Real Men Grill in January

More January grilling!  Of course, I was still not in charge of grilling based on my lack of 0 degree tolerance, but I still got to have 2 burgers!  AND the burger episode of How I Met Your Mother was on!!  It was like a sign or something.  I am not really sure what I'm saying, mostly because I have a beef hangover right now.

I didn't make it in time to try some sneaky burger ideas, but Mom has learned that throwing some onions into the beef before you grill it makes good burgers great.  And Chuck has officially decided that there is no weather that is not grilling weather (we had steaks the other day, but that doesn't really fit into the theme here).  I recommend the stealth onion technique.  Unless you don't like onions, in which case I am not sure we can be friends.

-Jon

Winter Grilling

Today may have been the warmest day in the past 2 weeks.  And the high temperature was 32 degrees.  New England weather is so wonderful.

I was looking forward to burgers last weekend in CT, but unfortunately it was not to be.  A combination of laziness, a Back to the Future marathon and Mario Kart conspired to keep us from leaving the house until it was time to hit Mohegan Sun, and by then it was too late for a real meal.  It was very sad.

So finally it was time for a cheeseburger!  Now, it takes a very special person to be willing to grill in January.  You need serious dedication and a serious desire for burgers.  And a warm coat helps too.  But if you manage to have all of these, wintery burger goodness is just a frozen grilling experience away.

Wait, you didn't think I grilled, did you?

Obviously I did not.  My stepmom manned the grill while I managed to rock out pretty hardcore with my brother in our imaginary band.  And there was bacon!  I am not sure there is a burger that exists anywhere that can't be improved with a little bacon.  And if there is, I am not sure I want to eat that burger.  Actually I do: I love burgers.

-Jon

The Sweet & Smoky Steakburger

The first burger of 2009! Jen* and I went over to the 99 for dinner on Saturday with the intention of it being a prelude to some beer drinking, Guitar Hero rocking, and snow hating. Surprisingly, while 2 out of 3 of these things occurred, it was the first that did not. What has happened to the Jon of the Summer of Sam Summer Challenge??

But I digress.

Since I have yet to find the Greatest Burger Ever, I didn't even bother with the first few pages of the menu. Appetizers? Can't take up valuable burger space. Pasta? Really, at the 99? Seafood? Unlikely. At last I reached section I needed: Steakburgers (which is apparently a registered trademark?).

Maybe it's because of the bacon, maybe it's because it was like the first burger on the list, but the Sweet & Smoky Steakburger was calling my name.

Also, Sam Adams called my name as well. I'm on his speed dial.

The results? The quest continues. The burger was fine, if a bit overdone. I am not sure why I bother with asking for meat cooked medium. It's really more of a range, and that bad boy was definitely bordering on the well done section of meat cooking, which is really a crime. Also, if you claim your chipotle BBQ sauce is spicy, I better be asking for at least 2 more waters by the end of the meal. This was not the case.

Would I order the burger again? Probably. But I wouldn't be dragging people out to try it.

-Jon

*Names are changed to protect the innocent. Or are they?

The Quest

This is one man's quest to find the Greatest Burger Ever.  Much like Marshall Eriksen and his search for the green door, I will eat as many burgers as it takes to find the champion.  There are only 2 rules:

1. No weird burgers, like chicken.  Or turkey.  Or bison.  Really?  Bison?  What the hell? Only beef.  Mmm, cows.
2. No mayonnaise.  Any burgers with mayonnaise are automatically disqualified, since mayonnaise is gross and therefore can't possibly be connected with the Greatest Burger Ever.

I'll be keeping track of the burgers I eat here, and I welcome recommendations.  Leave a comment if you know of any great burger places, especially if they are close to western Mass.  Driving far distances is highly overrated.

New info!  This may become one man and one woman's quest to find the perfect burger.  Hopefully Casey will help out, which will let us eat twice as many burgers in twice as many locations!