A Burger to Celebrate

I'll mostly sit this one out, kids. I don't eat red meat, so my best burger is the GardenBurger at the Purple Cow in Little Rock. It's really good-even meatheads like it. And oh, can they make a shake! I go for the Bailey's Irish Cream shake-you get it served in a tall fountain glass, with the rest (almost another whole shake) in the big metal mixer thingy brought to the table too. Handmade fries, great food all around. Can't beat the Cow! 

I can do some pretty good things with a Boca Burger and all the fixin's too.

I must say that vegetarians and people who eat a little fish and chicken with their veggies are often very nice people.....I acxtually have a new friend who is a "flexitarian, a person wo primarily vegetarian who eats some fish and chicken.

I occassional eat meat, because (for me) it's a quick protein fix after an endurance run or triathlon.

I'm vey familiar with In-n-Out Burger. I live in In n Out Burger territory.  The lines of cars are always very long at lunch and dinner-time. Everything is fresh, no frozen meat patties, all french fries made fresh from whole potatoes, and they'll grill the onions for you. And if you insist on clogging your arteries quickly, the Animal is recommended. They always get your order right the first time. Their french fries on a rainy day are to die for.....

There is an  In-n-Out  across the street from a major medical center in the San Fernando Valley (in L.A.).......it has an excellent cardiac unit.  I'm sure there's a connection, maybe even a deal between the hospital and the burger joint.  Of course, I've seen doctors enjoying a burger there from time to time, some had cardiologist on their badge.

I have gone to In-n-Out, I'll admit but I've also gone to Tommy's, the original in L.A. and one of the chain stands.  Tommy was a neighbor of mine before he was killed by a drunk driver.....great chili burger. 

We don't have much but the regular fast food joints around here: McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King. 

However, we do have one thing around here that is pretty much regional:  Runza.

Now, a traditional runza sandwich is not a burger.  It is a loose buger-meat sandwich, where the meat is mixed with onions and whatever other additionals you wish (personally, I like the swiss-mushroom version).  It is then wrapped in bread dough and placed in the oven.  What comes out looks like a miniature loaf of bread and tastes like a dream :D

But if I want a burger, nothing from fast food can come close to our grilled home-raised beef.  Be jealous, folks.  I use grades of beef normally reserved for New York steak houses for stew meat :P

Olivia, Mono's in Glasgow Scotland would be your ideal burger joint.  My friends take me to eat there everytime I visit and it is all Vegan cuisine inside a record store. 

When my brother got married in San Diego last year a couple of us snuck out of the reception early and went cruisin til we found an  In-n-Out...cause the reception food sucked.  Its not the best meal I've ever had and its certainly not the best for you...but when you've been dancing all night and had some stuffy hotel food for dinner, it tastes like heaven in a Mustang convertable at 11pm.

I still think its funny that when White Castle was starting out the owners commissioned a study from a research hospital at some university to prove that hamburgers were actually good for you.  They signed some dumb college kid up to eat nothing but white castle sliders and water for a month and then the doctors pronounced him in perfect health...erego they MUST be healthy for you.  It makes me a little queasy just thinking about it.

Maybe later I'll share my uncle's recipe for secret sauce from his now (sadly) closed pizza/burger joint, "Rocky's".  Everyone has a slightly different recipe for the pink sauce but Rocky's was the best, IMHO.  I can still say that after mixing countless vats of the stuff and spooning it into individual fry sauce cups, for years on end...it must be good.

We've had topics on war, music, food, drugs, and taxes...where's the sex and death?  Or have I missed those?

Not exactly a burger but have any of you folks eating at a Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh?  Weird but good.

Ok not cheezburger cat photo.  My dog is the "I can has cheezburger?" equivalent of that LOL cat. 

cool

I am a vegetarian

There are some mighty good Hamburgers made all over the country, some are a little much with their Dressings(not meaning the Sauces or Spreads) and in my travels I have come to enjoy White Castle a lot, and a Red Robin here and there, and Burger King in some places ... I have discovered that the tastes change noticably within a single Franchise according to Geography and Attitude ... Sometimes the change is tolerable, and sometimes it is not ... But down in Texas we are blessed to have a genuine Texas Original since 1957 called, WHAT-A-BURGER ... Ladies & Gentlemen, Friends & Neighbors, Good Folks from everywhere ... No matter where in Texas you walk into a WHAT-A-BURGER the Menu is the same, the taste of the Food is the same, they have every kind of Burger you could want including a Four-Stacker ... and the marvelous tastes are just the same as the first Burger I ate there when they opened the first Walk-Up Window in Corpus Christi , Texas fifty years ago ... If ever any of you is in Texas, and if you are hungry for a Hamburger , find yourself a WHAT-A-BURGER and give yourself a speacial treat ... You will also enjoy the fact that the Restaurants are CLEAN and the business is so good that the Food is always fresh and nothing is greasy ... (Strawberry Shakes are sinfully good)

I may have to go for an Animal Style 3x3 for dinner tomorrow. It's the quintessential fast food burger. A friend of mine recently mentioned her displeasure that In-N-Out does not have bacon for their burgers. Bacon would be a distraction; the balance of meat and cheese to toppings and bun meets its apex when you get a Double-Double or 3x3 Animal Style. In-N-Out Burger is a bit funny for me just because it's the only place that I regularly get Coca-Cola to go with my burger. Somehow it just tastes better there, closer to the Mexican Coca-Cola made with sugar than the American high fructose corn syrup sweetened ones. Perchance In-N-Out has a deal with Coca-Cola to provide the old recipe in fountain boxes?

The best burger I've ever had was at the Burger Bar inside Mandalay Bay up in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was quite expensive ($20), but if I hadn't splurged on the truffle sauce it would have been "only" $15. It had blue cheese, onion rings, peppered bacon, and the aforementioned truffle sauce on an onion bun. Heavenly stuff, I tell ya. If you love a really good burger and you're in the Las Vegas area, you owe it to yourself to go. The side dishes are knockouts too; their onion rings are some of the best I've had.

Nachista, by all means please do share the secret sauce recipe, my mouth is watering thinking about it. I recently whipped up a wasabi rémoulade that knocked my socks off... 1/4 cup each ketchup and mayo, a tablespoon each of wasabi paste, minced capers, and minced parsley, then a wee bit of salt and pepper to taste. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Nachista,

Someone once pointed out to me that two minutes and a razor blade turn an "In -N-Out Burger" bumper sticker into an "In -N-Out Urge" sticker. There's all of reason we need to discuss sex. 

Yes, we can only hope sex is not far behind. The closest the East coast can come to an In N Out is from the blue burger or blue 9 burger, which is a direct steal. And there was a joint called Meaty Meat in Los Angeles in a 10X 10 shack that served up the best burger in the world.

Nachista,

Its funny you mention the Primanti Bros. I used to work in the starbucks across from it in the square while I was in college and we traded frappucinnos for sandwiches. And I'm vegan so I just had the french fries with the slaw and tomatoes on the bread. It might sound a little boring but I liked it.

I just had the most incredible tastebud memory flashback!

The only burger I truly recall eating was at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY State, many years ago. The burger was nothing "special" - no unique sauces; no complex stackings of meats, cheeses, and vegies; no gourmet touches. It was simply your basic, outdoor grilled, pure, unadulterated burger. It seems hard to believe I would remember it as my favorite. What made it so special, I think, was the day. Looking back, I see my father, in all his glory, around antique aeroplanes and our family all together...At this very moment, I can smell the beef cooking, feel the sun on my face, see the trees in all their Autumn splendor, hear the roar of the old rotary engines, and taste that delicious burger, again.

It's amazing how food can trigger such vivid thoughts of the past.

Thanks for the memory. Have a great day everyone! And be advised: "Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you!" - Tommy Smothers

I can second jalopkin's paean to What-A-Burger, though I do not (now) indulge in their burgers. Everything they do is so good, though, ZZ Top even mentions them in one of their tunes. There are a few in Arkansas, and we certainly treasure them.

Every region has its own place, and I'm SO glad there are still regional differences! Here in Little Rock we still have Mom and Pop Dairy Queens or Dairy Freezes or whatever you call them-drive-ins! The Hop is a great one. Snappy Service was a long gone and long lamented drive-in. They had rollerskating girls in the little flippy skirts, not at all PC now, but so cute. Now, Cotham's rules with their mighty mighty Hubcap Burger, a local wonder.

It's important.

Not sure I want to do a sex topic. I've been single for a year now, been a good girl, squirming in my chair trying not to THINK about it...

Oh, what the hell-bring it on!

At the moment, my 7 year old son and I are beginning to explore the German language together (I already speak it). We're starting out on the really fun stuff. Like, identifying a person with their city of origin. Don't read ahead!

"Okay, Wyatt, what do you call somebody if they're from Frankfurt?"

"Frankfurter".

"And Hamburg?"

"HAMBURGER!!!"

Followed by gales of laughter. We'll get to the Kennedy speech in a little while.

Rick: You know what I want to hear.
Sam: No, I don't.
Rick: You played it for her, you can play it for me!
Sam: Well, I don't think I can remember...
Rick: If she can stand it, I can! Play it!

Great-now I've made myself cry.

What a dope...

"You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars." - Charles Kuralt

Coyotemike,

The Runza Hut. That brings back nice memories and if you're in that part of the country, you are not exaggerating about taking better beef almost for granted.

Do steak houses still offer a side of pasta as a matter of course? I've never gotten over that.

I remember one of those sparkling, quilted aluminum job-site trailers out there where they set up an outside grill and did huge juicy burgers to order. Three options: no onion, fried onion or raw onion.

It was run by Koreans and the sunny boss lady was one day untypically morose.
The fact that her kim chi had gone bad was made worse by everyone asking:
"Really,how could you tell?"

I actually grew up 10 miles form Seymour, WI they were the H.S. Football team to beat in our conference.  Burgerfest is about all they do have, the funny is part is they only have a Dairy Queen to go for a "Fast Burger" in that town.  Seymour's Burgerfest is quite the summer party they have Ketchup Body sliding, make the world's biggest burger (alright claim to), mustard bowling, eating contests & of course in Wisconsin you have to have Beer & a Polka band (Because the Polka is the official WI State Dance. no joke a bill was really signed to make it so.)

Although if you ask me the Burgers at the fest aren't that good ~ If you are ever in WI for a Packers game or to see lambeau or anything else let me know ~ I will take you to the best place in town, Its called Krolls,

Now there is an east side & a west side Krolls, (they are a 10 minute drive apart)  The west side one is were ALL the Packers & most of the touring musicians, & such eat at. Because it is located right behind Lambeau & our convention center.  And well The West Side's burgers have a little more zing IMHO than the East side ones, but when it comes to Chili or Perch the East side wins hands down. The Straw stand stright up in the shakes at both places so its a draw on the shakes....Then we'll go to the Titletown Brewry wher ethey have an AWESOME Brewmaster & a homemade rootbeer taken from the owners Grandparents recipe used when they owned an old ice cream shop callled Sno-Cap. VERY GOOD....   

Unfortunatly the only place on the poll WI happens to have is BK which in H.S. I used to LOVE but not so much anymore.  I have been to a White Castle & didn't really care for it, I guess a Slider is not really a burger IMHO. Worst Burger I ever had was in NO at a chain called Krystal YUK!!!!! They were just AWFUL I was sick for hours after eating there. 

I personally would LOVE to have an In & Out Burger in the area along with a Sonics... Although we still have a 2 little towns around that have a palce with roller skating car hops & good root beer, so I guess that counts for something.   

Anyone watch How I Met Your Mother ~ It one of my Favorites ~ About 2 weeks ago the episode was about finding a burger place that one of the characters ate at like 8 years ago & couldn't refind it. People would say yeah I know wher eyour talking about & then list like the Zagat (sp?) rated burgers. You can watch full episodes of it at CBS.com so watch it, too funny & well intuned to todays topic ~ Its a not to miss.

The Counter in Palo Alto, CA provides you with a clipboard and mini pencil when you arrive.  Their build-your-own burger concept has patrons poring over their checklist, weighing the merits of toppings such as dried cranberries, garlic aioli, Danish blue cheese, carrot strings, and Satay sauce.  Their sweet potato fries are to die for.  They are also one of the only burger joints I've ever seen with a full bar.  Mojito with your burger, anyone? 

I'd much rather enjoy my hamburgers at home, though, so I rarely eat them out.  Craig Claiborne's addition of a tablespoon of heavy cream, a splash of Worcestershire sauce and some finely grated or pureed onion to each hamburger patty truly elevated an otherwise humble food.  For that perfect texture, minimal handling of the meat is a must.

Speaking of 'In-and-Out,' Mr. Peterman, it was so good to hear your voice amongst us yesterday. You were missed.

As for burgers in Detroit, 

Miller's Bar in Dearborn, MI. Hands down. Just down the road from Mr. Ford's Fairlane Estate. In the dodgy end, though. Even GQ Magazine says they rock:

 http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_2526

Which is hilarious to even imagine the likes of GQ mingling with such a seedy, greasy venue.

You sit on a filthy, shredded leather booth and give your order to a toothless server in very age- inappropriate daisy dukes, and she throws a burger wrapped in wax paper (no plates in the joint) at you.

Sometimes, just for fun, I like to pull a Meg Ryan/When Harry Met Sally on her. Just to mess around. Lots of special instructions. "And do you have frosted mugs for your beer? Not toooo cold. I hate when my tongue sticks to the rim. . .And can you put my pickles on the side? But only if they're crunchy. If they're soggy, skip them, and skip the beer because I can't to beer without pickles." She just stares at me, turns and walks away. I love it.

Fantastic onion rings, too. 

P.S. Just read the new copy for the holiday Owner's Manual. As Nachista would say, Luffed this:

"It happens when two silkworms decide (for reasons known only to the silkworm heart) to spin their cocoons together."

http://jpeterman.com/product~cat~110211~sku~WDR%202342.asp 

I apologize in advance, Mr. Peterman, but I have to ask permission to steal the group for five minutes, for my own personal benefit.

Remember the trip to Chicago to go find my Lark painting? Well we're filming it. And if you read the post on my site today, I've been going around and around (and around) with legal issues concerning copyright and music. And there's a song I absolutely have to have. And I can't pay for it. But it's perfect. And I want to do it on 'the up-and-up' (as opposed to the In-and-Out, that is . . .)

Just five minutes. Promise. And if you're really as crazy as Miss Ive, I dare you to pass it on.

http://sandinmyswimsuit.blogspot.com/2008/10/distant-dreamer.html 

I can't participate in today's subject!  Why you ask?  I am trying to fit my size 10 body into a size 8 Windowpane Skirt, (Peterman cat# 64, page 38) for a huge formal wedding this Saturday night.  I am consuming cucumbers and water for the next few days.  Wish me luck!  But look out on Sunday...I am headed to Ted's for a big, overstuffed, juicy burger and onion rings!!!!! 

rings90

Been here? http://www.mihmscharcoalgrill.com/

Likely not or you would have remembered it with fondness.
It's an easy jaunt for you and well worth the time.

Oddly, though you can observe their allegiance to Pepsi on the outdoor hanging sign, it is reinforced by a permanent plaque inside declaring that they will not serve Coke products. There must be a story there but not one that would enhance your enjoyment of an excellent burger.

Their use of butter is over the top to the point that caution is advised in the selection of dining apparel.

I can't believe Sonic Burger is as yet absent (no longer!).

You can't get a real drive-in burger with a root beer frostie. Wow, those frosties are good.

Mooya has become my burger joint of choice in the Dallas area. All they make are burgers and fries. No drive in. Your burgers are build to order with tons of options. It's fantastic.

If I had to pick a large chain, Whataburger has usurped Wendy's as the best burgers. I have not tried an In-N-Out burger, but the picture makes me want to try one.

Great. Now I want a burger. This Cliff bar is so not gonna satisfy my sudden craving for dead, grilled animal flesh.

Forsooth, Rings90 beat me to it! Well done, Rings90, you're a person of integrity, taste, and discriminating burger sense. Like me.

Has anyone been to a Backyard Burger?  One of my brothers lived in Alabama and had to travel all over the south for his job and he says they have the best burgers in the world.  He's trying to buy the rights to franchise it here in the west. 

His other new favorite restaraunt is called Which Wich.  Its not a buger place but more of a fresh sandwich bar where you fill out a brown paper bag with what type of sandwich you want and your bag is your order ticket and when they cooks are done with your sandwich if goes in the bag and is handed back to you so you know its your sandwich.  http://www.whichwich.com/

HouseGuest ~ I have not been there. Have heard tales about it ~  My sister lives down there & loves it. You just gave me the reason to MAKE HER take me out to eat there now.. Thanks.

Jonathon Eells ~ PLEASE don't tell DH what I said about the West Side Krolls I happened to marry an "east sider" & my post could be considered treason. Although he forgives my occasional visits to the west side one, as that was the one I happened to eat at as a child. I didn't know there was an east side one until I as in High School.  If course now the East Side one is on Speed Dial for quick calling to get the Friday Nite Perch Plates.      

Ok, so I am participating.  Nachista: we have a Backyard Burger close to our home and the burgers are just OK, more of a fast food burger like Wendys or MccyD's.  If I am going to waste calories on something bad for you, I want a thick, juicy, med. rare, fully loaded, artery hardening type of burger.  I will say the idea of Which Wich is quite unique and fun.   

House Guest: I'm from Nebraska, the home of the Runza (although, I've never heard of Runza Hut . . . maybe that was an old name or just a single town version).  It's a fast food joint now, just called Runza.

Steak houses here offer a side of just about anything, but if you really want something good, find a place that does slow-cook barbeque :D

I refuse to buy meat in most stores, and I rarely touch large chain fast food places.  I help out with the cattle on my uncle's farm, and once a year I'll take my payment in beef: inch thick T-bones, freshly ground burger, strip steaks, breakfast steaks, butterfly steaks, stew meat.  The cows are pasture raised and corn-stalk fattened.  The only chemicals they get are anti-biotics if there is something nasty going around (like pneumonia). 

And I have to say, there is some justice in grilling up a particularly stubborn beef . . . if they're hard-headed and don't want to play nice with us when we work them, they go on the list :P

Ah, the burger!  The most basic of basics, the essential comfort food!  This is a truly important topic.  But, I confess, I am not a fan of chains.  Perhaps it's because I'm the quintessential New York snob but I like unique eateries of every stripe.  Whataburger has it's place in the world but I feel that finding an establishment where everything is guaranteed to taste the same at every branch makes the whole thing just a little less interesting.

In this city where we have every cuisine under the sun, the good ole burger reigns supreme.  The Corner Bistro in Greenwich Village is legendary.  The aforementioned Messieur Boulud has raised the burger to high decadence.  And the recently opened FIVE NAPKIN BURGER near Times Square has a name that says it all!

Recently, much has been made in this forum on the harm that people who indulge in too much food of this kind can visit upon themselves.  The points have been reasonable but I maintain that food is an art form and that art must be indulged.  Messieur Boulud's burgers may be the high flowery language of Lord Byron while In-N-Out is the crisp vernacular of Kipling.  White Castle is a dirty limerick (now don't get snobbish, dirty limericks have their place in the world).  Now, I'm off to do more research at the Corner Bistro.

PS -- Missive, when you said "I like to pull a Meg Ryan/When Harry Met Sally on her", I thought you meant something totally different.

DPR,

I save "that" for much higher class joints.

We're filming in Mia Francesca's in Lincoln Park for the trip. Will pull that one out there, fo sho.

Love Ephron. Such a dirty mind. 

Missive,

So, since we guys are not allowed on the actual excursion, can we at least see the film?

MissIve, with sound bites, if you keep them under 30 seconds it is considered "sampling" and is legal as long as you cite proper credit to the owner of the material.  Where it is for personal enjoyment and not commercial gain I really don't think it will be an issue.

I think Wendy's still has the best spicey chicken sandwich out there.  And this is a bit weird but they have the best salt packets.  Their salt is VERY fine and actually sticks to the fries when you put it on, the other places have large, grainy salt that just bounces off.

Nachista: We butcher our own.  That way, the steaks are always to order, and we can add some interesting things to the sausages (a little chopped jalapeno goes a long ways).

But if you want to try something fun with a burger, I've heard of this simple idea: mix in some bleu cheese crumbles and an egg, then form the patties and grill.  The cheese melts inside the meat :D

Nachista,

We're premiering the film at a theater here in Detroit and at a club. They are very strict. Also, the director wants to submit it to festivals, and they're pretty tight, too, apparently. I wish I was wrong. 

Also, laughing right now, did I read correctly above? Are you pushing for a discussion about sex on 'In-and-Out' day?!!

Crazy girl. 

Next time you're heading to Glasgow, drop me a line. We can go together and try to pick through the incredible accent. Luff it.

Missive,

Please, definitely keep us posted about the premier!

 "I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today".

Wimpy

DPR,

It depends on three things:

The ability of you all to watch without judgement (a given) 

The ability of the director/editor to remove Scotch-induced rants from Miss Ive (hopeful)

The ability of Miss Ive to remain within the confines of acceptable public behavior for a minumum of 25 minutes of rolling footage, out of a 48 hour window (doubtful)

Have already strategized my escape from Chicago's Art Institute with the painting. Am very fast. 

GREAT ~ I can't wait to pool my hard earned cash with everyone else to Bust Miss Ive outta the Chicago Pen, after being charged with stealing a painting from the Art Institute. Am hoping that some of us aren't also possibly charged with accessory to your crime.

thanks for the mentioning of the Scotch that reminds me to look up the PE about that before Halloween night....

MissIve, you are sooo ambitious.  I was think you were just going to film it for fun.

http://www.sundance.org/press_gen.html?articleID=7&colorCode=green

Too late to enter it for 2009, but if you make 2010, I'll come help you plaster Park City with flyers for your film.

DPR and ALL,

Save the Date: Saturday, December 6 from 7-9 p.m. at Commune, on Main St., downtown Royal Oak, MI.

Peterman attire is requested and you and your families are all very welcome to make the trip.

It's a very pretty club underneath a Belgian Brasserie, Bastone (bastardized American spelling for the city in Belgium). Lots of dark wood, brown leather, chandeliers, Belgian hand-crafted brews, and. . .

Fantastic burgers with pomme frites.

They're going to do cheap beer, wine and appetizers covered in goat cheese for the event. So definitely worth the flight, right? 

I love In-and-Out, but Five Guys Burgers and Fries are my favorite from back when I used to live in DC.

http://www.fiveguys.com/

Nachista,

What you call 'ambitious,' my shrink, respectfully, terms a 'manic work-ethic.' Plus, remember, Miss Ive does not sleep.

Am, at this very instant, drafting my letter to Harpo Studios regarding the film, eating lunch, writing to you and pacifying Mr. Pitt by circulating rumors of his successful Moland Springs merger. 

And. . . breathe. . .

In attempt to return to topic:

My parents used to tell us about a little burger shack right on the ocean when my dad was stationed in Connecticut. Started with a G. . . have a voicemail into my mother now. Will get back with you on it.

Anyway, I loved hearing this story. They both smiled when they told it, and they rarely smiled together. Something about telling the story about their 'once a month spending splurge' on those burgers, back in their newlywed days, made them remember how they felt about each other then.

Like I've said on here before, very bad matches.

But, on the upside, apparently at least a few very good burgers along the way. 

Coyotemike,

The Runza Hut was on the west side of Omaha and maybe before your time. It was a place that had a hard time getting established in part because it was indifferently run and often out of ingredients. The smell of cabbage and onions always drew us in.

The side of pasta was also an Omaha thing given that most of the restaurants and all of the good ones were run by Italian families. It took a little getting used to but we learned to love it... then left.

Was it Grotto's or Gorman's? Good God, woman. Answer your phone!

Well, since we're getting back on topic, does the burger have to be at a chain restaurant?  Some of the best I've ever had were at small town cafes and bars.  In fact, now that I think of it, there was one that stood out above the rest.  It was called the Strang-Buger.

Strang Nebraska is a little village in the southeast part of the state.  Population hovers around 50, and it is little more than a post office for farmers.  But, at least back when I was a kid, there was a little no-name cafe in the middle of the main street that had the best burgers in the world.

This was not a tiny little patty.  The Strang-Burger was a good 6 inches across, and not too thin.  They didn't mix anything in but a little salt and pepper.  Nothing spectacular, right?  On top of that patty would go a slice (or two) of American cheese. Then, just to make it interesting, there would be a slice of ham, topped with sauteed mushrooms and a slice of swiss. Veggies were optional on this joy.  And then . . . the bread.  Fresh baked daily in the cafe, homemade kaiser rolls: lightly buttered and tossed on the grill until toasty.

Not good enough?  In that case, you would order the Strang Supreme . . . same as above, but with another layer of beef and cheese :D

I may be overshooting here, but I think that if there was a one, true, god of food; then in all probability, it would be the humble hamburger.

The holy trinity of food would be:

The hamburger,
The cheeseburger,
And the meatloaf.

This is indeed a food that embraces and is embraced by all walks of life. It is a food free of being pretentious. It does not bother to put on heirs because no matter how you dress it up, it's still just a burger underneath and that is a very beautiful thing.

I happened to be in Scottsdale AZ when their first In-N-Out had its grand opening. There was so much traffic that they had to reroute the drive-through cars so that they snaked throughout the mall's parking lot just to relieve the mile long backups up and down Scottsdale Road. There were all manor of high end luxury cars intermixed with twenty year old rust buckets and beater cars. People were getting out of their cars to talk and laugh with each other while they eagerly waited in line; enjoying this simple, yet powerful common bond.

There is nothing quite like the taste of a hot, juicy, handcrafted burger with pickles, onions and mustard. My diet preferences limit me to veggie burgers, which have come a long way since their introduction, and the occasional bison burger at Ted's Montana Grill.  It only takes a photo like the one at the top of the page to get my juices flowing.

I've never seen what the draw of In-N-Out is - they're basically race track burgers. Not bad - but not particularly good either. I'm much rather go to BK, Carl's Jr., even Micky-D's; all of whom have better burgers than In-N-Out.

Coyote Mike,

Do you really raise cattle? Tell truth, ever tipped a cow? Is that a myth? 

Mom and pop places are awesome, even if the food is awesomely bad.  I love hometown style drive ins and burger joints.  There is a place in Brigham City, UT called the Dixie Grill, they have about 20 different burgers on their menu and they make the best fresh peach freeze I've ever had.  The place is a dump but the food (especially the southern bbq on weekends) is really good and worth the wait.

Almost committed a "burger sin" of neglecting to mention the "Billy Goat Tavern" http://www.billygoattavern.com/home.html

My maternal grandmother (a Prussian immigrant) refused to eat ground beef, so at family cookouts we always had to have something special for her to eat while everyone else had hamburgers and hot dogs. 

One time I was dumb enough to ask her why she didn't want a hamburger and french fries(being 8 I thought it was the best damn food on the whole planet) and she told me "That's poor people food, and don't you forget it"....OoooooooooooooKAY grandma.  She also thought soup was poor people food and wouldn't eat it, but she would make it at the restaurant that she worked at and it was always really good.  She was a fantastic cook but couldn't appreciate the simple pleasures like a good juicy hamburger or a crock of creamy soup...but she would keep head cheese in her fridge as a special treat, EWwwwwEuch.

Peterlake: it sounds like you and I are both fans of Ted's, but have you ever eaten a burger at the famous "21" in New York City?  Years ago, it cost about $45.00.  It was good, but I will take the mini beef burgers (not bison...the thought of eating something so hairy and ugly is a big turn-off) at Ted's anyday.  As for small hometown burgers we have a wide array of famous burger places here in the Bluegrass; Ramseys, Lynaghs' Pub, Buffalo and Dad's, Billy's just to name a few.  All are way over the top!  The photo above and then some.  I am surviving on minimal rations for an event this weekend, and it's becoming extremely difficult to stay focused on the goal thinking about the almighty burger.  Is there such a thing as a cucumber burger?    

MissIve - I can't speak for Coyote Mike, but I been cow tipping &  have paint balled the Llamas.  The only excuse I have is I was young & stupid.  Not nearly as spectacular as it sounds.... I felt sorry for the cow after doing it never did it again... The Llama's not so much ~ because well ~ Llamas actually DO spit & its quite gross....

PeterLake,

You have given short shrift, actually no shrift at all, to the loose meat sandwich.
Ground beef; stock; tomato juice; onion; celery; garlic and of course grease simmered together until it is capable of stacking up on a big serving spoon and slopped onto a buttered, toasted bun. A beautiful thing.

House Guest,
Be still my beating heart. The "loose meat sandwich" has just leapfrogged over "sloppy Joes" and has replaced meat loaf as part of the holy trinity of burgers.
Why, oh why, had I not heard of this food for the gods before I knew what cholesterol was?

MACKDADDY1
I feel your pain but "Cucumber burgers"??? Blasphemy!

MissIve: I've never tipped a cow.  I've herded them, chased them, cursed them, vaccinated them, but I've never had the urge to tip them.  Sorry to disappoint.

Rings90,

You are an adventurer! I knew it. . .

J 

PeterLake:  You forgot the holy Bacon in your list of foods.

MACKDADDY...HANG IN THERE!!!  You can do it and you'll look amazing and as soon as you are done with that wedding that burger will taste soooooooooooo good.

Has anyone has a meatloaf/mashed potato sandwich?  It used to be on the menu at a local restaurant and it was pretty good.  Its sort of a burger I guess.

Coyotemike,

I am a sinner.  I shall eat three pork chop sandwiches and three bacon burgers as my act of contrition.

Let me hear an AMEN!

Can you tell I've had too much black tea today? Am all over this post.

MackDaddy, the diet made famous by 'The Devil Wears Prada."

"I don't eat at all. Then, when I feel like I'm about to faint, I eat one cube of cheese. I'm only one 'stomach flu' away from my ideal weight."

I love that skirt. Adore it. Knock 'em dead, girl.

PeterLake,

Our hotel in Chicago is very close to one of the Billy Goat Tavern's you posted. Looks like very good 'after bar' food. Gracias.

nachista,

Yes, meatloaf and mashed potato sandwiches smothered in gravy hot, or just plain meatloaf if its cold.

I've gotta go before I drown in my drool.  I wouldn't want my sweetie to find me like that.

Mackdaddy just avoid salty foods, sugary foods (corn falls in this category), dairy, and anything carbonated...it will keep bloating and water retention down.

Oh hey, speaking of clothes, got the dress back from the seamtress and I pick up the shoes this afternoon.  Now I just have to decide jewelry (borrowed a couple of things from my mom to try out) gloves, and hair.  Will post pre-event fashion show on my blog when I take pictures later tonight, and people can vote on what they think looks good.

I'm great at picking stuff out for other people but when it comes to putting myself together it is impossible to make a decision without at least 15 different opinions.  Like MissIve and paint ;)

Don't hurt me, but while homemade (or as close to homemade as possible without being at home) burgers are always at the top of the list, sometimes I just feel like a Big Mac, in all of its dense, smushed-down, processed cheese goodness. Leaves me satisfied.

Coyote Mike,

Not disappointed. Just curious. I use to take my bike down to ride the trails on the part of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Blacksburg, VA. There was a cow on the Virginia Tech campus that had a glass side, for the vet school. Have you heard of it? Imagine sneaking up on THAT cow and tipping it. Bloody side might pop right out.  

Nachista,

Will certainly vote. Cannot wait.  

Oh - Bob Ross -

Thank you for mentioning Five Guys. I can't believe I forgot myself. Five Guys beats a Big Mac any day. I usually take mine with fried onions and A1 sauce.

The one at the desk, I believe that's called a "Big Mac Attack"...I have them frequently, especially during Monopoly month (ahem, like today).  I don't respect myself in the morning.

Nachista: Big Mac's don't count as real burgers, particularly not in the illustrious company mentioned in all the posts above.  I'm not even sure if they count as real food.

There is nothing like the Varsity in Atlanta. They have been making chili steaks and onion rings since the forties in the same place. I think they are the worlds largest drive-in. The onion rings are greasy and crunchy. It won't bother you at all as long as you drink the antidote with your meal. The frosted orange. I tell them to put my grease in a cup to go so I can pour it on at will

Thanks for all of the helpful diet tips and encouragement.  I am certainly giving my willpower a run for it's money.  Will let you know how successful I was come Monday (after I recuperate from the food coma on Sunday).  Remember I am actually hosting the BIG Halloween Bash that day.  Night Crawler Chili, Werewolf Nubs in Blood Sauce, Mouse Droppings Cheeseball etc... remember that menu?  

Saturday night, I am confident that I will feel like a million bucks in my beautiful Peterman ensemble, choker and all.  I hope the bride doesn't mind my stealing the show.  Just joking... she is a beautiful young lady, size 2 (hate her).  Nachista you are right about all of the foods to avoid, but I can proudly say that I have not consumed a carbonated beverage in 2.5 years.  When I stopped drinking those, I dropped 10 pounds in two weeks.  I now drink, iced tea, crystal light, FUZE, coffee, and green teas.  I really don't miss them now.  It was tough, I used to consume 8-10 diet sodas a day.  For this event, I am really just fine tuning by eating raw, fresh fruits, and veggies, high protein, and maybe a minimal amount of carbs (less than 30) in the am.  I am going to the gym daily and doing 30 minutes of cardio and light weight but with more repetitions.  Hopefully, I will feel comfortable in my clothes on Saturday nght.  Maybe I will muster up the nerve to post a photo!  Fashion show...I can't wait!            

OK do you people realize how long you have gone on abouit hamburgers ( mostly) and aboot sex just a lkittle? Seventy freakin Eight opinions.

Miss Ive, I sent you some lyrics. Just strum and try to be on key or at least consistent throughout. Call me from David Geffen's office.

Burgers without bacon are like women without lycra- quite acceptible, but not reaching their full potential. A juicy burger can be greatly enhanced by cream cheese, but a dry one can't handle it.  I go to one place that occasionally makes their burger with half sirloin and half ribeye. GOK what the percentage of fat is, but it is Taste-Tee.

Maybe someone needs to compose a quick verse or two about JP, Art, Les Belges, and  swimsuits?

Sand in my swimsuit makes me itch

I'd buy the whole world if I were rich

I'd wear J Peterman all year long

Trying to work the Belgians into this song

Bet you thought I only wanted to rhyme with Bitch  

OK, YOU try, smarty!

Miss Ive,

I'll be the guy sitting at the counter in "the Goat" with a bird on his head.  Maybe I'll be the guy sitting atop one of the lions at the entrance of the Art Museum covered in pigeons.

I'll just leave a post-it on your painting saying that Peter Lake was here.

Eells,

Love the name Wyatt. Was in my top three for my youngest. Got the veto, though.

Olivia,

Play it again, Sam

Trask,

I will be using that song you wrote for me. And thank you. Now, my producer will need that release signed and dated. I'm so not kidding. That's how it's been up here.

PeterLake!

Good to see your mug. And I tried to find flaw with your order of the holy burger trinity, but found I agree with you wholy on them being well-matched with their divine counterparts. Meatloaf definitly belongs in the 'ethereal' category. And 'cheeseburger' definitely has a younger stature than 'hamburger.' Well done.

Lowcountrypen,

Love your moniker. Good to hear from you.

And, I'm outta here. Have a good evening, all. Fantastic day on PE. Bunch of foodies here.

Thanks so much for you efforts on behalf of the film music. Much obliged.

Oh, btw, my MOTHER NEVER CALLED ME BACK with the name of that burger joint in CT. Kids these days. . . 

Our first Sonic Drive-In opened up about a month ago and you still have at least 20 cars at the drive through and all of the car stalls filled.  I remember them from Norman Oklahoma and wasn't overly impressed back then, but I will give their tater-tots a try.

Don't bother with Sonic.  The burgers aren't any better than any other fast food pit.  They just have curbside delivery and bad taste in music.

Willie Trask:  You have certainly made some valid points!  In light of the unstable economic situation, the issue of war, natural disasters, etc...  How in the heck did we manage to find soooo much to write about the hamburger?  Maybe we found so much to say about the subject because it is a diversion from the negativity.  Or maybe we are all just hamburger junkies?  Regardless, I enjoyed your verse for Miss Ive.  It put a big smile on my face. You actually made me forget about how loud my tummy is growling right now.  Gotta go peel an organic cucumber. Have a nice evening everyone.

Bon Appetit!

The food at our local Sonic drive in is terrible, but their drinks and slushies are good.

Peter Lake, is that you, actually YOUN, in your profile photo?

Wow! I just got home and there are 86 posts about burgers - incredible! Didn't anyone work today?

There's a place in Washington, DC, not far from the Dupont Circle Metro Station, called Sign of the Whale. It's more of a bar, really; rather reminiscent of a British Pub. They have some creative burgers. My two favorites are 1) Cajun = blackened burger with Cajun spices, jalapeno cheese and bacon, and 2) Captain Ahab = with bleu cheese, gravy and bacon. A beer, some fries...ah, Food of the Gods! Too bad burgers can't make us immortal so we can eat them forever.

Hope my husband doesn't mind burgers for dinner tonight.

You know, it just occurred to me but I bet that I was in high school before ever having a burger that was just well, meat.

Our family and every one that we knew made a pound of ground beef go a lot further by the addition of onion, cracker or bread crumbs, an egg or two and who knows what else?

It was years later as well that I discovered ground meat to be red rather than pale pink probably owing to a reversal in the fat to lean ratio.

Our favorite summer meal is a big juicy sirloin burger, corn on the cob and home grown tomato slices.

Hello, Olympia Cafe!
Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger.
No. No fries. Chips.
Three chips.
What to drink? No Coke. Pepsi.
Three Pepsi.

I am told, but can;t verify, that Hardee's have redeemed themselves with surprisingly good burgers, starting with what they used to call the six dollar burger (The catch: it sold for $2.50 or so)...

For the rest o f my life, I will not forget the Ella Fitzgerald look alike on 1981  DC commercials  TV who demurred "No, Thank you. I don't care for no sto-bought frozen biscuits." 

Even if their burgers do stink, Hardee's biscuits are pretty good, indeed. 

nachista,

I'm the one under the hat.

Johnny Rockets has a pretty decent burger (except for the shredded lettuce) and really good malts and shakes.

Burger Tip # 574.6.32a:

The taste and quality of the burgers and fries is typically better when the restaurant has those ketchup pumps and you get to dispense it into those little white paper cups.

 Burger Tip # 574.6.37:

If it has lettuce on it, then its gotta be raw onions. If there isn't any lettuce, grilled onions are acceptable, perhaps even preferable.

Has anyone mentioned "Fuddrucker's" http://www.fuddruckers.com/. ; Great build your own burgers.

http://www.fuddruckers.com/ this link will work better....

I think we're all missing something here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvoBCr7E5qo

Okay, I'm back from my research.  I've been reading about the brilliant quality of burgers at the Corner Bistro for over a decade.  I walked in and ordered one today for the first time, inspired (provoked?) by today's conversation.

I can honestly say the burgers at Corner Bistro have earned their reputation hands down.  Some live on hype but others remind you of how that hype came about in the first place.  The burger was the size of a baseball and the cook knew what I meant by "medium rare".  That's a very important issue.  Sometimes, you order medium rare and you're given a crispy hockey puck that might serve as a very good door stop.  On the flip side, sometimes, the server only hears the second part of your order and you receive meat that's redder than a tomato and, when you bite into it, you hear a faint moo.  I've seen cows hurt worse than this get better!  But this was an honest medium rare and fantastic.

I have my inandout letter jacket and a nice blue hawaiian shirt from the inandout store

and don't forget the milk shakes

Great decisions of western humans - onion or not.

PeterLake,

Fuddruckers' burgers are good.....but getting way over priced.  The one in Burbank, California is still busy.

Finally heard a term for people like me: flexitarian. Thanks, ExPat!

I remember a chain in New York when I was growing up called Burger Heaven.  The burgers were great, but the staff was usually old crabby people who rushed you out to clear the table for the next people.  Great coleslaw and pickles, though!

Here is yet another of Chicago's shrines to complete burgerness:  http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/eds_p1.shtml?L+scstore+gsgr2324debevicfffbe7fb+1224721905

I almost forgot about Chi-town! There's a place called Park Grill, in Millenium Park. Black angus burger, with a poppy and sesame seed brioche bun; add sauteed mushrooms, bacon, balsamic grilled onions, and NY State Herkimer white cheddar cheese...to die for! Check out "The Bean" while you are there. (I think it's actually called "Cloud Gate") It's a shiny steel sculpture designed to resemble a drop of mercury. The reflection of the city skyline is awesome - just like the burger.

I wondered, and still wonder, why it wasn't Wisconsin cheese. The land of the cheese-heads being so much closer than New York, as well as that shared Mid-Western fellowship. But, the burger was still really good. I don't remember going to any other burger places...however, if the topic ever turns to hot dogs, brats, sausages, etc...or deep-dish pizza, well, then, the Windy City certainly has it's famous places!

Weren't we discussing gluttony less than a week ago?