The burgers are not ranked, but each is an exemplar of its own uniquely named genre, like the sandwich from Rouge, which LaBan dubs "The Show-Off" for its ostentatious proportions: "The enormous 13-ounce patties, topped with Gruyere, hydroponic Boston bibb, and butter-toasted brioche buns, are tailor-made for turning heads at a cafe that's all about being seen."
The list also includes, but is not limited to: Charlie's Hamburgers, Snow White, Barclay Prime, and Good Dog Bar & Restaurant, whose blue-cheese-stuffed burgers inspired LaBan to write a brilliant little song, "Cheeseburger, I Hold," the lyrics of which appear after the jump. (Here's the video for "Cheeseburger, I Hold.")
Related: Philly is well represented on Alan Richman's seminal top-twenty burger list ("The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die"), with Rouge placing No. 4 and the Kobe sliders at Barclay Prime at No. 5.
Cheeseburger, I Hold | by Craig LaBan
Truffles fall like snowflakes, on my plate
Sparkling crystal goblets always brim with wine
I can eat anything that I want, ’cause it’s my job
I’m a hungry man for hire.
And still, nothing sets my soul to sizzle
Like a fresh-ground patty on the grill…
Chorus:
Cheeseburger, I hold
Mischief heart of liquid bleu
Cheeseburger, I hold
You melt into mine
All my life, I’ve been a burger chaser
That perfect simple sandwich shouldn’t be so hard to find
But how many times have I been sorry, after just one bite
To find a fraud between the buns
The patty smashers! (No juice! No juice!)
The topping fools! (Pile the pink tomatoes on!)
The fast food stand-ins for good old school
So when the grinder’s gift hears that charcoal song
Lay your best Roquefort and crisp bacon on!
Chorus
I remember: Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burgers, Mo’s in Frisco, In-N-Out
Barclay’s sliders, Rouge’s biggies, on the Boardwalk I love Brown’s
Burger Heaven in Manhattan , Tommy’s Westwood chile bombs
Midnight snacks at the Camellia, in the Quarter Port of Call
But then the Good Dog Bar turned my patties inside out
So when I took a bite, love came rushing out.
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1 Comment:
I was at Good Dog yesterday and had their stuffed burger (stuffed with blue cheese and topped with carmelized onions)...damn good.
Hamburger Hamburger America at 12:55AM on 06/01/07