Posted by Nick Solares, August 31, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Seen on the side of a food cart in Rome
After three weeks of eating my way through Italy, I am back in the good ol' US of A. While I had many, many fine meals there, I did not eat a single hamburger during that time—the longest I have gone without burgers since I can remember. I would liked to have tried at least one, but I had a hard time finding burgers on the menus of any place other than a handful of Irish pubs in Rome that cater to English speakers and the numerous McDonald's that I encountered during my travels. I was interested in seeing if there was a local interpretation of America's favorite sandwich, something to compare to America's interpretation of Italian pizza.
The closest I came to finding that interpretation was a place in Rome called The Perfect Bun, but they were unfortunately closed until September (like most of the country).
Despite seeing quite a bit of hamburger imagery, none of the places displaying it—such as sandwich shops and the food carts that line up outside the Colosseum—actually served burgers. I did recognize the photograph used on the side of one shop in Rome (pictured on the left above); it is the same one that is used on the menu at Joe Jr., my local diner in New York City.
Speaking of Joe Jr., I ate there for breakfast the day after flying back home. I ordered a rare hamburger and asked for the bun to be toasted on the griddle top (Joe Jr. usually warms the buns under a broiler). It was simply sensational.
I must admit that I was tempted to eat McDonald's when in Italy, something I would only do in the States as a prank—if I had stayed there much longer I probably would have. As much as I may disparage them, McDonald's hamburgers are better than no burgers at all.
They would find me wasted away somewhere if i went three weeks w/o a burger! Bravissimo to you! And thanks for the cool images, even tho you came up empty!
Nearly 40 years ago I went to Rome to study, and discovered an A&W around the corner, on Piazza Barberini. It had typical Roman tavola calda foods, as well as burgers. I just checked on Google Earth streetview, and it looks like it's a multi-screen movie theater now. That's how big it was.
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9 Comments:
They would find me wasted away somewhere if i went three weeks w/o a burger! Bravissimo to you! And thanks for the cool images, even tho you came up empty!
burgerdogboy at 5:03PM on 08/31/09
Does anyone else think the underwear should have written on the waist band, "Home of the Whopper" to be truly offensive?
Husband at 5:16PM on 08/31/09
..or maybe "have it your way"...or " it takes two hands to handle a whopper"
I'll stop now.
RossS at 6:09PM on 08/31/09
Or "Would you like this Quarter Pounder supersized?"
Please, Nick, tell us that you'll be writing about the food you were able to eat.
betteirene at 6:51PM on 08/31/09
When I was there last November I found this in Rome:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steelecity/3119401208/in/set-72157611333564737/
In agreement with your comments, it was too tough to bring myself to try it with so many other great options.
steelecity at 8:52PM on 08/31/09
Missed you, Nick. Welcome back.
Damon Gambuto at 9:22PM on 08/31/09
Nearly 40 years ago I went to Rome to study, and discovered an A&W around the corner, on Piazza Barberini. It had typical Roman tavola calda foods, as well as burgers. I just checked on Google Earth streetview, and it looks like it's a multi-screen movie theater now. That's how big it was.
Sov at 9:49PM on 08/31/09
Omg, please tell me you remember the name of the store that had the burger underwear
PaulyWalnuts at 1:08PM on 09/01/09
Italy is a meatball super power. They don't need or want hamburgers. Nick- I hope you got to scarf down some of Italy's best
gaffer at 7:32PM on 09/01/09