Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Monster burgers? Thick burgers? How about mini-burgers?
Larry Bly
Larry Bly runs an ad agency and does freelance writing in the Roanoke area.
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Even as the fast-food industry is offering up salads and light sides instead of fries, the bigger burgers seem to be getting even bigger. Soon it will take two people to handle a Whopper -- not just two hands. Well, that is unless they're farm hands.
No matter how big, no matter how caloric, no matter what fat content, big burgers are flying off the grills as fast as they can fry them. But the little guys are fighting back.
There's something about miniaturizing the burger that makes it taste different in a very good way.
The first true great mini was invented by the White Castle burger franchise. Their minis are known by their fans as "sliders," which slide right down, unlike those monster burgers that require a fork lift.
Better yet, you can eat a half dozen or so and not feel the slightest bit guilty about it. Although, you've probably consumed as many calories in bread and meat as a single large burger would deliver.
Not long ago a kind and thoughtful reader of this column tipped me off to the local purveyor of mini burgers. He told me that I could find "sliders" at Gerow's Restaurant (more of a bar, really) on Old Cave Spring Road.
As I sat at the bar and nodded to the regulars, the usual crowd shuffled in. When I inquired about "sliders" the bar-keep didn't know what I meant, but when I mentioned mini-burgers she immediately said "Oh you mean our Doggone Burger."
The Doggone is described on the menu as "two ounces of beef on a dinner roll with mustard, onions and pickles." Conveniently, the price comes out to an even $1 per burger, so I ordered four -- and some fries. These little rascals are good. And four are just the right serving, although my basket of fries could have fed the entire bar crowd.
Putting them on steamed (I think) dinner rolls makes the perfect package. And I love mustard and onions and very little else on my burgers, so this was to my liking.
I wish I had noticed the special that day on the chalk board: Homemade Brunswick stew with two sliders on the side. Their stew is always tasty. Gerow's also offers a whole slew of salads, burgers, sandwiches, and subs--plus daily specials.
White Castle sliders can be found at:
Most frozen-food sections of your grocery store
Or treat yourself to the local homemade version at:
Gerow's Restaurant
4602 Old Cave Spring Rd.
Roanoke, VA 240l8
540-725-7344
