I pledge allegiance to the burger

Yes, I may have massively gorged on sushi and pad thai since I've been back from Prague, but I will never, ever neglect my friendship with the best of American food -- the burger. I'm an American girl after all! It's usually my personality to stick to one burger joint and go all the time. If I love it, why bother with anything else? Hey, I'm a Taurus -- I don't like change.

For a long time, that special place was Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, with its perfect, juicy burgers, crispy fries, and sinfully sweet custards. Shake Shack is very popular in NYC, but since I lived only three blocks away last year, I quickly learned when to avoid the hour-long line waiting (lunchtime) and when to pounce (late night).

But then last week, I bumped into a new nook in the wall restaurant called Mark on St. Mark's Place. Everything on the menu is three dollars or less -- the little beef sliders, generously portioned fries, tall milkshakes, etc. My friends and I sampled almost everything, and they were all absolutely delicious. Too good to be true? I vowed to definitely visit again -- and soon.

I guess that's the thing about change. If we don't move forward and try new things, we won't ever know what we're missing! The hunt for the perfect burger never ends, not for me. My new motto is in with the old and the new!

(photos via Shake Shack)