Farm Accident Digest
Site HomeAugust 25th, 2004
Cheesebooger
So the burger is 100 years old now. Maybe. And folks are trying to wuss it up with shit like "Ceasar Salad" burgers and cooking it to a full 160 degrees. Might as well suck on a bar of tofu and leave the beef alone if you're going to kill it full dead like that. The article does have one good bit of advice, though.Just work the meat gently.Truer advice has rarely been given.
Anyway, in honor of this anniversary, here's my list of the Top 5 Burgers I've ever had (restaurant/pub division). You'll find almost all of them come from Southern California. This is because no place on earth does burgers as well as they do there. Sure, there maybe one or two outstanders here and there, but no one tops that area as a whole.
- 1. Combo Burger -- One of the Greeks in Riverside, CA
- I forget which of the "Greeks" it was (I think it was the Mad Greek), but this burger was amazing. 1/3lb of beef with 1/4 of pastrami all topped with onion rings. I've still never had its equal.
- 2. Big Burger -- The closed as of last time I checked (1992) Burger Haus in Newport Beach, CA
- Total and complete grease bomb. Unbelievable flavor. It was a required treat after -- and one mistaken time, before -- playing basketball against a league rival whose gym was just down the street.
- 3. In 'n' Out Burger
- In 'n' Out has crept all the way to Phoenix, AZ these days, and, worse yet, the new ones include extensive indoor seating. That, my friends, is just plain wrong. Anyone you see getting a burger at In 'n' Out and then sitting inside should be beaten immediately. And their food taken and eaten out in the big blue room with the yellow ball.
- 4. Macho Burger -- Spoons, various locations mostly in Southern California
- This is on the list purely for the gluttony factor. It was a 1/2lb burger topped with a 1/4 hot dog, bacon, cheese, onions and smothered in chili. I never saw anyone over the age of 16 finish the whole thing.
- 5. Burger -- Sports Page in Chesterfield, MO
- This is the joint that is basically right next to where I live, and where I can be found most Friday nights. This burger makes the list almost entirely because this is one of the last places you can order a medium rare burger and actually get it. One friend orders his rare, and damned if it isn't still cool in the middle. Plus they'll serve real horseradish on the side if you ask for it. Sure, there are some better tasting burgers (Dick's in the Seattle area for one) that could take its place on this list, but it has to be here for respecting the beef enough to not over cook it.
Posted By Erik on Aug 25th, 2004 at 10:59am Hackney's, in and around Chicago. Big burger on dark rye. When you're done great, burley men will carry you to your car. Posted By Tom Johnson on Aug 25th, 2004 at 12:14pm The Mad Greek was the first place I ever had a smoothie. I thought they invented them for the longest time. Posted By Tanya on Aug 25th, 2004 at 1:33pm Ty's Diner in Wichita, Ks. A burger bigger than Oliver Willis' head. Posted By Matt on Aug 25th, 2004 at 2:01pm My baby brother's homemade burgers and homemade sesame buns are the best ever. I pity those who don't have access to them. And his onion rings are sublime! Posted By Lizzie on Aug 25th, 2004 at 4:19pm Kroll's, Green Bay, WI. Posted By Thanatos on Aug 25th, 2004 at 6:33pm Whereas I consider the best thing about the past food poisoning incidents to be burgers which are properly cooked. No more of that still getting steak tartare back after returning a burger ordered "well done" for more cooking. Looking back, I am disappointed with myself for not having just walking out of the place, since they obviously didn't want my business. This was the deservedly defunct Chicago Claim Company. Posted By triticale on Aug 25th, 2004 at 8:22pm If you get back to NC, eat at the CharGrill. No indoor seating! Get the Steak junior, fries and chocolate shake. Yum. Posted By BAW on Aug 26th, 2004 at 6:44am I was always concerned that In 'n' Out might suffer from truth in advertising, so I've avoided it so far. Posted By Chrees on Aug 26th, 2004 at 4:00pm
A "Juicy Lucy" at Matt's Tap in Mpls. They stick a slice of american cheese inside the burger then pan fry it. Need to let it cool or else you get a spray of boiling hot cheese in your mouth! It's great and they have Grain Belt on tap!
If you're ever in eastern upstate New York, the garlic burger at the Dutch Tavern in Saugerties. It's just a burger with swiss cheese and garlic cloves in the center, but it's the only burger I really love.
In 'n' Out, for sure.
The Hellfire Burger at the brewpub in Fayettenam.
(I've put on a stone since he trained as a chef. Yesterday was goat's cheese, yellow pepper and basil risotto - I'm a willing guinea pig for his new recipes.)
How can you not love a burger with a huge lump of butter on the patty?
Best burger ever: Rose's in Dallas. A little house off a main drag where two old ladies would cook your burger while you sat in other parts of the house under the watchful eyes of the dogs playing poker paintings.