Exclusive interview: Behind the scenes of your favourite Burgers
Hello Burger Fans,
Today we wanted to show you another face of Huggy’s Bar: Virginie, our Artistic Director and also Head of Research & Development (R&D). She takes us into her world and reveals the unconfessed secrets of Huggy’s Bar recipes 😏
Hi Virginie! Let’s start light: what's your favourite THB Burger?
V: “Without hesitation, the Dallas Burger, in its vegetarian version! At Huggy’s, you can replace all the ingredients. Here I swap the beef patty with a Beyond Meat patty. I love the sweet/salty combo of this burger; it works super well!”
Concerning your position, what does “Head of R&D” actually mean?
V: “Basically, I'm in charge of everything you eat!”
Let’s be clear: Virginie is the one who creates the new recipes 😍
She’s an eternal perfectionist and constantly improves the quality of the ingredients. Lately she set her sights on pickles for the third time already! She didn’t go about it by halves: it’s a recipe for pickles with a Huggy’s Bar brine that you’ll now find in your burgers!
Can you tell us more about your role as Artistic Director?
V: “It’s quite vast!” Indeed, Virginie has two big responsibilities.
On the one hand she looks after everything to do with interior architecture, with the help of architects. “I make sure each restaurant has its own identity while keeping a common palette so that customers feel the Huggy’s Bar spirit.”
On the other hand, there’s the management of visual materials. “To carry out these projects, I work closely with the communications department.”
In three words, how would you describe your job at Huggy’s?
V: “Creativity, indulgence and challenge.”
How would you describe your typical day to a child?
V: “I would tell them that I play on my computer in the morning and that I eat burgers in the afternoon 😆. More seriously, my days are a mix between the office and the restaurant.”
In the morning, Virginie deals with her emails before meeting with the Operations team. In the afternoon, she tastes new products and tests new recipes (did someone say “dream job?”), or takes part in photo and video shoots.
What inspires you when launching new products?
V: “It always starts with a craving, which sometimes comes out of nowhere or after an experience or a trip. I also get inspiration from social networks — especially Instagram for recipes — but also from other ‘food’ concepts… It could just as well be a bakery!” Could this be a nod to the collab with the bakery Chez Blanche de Jean Galler? 😉
Generally, I make the recipe in secret for myself first!
The question we’re ALL asking: what happens during the test sessions?
V: Virginie first tests the recipe, holed up at home (just in case it goes wrong 😁). Once the idea is validated, she carefully selects the best products from partners before testing the feasibility of the recipe: it has to be reproducible on a large scale!
The best is saved for last: involving the office team! “Most of the time, since they’re all big foodies, they stop what they’re doing to come and taste! That’s really what I prefer.”
Which Burger of the Month did you prefer to create and why?
V: “The Mac & Cheese Burger, because I’m a huge fan of this typical US meal!”
Let’s stop you right there: no, these aren’t overcooked four‑cheese pasta 😤! The real American recipe is very special. By replacing the burger bun with two Mac & Cheese croquettes, Virginie got the point across 😉
And finally, what is your greatest pride in this job?
V: Virginie has two. The first is launching the THBeers project.
And internally? “Huggy’s is a more egalitarian company since I’ve been here. I have a very strong sense of justice, and I thought it was important that the company wasn’t managed only by men.”
