--Tailgatin' and how to make mofos start playa hatin' (Recipes)
Its that time of the year, for those of us in the Midwest anyways as winter approaches. I'm not one to take the entire winter off from the bbq game but I know some people have no interest in bbq'ing during the cold months. So today I am sharing with you how to make one of the best regional burger variations in our country. What is it you ask? The famous smashed onion burger a locals favorite around Oklahoma City and other parts of the state. In due time I will get to Oklahoma City and tour the famous places that serve these burgers. If you want to check out a great site about some of the states burgers THIS GUY'S round up is remarkable. But in the meantime I got a simple recipe I concocted up last month that was the best indoor cooked burger I have ever made, by far.
OKC Smashed Onion Burgers
Recipe (makes one)
-1 ball of fresh ground beef (1/4 lb) -entire slice of an onion (as seen below) -cheap burger bun -slice of American cheese (or your preference) -sliced pickles -mustard -1/4 stick of butter -salt and pepper for seasoning -wax baking paper
Directions
1) Got some fresh ground beef? Good, now form them into balls and then slice a Spanish onion whole. Your going to need a flattop griddle to make these on, the surface needs to be flat that they are cooked on.
sliced onions and ball of beef
2) Throw the sliced onions on a super hot buttered flattop griddle and let them cook a few minutes until nicely charred and then flip them and throw the ball of beef on top of the onion followed by some wax paper. Take a heavy pot or pan and smash the ball of beef down into the onion and let cook for a couple minutes and then flip and do the same. Salt and pepper both sides.
Note: Be careful and make sure the ball is smashed perfectly into the onion as seen below
The onion needs to be smashed in, it takes some getting used to
3) When burger is about to come off throw your slice of cheese on and dress to your liking.
4) Enjoy.
It worked real well for the most part, a few of the the onions didn't get up in the patty's because they weren't smashed perfectly into them so you need to get a little touch for it. These things are by no means easy on the arteries but if your feeling like some calories and want a burger but don't want to go out, give the smashed onion burger from Oklahoma City a try at home. This is my favorite style of burgers with the balls being smashed down to form crispy edges. Good stuff.
Oklahoma onion smashed burger (one that didn't get smashed perfectly) ________________________________________
See ya next time on S'C'&C with da King. Big stuff coming....
With this being Halloween weekend and Madison, WI being one of the best places to party on Halloween we head on up there for some scary eats. I was in Madison over the summer and had as always a great night of drinking and eating on my visit. After we visited The Plaza for one of their famous burgers we went over to the Great Dane and had quite a few of their fantastic brews and bada bing before you knew it, we were hungry again.
The Great Dane is one of Mad City's best drinking joints
So after last call we headed back to our hotel just off State st. and I came to see another new place in Madison that wasn't in Mad City when I was there. Located right next to University Inn where The Den used to be back when I was around is a new college eats place called Fat Sandwich Company. It's open late nite and caters to the drunken college crowd in Madison as you can tell from its menu which has what looks to me what are obvious stoners creations everywhere on it.
Drunken Late Night Eats in Madison, WI
Fat Sandwich is basically a ripoff of the famous Rutger's University food stand that serves sandwiches with everything in them called The Fat Darrell. According to it's website they have other locations, also in college towns. I had to try one since it was right next door to our hotel and so I got a Fat Milf which I think was cheesesteak, bacon, cheesesticks, cheese fries and some other stuff thrown in a roll. I also spied a Luther burger on the menu and had to have one. These sandwiches should not be eaten by anyone sober. I don't think they were anything special but if intoxicated they become a little something if your hungry. But its not really all about taste at that point is it?
Fat Milf Sandwich
Now the Luther Burger is a little more respectable and there's no problem with eating one of them when your stoned sober. Although they have also been dubbed a cardiologists worst nightmare. This famous style of burger is said to be named after singer/songwriter Luther Vandross who is a lover of this style which takes a glazed donut which is cut in half and replaces the bun on a bacon cheeseburger. This version was ok but did not do the Luther Burger justice.
bacon cheeseburger served on a glazed donut aka a Luther Burger
Well I didn't wake up feeling like a million bucks to say the very least. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at one these places and unless I'm drinking late into the night in a college town somewhere I doubt I'll ever be back to one. But is was a filling late nite meal and some would say horrifying. Happy Halloween to all and if your going to drink a bunch and make a fool of yourself, make sure you don't drive. Holladay.
Fits in well in Wisconsin
Fat Sandwich Company 555 State Street Madison, WI 53703 (608) 819-8118
When I first rolled up on Senor Pan I was hesitant about trying it out. Located in a strip mall with the looks of a franchise place it didn't appeal to me all that much. But since the Cuban sandwich is my 2nd favorite regional sammy (of course beefs are my first) I gave it a go and pulled into the lot. It's located on Fullerton ave in Logan Square and despite the looks of a franchise fast food place from both outside and in it is not that. This is the only location, maybe they are trying to start a franchise because it looks much more like a fast food joint than a mom and pop shop. It is however a family owned restaurant and they opened in 2007 serving classic Cuban cuisine in a comfortable cafeteria like setting.
Along Fullerton ave. in Logan Square
Plastered on the windows and walls inside are high quality decals with professionally done photos of menu items and deals on them. I was a little thrown back but at the same time one of the ad's was for their frita cubana sliders and a meal that came with two of them and a couple empanadas at a pretty cheap price. It caught my eye so I ordered that along with my Cuban sandwich. The rest of the menu features popular Cuban breakfast and dinner entrees as well as a list of sandwiches along with soup, salads and of course, coffee.
Caught me off guard...
Frita Cubanas are Cuban hamburgers very popular in Miami and something I love to get when I find myself in the 305. Different places takes on them can vary but typically the standard is a patty (sometimes mixed with bread crumbs, eh) that is topped with a spiced mayo/ketchup along and potato sticks and served on a sweet bread roll. Check out a recipe for them I use HERE. I found Senor Pan's burgers to be eh at best. I didn't like the patty and the bun was too sweet. The empanadas were better but not by much.
Frita Cubana sliders and empanada from Senor Pan
The hamburger meal was cheap and didn't disappoint since I wasn't expecting much but it was different when it came to the Cuban sandwich. I lived in Tampa for a year and during that time fell in love with Cuban sandwiches. It's virtually impossible to find a great one outside south Florida but there are still many places that serve above average version, just like there are many that serve awful styles of them. I am happy to say that Senor Pan was one of the places that serves a very respectable Cuban sandwich. One thing that makes them so hard to find outside South Florida is the bread which cant be found outside there. So the bread on this one was just ok but everything else was nice. Especially the ham. Too many places just use cheap deli sliced ham that they throw on the grill and cook for a couple minutes. The ham from this Cuban might of came off the bone and was the real stuff. The roasted pork was nice as well and they didn't skimp on the pickles. I would for sure stop in again if I find myself driving by and hungry.
Cuban Sandwich from Senor Pan
Senor Pan 4612 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60639-1816 (773) 227-1020 Website
If your daily commute includes a ride down Ashland in between North ave and Fullerton then you've seen and maybe even been to today's place-Choppers. I remember years ago when this place first opened. It now seems to have become a part of the area which has alot of traffic going up and down Ashland. Chicago has long been considered a real blue collar type town so with that we have many eating spots that cater to these city workers and handy men that keep our city running. If you've ever been to Chopper's you've seen the city workers out in full force enjoying a lunch that's for sure to fill them up at a very reasonable price. Almost every time I've ever been here or driven by there's a city owned vehicle or three.
a favorite stop of the City workers along Ashland ave
As you can read in the pic above Chopper's is "Home of the Choppak" which is what most of the city folk stopping in for lunch or dinner are going with and my usual choice on my yearly visit. It consists of a double cheeseburger with your choice of toppings on a sesame seed bun served with steak fries and a large cup of cole slaw. It'll set you back a whopping $4.29 and there's little chance it'll leave you hungry once your finished with it. If you think it's not enough they also have triple's and for those brave enough the Quad. The place isn't far from my house and a nice option to have when I feel like something massive and greasy that's not a long drive and not too much moolah. I don't know how the city workers go back to work (not saying they do...) after eating an entire Choppak. The only thing I've ever done after eating at Choppers was watch TV for a couple hours straight.
Double Cheeseburger from Choppers
I don't think this isn't going to be the best burger you've ever had, but hey I don't know where you've been and its not a bad burger by any means. It is what it is and what it is is a very satisfying meal when you include price and taste. With a drink it's gotta be cheaper or close to the same cost as a McDonald's or Burger King value meal and it kicks the shit out of either or. I haven't been in months but writing this article here now has me thinking about heading over sometime soon to get my fix. If this is an option for you and you like what I described it as then check out Choppers. Its cheap and satisfying fill you up fast food. They do alot more than burgers and the menu is pretty damn extensive. There was one other time I ordered an all beef steak hoagie off their "specialties" section on the menu and it wasn't bad, again for what it was.
-The Sammy's of Chi
Choppers beef steak hoagie with their steak fries in background
Another blue collar sandwich if I've ever had one. They take a piece of ground beef that's formed into a rectangle like patty and then grill it up the same way they do the burgers except this comes on a hoagie roll. You still have the same options in toppings and one of these with fries and slaw will set you back only $4.75. So you can see why this spot is a real favorite amongst the blue collar employees of Chicago. I liked my hamburger hoagie but think I prefer the double cheese, however both are great grease eats for that killer hangover. I'm sure some people wouldn't even step foot in a spot like this but that's what I'm here for. I cover the entire Chicagoland area and where the locals eat, not just whats new and whats hot in a three/four neighborhood area (albeit this spot is in Bucktown, but not the trendy part). I've done it all and will continue to share. Thanks for reading. See ya next time on S'C'&C with the King.
Half of a hamburger hoagie
Choppers 1659 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622-1420 (773) 227-7800 Website
Its that time of the year, football season is officially here. So today we head North to Madison, WI one of my favorite places to chill in the country. I think Fall is the best time of the year to visit Wisconsin's state capitol and one of the best college towns in America. One of the reasons Fall is so desirable is its a great time of the year weather wise for the area and with students in session its very lively and on Saturdays when the Badgers are playing its a great time. I was recently in Madison late Summer and stopped on in at the world famous Plaza Tavern for one of their famous Plaza burgers.
Madison, WI
The Plaza Tavern is a bar located just off State street on north Henry that serves many people in Madison's favorite burger which is named The Plazaburger. Many generations of UW graduates and lots of current students spent many nights at The Plaza which has remained pretty much the same. The famous burger was created in 1964 and there's been over two million sold since. Its a burger that's been mentioned when talking the best burger in Madison for a couple decades now.
The Plaza Burger
I only had a Plazaburger a number of times even though I lived in Madison for four years but that was more so because I didn't really drink there. The Plazaburger is a great burger after a few cold ones and everything you would expect a burger from a Wisconsin tavern to be. They cook a fresh pre-formed patty on the griddle which is in plain view for patrons sitting at the end of the bar. The thing that makes these burgers stand out is the secret sauce used on them which I think is just kicked up ranch dressing but it makes the burger what it is. They top that off with some cheese and put it on a wheat bun (I guess to feel healthy) and are served with some pickles on the side. I liked them then and still do now. The burger hasn't changed a bit since my last one there a few years back. Amen to that.
The insides
The Plaza Tavern 319 North Henry Street Madison, WI 53703-2018 (608) 255-6592 Website
Today's stop is a fairly new spot on the scene here in Chicago that's made quite an impact early on. Big & Little's is a fish shack that opened in 2009 in the Near North neighborhood along the stretch of Orleans street abundant with Indian and some African restaurants. It's been featured in many publications and newspapers since its opening and also because one of the two owners was a Hell's Kitchen castoff a couple years back. Tony aka "Little" then teamed up with his buddy Gary aka "Big" and they put together a great addition to the neighborhood and one that's sure to be a longtime favorite down the road.
In the up and coming Near North neighborhood (Pic by Grub Seeker)
Menu is simple and good up to down
As my readers know I like to promote and give love to the Chicago classics that are located in every neighborhood (not just Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Downtown) and not just the Hot Doug's, Alineas, Big Stars, Mr. Beef's and the rest of the trendy spots that get more than enough love from publications and sites that for the most part is deserved. I just figure why do I need to let it be known what everyone else already has? However there are spots I make exceptions for and B&L's is going to be one of them. We need more places like this around the Northside as opposed to spots that are more of a marketing concept than an actual eatery. Big & Little's isn't going to wow you with its in house dining and wasn't designed by a hipster. Its plain inside and there's a table with stools along the backwall with some recent publicty on the walls and reggae music playing on the speakers. Its all about the food. I like most everything on the menu.
My go to side is the very refreshing kidney bean salad
The tacos at $3/each are something I order at least one of each visit. If your taking your order to go I would recommend an assortment of the tacos since some of the other must get items don't travel as well. All of them are available fried but I usually just get my fish tacos fried so most of the time I get an order consisting of one fried fish taco, one squid taco and then one shrimp taco which comes with different toppings than the fish and squids do. They are all very, very good. Chicago is lacking in a legit five star fish taco joint but B&L's scratches the itch pretty damn well.
Fried squid taco
Shrimp taco
Fried fish taco
I'm also a big fan of calamari and have been since I was a child. I hate it when I get served the fresh out the freezer from the bag pre-breaded calamari that comes only with the rings. I want the tentacles too and plenty of them. Calamari is a million times better when fresh battered and served with both rings and tentacles. Big & little's has some of the best calamari in the city and at $6 an order (side included) it's the best bang for your buck too. One of my favorites places for it in Chicago. Try it out.
Big & Little's fresh fried calamari
Need another reason I have made B&L's a regular in my Chowing rotation? They have the best fish and chips I have had in Chicagoland and the third best I have ever had (best were from spots in Scotland and Windsor, Canada) However at $8, which gets you two pieces of cod, perfectly fried to a much desired deep brown shade and a bunch of fresh cut fries which they also exceed at over there, this is one of the best meals under $10 to be had in the city. But you have to eat the fish and chips there. Like any other order of it from anywhere else this isn't a dish that travels well. So eat this dining in should you decide to order it and you wont be unhappy you ordered it. In fact you'll almost for sure be back for it again sometime soon.
Excellent fish and Chips from Big & Little...big up's to ya's
You might not think about the burger when you see it on the menu, after all this is a seafood place right? Do not sleep on the burger, especially with the fried egg on top. They take a hand formed patty and cook it to your desired doneness, perfect each and every time and then take a toasted bun and top that with the fresh toppings of your choice and a fried egg which takes it to the next level. Its gotta be one of the best bargain burgers in the city. Again its fresh and cooked to order and a steal at that price which has made it one of my favorites in my area. I would also recommend you eat the burger there since the yolk will drizzle down the side and can become cold rather quickly. So there you have it, I get around and have been to 1000's of spots in Chicagoland (more than most anybody) and B&L's is already a favorite of mine in its short time. If you want a little more pics and info on the place check out my guy Grub Seekers recent trip there over at his site HERE.
Cheeseburger with fried egg added on
Big & Little's 939 North Orleans Street Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 943-0000
Hello readers, how's life? its a sad day here at at S'C'&C which you can learn why as you read on. I have had this post in the plans for months now but due to the sudden closing of a chibbqking favorite-CND Gyros Lounge-I am forced to switch up my schedule and bring you this post that I have been meaning to make for at least a year now. Adding an egg onto anything has been a trendy thing for a few years now and doesn't look to be dying anytime soon. I'm fine by that. I love a fried egg on top of my meal whether its a burger, sandwich, hot dog, lunch plate, bowl of rice, whatever. So today I am taking you to two spots already featured here on S'C'&C except today were going to add an egg to both these longtime downtown favorites. ________________________________________
One Last Gyro Melt (add an egg)
a former locals favorite downtown - RIP - (1973-2010)
It saddens me to be the bearer of bad news had you not heard it already but after 37 years the Streeterville favorite CND Gyro's Lounge will be closing down for good. Today (8/21/'10) is the last day of operation for this longtime favorite where you could get a gyros, some brew and a few lotto tickets all while doing karaoke to former #1 Chicago hit. Yep at CND you could do all of that. Its one of the last of its type in downtown Chicago and come 2am Sunday morning it will be no more. I have let it be known that the Gyro melt offered at CND is one of Chicago's best late-nite and or early morning hangover eats out there. I was introduced to it thru LTH and loved it upon my first bite a few years back. Then it got even better when someone from over there suggested it be ordered with a fried egg on top. When you pair fresh shaved gyro meat with processed American cheese, grilled onions and tzatziki sauce with a fried egg on top and throw it all on Texas toast good things happened. I had to stop by CND yesterday for one last melt. I sure will miss this sandwich and the old time warp that was CND Gyros Lounge.
Gyro melt with fried egg (RIP) ________________________________________
Cheezeborger, Cheezeborger (add an egg)
The tavern SNL (and some damn good burgers) made famous
So with CND closing down that leaves Billy Goats as one of the last old school food/drink/bar spots in downtown Chicago. You never say never but I don't think Billy Goats will be calling it quits down on lower Wacker anytime soon. I've been going to and enjoying this original Billy Goats since I was a kid and as my readers know, I am a fan of their double cheeseburgers. Well on my most recent visits I've been ordering my usual double but now I like to add an egg. In my original grading of the Goat I gave it a C++ but when a fried egg is added on top it improves to a B. I should of known this since they are said to have good breakfast sandwiches. Maybe next time I'll add the egg and some bacon.
double cheeseburger with a fried egg on top from Billy Goat ________________________________________
CND Gyros & Lounge 205 E Grand Ave - At N St Clair St Chicago, IL 60611 312 467-4195
Billy Goat Tavern 430 N Michigan ave. (lower level) Chicago, IL (312) 222-1525
I hate to say it but summertime is winding down but not out of the picture just yet. You still got plenty of heat and the fall season too for a road trip or two. You know we here S'C&C aka chibbqking love to travel Wisconsin and explore and consume the states glorious eats. It's also been a while since I've posted about my favorite Chicago suburb Kenosha. Hey, it's closer than other places they call suburbs of my city. Even if you only have the day Kenosha is a great spot (only 64 miles away) to spend it. Its got beaches, bars, outlet mall shopping and a handful of other things including some great Drive In's. A food friend of mine from up that way had been telling me I needed to check out The Spot Drive In and get myself one of the burgers at this local and state favorite that would be a given for a Diners, Drive Ins and Dives episode.
a locals favorite in Kenosha, WI
The Spot is a great place indeed. On my day visited spring was just starting and people were coming out and they were at The Spot by the dozens on the afternoon we were there. You can easily understand why when you realize that The Spot has been around since the middle of the 40's and has been in the same location since then too. The real hits at The Spot are everything I got but the menu is extensive and it wraps around the outside of the building letting drivers see what they offer. The Drive Up service is still available if you want to eat in your whip. Personally I love the fact its open late nite on weekends. I might have to take a late night ride up there one day soon this summer.
Part of the menu along the building outside
Since 1945 for a reason
The car hops were very friendly and well worked on my visit. The recipe for The Spots famous greasy cheeseburgers along with their housemade root beer hasn't changed since day one. On a hot summer day (or any day for that matter) the combo of these three items is another example of why the people of Kenosha and Wisconsin are lucky to have many great roadfood type spots. The onion rings are breaded in house and fried to perfection so make sure to go with them over fries as a side with your burger and root beer.
Root Beer Floats having just arrived for the car next to us
Excellent Onion Rings
The burgers have remained the same at The Spot and the grill they've been cooked on all these years has gained some mighty fine flavor. While remaining the same the burgers are still made like they were in the 30's thru the 50's and are smashed onto the grill giving them crisp edges and to top that off a nicely melted slice of cheese. Go with the classic toppings of mustard, pickles and onions and you got one of Wisconsin's many great burgers and also one of its best. They are open seven days a week from 11am to the wee hours of the am. If you don't order and eat in your car, make the short drive east down 75th and dine on Lake Michigan in your vehicle or take your food out on the rocks and listen to the waves while grubbing on some goodness.
Cheeseburger from The Spot
The Spot Drive In 2117 75th Street Kenosha, WI 53143 (262) 654-9294
-Got beef? The Burgers of Wisconsin Back from a great trip up North to the WI/MN Lake Superior region that included some great grub. We were up bright and early on our trips 2nd day to head from Madison to Prairie Du Chien which is located along the Mighty Mississippi. So from there we were taking the Mighty Mississippi in Prairie Du Chien all the way to the start of it in Prescott, WI. As I mentioned to anyone that was willing to take the trip, it is here where the home to Pete's Hamburgers is, which is a place that's been on my radar for over a year now. Despite living in Madison during the start of the decade and getting around the region often I had never heard of this very old hamburger stand located in town that is only open Fri. Sat. & Sun. from early spring thru the end of October. How old is the place? well when they first opened the Chicago Cubs were defending World Series champions back in 1909. Pete's just had its 100 year anniversary, and so did we! Prairie Du Chien, WI (along the Mississippi across the river from Iowa)
I had first read about Pete's when I was checking out this dudes cool burger blog located right HERE. Ever since I read about this burger stand that sounds just like my type of spot, I was all about visiting this legend of a burger spot in person. When you get within a block or even two of this stand you know your near there, the smell of onions floods the air. When you get within a view of it you'll see people lined up on both sides of the little stand and others around the area eating burgers on benches, in their cars, on their carhoods or just while standing up along the sidewalk. When we got there it was about 11:30a and there were a couple people in line and they were just starting a new batch. It was an experience. When you talk about a place that "hasn't changed a thing" Pete's is the perfect example. All they do are burgers which start off as fresh balls of beef from the local town butcher. You can order them with or without, which would be the onions that are making the area smell like the food section of the state fair, but this is just one stand. You also have the option for ketchup or regular old yellow mustard or brown mustard once they are made.
That's the entire menu, even in Wisconsin, cheese is not an option
Video of what I saw as I waited for the next batch of burgers to be made
Pete's is one of them places that you just know is good before you have had a bite. I watched as the two lovely burger ladies took a big bowl full of chopped onions and threw them on the cooking surface and let them saute away. She then went to the back and came out with a tray of fresh balls of beef and started to throw them onto the cooking surface and follow that with water. This is how Pete's has been making burgers since 1909, they start off getting thrown onto the left side and then smashed down and once they cook both sides on the outside they are thrown onto the right side where they cook in steaming water. The onions are what separate them in the middle. So the burgers are cooked using just water and onions. You can tell the people making these burgers are veterans because once they are ready they can get them topped with what you want, wrapped up and dished out fast. But they also go fast and the batch you saw in the video above was gone alot faster then they were cooked.
After the burgers are made (and ordered with or without onions) these are your topping options
I had been waiting to try these since I first read about them and I wasn't going to be ordering just one, so I ordered four, all "with" and chose just the regular yellow mustard on all four. We took the burgers over to my car which was near a bench and I took them out of the little plastic bag they come in and dove right into my first one. Holy Sh!t!!! sorry, but that's what I said. Amazing was what came to my mind. These are pretty well sized and arent sliders but they tasted like the best sliders I have ever had and it might be the best burger I ever had. The buns were so soft and come from a local baker and the onions were potently pleasing like none other reaching Maxwell Street Polish sausage stand status. I love my burgers with cheese, mustard, onions and pickles and nothing else on them but these burgers didn't need what they didn't have. The taste of the beef was fantastic and everyone with me agreed that it was one of the best burgers they ever had. By the time we were eating ours there were a ton of people showing up for their Pete's burger fix. The best one I had might of been the last which got to sit in the butcher paper and steam away for a good 20 minutes.
one "with" topped with yellow mustard
Pete's is the perfect example of sometimes simple is better
Pete's is the type of place I love so much from living in Wisconsin and taking journeys around the backroads of America. Wisconsin is a great burger state and they come in all sorts of styles and sizes and Pete's is a place I would suggest you stop at if your ever in the vicinity. It's a scenic ride so it might be worth it if your ever in Madison (2 hours away). I had made it a point to stop here just for the burgers and a quick look around town and a stop at some other spots and we were out. After an hour or so strolling around town we took the Mississippi River Road route all the way up north to Prescott, WI where we would continue on North from there so it all worked out. This burger was one of my favorite local treasures found on the roads of America. Get there! it's very, very good and a legendary place for hamburgers. One of the best yet!
Pete's Hamburgers: 101 years of quality and counting
Pete's Hamburger Stand (seasonal and wkds only) 118 W Blackhawk Ave Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 608-326-6653 Website
