Start With A Burger

Cooking is a great hobby.  It can become the passion of a lifetime if you let it.  People become obsessed with searching out the best recipes and developing their culinary skills over the course of a lifetime and many retirees spend hours every day in the kitchen mastering their techniques.  It can be the adventure of a lifetime and, if you don’t believe me, start with a burger.

A hamburger certainly looks like a simple dish.  But like a lot of other things in life, we rush right past it and just take it for granted.  But if you want to know how even a simple food item can inspire years of research and some lively debates, start with a burger.  Everything about it can be second-guessed and perfected and it's amazing how people’s opinions are so different when it comes to this great American delicacy that has now taken some of the European cities by storm.  Our last trip to Paris showed us how, even in this culinary capital of the world, this wonderful barbecue treat was featured on the signage outside each restaurant.  One could make the argument that they are just trying to appeal to the American tourist but, you know what?  The simple hamburger is being featured in some of the top-rated restaurants around the world.  If you want to know how to make simple food exciting, start with a burger.

What kind of beef do you use and what is the fat content that makes up the juiciest, most desirable burger?  Is it a blend ground beef and sirloin?  Do you add some smoked brisket?  Do you suggest serving it medium rare or do you go for a well-done smash burger?  Do you even use meat at all?  Have you developed the world’s greatest recipe for the next Veggie Burger Cookoff?  The possibilities are endless and, when you ask a true afficionado of burgers to explain their preferences to others, the conversation can get a little heated.  Do you want to start an instant kitchen debate?  Start with a burger.

If you want to get a lively discussion going about food, start with a burger.

And we haven’t even gotten to the toppings yet!  Do you like cheeseburgers?  Great, what kind of cheese and how do you place it on the sandwich?  Do you go the Kraft American Cheese Singles route?  Or do you use an aged Wisconsin Cheddar?  Extra Sharp?  How about a more refined cheese like Gouda or Gruyere or Provolone?  We have gotten into many conversations about the merits of each of these choices and, although you might say that it’s just a matter of taste, to the serious student of the art of hamburger creation, it’s not just a haphazard choice.  We all have an idea of what makes the perfect burger, and you can spend hours exploring the possibilities.  If you want to have a good food conversation, start with a burger.

The toppings are just as controversial.  Are you a ketchup purist?  Do you make your own ketchup?  I have to say the Big Mac sauce is a favorite of mine and I never mind seeing a home-made version of this classic because I’ve tried many versions myself.  There are a few places on the internet that offer the “official” ingredients so you can try looking at those as well.  While we’re on the subject, you can also have a discussion about which fast food chain has the best hamburger and why.  There are many taste tests on this subject done by newspapers, magazines and website reviewers and they always make interesting reading.  We have friends who are great “foodies” and they’re looking into starting their own website focused on their favorite foods.  Why not?  Restaurants and food are some of my favorite subjects to talk about.  It’s great to take the time to look at all the varieties of cuisine that are out there and what the favorite foods of each country are.  Almost anything about food is a great conversation starter and, if you don’t believe me, just start with a burger and watch what happens

And, getting back to our perfect hamburger, we haven’t even gotten to the roll.  Fresh baked rolls are what can take a burger from ordinary to great, and my favorite is a good onion roll.  Potato rolls and even bagels have a strong following and the classic Patty Melt is usually done on grilled rye bread.  Sauteed onions make an appearance on the Patty Melt as well and that’s a topic for another day.  There’s always more to talk about when it comes to food.

So go out and start your search for the perfect burger or make one in your own home.  Food and friends are a wonderful way to enjoy life and, if you want to serve something that almost everyone loves, start with a burger.  Why not give it a try?  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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