All across the United States, many variations of the ‘burger,’ exists. Regional rivalries prompt grandiose claims that theirs is ‘the world’s best hot dog’ or ‘the greatest burger’ but there is no objective way to measure such boasts.
There is no peak fast food season in the former British colony and the variety of burgers and hot dogs vary from street side stalls to haute cuisine offerings.
American burgers and hot dogs are like no other, they come supersized and are enough to feed a family, but often only enjoyed by one.
The American burger has made its way around the world on the back of fast food chains like McDonalds and Burger King but the US still remains king in burger consumption. According to a Huffington Post estimate, Americans eat nearly 50 billion burgers per year which translates to about three burgers per week for each American.
But despite the burger’s undeniable place in American popular culture, the dish has its roots in the German city of Hamburg which gives the sandwich its name.
Many hamburgers in the United States requires a serious commitment to eat with its large size and variety of garnishes not to mention the heart burn one can expect from devouring regular amounts of red meat.
But the appeal of the burger has to be in the speed and ease with which it can be had, one merely has to ‘drive-thru’ or get it ‘delivered.’ It can be enjoyed from the home or the office or even in the car. It is truly the epitome of American culture.
Writing about US food the way the NYT covers Asian fruit: In a nation torn by racial conflict, one unlikely food unites. To those accustomed to chopsticks, the greasy parcel known as a 'burger', a sort of split bao, is crude and messy. Yet it encapsulates a nation's violent past.
— Soon-Tzu Speechley 孫子 (@speechleyish) June 25, 2020
