well as the buns
themselves which can be either kaiser bread, wrap, or pita.
Or you can eat the hamburger without a bun at all.

The hamburger need not center around meat (in this case,
ground angus chuck) but may feature chicken breast, salmon,
or a portobello mushroom. Having chosen the centerpiece of
your hamburger you can then add to it different cheeses,
accompaniments and sauces. The YAMBERTINO comes
along with provolone cheese and argentinian sausage while
YAMEXICO adds chipotle gouda cheese, pico de gallo,
guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips, and lettuce. Side dishes
include "amarillos,"green salad, coleslaw and freshly made fries
that are cooked to perfection. Simply scrumptious.

For vegetarians, the portobello mushroom is a delicious
option as in the YAMVEGGIE which features string
veggies slightly sautéed, provolone cheese and chimimayo
sauce. This dish is superlative, especially when eaten with
pita bread.

As eateries go, the Yamburger is easy on the eye. It is a breezy,
al fresco venue with basic tables and folding metal chairs, topped by
high-ceilinged metal and corrugated plastic roofing decorated with
turquoise wood strips that look like pick-up sticks that someone
threw up in the air and somehow got stuck to the ceiling.

Other genial decorative flourishes include the unfinished
wood pieces tacked onto the long bar and the helter-skelter
wood extravaganza that sets off the restrooms in the back. A
simple blackboard lists the restaurant's offerings. Also
striking is a lamp in which bulbs seem to float within an
open weave basket ( remindful of a bird's nest).

Drinks include a wide selection of domestic, imported and
craft beers, frappes, natural juices, milk shakes, wine and
sangria.

Affordable and easy going, Yamburger is one of the most
pleasant spots in San Juan. It is open Sunday through
Wednesday from 11 am to 10 pm and Thursday through
Saturday from 11 am until midnight.

YAMBURGER - MIRAMAR
#621 Ponce de Leon Ave. Stop #11
787.723.7433
(Another Yamburger is located in Puerto Nuevo
at #1102 Roosevelt Ave.)

Photography by Hugo Bierschenk

You're on earth.
There is no cure for that.

Samuel Beckett

☛A SIMPLE TIP

When an electric or electronic device is plugged into
an outlet, it consumes electricity even when not in use.
Save money by plugging these devices into a power strip
so you can switch them off all at once before going to bed.
According to the experts, your savings can add up to $100
per year.

Photography by Bill Santiago

How sweet everything is…
when the day is fine and every good thing
seems to be waiting for you alone.

My Brilliant Friend

Elena Ferrante

©2015 Lorraine Blasor all rights reserved☂