Burger food truck is a smash hit in Midleton

When he decided to set up a business selling burgers from a food truck in Midleton, Pawel Piwowarczyk wanted to stand out from the crowd.

He is certainly doing that with his trademark dish at Burger Hype - Paddy Smash Burgers with Jameson Whiskey Mayo and Tayto Crisps.

The mobile truck on Dwyer Road in the Cork town has been open for almost two months, and Pawel, a Pole who moved to Ireland in 2005, is smashing it.

“I am still amazed and surprised at the level of interest, the level of trade, and the enormous level of goodwill I am getting since I opened Burger Hype,” says Pawel, 47.

“The other day a lovely older lady stopped by here and asked me to reserve two Paddy Smash Burgers for her on her way back from the beach,” says Pawel.

“You might imagine that this kind, friendly, complimentary lady would be sipping afternoon tea in a parlour eating a home-made scone, not munching a burger! But she was determined to have my Paddy Smash Burgers!”

That is just one of many satisfied customers so far. Pawel is grateful that the people of Midleton and Cork have taken him to their hearts.

“I got such a great welcome when I came to live and work in Ireland, and I received such a warm welcome from the people of Midleton, that I dedicated my Smash Burger to the people of Ireland and Midleton to show my gratitude,” he said.

“Ireland has shaped me to what I am. I wanted to show my appreciation and do something funky, something different from everybody else.”

Hence that juicy trademark burger with the whiskey mayo and Taytos.

Pawel, who has more than 30 years of kitchen experience behind him, says he spent a lot of time experimenting and researching his signature burger.

“And I love Taytos!” he adds with a smile.

“My partner, Marta, and I, travelled all over Ireland to the best burger outlets that are all doing great business. I wanted to create a burger for the adventurous Irish palette.

“Once upon a time, when I came over to Ireland tagging along with my father, the culinary world was all about a good hot dinner,” says Pawel.

“Now, with so many different cultural influences in Ireland, people love trying out new flavours, new dishes, new food ideas.”

How has the Paddy Smash Burger been received among locals and passers-by?

“With great curiosity!” says Pawel laughing.

“I am amused when I see the expression on customers’ faces when they are pointing their finger at the menu and reading it seeing the Paddy Smash Burger. I love their reaction!”

They love the taste too.

“The high-quality meat is provided by CL Meats Cork, subject to my own recipe,” says Pawel.

“The burger buns are supplied by Jack Cuthbert’s bakery, Midleton.

“I am very proud of the quality of the product which is cooked to order on the hot grill.

“The Smash Burger is an American thing now popular here. It is all about blending flavours with the blend of meat with the correct fat ratio on a hot piping grill, making the burger crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle.

“Sweet and sour flavours, crispy and light flavours complement each other without overpowering each other.”

I can vouch that the Paddy Smash Burger hits all those targets, and then some. Taste, texture, and the blend of Jameson Whiskey Mayo paired with cheese and onion Tayto crisps is a match made in heaven. Add a cold drink and a portion of home-made potato chips fried in beef fat, and the unique combination feels like you have died and gone to heaven.

“Well, it is made on the spot!” says Pawel. “I’m not sure about heaven!”

He tells me more about his signature burgers, as local girl Alicia Cope helps him out with the lengthening queue.

“Burger Hype serves four signature burgers,” says Pawel.

“The Paddy Smash, the Hyped Smash, the Oklahoma Style Smash, and the Jalapeno Smash are the four I sell.

“I serve three different types of loaded fries with parmesan, garlic, or with my homemade ‘hype’ sauce.”

As if the hype alone is not enough to draw hungry food-lovers to the food truck, Burger Hype also launched with a partnership with neighbouring gym Midleton Fitness at the Midleton Business Park.

Do gym bunnies join the queue at Burger Hype?

“The gym can be great for everyone,” says Pawel. “But people need a cheat day too!”

He is knowledgeable about all things culinary, having begun his career in sugar confectionary and pastry making, and he studied Advanced Culinary Art Skills at MTU.

Pawel worked in Apple and as a head chef in well-known restaurants in Cork, but he always aspired to having his own business.

Where did his culinary ambition stem from?

“My granny was a great baker,” says Pawel. “At the weekends, she used to bake birthday cakes for people.

“I loved watching her bake, mixing, stirring, creaming, decorating the cakes. I wanted to bake with her. I lived my best life as a child in my granny’s kitchen.”

He lived other lives.

“I worked as a diving instructor, training people in Mayfield swimming pool,” says Pawel.

“I worked as well in Hassetts Bakery so that I could get weekends off. Renting a boat, going diving in Oysterhaven, Kinsale, and Baltimore; they were the best years of my life.”

Pawel’s life was threatened when he suffered two heart attacks.

“When I recovered from having the first heart attack, I was deemed to be healthy,” says Pawel.

“The nature and demands of my jobs, then the pandemic, could prove stressful.

“When I had the second heart attack, I took things easy and I worked in a café in Kinsale for two years.

“I also had planned to publish a cookery book with my own recipes, but I still felt under pressure.”

Pawel changed course.

“I decided to build myself up and work for me,” he says. “Then I would have no pressure from others.

“I wanted to be my own boss and Marta supported me all the way in every way.”

He used his chef’s brain and his expertise stemming from his grandmother to create his own brand.

“I wanted efficiency,” says Pawel. “No hold-ups in the queue.”

When Burger Hype opened, people came from Bandon, Cork city, Youghal, Killarney, and even Bray to see what all the hype was about.

“I remember asking one customer, ‘You drove all the way from Bray?’ I couldn’t believe it!” says Pawel.

People really are believing the hype!

“I was just overwhelmed the first week doing business here in Midleton,” says Pawel.

He didn’t get overwhelmed by a few glitches that are expected on opening day.

“The grill was letting the air in and not out!” says Pawel. “The lovely man from Bunn Burger in Ballincollig called me up and said, ‘I have two hours to spare. What can I do for you?’ He was running his own burger business.”

Pawel is now well up and running at Burger Hype.

“We sold out the first day,” says Pawel. “And many days after that!”

What did he say to Marta driving home from Midleton later on that first day?

“We got in the car and I said to Marta, ‘What the f**k did I just do?’”

He has created Burger Hype, his very own business. His little piece of heaven.

Burger Hype is open at Midleton Business Park from 4pm to 9pm on Thursday, from 1pm to 9.45pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 1pm to 9pm on Sunday. Benches are available outside to sit and enjoy the food.