WEST WINDSOR: Bobby Flay draws crowd at new burger restaurant

   The MarketFair Mall got “crunchified” this week with the opening of its latest restaurant, Bobby’s Burger Palace, headed by celebrity chef Bobby Flay.
   The Food Network star brought his burgers, fries and milkshakes joint to the area on Tuesday to the delight of fans who waited in a line that stretched around the side of the mall to sample one of the 10 burgers on the menu.
   ”(We) are just excited to try Bobby’s Burger Palace and to meet Bobby,” said John Crawford, a Warren resident who was there with his daughter, who loves his shows on television. The pair was first in line at 11 a.m., an hour before the opening.
   The menu, features 10 burgers, including Mr. Flay’s signature burger with double American cheese and potato chips on top, fries and extra-thick milkshakes.
   Hillsborough residents Suzanne Rulka and her 14-year-old son Evan were next in line. Evan has been cooking since the age of 3 and has taken cooking classes since then. He loves cooking for “the places it takes you,” he said.
   The West Windsor restaurant, located near the food court and the movies in the mall, is the fourth in New Jersey and eleventh in the chain.
   The location was three years in the making, according to Mr. Flay.
   ”There is obviously some college presence and we find that we do pretty well in that market,” said Mr. Flay, who considers himself a burger guy. “What we are finding is the college kids of today are looking for value oriented food and good food. Kids that age, more than ever before are demanding about the quality; they should be. It’s the first time that’s really happened in this country.”
   The local market is attractive because of this population, which has money to spend.
   ”I think the West Windsor area is really beautiful here,” said Mr. Flay.
   The restaurant opening is the latest in the area, which has had a flurry of culinary activity recently.
   Princeton resident Jin Nawn recently announced he will be open a farm to table restaurant in the former Lahiere’s building in Princeton later this year, Cheeburger Cheeburger opened on Nassau Street in Princeton, replacing the beloved Carousel luncheonette and Gelavino Gelato has opened in the Princeton Shopping Center.
   The organic frozen confections are sourced from Lawrence-based Terhune Orchards. Gelavino owner, Scott Grenberg, supplies organic eggs from his own farm in Princeton.
   The Route 1 corridor is also seeing additional culinary development with Seasons 52 slated for 2014 in MarketFair and a Cheesecake Factory going in at the Quakerbridge Mall.