Hamburgers
Hamburgers on the grill are a treat that few can resist. There is something almost primal about the smell of grilling meat, which draws back to a more primitive style of eating. Summertime gets us out into the yard to relive this experience annually, but where did Hamburgers come from? Who invented them?
Not unlike so many dishes, the origins of the hamburger are lost in the depths of time. References to ground meat date at least as far back as the Egyptians. The Mongols and Ghengis Khan feasted on patties of lamb softened under their saddles as they rode. Steak tartare was an invention that came from a cultural cross between the Mongol empire and the Russians, but in the 1600 steak tartare made it to Germany.
In the 18th century sailors reported eating Hamburg steak, a German specialty that focused more on durability than taste. Salted, hard beef was minced and mixed with breadcrumbs and onions. Often served to the poor, this food was carried across to America by Jewish immigrants destined to become an American icon. It took another century to become the product we know today.
[poll id="3"]
Today’s burgers are as far from the Hamburg steak of the 18th century as you might imagine. Almost always made of beef, these patties are the mainstay of most fast food joints, burger stands and the Fourth of July picnic. While several families in the States claim to be the source of the original American product, it is indisputable that the burger is popular all across the country. Whether you serve it between two slices of bread or on a bun, a good hamburger is delicious. If you aren’t sure how popular a burger is, just crank up your grill on a summer afternoon. Let your neighbors know and you just might see them line up with their own plates for a sample.
Almost tragically the hamburger too has submitted to the health craze which seems to have gripped America. You can find tofu-burgers, burgers made from chicken, turkey, soy protein or any combination of ingredients. Nothing however tastes like a real, all beef hamburger. Of course, if you add a slice of cheese, you might very well reach a sort of Nirvana. The cheeseburger is almost a regional food, with different cheeses featured depending on where you are. Whether American, Cheddar or Swiss, melted cheese is almost the perfect topping for an excellent burger.
Toppings are a point of much contention. President Obama startled everyone with his recent trip to a Washington, D.C. burger joint, by ordering his patty with nothing but mustard, a departure from the usual ketchup. Pickles, lettuce and tomatoes are standards, but you can through on some coleslaw or chili. Mayonnaise is very popular and helps to keep other toppings on the bun. No matter how you let your imagination roam, you are likely to find that it has made a debut on a hamburger somewhere. Of course that doesn’t include the options you have if your goal is a cheeseburger.
The American version of the Hamburger has been adapted to suit just about every culture in the world. Now seen as an international fast food staple, this backyard delight has traveled well beyond the neighborhood barbeque. A fun and inexpensive way to bring people together the hamburger has come far from its humble roots.
