Week 8 Allison Mao: History of the Hamburger
Hamburgers are popular items in Americans’ diets; in fact, the hamburger industry earns over $100 billion every year. They are often served in commonly found restaurants and fast food joints such as McDonalds or Burger King. The burger is truly an essential item when it comes to picturing the culture of Americans. Where did this burger come from?
The meat of a hamburger is most often minced beef, and Genghis Khan and his men would bring raw meat along with them to take with their horses. The galloping of the horses would result in the meat getting broken apart, similar to the nature of ground meat. Some people believed that this could be eaten by the people, others thought it would be too dirty and inedible for humans to eat and was instead used to soothe the aches and pains of the horses.
Although it isn’t clear what the real intentions of the Mongols were, they did spread their recipe to Russia when they invaded. The Russians would add other items into the dish like onions and eggs. This dish would evolve into Steak Tartare, a dish still eaten today. The Germans also got exposed to steak tartare and made their own variant, “Hamburg steak.”
Although Hamburg Steak and Steak Tartare both include the essential ground beef of hamburgers, they are not actually “hamburgers.”
There are many different possibilities of who originally created the hamburger. Some say it was fifteen-year-old Charlie Nagreen who wanted to make his meatballs convenient to eat at fairs by flattening it and putting it between bread. It could also be Frank and Charles Menches who named a dish they were selling after a banner for a Hamburg festival.
Although there is no specific event we can trace the origin of the hamburger to, it was likely invented sometime around 1800-1900.
Hamburgers can range from being very simple (meat and bun) to being full of ingredients (meat, cheese, ketchup, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, buns, etc). There are even vegetarian hamburgers.
I had a vegetarian burger one time with a plant-based patty and imitation bacon. It was pretty good and tasted close to the real thing. Still, it wasn’t able to capture the precise taste of the burger, and tasted more like vegetables.
Whether eating a vegetarian burger or a gourmet one, all sorts of burgers are important parts of the American diet.
Hey Allison! I love how unique, yet important your topic is to America, especially since our country has been characterized by its love for fast food. Including a startling statistic in the beginning of your blog, communicated the relevance of the hamburger industry while effectively capturing your audience's attention. It is interesting how the history of hamburger meat dates back to Genghis Khan times, before being influenced by both Russian and German cultures. It really goes to show how most popularized American foods are the combination of multiple cultures. You cleared a common American misconception of how foods classified as "American" did not originate in America. I also enjoyed your inclusion of a personal experience with a vegetarian burger, even if it is somewhat negative, it depicts your relevance to the topic, which efficiently complimented your description of various types of burgers, from simple to gourmet. Small details like this greatly enhance your writing to create an interesting and entrancing read.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Allison! I enjoy how you talk about a significant food item that is enjoyed by many people in America. I found your blog engaging when you talked about the historical context of hamburgers and made it sound ominous by mentioning how there is no specific event that traces the origin of hamburgers. Your post made me think about the numerous fast food restaurants that are located nearby. Everywhere I go, I see Mcdonalds or Burger King and there would be a huge line near the drive thru. Especially when I am on vacation, I would encounter numerous restaurants named Mcdonalds. When you mentioned the gradual appearance of vegetarian options, it reminded of the new items they have in store called “beyond meat”. It’s interesting how the key American diet, hamburgers, has a history of its own that traces back to when the Mongols carried raw meat during horseback travel. Your blog made me feel informed and more knowledgeable on the origins of hamburgers and how it carries many stories of its own, tracing from the Mongols to Russia. I would definitely recommend including your own personal experience with encountering hamburgers.
ReplyDeleteHi Allison! I think your dive into the history and significance of hamburgers in America is really intriguing. I did not know that the hamburger was originally from Genghis Khan and his men, which eventually became dishes like Steak Tartare and Hamburg steak. These pieces of evidence strengthened your claim about the common misconception surrounding the hamburger dish, which is an American staple. Although you mentioned that there is not one clear person who created the hamburger, the mention of the date 1800-1900 strengthens your claims. Furthermore, the statistic you provided at the beginning was one that most people are likely not aware of, which helped set up what you would be discussing in your blog. Your personal experience with a vegetarian burger adds a relatable touch, shedding light on the evolving landscape of burger options, including plant-based alternatives. Personally, I have also tried a vegetarian-style hamburger with “fake” meat, and I agree that it does not have the same effect. Hamburgers have become a culinary symbol, embodying a large spectrum of flavors, traditions, and innovations within American food culture. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Allison! I was intrigued to read your blog due to the mention of hamburgers in your title. Hamburgers are definitely a vital part of many Americans' diet and is commonly stereotyped to be associated with America as well. I liked how you gave a lot of historical context such as the inclusion of Genghis Khan and his men when talking about the origins of hamburgers. I think this is especially interesting as although hamburgers are associated with America, they did not originate here. I also liked how you included your own opinion of vegetarian burgers and agree that gourmet ones are better in my opinion. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog as it was very insightful. Good job!
ReplyDelete