Joanna James
The cheeseburger is, arguably, one of the most popular fast foods in the world - only matched by pizza and perhaps a serving of fried chicken. It's got its own holiday, and something that transcended from All-American, to All over the world. To celebrate this truly global food, we've got a few facts in store that may be a pleasant surprise for any burger fanatic out there.
Just outside of Pasadena, California, is the birthplace of the burger - the Rite Spot, where the earliest recorded instance of a cheeseburger sale in 1924 occurred. Born of an error that little Lionel wanted to hide from his father, covering a slightly burnt patty with a slice of cheese and serving it to a delighted customer for 15 cents! Although the origin of this may be disputed, what is undisputed is the fact that this unique sandwich did become a staple of the menu under the "Aristocratic Hamburger".
Back in 2017, Steve Mallie of a sports bar in Detroit crafted a burger in honour of his late wife, weighing a mammoth 800 kilos and costing around $8,000. Noticing that the Guinness World Record for the cheeseburger sat in Japan, he wanted to bring the record home for his wife and daughters, so he set about creating the burger, which you can eat if you order 3 days in advance, as it takes a while to source the ingredients and cook them. Every part of the burger is fully edible, and if you've left any over, the rest is used to make taco meat and donated to charity.
This burger is somewhat contested by many people around the world - as the advent of the internet has popularized this recipe and it's being constantly made by YouTubers and other content creators as an adorable variation. For example, the Japanese channel Miniature Space has a theme of making foods like Ramen, and even tiny Potato Chips! To see the channel chop up tiny lettuce and onions and cheese on tiny kitchenettes is somewhat pleasing, you have to admit, even though it's not something you'll see from a place like Smashburger.
It's been a topic of debate amongst a lot of burger fans about the best kind of cheese slice that should go on a burger. Is it the traditional American? The reliable cheddar? Or are you one of those exotic souls who prefers a gouda, brie, or a good Monterey Jack? Honestly, it varies, depending on the burger, but the good part about what makes the best cheese burger is the fact that you can customize it how you choose - if you prefer a kind of cheese, go ahead and stick it on top of your patty - it's your choice!
Although this may seem like a question that has an obvious answer (we can hear some of you saying, it goes on top of the patty), there are certain scandalous choices out there! For example, even Google's cheeseburger emoji puts the cheese below the patty, and some services out there suggest putting the cheese inside the patty for a stuffed alternative, while others still argue about what time the cheese should go on. The truth is, among the burger connoisseurs, this is as debated as the kind of cheese, so it all comes down to who really makes the burger.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
