I'm planning on writing more about my trip to Chicago/Milwaukee later, but one important aspect to start: Hamburgers. I think that the next time I hear some dumb NYer (or even Serach) question, "What's the difference? A burger is a burger!", I'll probably deck them (unless it's Serach). [Sometimes it is said about pizza, too.] Let's explain - not all burgers are created equal.
When I go down the block to Kosher Deluxe, and order a burger, I get a 1/4 inch high (if that) slab of meat with a diameter of maybe 3.5 inches. This little piece of "meat" has been steamed or something of the sort for a few minutes, and really has little taste (and KD's burgers aren't even that bad). Meanwhile, when I was in Ken's Diner in Skokie yesterday, I ordered their famous Burger Buddy. This hunk of meat is closer to 5 inches across, 1/2 an inch thick (or more), and was grilled - and has TASTE. Many people (generally NYers, whose restaurants don't need quality food to keep themselves in business - speed is more important) don't seem to understand the difference between the two. Not only that, in New York, you have to overpay for your not-so-filling-or-enjoyable meal; in the Midwest in general, you get a whole lot of food for a really small amount of cash.
As with most comparisons of the Midwest and New York, the food you get in the Midwest is both bigger and better than what they're serving up here. It's high time we started expecting more value for our money in the tri-state area, don't you think?
woooooo. Super busy eh?
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I agree with everything you said. Alot of the kosher places have a small meat patty. Ahhhhhh the days of Fat Burger or Tomy's. How I miss thee.
NO, NO, MUST THINK KOSHER. ONLY KOSHER. YOU ARE HOLY NOW. NO MORE QUALITY FOOD. ONLY STYROPHOME FROM NOW ON.
No, no, stop it. There are restaurants that do serve good hamburgers. And they DO grill it, not steam or anything like that.
NO, NO, THEY ARE WAY OVER PRICED AND THE FRIES SUCK.
Stop it, your going to scare people. Don't make me take off the.....
There is nothing like Ken's Diner. I wish they would open up a place in Israel. That would be awesome. I'd fly to Chi-town for a Ken's Diner burger. OK, mouth starting to water, ala Homer.
ReplyDelete-OC
LOL, I can just imagine Ezzie pulling out his "Burger Ruler" each time he enters a restaurant.
ReplyDeleteBurgers - A friend and I made more than a few Shekels while in Israel by selling specially packaged Burger Buddies that had made the trip back from Pesach break.
ReplyDeletePizza - To this day I have still not had a better slice than one from Kineret.
(God should continue to bless Gloria, hamevin yavin)
OC - You don't understand... I specifically set up my rides so I'd have enough time to go to Ken's. Yummm...
ReplyDeleteHH - Trust me - you don't need a ruler...!
G - I heard. And some people I think a year in front of me sent a guy back and forth during the year...!
And nothing has EVER come close to Kineret.
(God should continue to bless Gloria, hamevin yavin)
Amen, amen, amen Selah!
What? My family can't stand Kineret. We don't even call it that- it's been renamed "Gloria's Grease Palace."
ReplyDeleteThank G-d for frozen Amnon's.
PN - I think the pickles have messed up your taste buds.
ReplyDeleteOk, but does ANYONE think Kosher Deluxe is good food? Or is it just convenient?
ReplyDeleteAnd I would have to say that Detroit's Jerusalem Pizza and Baltimore's Mama Leah's would be able to rival Kineret's (though I've never been there, so I don't know for sure).
Fair point. But Ken's is convenient, too... and it's still great.
ReplyDeleteMama Leah's was great until it moved, and was *close* to Kineret - but not as good. I don't know about Detroit, but I was always under the impression that everything in Detroit stunk. :D
Hey, now be fair. KD is fast food, in the extreme. It's burgers are meant to be cheap (try not to laugh), fast, and above all - convenient. It's totally not fair to judge the NYC kosher food scene on Kosher Deluxe!
ReplyDeleteAnd further, there are also plenty of New Yorkers who would never ask "what's the difference?" Most of us know that not all burgers are created equal!!
It's burgers are meant to be cheap (try not to laugh)
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny is I was already responding to the comment before I saw the (). :) That's part of the point - if it were 99 cents, I wouldn't have a problem with it... but it's not. And I know there are plenty of NYers who wouldn't ask... it's just more common here, especially when it comes to pizza.
siiiiiiiiiigghhhh, I miss Taco Bell.
ReplyDeleteTHAT CAN KICK ASS OF ALL YOUR BURGERS.
BBWWAAHAHAHHAHAHAH
Come down.
NO
Burger buddies are a sham.,.he switched them about 10 years ago...and no one made a stink....not nearly as good as they were
ReplyDeleteHoly Hyrax -
ReplyDeleteYes, Taco Bell was cheap, but I don't know about good. But very cheap, which was important in college. How about Papa John's Pizza though - we could get a large pizza for $6 - and they delivered! That I miss.
We nearly always stop in to eat at Ken's Diner when we drive in to shop in West Rogers Park and Skokie.
ReplyDeleteOne memorable Sunday afternoon, we got to watch their overhead TV as a mournful Dan Rather rehashed Saddam's Hussein's capture. A perfect occasion to eat Burger Buddies. If these were once better, as DAG alleges above, they're still way above average.
As for Detroit area restaurants, we have enjoyed the dairy meals at Jerusalem Pizza and the meat ones at Unique, both on Greenfield near I-696.
I was there last Thursday, and I think they are better than they used to be. Certainly not as cold by the time they called us.
ReplyDeleteHowever I truly miss Bugsy's. What the heck happened? Who needs another pizza place?
Hey, now be fair. KD is fast food, in the extreme. It's burgers are meant to be cheap (try not to laugh), fast, and above all - convenient. It's totally not fair to judge the NYC kosher food scene on Kosher Deluxe
ReplyDeleteExactly. A true comparison would be with Dougie's or a kosher deli (Essex, Traditions, or Mendy's). I also have heard good things about Burger Bar in Brooklyn.
Seriously, Do you have any idea how many times i have had to travel (via car or plane!) carrying bags of burger buddies for my family/friends?? and of course romanian hotdogs (russian garlic or something)
ReplyDelete