The Amazing Story of the Hamburger

Have you ever wondered how hamburgers came to our world? Some sources say that it all began with the Mongols, who stashed raw beef under their saddles as they rode around, trying to conquer the known world. After spending some time sandwiched between the horse and the saddle, the meat became tender enough to eat raw. Later, the Mongols brought it to Russia, which turned it into a dish called steak tartare. A few years later, some seafarer brought this idea back to the port city of Hamburg, Germany. But somehow the ground beef gets to America and is put on a bun. But by who? No one is 100% sure, but there is currently three major claims staked on the confusing history of the burger. They are:

Louis’ Lunch: This restaurant claims to have invented this delicious meal in 1900. It says on its website: One day, a man dashed into a small New Haven luncheonette and asked for a quick meal that he could eat on the run. Louis Lassen, the restaurant’s owner, hurriedly sandwiched a broiled beef patty between two slices of bread and sent the customer on his way. It may be just a story, but it could be true.

“Hamburger Charlie” Nagreen: It is said that he started selling meatballs at the age of 15 at the summer fair in Seymour, Wisconsin. But a website says, “Charlie was a resourceful young man with an outgoing personality. After not having much success selling the meatballs, he had an idea and went to find some bread. He realized people could take this meal with them if he simply smashed the meat together between two pieces of bread. He called it a “hamburger” and yes, in 1885 the burger was born at the fair in Seymour, Wisconsin.

The Menches Brothers: The brothers’ descendants, who now operate a small chain in Ohio called, Menches Bros. claim that their great-grandfather and his brother invented the dish in Hamburg, New York. They originally sold sausages but ran out so they had to use ground beef. Since they had nothing to sell, they fried the ground beef up, but it was too bland. They decided to put coffee, brown sugar, and some other household ingredients in it and cooked up the sandwich. One of them served the first sandwich, a man tasted it and said “What do you call it?” They didn’t really know what to call it, so he looked up and saw the banner for the Hamburg fair and said “This is the hamburger.” The rest is up to you to decide. Which do you think is true? I never really thought about it, but the history of the burger is truly incredible!