I think you would be hard-pressed to find anyone that hasn’t enjoyed a hamburger. Some people will seek out the best burger they can find, regardless of whether it is from a drive-up window or a gourmet restaurant. Of course, there’s a big difference between a hamburger from McDonald’s and one from a greasy spoon, but every hamburger has its good points.
Many people who have loved hamburgers have also wondered where they came from. The obvious answer is what we have all been told through the years, that hamburgers come from Hamburg, Germany. Although that is true, in part, there is much more to the story. In the 1800s, the beef that came from cows raised in Hamburg was minced and then seasoned with salt, pepper, onions, and garlic. They then formed the meat into patties, making a Hamburg steak (without the bun).
These early Hamburg steaks were expensive and were considered a gourmet meal. After all, Hamburg beef was highly prized. When people started immigrating to the United States from Germany, they also started opening restaurants in areas such as New York City and Chicago. On the menu was Hamburg steak, although it was Americanized compared to what was offered in Germany.
Typically, if you wanted to enjoy a Hamburg steak, you were going to have to bring your wallet. It was usually one of the most expensive meals on the menu. They even started selling the delicacy on food carts for factory workers during the industrial revolution. The problem was, it was difficult to eat when you were standing so someone got creative and put the patty between two slices of bread. Unfortunately, we don’t know who did it but we do know that the Hamburg sandwich was started on that day and we still enjoy it today.
Hamburgers are not only loved by people in the United States, they are loved by people around the world. There are even vegetarian hamburgers, such as in India, where beef is not typically on the menu for Hindus. They will sometimes use potato patties, something they call Aloo Tikki. Many people in the United States also enjoy vegetarian hamburgers. Now you know where they originated from and the question is, would you like cheese on your hamburger or not?