Four or more years ago, before A Hamburger Today was even a glimmer in my eye, I was introduced to the magic of the McNugget-Enhanced McDonald's Cheeseburger.
It was at a McDonald's somewhere along the Connecticut Turnpike, and I was traveling with my girlfriend at the time. I was perplexed when a friend of hers ordered the two cheeseburger meal and a six-piece box of McNuggets. "Glutton," I thought.
But what happened when we sat down at one of the uncomfortable plastic booths was pure alchemy. Peeling the bun top away from the semi-melted cheese, he placed three of the oddly shaped chicken chunks on his sandwich.
Begging one McNugget off him, I tried it on a portion of my cheeseburger and was a bit amazed. Two distinct tastes, yet a whole new experience. The whole as more than the sum of its parts.
I tried it a couple more times, on the couple occasions I found myself at McD's with that dude, but I hadn't had it in ages. So the other night when I found myself with little time to spare for dinner, and spurred by discussion of this mash-up either on the Talk section of Serious Eats or here in the Serious Eats–AHT office, I hit the clown's place around the corner from my apartment and grabbed a single cheeseburger and a Dollar Menu four-piece. I had to document this Frankenburger, after all.
It's still as weirdly good as ever. But I think it's best had in four-year intervals.
that is an awesome picture. and i've only tried the fries thing like ladygoat, but man... two dollar menu items into one. i love it! although the whole thing with the fries... if we actually had one of those Sonics they like to advertise, then we could do tater tots in a burger.
First time commenter here - found you through Serious Eats. I am almost ashamed to admit that I was so perversely curious about how this would taste that I tried it last night. Maybe it was just that the various component parts had been sitting under heat lamps for too long, but I found it really bland! Then I tried improving upon it in my mind: say, a Wendy's burger topped with KFC chicken strips? But probably the simple addition of barbecue sauce would have helped a great deal. Should I decide to take my coronary health into my own hands by trying this again, I'll be sure to report back!
Do people REALLY enjoy McDonalds? My body seems to almost physically reject the food they serve there the last few times I've tried it. And this isn't being "too good for fast food" or anything, I'm fond of Burger King, and I spend entirely too much money at Taco Bell. I just don't understand how others seem to enjoy McD's so much.
Tried this a few days ago (the idea had wormed its way into the back of my brain) and I found that the too-thin burger disappeared under the weight of the Nuggets. A Quarterpounder might offer more balance.
On a related note, I grew up on the Potato Fish Sandwich. That's a Filet O Fish with a french fries laid side to side across the sandwich. I still have to indulge once a year.
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12 Comments:
Could you please post a photo showing how grossly obese you are? Thanks.
Hamburger Holy Crap at 5:20AM on 02/16/07
Holy Crap: I'm as fat as yo' momma.
Adam Kuban at 5:34AM on 02/16/07
Oooh - that's brilliant! And to think I was just putting the fries inside.
Hamburger ladygoat at 3:13PM on 02/16/07
that is an awesome picture. and i've only tried the fries thing like ladygoat, but man... two dollar menu items into one. i love it! although the whole thing with the fries... if we actually had one of those Sonics they like to advertise, then we could do tater tots in a burger.
Hamburger the pauper at 3:29PM on 02/16/07
.....needs bacon and BBQ sauce. A $1 bacon cheeseburger and BBQ dipping sauce with the nuggets would be pretty tasty.
Hamburger zanna at 4:28PM on 02/16/07
brilliant!
Hamburger Jason T. at 6:01PM on 02/16/07
First time commenter here - found you through Serious Eats. I am almost ashamed to admit that I was so perversely curious about how this would taste that I tried it last night. Maybe it was just that the various component parts had been sitting under heat lamps for too long, but I found it really bland! Then I tried improving upon it in my mind: say, a Wendy's burger topped with KFC chicken strips? But probably the simple addition of barbecue sauce would have helped a great deal. Should I decide to take my coronary health into my own hands by trying this again, I'll be sure to report back!
Hamburger Kristi at 7:30PM on 02/16/07
Do people REALLY enjoy McDonalds? My body seems to almost physically reject the food they serve there the last few times I've tried it. And this isn't being "too good for fast food" or anything, I'm fond of Burger King, and I spend entirely too much money at Taco Bell. I just don't understand how others seem to enjoy McD's so much.
Hamburger Nate at 1:01AM on 02/17/07
That's so wrong! Almost as wrong as Valentine's Day at White Castle. Oh, wait....no, this is much, much wronger.
Hamburger Kristin Johnson at 8:42AM on 02/17/07
http://www.omfgwtfk.com/ Donna Deslippe You really are a fat fuck! I miss my mommy!!
Hamburger Donna Deslippe at 3:50PM on 02/18/07
Tried this a few days ago (the idea had wormed its way into the back of my brain) and I found that the too-thin burger disappeared under the weight of the Nuggets. A Quarterpounder might offer more balance.
Hamburger BM at 2:12PM on 02/21/07
On a related note, I grew up on the Potato Fish Sandwich. That's a Filet O Fish with a french fries laid side to side across the sandwich. I still have to indulge once a year.
Hamburger Michael at 11:04PM on 02/22/07