Burger Truth
For writer Duncan Murrell, a burger is memory. “What is it we remember when we remember a hamburger? We remember what we were doing and where we were, and how it felt to be alive, right then. If that’s a happy memory, it’s a good burger. Simple enough in theory.” While we can’t agree that a hamburger is simply a blank slate for toppings, as he also asserts, we certainly appreciate his excellent essay on hamburgers from the June 2011 issue of Our State magazine. Enjoy.
The Travel Channel has approved 11 episodes of “Burger Land,” George Motz’s exploration of classic hamburger joints in America. Here’s the quote from the Travel Channel:
Host George Motz, author of the popular book, “Hamburger America,” takes viewers on a road trip to meet some of the nation’s oldest and most storied hamburger creators, tour their establishments and find out what makes their burger the best. Motz uncovers the history, people and secrets behind America’s most iconic sandwich.
George Motz’s documentary “Hamburger America” debuted in 2005, featuring eight great hamburger restaurants across the United States. He then parlayed that into a book by the same name in 2008 which featured 150 iconic burger joints. Now the Travel Channel has approved 11 episodes of “Burger Land,” a new television series that will highlight four burger joints per episode. All we can say is that The Straight Beef media team is in negotiations with Motz and the Travel Channel (meaning that we have sent them an email and an attempted bribe). If Motz and his crew cross the North Carolina border they will quickly find themselves ensconced in the Patty Wagon, The Straight Beef’s A-Team-like stealth burger van, and headed toward our favorite burger spots in the Triangle.
On the heels of news that Straight Beef founding member John McManus has been dishonorably banned from all burger-related activities due to the willing consumption of a veggie burger, the nation’s premier burger-reviewing group has announced the addition of two new members, Reverend Donald Corey and Chad “Baron Beefcake” Ward.
Reverend Donald Corey is a universally renowned burgiatric orator. Known for his fiery delivery and fervid, spontaneous burger-themed speeches, Reverend Don often serves as the keynote speaker at the VFW’s Turkey Shoot and Spit fundraisers. See Don’s full bio here, and his guest review here.
Chad Ward bypassed traditional burgiatric academia and earned his grill marks in the unlicensed burger pits of Hong Kong and Malaysia, competing under various aliases and stage names, including Patty O’Doom, Baron Beefcake, The Griddler, and, once, embarrassingly, Major Meat. See Chad’s full bio here, and his guest review here.
MCMANUS CAUGHT EATING VEGGIE BURGER, IS DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE STRAIGHT BEEF
Cofounder of premier burger-reviewing group ‘deeply sorry’ for ‘failure’ that hurt family, friends
Following allegations of an illicit relationship with a vegetable-based “hamburger,” the Burgiatric Inquiry Federation (BIF) has banned Straight Beef founding member John McManus from all burger-related activities.
“It is with an equal measure of regret and repugnance that we announce the expulsion of Dr. McManus from our ranks,” said BIF president Stuart Mantalbano during an emergency press conference on Monday. “Dr. McManus has been an esteemed member of the burgiatric community for decades. But the children. We need to think of the children.”
“I am deeply sorry for my mistake,” McManus said in a statement released by his publicist. “I apologize to my colleagues and my fans for this serious failure in judgment.”
The Straight Beef is expected to release plans for possible replacements for McManus in the coming weeks.
Dr. McManus caught green-handed.
Reviews are just one facet of The Straight Beef. We are also dedicated to keeping our readers and viewers abreast of the latest burger news and information. In this segment from 20/20, Alton Brown explains why the “Kobe” beef at your local steakhouse is likely a fraud and puts the world’s most expensive burger to a blind taste test. The burger portion of the piece begins at the 4:30 mark.