Thursday, August 18, 2011
Can it be done? An opinion poll.
To everyone out there reading our blog, I have a very serious question to pose. With the explosion of incredible new burger places cropping up all over America and their ability to churn out the gourmet to the gloppy version of hamburger paradise, is it still possible to make a great burger at home? Not a good burger, but a great burger. Great like the ones we rave about so often on this very site. Or are we kidding ourselves by even trying. I ask so I know whether or not to entertain burgers on the menu at a home get together versus bringing in take out from Five Guys, Shake Shack, 25 Burgers, Bobby's Burger Palace or one of the other local, big contenders.
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I think it's possible, but it will take a bit of thought and a fair amount of effort and potentially could cost a bit. So much thought goes into big things like topping and bun selection. We can't forget about how meat selection (grinding your own prime steak vs. store bought ground chuck is a huge price and time difference) plays into this.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm undaunted by the various issues facing us, the home cooks, in search of our own burger heaven at home. In fact, I'd say it's a challenge in and of itself that I'd like to confront head on. When can we start??? Who's with me????
The question that comes to my mind is, why would you want to? Like Paul said, it will take time, money, and effort. All for a maybe great/good burger.
ReplyDeleteSeems easier to go out somewhere. That said, I'm always up for trying (at least once).
Though Alan makes a great point, I love the concept of a great burger at home. And Paul is on the money... the key is having a great bakery for the bun and an actual butcher for the meat. You're not getting there if you start at a supermarket.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely possible.... and sometimes tastes better because of the effort.
ReplyDeleteMegan
Megan - you might be right and you get the experience of the "event" at home with friends or family.
ReplyDeleteI think this post about making the ideal burger is further proof that making a truly great burger at home is sometimes TOO much time, effort, and money. The thing of it is, too, is that this burger looks decent, but not 100% fantastic to me. All in all, the steps she went through to make this burger shows how far you really can take burger making. In the end, I think I'd rather just go to Ray's or Five Guys. http://ht.ly/6b9Ye
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading the blog link Paul added in his previous comment and am going to agree with him. It's WAY too much work to create something that could have been picked up for $7 plus a five minute wait with a result that's gastronomically wonderful and satisfying. I did appreciate the lenghts this woman went to testing out burgers everywhere...something I'd like it to think is totally worthwhile (and yummy), but I'd have stopped there. In fact, I'm pretty much ready to throw the gauntlet down and state that no burgers made at home is perfectly acceptable. There are tons of other foods that we only get on the outside beacause we like the experience of the hunt and capture (foie gras; duck confit; Waldorf salad; ice cream). Why not let burgers join the list?
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