An American Icon: The Hamburger
From the sweet taste of a classic Louisiana-style gumbo, to succulent Maine lobster rolls and savory Texas BBQ brisket - American cuisine is a multi-faceted feast for the senses. Drowning with flavor and diversity, this melting pot of culinary culture has something for everyone. Whether you're an avid foodie ready to explore new dishes or simply looking for something more familiar, America's kitchen will surely have it! So take your tastebuds on a trip around the stunning nation as we embark on an epicurean exploration of America’s pride: the hamburger
The hamburger has had its moments in the past 10 years. Predominantly in the early 2010’s thanks to the moustache-tattoo-on-the-finger-hipster.
The Hamburger Moment
The hipster aversion to traditional foods has inspired restaurants to craft hipster versions of hamburgers that not only offer some strange and unusual ingredients but have been embraced by hipsters and non-hipsters alike. These hipster burgers usually involve organic or sustainably-sourced ingredients and feature odd toppings such as avocado, tempura onions, goat cheese, or even fusion toppings such as kimchi.
Unconventional patties, like veggie patties or elk burgers also began to appear in hipster eateries, making them popular options for those seeking something more unique than the old classic burgers. There’s no denying the considerable impact it has had on reinventing the classic hamburger. Who thought before the hipster to serve a hamburger on a wooden plank? It birthed a whole subculture of serving food on the oddest of constructions.
Hamburger’s second moment came through TikTok with everyone jumping on the smashburger-making trend. For those of you who are unfamiliar, smashburgers involve making hamburgers by pressing and smashing the hamburger patties with a heavy object to maximize its surface area in contact with a hot skillet, resulting in that tasty Maillard reaction that makes the burger so irresistible. Shoutout to my friend Paul, who went from smashing burgers on TikTok to opening his burger joint in Amsterdam called Maijard Smashburgers
The history of the hamburger
It's time to recognize the true originators of hamburgers. Mongol horsemen? Yup, these martial masters were enjoying minced beef way back in 12th century. The Mongols had trouble acquiring food in the harsh steppe conditions, so what they did was put the meat under the saddles of their horses so that the meat will be tenderised through the bouncing of the saddle. Minced meat was nothing new though, there are records of seasoning minced meat and cooking it:
“A first-century A.D. Roman cookbook by Apicius has a recipe in it that is suspiciously close to the modern burger, a minced meat patty blended with crushed nuts and heavily spiced and cooked” George Motz
As we all know the Mongols under the rule of Genghis Khan travelled far and wide. Through various trade routes through Russia, who turned their idea into steak tartare. Steak tartare eventually arrived in Germany and Hamburg, where it was transformed into “Hamburg Steak”. A fillet of beef ground by hand, lightly salted, often smoked, and usually served raw in a dish along with onions and bread crumbs.
A World Traveller
In 1848, political revolutions caused a stampede of Germans to escape the 39 states of their homeland and set sail for greener pastures in America. As they arrived with children in hand and beer in the other, German food quickly infiltrated American culture. German immigrants began making their way to New York City with a hankering for Hamburg. To satisfy that craving, restaurants served up tasty dishes like beefsteak à la Hambourgeoise - an Americanized version of minced steak created just for them!
Salisbury Steak
Ah, the American dream: if something isn't working right - just throw some beef at it! Back in mid-19th-century America that was exactly what they did to cure digestive issues, eat some raw meat and you will be fine. Until a certain doctor Salisbury said that cooking the beef will have a similar outcome thus “Salisbury Steak” was born. The cooked take on the Russian steak tartare and the Hamburg Steak.
There are two large factors that made hamburgers grow to its popularity.
Mincing
Who knew something as mundane as a meat grinder could revolutionize history? All thanks to the German engineer Karl Drais and his invention of mechanical meat shredding in the early 19th century, we are now able to chop up burgers with ease! Before that, hamburgers were only available for those who had time (and skill) on their hands it took intensive manual labor and special chisels just make enough minced steak. Thank goodness those days have gone, technology has saved us from hours spent mincing beef.
Cattle Industry
Thanks to the booming cattle industry and America's cowboys, it was an opportune time for a much-loved American classic; burgers! By the end of 1800s, dubbed 'The Golden Age of Beef', there were enough cows being raised around the US that allowed railway transportation from agricultural areas into urban areas. This speedy delivery process made hamburgers widely available nationwide.
Where is the bun?
So when did the bun came in? Currently the patty is still naked on the plate, It needs its iconic bread to really be called a Hamburger right?
Well nobody knows..
It has been speculated by historians that the hamburger originated as early as 1885, with some giving credit to a cook in Texas and others crediting White Castle's founder. Although records from this time are scarce, it is clear its invention likely occurred between 1885-1904. The popular sandwich was often served at events like amusement parks and fairs and often sold by street vendors.
There are a few legends about the buns on the burger, in short:
Legend 1: New York’s Fair
Legend has it that the iconic hamburger originated at an 1885 fair in upstate New York. Frank and Charles Menches, two Canton Ohio natives who had been selling pork sausage sandwiches ran out of their signature item due to unseasonably hot weather which prevented a local butcher from providing more hog meat. In its place the brothers used ground beef instead but found it dry and bland - so they added coffee, brown sugar and other ingredients for flavor! The sandwich then included ketchup plus sliced onions as toppings.
Legend 2: 15 year old Charlie
Charlie Nagreen of Seymour, Wisconsin is famous for being the possible father of one of America's favorite dishes - the hamburger! In 1885 at age 15 he started selling Hamburg steaks from a street stall during an outdoor festival. Customers wanted to be able to move around freely while eating so Charlie had an innovative idea: flattening and inserting the steak between two slices bread creating what came to known as 'Hamburger Charlie'. People loved it and this creation was sold until his death in 1951 leaving behind a legacy that stands today.
Legend 3: Old Dave
During the end of 1880, Old Dave was surprised when one his customers requested a meal to go. With no time for seating in the restaurant, he suggested sandwiching Hamburg Steak between two pieces of Texas Toast. Old Dave made this version of Hamburg Steak a staple on his menu.
A Global Product
From the Mongols to the Russian to the Germans to America, the burger has seen all sides of the world. Jump in a plane and land in any part of the world and I can guarantee you that you will find a place where a hamburger is served. Aside from the obvious choices like McDonalds and Burger King. The hamburger is in the heart of nearly everyone, especially with the introduction of absolutely excellent vegetarian options like Beyond Burger. The future of the hamburger looks bright with the introduction of lab grown meat.