Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
THE WHOPPER, the Big Mac and the quarter-pounder are a few variations of an all-American favourite - the hamburger. The hamburger is loosely defined as a cooked ground beef patty placed between two pieces of bread. The modern variation can be as simple as its definition or you may "have it your way", loaded with onions, pickles, cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, or whatever condiments you desire.
To eat a hamburger is to affirm one's 'Americaness' - an idea corroborated by one Inspector Troudeau, the lead character in the recently released film, Pink Panther. Though Troudeau could barely pronounce the word, he knew for certain that 'zee 'amburger' is the quintessential American food. It fits perfectly with the fast-paced life of Americans; it can be eaten on the go as it fits snugly between your fingers and does not require utensils. It is likely the single most prominent food item which - along with the advent of the automobile - propelled the growth of the fast food industry.
WHY 'HAM' BURGER?
But why is it called a hamburger when there's no ham in it?
In the 19th century, German immigrants to the U.S. brought with them the Hamburg steak, originally from Hamburg, Germany. When it arrived on American shores, its name was shortened, as Americans are wont to do, to the hamburger. Though the hamburg steak is much unlike the modern hamburger, it is still credited as the precursor to the modern hamburger.
The exact time of origin and person responsible for the modern hamburger is, however, something of a mystery. Many have staked claim as being the innovator of the American Hamburger. One popular story is that a vendor named Fletcher Davis served it first at the St. Louis Fair in 1904. There are at least 5 other references to when, where and who originated the 'burger'.
Regardless of its exact origin, and call it what you may, hamburgers are now an American classic; and are especially yummy when paired with French fries.
Burger bites
The Fuddruckers Restaurant chain holds the Guinness World Record for the largest commercially available hamburger. Their 'whopper' weighs in at 29 lb 9 oz (13 kg.) and is 18 inches (47 cm.) wide and 8 inches (22 cm.) high. This magnanimous meal will be on the menu at the Fuddruckers locale at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut in the U.S. from May to August 2006.
White Castle is the world's first hamburger chain, and was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas.
Though the McDonald's chain did not fare well in Jamaica, it is the world's most successful fast food chain to date, with 26,000 stores in 119 countries, and serves billions of hamburgers each year.
Americans consumed more than 13.5 billion burgers in 2005 alone.
May is National Hamburger Month in the U.S.
In 1961, Fred Turner, McDonald's former senior chairman, founded Hamburger University in the basement of a McDonald's restaurant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Since 1961, more than 80,000 restaurant managers, mid-managers and owner/operators have graduated from this facility, with over 5,000 students attending the University each year.
Cinematographer George Motz over two years, shot, directed and edited a documentary on Hamburgers called Hamburger America in which America's trademark sandwich is celebrated in all its "greasy, juicy glory". He travelled all across America searching for the best burger, and listened to the stories of Americans along the way, affirming that hamburgers embody all that it means to be an American. Hamburger America had its world premiere in December 2004 at the Santa Fe film festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There is a Hamburger hall of fame located in Seymour, Wisconsin, built as a tribute to Charlie Nagreen, whom it is believed to have first served a hamburger in 1885, all of 19 years before it was claimed that the hamburger debut at the St. Louis Fair in 1904.
Wimpy, a character in the comic strip Popeye the Sailorman, was known for his love of hamburgers and would often trick persons into buying them for him using his signature line, "I'll pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." In the 1934 a chain of restaurants opened, named after the said comic strip character, but in 1978 all 1,500 restaurants were closed down upon the death of the founder, just as he had requested.
- From Guinness Book World Records
Irresistible French fries
A BURGER meal cannot be complete without them. Most dietitians will advise that you should not eat them as they are said to contain useless nutrients and a large amount of fat. Yet, Americans and others find them irresistible.
French fries, or fries for short, are a very popular fast food side-order across United States of America.
There are many possible claims as to the origin of French fries. Many attribute it to France. In 1813, the French cook Louis Ude had recipes that may be described as French fries which turned up in popular American cookbooks later.
Belgium also lays claim as the origin of French fries. Jo Gerad, a famous Belgian historian, claims to have proof that this recipe for potatoes was already used in 1680, in the area of the Meuse valley between Dinant and Liège, Belgium. The poor inhabitants of this region had the custom of accompanying their meals with small fried fish but when the river was frozen and they were unable to fish, they cut potatoes lengthways and fried them in oil to accompany their meals. (Belgian Federal Portal) In 1861, a Belgian entrepreneur named Frits is said to have opened a stand selling this product. He gave it his own name, frites, which is the French name for the dish in Belgium.
The Spanish, too, claim that they invented fries being the first European country where the potato appeared via the new world colonies before spreading to Belgium, which was then under Spanish rule. Whether French fries originated in France, Belgium or Spain it has gained international prominence. Perhaps partly due to their pre-eminence on the fast food menus of chains like McDonald's and Burger King (Hungry Jacks in Australia). French fries have numerous variants, from thick-cut to shoestring, curly, and waffle-cut. They can also be coated with breadcrumbs and spices to create seasoned fries, or cut thickly (often with the skin left on) to create steak or wedge fries.
Source: wikipedia.org/french_fries
- Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore
Have some tasty pastry
Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
As American as apple pie. Celebrate July 4 with a delicious slice of this traditional dessert. Try it warm with some ice cream on the side. - PHOTO BY KEISHA SHAKESPEARE-BLACKMORE
APPLES ARE a popular fruit grown throughout the United States. Glenn J. Guimond, public affairs officer second secretary at the Embassy of the USA, said that apples are grown in New York and Washington, especially. He also spoke of the American legend of Johnny Appleseed who went across the country planting apple seeds. The legend gives a metaphorical explanation as to why there are so many apples grown in the USA.
Mr. Guimond notes that the usefulness and variety of American apples might be the main reason why persons are attached to the fruit. American apples can be canned, preserved, cooked or baked.
American Ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, says, "It's the most wonderful thing you can eat" while reiterating the phrase 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'.
Americans have conjured a tasty and well known dessert from the fruit - the apple pie. An apple pie is a fruit-filled pastry with the principal filling ingredient being the apple. The preferred apple used is Granny Smith, as these are best for baking.
This pastry is generally used top-and-bottom, making a double-crust pie. Just like porridge, some Americans like an apple pie cold while others like it hot. Apple pie can also be had by itself or with ice cream, whipped cream, milk or custard.
"Hot apple pie with cold vanilla ice cream is the best," says Mr. Guimond.
Apple pies are also baked in other cultures - English (tarte tatin) and Dutch styles. However, Americans say the dessert belongs to them. "There are several pies sold in America but apple pie would be the number one on the shelves," says Ambassador LaGrange Johnson.
Mr. Guimond says: "Massachusetts pumpkin pie is big. But, apple pie goes across borders."
MEMORIES OF HAVING APPLE PIE
Many Americans can serve up warm memories of having an apple pie. The dessert is a popular pastry treat on Independence Day or a filler on a cold Saturday afternoon. Mr. Guimond also has one of his own: "I remember running around all day on the 4th of July. Got home from the beach and I'm tired and hot. Mom pulls out of the oven the warm apple pie and from the refrigerator cold vanilla ice cream. That was so amazing."
Mary Roberts of Georgia says the best time to have an apple pie is after the fireworks on Independence Day.
"After coming home from the fireworks show and you think the celebration is over and 4th of July will be gone soon, you get home and your apple pie is waiting for you. You lounge in front of the television and dive into your apple pie that's thick with whipped cream. That's just the best at the end of Independence Day," she says.
WHERE TO GET AN APPLE PIE
For those who wish to celebrate with Americans this Tuesday with a slice of apple pie, the pastry is sold at several supermarkets throughout the island, such as MegaMart, and a slice can be had at fast food restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King.
- Additional source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_pie
Turkey anyone?
THEY ARE a bigger version of a chicken. The meat is a little coarser but no less tasty when prepared. Turkey is traditionally the main meat served in the United States of America on Thanksgiving.
Turkey (wild turkey) is short for turkeycock or turkeyhen, originally the name for the African guinea fowl and eventually for the western hemisphere fowl with which the earlier bird was confused.
Turkey is native to North America and was a staple in the native American diet. This large gallinaceous bird was said to be domesticated in Mexico in 1518 and was introduced into Europe by 1519. But the American version of the wild turkey was introduced to the early Pilgrim settlers by the Native American Wampanoag tribe after the Pilgrims arrived in 1620.
The first year for the settlers was bleak, with many dying from the journey. That first winter, 46 of the original 102 Pilgrims died. Their crop for the next spring did not yield, except for barley. Thus, the Wampanoag assisted the settlers, introducing them to native foods such as corn and squash, and showed them how to hunt and fish. Back then the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 at the request of Governor William Bradford, and the Wampanoag were invited guests of honour. There is no specific mention of wild turkey in Edward Winslow's account of this first Thanksgiving but there was mention of 'fowl', which most likely included wild ducks and turkeys.
www.wikipedia.org/turkey.com
www.turkeyzone.com
- Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore
Delicious milkshake
A mouth-watering banana and strawberry milkshake, courtesy of TGI Fridays, prepared by barman, Sean. - PHOTO BY LIANNE ROBINSON
A FAVOURITE American drink is a milkshake! No other country manages to create the rich, thick and delicious mixture of milk, ice cream and other delights like they do.
Milkshakes have come a long way since they first came about around 1885. They were originally created for invalids and children and were more of an eggnog version than what we are used to today. In 1922, Ivar Coulson, who was a Walgreen's employee in Chicago, took an old-fashioned malted milk and added two scoops of ice cream. The drink became popular at a surprising rate and soon became a high-demand drink for people around the country.
Once served in three flavours, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, we are now much more adventurous and are using ingredients like coffee, bananas and other fruits, peanut butter (invented by an African American slave), snickers and Oreos. One favourite is a banana and strawberry milkshake; have a go at making your own:
INGREDIENTS
2 bananas
10 oz frozen strawberries
partially thawed
2 cups of milk
2 pints of strawberry ice cream
METHOD
Slice the bananas and strawberries and combine them with the milk and 1 pint of the ice cream in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour the milkshake into 4 glasses, top each with a scoop of the remaining ice cream and garnish with a fresh strawberry. Enjoy!
Lianne Robinson
Next Tuesday, Americans at home and abroad will celebrate their July 4 Independence Day.
Food extends congratulations to Americans living in Jamaica and revisits some of the
foods made popular by that country. We all love burgers, but do we know how they
came about? Here is something to ponder the next time you hear the phrase "As American
as apple pie." Bite into a burger, enjoy some turkey meat or sip a yummy milkshake.
