{"id":2994,"date":"2011-09-26T19:22:03","date_gmt":"2011-09-26T19:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=2994"},"modified":"2021-08-15T16:17:42","modified_gmt":"2021-08-15T16:17:42","slug":"in-search-of-the-perfect-cheeseburger-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=2994","title":{"rendered":"In Search of the Perfect Cheeseburger!!!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Join me for the search for the elusive perfect cheeseburger. \u00a0Follow the pilgrim as he scours the country side for that best greasy delight, the All-American Creation – The Cheeseburger!<\/p>\n

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After years and years of travel, I decided I had to find something interesting to do! \u00a0Since I truly do love cheeseburgers, I started to wonder if I could find the “Perfect \u00a0Burger” So the search was on.<\/p>\n

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To name a perfect burger you must have a standard and a rating scale so first here is my standard, notice I said “my”! \u00a0 You can make your own standard.<\/p>\n

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A Cheeseburger must be several thing<\/span>s:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1. \u00a0The meat should be hamburger meat not “lean ground beef”.<\/span> \u00a0Lean means less fat and the fat is what make a great cheeseburger, juicy and greasy. \u00a0Avoid places with pre-made frozen patties. \u00a0* I never said this was a healthy article!<\/p>\n

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2. \u00a0A great Cheeseburger must be cooked on a flat s<\/span>teel top grill.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0Even more important the cleaning process for the grill should be nothing more than scrapping it off with a steel spatula. \u00a0 The taste of the burger is highly affected by the grease build up on the grill!<\/p>\n

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3. \u00a0No matter what the health department says<\/span>, if a burger is well done it is best used to delight the stray dogs that hang out around the garbage cans out back! \u00a0Medium only – Remember Juicy!<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. \u00a0The bun needs to be buttered<\/span> (not margarine), and slightly toasted. \u00a0Hey this is serious stuff!<\/p>\n

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5. \u00a0The only acceptable toppings are<\/span>;<\/span> Mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, or pickles. \u00a0Bacon is for breakfast, chilli is to be served in a bowl, mushrooms are to top steaks, o.k. you got it, this is a purist thing. In fact, \u00a0I take mine with cheese and mayo only \u00a0( Hellman’s REAL Mayonaise! No substitutes! ) \u00a0Light Mayonnaise? \u00a0” Come-on’ Man!!! ” \u00a0Do you really think mayo with 20% less fat is really going to help you out here????!!!! \u00a0Health wise, this is a lost cause already…….. \u00a0Disclaimer, I don’t eat burgers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! \u00a0Sometimes, I have something else for breakfast……<\/p>\n

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6. \u00a0 American Cheese only<\/span> – Hey this is an American Creation.<\/p>\n

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O.K. keeping these requirements in mind here is some of my ratings so far, based on my ” famous ” 5 Pickle Scale.<\/p>\n

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Five point Five (5.5) \u00a0= \u00a0New highest scale, had to do something so many great burgers!!!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Five Pickles \u00a0= \u00a0Almost Perfect (Very few have made this score!!!!!)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>9 to date!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Four Pickles \u00a0= \u00a0Truly wonderful…A testament to the craft!!!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Three Pickles \u00a0= \u00a0 A good \u00a0solid burger, just not what it could’ve been!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Two Pickles \u00a0= \u00a0 Just so-so, \u00a0only if you’re really, really hungry!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

One Pickle \u00a0= \u00a0Shame on them for calling it a Cheeseburger!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m often asked which are my favorie chain burger places, so here go’:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#1 \u00a0Way Back Burgers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#2 \u00a0Five Guys<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#3 \u00a0 Shake Shack<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#4 \u00a0 Freddy’s Burgers & Shakes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#5 \u00a0 Steak & Shake<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0#6 \u00a0Cheeburger Cheeburger<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

#7 \u00a0 Fuddruckers (in recent years has dropped way down the list)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Ratings:<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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CURRENT Number 1’s : \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Hold the Presses!!!! \u00a0A new overwhelming, \u00a0Number One – \u00a0the Wayback Burgers \u00a0– \u00a0Chessey Burger in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina \u00a05.5 Pickles!!!!! \u00a0Today, 6\/11\/20 I had a killer 5.2 cheeseburger at Mo’s Diner in Woodbine, Ky<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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The latest 5.3 burger is from Highland Park Drive In, on 25W near Williamsburg, Kentucky!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Yesterday (july 16th, 2020) another incredible 5.3 Pickle Cheeseburger in Tazwell Tennessee at Frostie Freeze Drive In!<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Just added try the Burger at Smoky Bear Bar B Q in Corbin, KY, 5 solid pickles and killer aBar B Q to boot!!! \u00a0<\/span>Just had another incredible burger at at Bob’s Big Burger in London, Kentucky a solid 5.2 burger and that makes it in the first column with all the other 5.0 – 5.2 burgers.<\/span>\u00a0 We now have 12 – 5.0 or better burgers!!!!!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The latest top 5.2 burger is from the great folks at Top Notch\u00a0Cafe in Colfax, Washington state in the\u00a0Palouse Region. \u00a0This burger is near perfect and has the best seasoning of any I’ve\u00a0ever had!!!!!<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0New Entry, the Burger Fi burger from Jacksonville Florida a solid 5.1 pickle burger!!! \u00a0Way to go guys<\/span>!<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The Christmas Burger form the Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra, FL \u00a0a Solid 5.1 pick burger topping the list\u00a0!!!!! <\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Delta Terminal 4 of JFK Airport, Shake Shack takes the number one spot with a 5.1 pickle burger,\u00a0great job, guys!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Another new Number 5.0 Burger, Bru Burger in Lexington, KY!!!! \u00a0Another Great Kentucky Burger can be found at G&E Cheeseburgers in Williamsburg, Kentucky.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0Move over Hinkle’s a New Number ONE with a 5.0 pickles.<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0Five Guys\u00a0Burgers\u00a0and Fries of Emory Road, Powell Tennessee \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hinkle’s Burgers, Bloomington, Indiana \u00a0(the thin patty variety),\u00a04.96<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Smash Burger<\/span> in Las Vegas, NV, <\/span>4.95<\/span> # 3 ties<\/span>\u00a0Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, New Mexico<\/span> \u00a04.93 \u00a0(Sadly GONE)<\/span>\u00a0 Move Over <\/span>Bobcat Bite<\/span>, believe it or not, I just had a burger in <\/span>Henderson, Kentucky at Five Guys,<\/span> yes that’s right Five Guys, I love Five Guys, but they are not usually up in this rarified atmosphere, this one was, so for today \u00a0<\/span>Five Guys ties the number three burger<\/span> \u00a04.93……. \u00a0See it happened before!<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The Smokin’ Barrell<\/p>\n

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Smoky Bear’s Bar B Q<\/p>\n

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Top Notch\u00a0Cafe<\/p>\n

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The Christmas Burger at the\u00a0Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra, FL<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Shake Shack in New York’s JFK Airport \u00a0Delta Terminal<\/p>\n

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Bru Burger Lexington, Kentucky<\/p>\n

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Shake Shake double Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong>S & L Restaurant,\u00a0<\/span>Lakeland, Florida<\/span> \u00a04.92\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #5<\/span> \u00a0Three way tie: \u00a04.91 Pickles: \u00a0<\/span><\/span>T-Rays Burger Station<\/span>, Amelia Island, Florida \u00a0FLASH a new Tied for Number five Alcoa Tennessee’s Hot Rod’s 50’s Diner<\/span> comes in at 4.91 as well, so we have another tie, 4.91 pickles for Burger 21, in Tampa<\/span>! \u00a0That’s three tied for the number 5 spot!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

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The 50’s Rock n’ Roll Diner in Alcoa, TN<\/p>\n

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CURRENT #6<\/span>:<\/span> \u00a04.9 Pickles: \u00a0Fred’s Texas Cafe<\/span>, Fort Worth. Texas<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #7: <\/span>\u00a0 \u00a04.87 Pickles:<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0Shake \u00a0Shack<\/span>, Times Square, New York City, New York \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT # 8 & 9<\/span> \u00a0 4.85 Pickles: \u00a0 \u00a0Milt’s Stop & Eat<\/span> in Moab, Utah and Fava’s<\/span> in Georgetown, Kentucky. \u00a0These are two truly great burgers! \u00a0*Just went back to Fava’s (1\/20\/12) and confirmed they are still a solid 4.85!!! FLASH another 4.85 Pickle burger<\/span> was found today in Bar Harbor, Maine!!! \u00a0Jordan’s<\/span> is best known for, and deservedly so, \u00a0their fabulous Blueberry Pancakes and great breakfasts, but I had their burger today, and it was very, very good! \u00a0Way to go guys, join the ranks of the top \u00a05 burgers in America! \u00a0Tied with Fava’s!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #10<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a04.7 Pickles: \u00a0Hut’s<\/span> Austin, Texas \u00a0– \u00a0Pappa’s Burgers<\/span> in Houston, Texas \u00a0 \u00a0 Among the best!<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #11<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a04.65 Pickles: \u00a0The Camellia Grill<\/span>, New Orleans, Louisiana<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #12<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 4.65 Pickles: \u00a0The Urban Stack<\/span>, Chattanooga, TN\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT #12 (tie)<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04.65 Pickles: \u00a0Bartley’s Burgers<\/span>, Harvard Square, Boston, MA.<\/span><\/p>\n

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CURRENT # 12-17 (group) \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>4.5 Pickles: \u00a0Cheesburger, Cheeburger<\/span> in Sanibel Island, Florida \u00a0– \u00a0Billy’s Giant Burgers<\/span>, Jackson, Wyoming \u00a0-4.6 Pickles –\u00a0Top Notch Cafe \u00a0Colfax Washington, the “most beautiful Place” to have a burger, The Palouse region!<\/span>\u00a0Five Guys<\/span> (Varies) I’ve rated Five Guys Burgers and Fries, burgers, anywhere from 4.0 to 4.5. \u00a0 Bill’s Bar and Burgers<\/span>, Rockefeller Center, N.Y \u00a0N.Y. 4.5 (with Sherelene along it’s a 4.6!) \u00a0 Rotiers<\/span> in Nashville, Tennessee a solid 4.5 and maybe a 4.6 if eating one with Ricky Skaggs!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0*Rotiers makes a patty melt, but it’s still great!!! \u00a0 Latest 4.5 burger from The Backyard Cafe’<\/span> in West Columbia, South Carolina, great folks and a really good burger. \u00a0Another addition to the 4.5 pickles club; \u00a0Smashburger<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

THAT WAS THE TOP Seventeen!!!!!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Best of the Rest all the way to the Worst!!!!!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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4.4 Pickles:<\/span> \u00a0Believe it or not Steak &* Shake<\/span> (anywhere) usually very consistent! \u00a0The best Fast Food burger that’s easy to find!!! – \u00a0Cheeseburger in Paradise in Reno (Sadly now closed) Also the one in Maui is excellent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4.3 Pickles: \u00a0Fuddruckers<\/span>, most locations, varies from 4.0 to 4.3. \u00a0 The Blue Goose<\/span>, Hendersonville, TN \u00a04.3 Pickles; \u00a0 was discovered with the suggestion of Ricky again, Cheeseburger buddies forever…..<\/span><\/p>\n

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4.0 \u00a0Pickles: \u00a0Hamburger Heaven<\/span>, Palm Beach, Florida \u00a0– \u00a0Bobcat Bite<\/span>, Santa Fe, New Mexico \u00a0– \u00a0Margaritaville<\/span>, Key West, FL \u00a0– \u00a0Most Fuddruckers. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Applebee’s<\/span> \u00a0– \u00a0Ruby Tuesday’s<\/span> \u00a0* Latest 4.0 entry<\/span> \u00a0Kodiak Jacks in Oshkosh. \u00a0New Entry CJ’s Bistro, Marco Island, FL 4.0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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3.8 FLASH<\/span> a new entry, believe it or not the new Wendy’s larger Hot and Juicy<\/span> falls right under the Steak & Shake Steakburger! \u00a0This is an impressive comeback by Wendy’s, Dave must be proud!, up there!<\/span>
\n3.4 Pickles: \u00a0White Castle<\/span> (watch out for these little bad boys, they don’t call them sliders for nothing!<\/span><\/p>\n

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2.1 \u00a0or less: \u00a0 McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Backyard Burgers, Carl Jr’s<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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.25 \u00a0Burger King, Clown Burgers, Big Top Burgers and any burger in a Marriott (Room Service<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n

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.10 \u00a0Shame on you Westin in Atlanta, you are now my worst burger ever, even a Marriott burger is better, Dry hard bun, cheddar cheese after asking for and being told American was no problem, meat tasted funny, not in a good way!! \u00a0To make things worse they had Kraft Mayo, ugh!!!!! \u00a0In fairness the hotel was great nice people, nice room, but their burger drive?!, \u00a0out of your way to avoid this one!!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Cheeseburger Adventure in New Orleans<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of my favorie places to heck out a burger is Camellia’s Grill in New Orleans, a classic dinner style eating expeience with a high end 4.6 burger to boot! \u00a0Enjoy some images from this trip! \u00a0By the way having the right company for this lunch was the kicker!!!!<\/p>\n

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    Join me for the search for the elusive perfect cheeseburger. \u00a0Follow the pilgrim as he scours the country side for that best greasy delight, the All-American Creation – The Cheeseburger!   After years and years of travel, I decided I had to find something interesting to do! \u00a0Since I truly do love cheeseburgers, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cheeseburgers"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2994"}],"version-history":[{"count":151,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25749,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions\/25749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}