In search of the perfect cheeseburger……

Today, let’s lighten up and have some fun. For many years I’ve been on a journey, a journey to find my place in God’s plan. Then again that’s a serious journey and we all have to have lesser missions. Many years ago when I started traveling extensively across the U.S. (For 11 years while running every GAPW event I drove 70,000 plus miles per year). To have something to look forward on all those days away from home I decided to start a joyous journey to find the perfect cheeseburger. O.K. it doesn’t rise to the level of seeking God, but hey it’s something to do to pass the time on the road.

I came up with a 5 pickle scale for my burgers. First, I’ve never and will not likely ever give 5 pickles. So far the highest rated burger was from Milt’s Stop & Eat it in Moab, Utah. That sweetheart got 4.75 pickles! To be a near perfect burger, for me, I have a simple formula.

1. The burger must be made from hand formed hamburger meat, not lean ground beef. It’s the fat in the meat that makes it juicy, by hand forming the meat is not to compressed and the juices will stay in.
2. The meat must be not cooked anymore than Medium to very slightly Medium Well. Overcooking meat dries it out and ruins the burger. *Look members of the Health Department
it’s not what you wanted to hear, but this is about taste, not disease prevention….
1. The seasoning is very important and most burger makers have their own secret ingredients but it almost always has salt (sea salt), pepper and garlic, you’ll know it when you taste it.
2. The buns should be buttered and toasted.
3. The toppings should be nothing but mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and American cheese. Pickle on the side is kosher. Chilli is for a bowl, mushrooms for steaks, etc etc. Hey I’m a purest, mine are American Cheese and Mayo only (Hellmann’s real mayo is the best).
4. Acceptable sides would be onion rings or french fries.

The Cheeseburger is an American creation, at least four restaraunts claim to have made the first one, and no one seems to be able to sort out who is right.

So far, in my search, here are some of the very best I’ve found in descending order by score:

Milt’s Stop n’ Eat – Moab, Utah 4.75

Hut’s in Austin Texas 4.7
Pappa’s Burgers in Houston Texas 4.7

Rotiers in Nashville, TN 4.65
Cheeburger, Cheeburger in Sanibel Island Florida 4.65
Billy’s Big Burgers in Jackson Wyoming 4.65

The Depot in Corbin, Kentucky 4.6
Ruby Tuesday in London, Kentucky 4.6

Steak n’ Shake (any good one, and most are) Frisco Burger with Am. Cheese and Mayo only 4.5
Hamburger Heaven in Palm Beach, Florida 4.5
Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, New Mexico 4.5
Margaritaville, Key West, Florida 4.5

Fuddruckers (most locations) 4.4
W.W. Cousins in Louisville, Kentucky 4.3

Anything else is just what you eat when hunger over rides a great burger!

The reigning Champion, Milt’s Stop n’ Eat in Moab, Utah……..