The History of the Hamburger
Today everyone knows that a hamburger has nothing whatsoever to do with ham. It is usually a beef patty on a bun, with or without cheese and lots of added ingredients like onions, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Condiments may include mayonnaise, catsup and/or mustard. Hamburgers are now available over the world.
As far as we know, the hamburger as such was invented in Hamburg, Germany but at the time, consisted of a piece of roast pork on a roll. Later German immigrants brought this idea to America.
Two examples of who may have been the first to develop the hamburger in the U.S. - Charles Nagreen grilling meatballs at the 1885 Seymour Fair in Seymour, Wisconsin decided to flatten one to decrease the cooking time and served it between two slices of bread. In this way, coming up with one of the first hamburgers. As a result the city of Seymour, Wisconsin erected a 16ft. statue in honor of him and his creation. Today the city has an annual hamburger fest each year on the first Saturday in August which features the world's largest hamburger parade.
That same year the Menches Brothers, Frank and Charles in Hamburg, N.Y. ran out of pork sausage patties at the Erie County Fair. It was suggested that they use beef instead. To the beef they added coffee, brown sugar and other ingredients so that it could be eaten without condiments. It was called the "Hamburg Sandwich" in honor of the town they were in. Later the name was shortened just to hamburger. The original recipe can be sampled at the Menches Brothers Restaurants in Akron, Ohio.
Other possibilities are Fletcher Davis from Athens, Texas and Louis Lassen from New Haven, Connecticut. In 2000 the US Library of Congress credited Lassen's "Louis Lunch" with making America's first hamburger and in November 2006 the Texas State Legislature introduced Bill HCR - 15 designating Athens, Texas as the "original home of the hamburger."
Finally in 1921 the well renowned "White Castle" opened in Wichita, Kansas. "White Castle" developed into a chain of restaurants serving small-sized hamburgers. It holds a US trademark on "slyders."
The cheeseburger supposedly showed up in 1924 credited to grill chef Lionel Sternberger "The Rite Spot" restaurant in Pasadena, California. He accidentally dropped a slice of American cheese on a sizzling burger and his customers enjoyed it. Of course, just as with the hamburger this is not the only claim to fame for the cheeseburger.
The term burger today also refers to other variations such as, chicken, fish or vegetarian burgers.
Fast food restaurants are now everywhere serving hamburgers and cheeseburgers by the dozens. Some of the most popular are -
McDonald's - with their "Big Mac" being on of the world's top selling burgers,
Burger King (known as "Hungry Jack" in Australia) - serves not fried, but grilled burgers,
Wendy's - for their square shaped burgers and many others.
Of course, the hamburger or cheeseburger is also America's all time favorite backyard BBQ food. I believe Popeye's Wimpy put it best with his all time popular phrase, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
