PrintBattle Over Who Made the First Burger
Photograph from the Flickr photostream of the real janelle
Don't mess with Texas.
A state legislator there is embroiled in a burger battle with Louis' Lunch of New Haven, Connecticut, over which state can claim to be the birthplace of the hamburger.
Louis' Lunch, which opened in 1895, claims to have come up with the marvelous idea in 1900, when a hurried customer requested something he could eat on the run. Republican state representative Betty Brown, however, has proposed a resolution in the Texas legislature declaring Athens, Texas, as rightful birthing ground, noting that Fletcher Davis sold burgers from a luncheonette there in the late 1800s.
Things have gotten heated. Says New Haven mayor John DeStefano Jr.:
"It's a well-known and established fact that New Haven is the home of the hamburger. In fact, New Haven's claim to the hamburger is even supported and documented in the Library of Congress."
In our own research (admittedly web-based), we found yet another city calling itself the home of the burger: Seymour, Wisconsin. There, in 1895, it's said that "Hamburger" Charlie Nagreen started selling the mighty meaty sandwich. (Here's AHT's History of the Hamburger post.) If it came down to it, AHT would put its money on "Hamburger Charlie," if only because Wisconsin happens to be the birthplace of this site's founder.
This is a debate that will never be resolved, we think, only because there seems to be scant hard evidence as to who and when invented the burger as we know it.
Texas lawmaker challenges burger history [Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader]
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5 Comments:
Who cares where it comes from, the real question is where would you rather eat a burger today, Texas or Connecticut? Of course, I'm biased, but I do believe that Texas is more renown for its burgers than Connecticut. So Louis Lunch can have its silly honor, I'd still rather eat a burger in Amarillo than New Haven anyday.
Hamburger Lisa (Homesick Texan) at 7:31PM on 01/16/07
Lisa: Word.
Adam Kuban at 7:51PM on 01/16/07
Even in todays (1/17/07) NY Times Metro section... and Mr Hamburger America was quoted in a few spots: (Asked what steps should be taken to solve the matter, Mr. Motz demurred. That s a really loaded question, he said. But it sure is fun to watch. )
Hamburger burgerseeker at 2:12PM on 01/17/07
*dons cheesehead* It IS Wisconsin.
Hamburger GhaleonQ at 4:42AM on 01/18/07
I have Eaten many Burgers all over the USA and including Both Texas and Ct.
Texas makes them Big, however not the Best.
I have to say CA, NY and CT all do burgers better. What Texas doesn't have is the real good stuff to go with the burger. They seem to think a Giant ball of ground cow is all you need. I have to say that is just not the case.
I haven't been to LL in new haven, but will make it a point to go next week!
After all, I am from new york city and new havens Pizza is as good as any in the city!
phauxtoe at 9:18PM on 04/03/08