Have you ever been curious about the brains behind your favourite Bristol restaurants? Do you wonder how they started out on their foodie journey, or perhaps simply what takeaway they order on Deliveroo when they’re having a night in? In the Bristol leg of our Doorstep Taste Tour with Deliveroo, we met up with some big names in the UK food scene to find out a little bit more about their culinary passion – from their favourite dishes to top cooking tips.
Oowee Diner is not only one of our favourite Bristol burger joints, but it has just been crowned the Best Burger on Deliveroo in the whole of South England and Wales in Deliveroo’s Restaurant Awards. So we thought we’d quiz owners Verity Foss and Charlie Watson on all things food.
Keep reading to sink your teeth into our juicy chat with Verity and Charlie, over an even tastier Deliveroo of Oowee Diner’s best dishes.
1. What made you decide to open a burger joint?
We wanted to try and create the kind of food we crave when we’re hungover – the ultimate ‘dirty food’ but made with premium ingredients.
2. What has been the proudest moment in your career?
There’s been a few memorable moments – one that stands out is winning restaurant of the year at the first Deliveroo Restaurant Awards.
3. Peanut butter and bacon jam is an interesting flavour combo – how did you come up with that?
It’s one which we’ve had on our menu from day one – I guess the inspo is the classic American peanut butter jelly sandwich! It’s one of our cult burgers, people absolutely love it.
4. Do you like to customise dishes when you’re ordering a takeaway?
My signature McDonalds order – the double cheeseburger – but with no sauce or gherkins just extra cheese (super cheesy it’s amazing) and the diced onions. Ask them to use the steamed filet-o-fish bun too, it’s amazing!
5. What is your guilty pleasure dish that you crave when no other chefs are around to judge?
If I’m feeling exceptionally hungover, a cheesy chip sandwich with crap white bread, gherkins and hot sauce hits the spot.
6. Can both of you rank your dip pots in order of preference?
Dirty sauce is our signature sauce so that’s got to be up there – then mango habanero and Korean BBQ are my faves.
7. What inspires the food on the Oowee Diner menu?
We want to take fast food/diner classics and experiment with them, taking it a step further than what’s been done before e.g. adding fried chicken as a topping to fries or tossing them in marmite butter.
8. What is one burger-making tip everyone should know?
High fat content in the beef to make sure it’s juicy and full of flavour!
9. We heard that when you opened your second site, the queues were so big there was a bit of drama. Tell us about that experience.
We did a burger giveaway with Deliveroo – 3000 people turned up and the police were initially called because people thought a riot was starting!
10. What should you order from Oowee Diner for the best night in?
The marmite butter fries are an OG, but you’ve got to have the Cluckin’ Fries and the garlic butter waffle fries as well. For burgers, get the vegan chicken burger, the Saucy Bird, and the Dirty Double burger – that one’s our best seller.