"What does a French chef know about burgers?" Chef Hubert Keller answers this often-asked question in the introduction to his recently released burger cookbook, Burger Bar, admitting that he and his partner, chef Laurent Pillard, had little first-hand experience with American burger culture when they opened their first Burger Bar location in Las Vegas in 2004.
After making up for this lack of burger knowledge by going on a "whirlwind burger cram course," they decided on the concept of letting customers build their own burgers from eight kinds of patties (including three kinds of beef), five kinds of buns, eight kinds of cheese, and loads of toppings.
In his book, Keller gives suggestions for patty, bun, and condiment combinations, but the recipes can be easily changed to suit your tastes. He also gives tips on how to grind your meat, shape the patties, and cook them.
Win 'Burger Bar'
Burger Bar includes recipes for burgers based with beef, poultry, seafood, and vegetables, along with the sauces, toppings, sides, desserts, and drinks to go with them. For this week's Cook the Book, we're going to focus on beef burgers and share a recipe each day this week. All you have to do to win a copy is tell us what your favorite burger topping is in the comments below.
Five (5) commenters will be chosen at random from among the eligible comments below. We're sorry, but entry is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Comments will close Monday, August 10 at noon ET. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Sharp Cheddar cheese melted on one side and a light scraping of mayo on the other. The fat from both keep the juices from getting into the bun and keeps them around the burger for total messy deliciousness. I don't understand the physics of this, I just know it works.
My favorite burger is The French Connection at Burgers Fries and Cherry Pies in Midland, Texas. It uses a bearnaise sauce and makes cheese on your burger insignificant.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Romaine or a leafy lettuce, Tomato, mustard, ketchup, fresh pickles (not the sweet ones), fresh onions (chopped, white), Buttermilk ranch dressing, a chipolte sauce dressing mixed in and some sauteed' mushrooms.
Also love, Blue Cheese, Swiss, Brie Cheese, Cheedar, BBQ Sauce, Mayo, Spicy Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato's, Bacon, Mushrooms, Avocado, Pickles, Carmarlized Onions or better Fried Onion rings...yummy! Well let's just say that I like alot of toppings...it's really hard to pick just one! The imagination is endless! :)
Ok I have thought of yet another...it's called the Carolina Style or All The Way in North Carolina...you put chili, slaw, onions, & mustard...It's a southern thing!
Cheese is a must and lots of it. American, cheddar, gruyere, monterey jack. Ketchup, mustard, tomato, lettuce and raw onions. That's my ideal burger with the toppings that makes the burger.
A tribute the the great and thrice greasy Roy Rogers Double R Bar Burger. Thinly sliced ham and aged cheddar topped with and sauce of dijon mustard, honey and mayonnaise.
Print
"What does a French chef know about burgers?" Chef Hubert Keller answers this often-asked question in the introduction to his recently released burger cookbook, Burger Bar, admitting that he and his partner, chef Laurent Pillard, had little first-hand experience with American burger culture when they opened their first Burger Bar location in Las Vegas in 2004.
Comments are closed: 123 Comments:
My favorite burger topping is easily American cheese.
jword2001 at 1:03PM on 08/03/09
onion rings!!!
half astronaut at 1:06PM on 08/03/09
American cheese and a runny egg!
kathrine at 1:18PM on 08/03/09
No doubt - favorite burger topping is cheese. American Cheese if I had to pick just one kind.
Mmmmmm.....burgers!
sfmitch at 1:20PM on 08/03/09
another vote for american cheese.
but waitadoggoneminute...bacon!
nah...I'll stick w/ cheese. it's essential.
twoshoes at 1:23PM on 08/03/09
bleu cheese! mmmmm.
cookiemahnster at 1:26PM on 08/03/09
swiss cheese.. or even bleu cheese.
engmcmuffin at 1:27PM on 08/03/09
crisp garlic pickles
NCGourmet at 1:36PM on 08/03/09
grilled onions...
aburke at 1:44PM on 08/03/09
American cheese
arbeck at 1:45PM on 08/03/09
Cheddar, Pepper Jack & Avocado.
seannh at 2:05PM on 08/03/09
Grilled onions and swiss cheeese!
thaddius at 2:06PM on 08/03/09
Aged cheddar.
Loweeel at 2:06PM on 08/03/09
pepper jack cheese
escay at 2:20PM on 08/03/09
Grilled Red Onions and Mushrooms!!
ashtonsh at 2:27PM on 08/03/09
sauteed mushrooms!!
caramel at 2:36PM on 08/03/09
Blue cheese and bacon (that counts as one item, right?)
macm45 at 2:40PM on 08/03/09
pickles!
Cupcake819 at 2:51PM on 08/03/09
Grilled onions and Peter Luger steak sauce!
secretwoid at 2:55PM on 08/03/09
I like a bun on the top.
Joe MacBu at 3:20PM on 08/03/09
Cheese of almost any kind.
idanceondedminds at 3:34PM on 08/03/09
colby cheese
dbcurrie at 3:41PM on 08/03/09
either:
goat cheese with sauteed onions and mushrooms
or
cheddar with applewood smoked bacon and sauteed onions
downtownstef at 4:07PM on 08/03/09
A second burger
ESNY1077 at 4:11PM on 08/03/09
ketchup. I cannot eat burgers without ketchup and mustard. but no mayo. :(
prunesaregood at 4:13PM on 08/03/09
Cheddar, mayo, ketchup, bacon or a hot link, grilled onions and a fried egg..
pjracz10 at 4:18PM on 08/03/09
Sharp Cheddar cheese melted on one side and a light scraping of mayo on the other. The fat from both keep the juices from getting into the bun and keeps them around the burger for total messy deliciousness. I don't understand the physics of this, I just know it works.
bigemc01 at 4:37PM on 08/03/09
I like caramelized onions and bacon.
Teachertalk at 4:37PM on 08/03/09
My favorite topping: cheddar cheese and caramelized onion, had at Burger Bar in Vegas--it was the best burger I ever had
tmayson at 4:49PM on 08/03/09
double smoked bacon and red onions, both cooked on the grill
Fudluvr at 5:00PM on 08/03/09
oh snap, fudluvr took mine, except i don't care if they are cooked on a gril
bacon & red onions!
graciecat at 5:35PM on 08/03/09
american cheese and mayo
porktornado at 5:58PM on 08/03/09
I know its frowned upon, but I do like the Aussie approach: Fried egg and beet root (especially the slightly runny egg!)
mfreely at 6:04PM on 08/03/09
pancetta, brie, wild mushrooms, and some caramelized onion. awesome.
jason at 7:09PM on 08/03/09
Cheddar cheese and bacon!
lesleyg456 at 10:07PM on 08/03/09
green chiles
thesixthguy at 10:15PM on 08/03/09
crispy shallots, vermont cheddar and horseradish mayo.
ecwashere7 at 12:02AM on 08/04/09
On second thought; crispy leeks, cheddar, pan roasted mushrooms, spicy ketchup and horseradish mayo Fat Boy Burgers rule!
ecwashere7 at 12:06AM on 08/04/09
Mayo, onions, ketchup.
GregWA at 12:21AM on 08/04/09
Bacon, blue cheese, jalapenos, crushed tortilla chips.
jmann69 at 2:09AM on 08/04/09
Not all on the same burger, but favorite condiments in general:
caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, homemade ketchup, paper-thin slices of apple, butter.
hefloats at 2:41AM on 08/04/09
Bacon!
sfacio at 2:55AM on 08/04/09
guacamole
jburgs at 7:52AM on 08/04/09
Just cheese, usually cheddar, occasionally pepper-jack. Tired of all the distractions, just give me my Cheeseburger!
jfedorko at 9:32AM on 08/04/09
Bacon, American cheese, bermuda onion, lettuce
bessfour at 9:37AM on 08/04/09
I like Avocado, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, and Tomato on my burgers! :)
RoseDM at 9:39AM on 08/04/09
My favorite burger is The French Connection at Burgers Fries and Cherry Pies in Midland, Texas. It uses a bearnaise sauce and makes cheese on your burger insignificant.
BFCP1 at 10:26AM on 08/04/09
Cheddar cheese, grilled onions and pickles
jakeyd at 10:41AM on 08/04/09
pickled red onion
bcoaks at 11:28AM on 08/04/09
Yellow mustard, lettuce, raw onion.
richopp at 11:53AM on 08/04/09
Heirloom Tomato slices drizzled with bleu cheese topped with thinly sliced red onion
Torrmenntt at 2:45PM on 08/04/09
Shack Sauce
burgerluver at 2:48PM on 08/04/09
I gotta say I am a junk food purist: nothing but American cheese. Dip in ketchup. Bun must be toasted!
mschlock at 2:50PM on 08/04/09
Cheap American cheese singles, please. None of that fancy deli stuff.
ratbuddy at 2:50PM on 08/04/09
bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup
feelgood at 2:59PM on 08/04/09
American cheese, bacon and russian dressing.
duncan1205 at 2:59PM on 08/04/09
American Cheese, thick-cut pepper bacon, pickles, raw red onions, lettuce and one of the following either ketchup and mayo or bbq sauce.
JeremiahGraves at 3:03PM on 08/04/09
onions!!! the combo of onions and meat = win
stewmeat at 3:07PM on 08/04/09
Shaved raw red onions, deeelish.
reubensandperrier at 3:39PM on 08/04/09
White or Red onion - raw or cooked
elahood at 3:59PM on 08/04/09
mayo, sliced green olives, ketchup
payutuesday at 4:02PM on 08/04/09
Pimento cheese ... It's a South Carolina thing!
Kermit1856 at 4:05PM on 08/04/09
Cheddar cheese, dipped in ketchup. Simple.
Every once in a while I will go with some sauteed mushrooms and some mayo in the ketchup, but that's a wild-hair kind of day, hahaa.
GretchinF at 4:27PM on 08/04/09
Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Romaine or a leafy lettuce, Tomato, mustard, ketchup, fresh pickles (not the sweet ones), fresh onions (chopped, white), Buttermilk ranch dressing, a chipolte sauce dressing mixed in and some sauteed' mushrooms.
On a plain bun. Yum.
Scoreboard44 at 4:40PM on 08/04/09
Favorite topping: sharp cheddar
auslunch at 5:01PM on 08/04/09
Mushrooms & swiss cheese!
bnicrhs at 5:42PM on 08/04/09
bacon, american cheese, and grilled onions.
fatthy at 6:38PM on 08/04/09
Raw onions and pickles!
burgertime at 10:09PM on 08/04/09
Another patty.
madturk at 10:29PM on 08/04/09
beefsteak tomato, sharp cheddar, green leaf lettuce, red onion
meccanaut at 10:58PM on 08/04/09
Avocado, swiss, bacon, mushrooms, and caramelized onions -- even all at once. NOM.
bansidhe at 12:46AM on 08/05/09
Peter Luger's for dinner...CB
jackalampm at 1:40AM on 08/05/09
Caramelized Red Onions that have been deglazed with red wine.
PrixFixe at 2:30AM on 08/05/09
American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard.
architeuthis at 5:42AM on 08/05/09
caramelized onions and mushrooms. Mayo on the bun.
lemonfair at 7:22AM on 08/05/09
If I had to pick one, then it'd be caramelized onions.
iyamapotato at 11:17AM on 08/05/09
Bacon!
tomteevee at 11:25AM on 08/05/09
american cheese.
pickles.
raw onion.
mustard and ketchup
please.
thank you.
intheyearofthepig at 11:25AM on 08/05/09
bacon.
avocado. cheese. mayo. ketchup. lettuce. ripe tomato slice
farmkat at 12:57PM on 08/05/09
American cheese and caramelized onions!
socalrobb at 1:18PM on 08/05/09
JALAPENOS.
(and bacon
shawnwich at 2:19PM on 08/05/09
Swiss cheese, raw onion, mayo, ketchup & mustard.
mgantolak at 2:20PM on 08/05/09
Cheedar Cheese!
Daniel85 at 2:21PM on 08/05/09
Pepper Jack!
whorne2006 at 2:29PM on 08/05/09
Also love, Blue Cheese, Swiss, Brie Cheese, Cheedar, BBQ Sauce, Mayo, Spicy Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato's, Bacon, Mushrooms, Avocado, Pickles, Carmarlized Onions or better Fried Onion rings...yummy! Well let's just say that I like alot of toppings...it's really hard to pick just one! The imagination is endless! :)
whorne2006 at 2:46PM on 08/05/09
Cheddar cheese for me too please.
semarr at 2:52PM on 08/05/09
Ok I have thought of yet another...it's called the Carolina Style or All The Way in North Carolina...you put chili, slaw, onions, & mustard...It's a southern thing!
whorne2006 at 2:53PM on 08/05/09
Cheddar cheese, bacon, or prosciutto...
recon at 2:58PM on 08/05/09
red onions, avocado, and jack cheese
Carioca at 2:59PM on 08/05/09
brie!
brianru at 3:34PM on 08/05/09
Tzatziki sauce, tomato and onion. It's a gyro burger!
Bossa Nova at 5:21PM on 08/05/09
Foie gras...mmmmm
MishyPoo at 5:23PM on 08/05/09
Cheddar, red onions and ketchup!
rchip123 at 5:26PM on 08/05/09
Onions, onions and more onions.
gratefulted at 5:31PM on 08/05/09
Onions of any type (red, Vidalia, grilled, fried, etc.)
DanCan at 6:28PM on 08/05/09
Sweet Vidalia onions with crisp thick-sliced bacon and American cheese. That's the way God intended.
sticky wicket at 6:53PM on 08/05/09
Definitely portabello mushroom and cheese, combine both together and cook it on the burger before serving it makes it the best topping ever.
EijiShinrow at 9:31PM on 08/05/09
chili
ocarol at 10:37PM on 08/05/09
monterey jack cheese and green chiles
fundido at 12:22AM on 08/06/09
That is a Beautiful Hamburger, the Pesto burger!
I am more of a basic burger kind or guy, but that is appealing!
phauxtoe at 8:19AM on 08/06/09
I like a mix of roasted chiles - poblano, green chiles and some jalapeno for a nice kick - thick cut bacon and nice cheddar cheese.
tiffanyh283 at 10:05AM on 08/06/09
My two favorite toppings are beets (yes, beets) and ketchup- altho not on the same burger.
kcenteno at 11:49AM on 08/06/09
Roquefort cheese and smoky bacon
hstern at 5:32PM on 08/06/09
LOTS of pickles, goat cheese, caramelized onions, chipotle sauce, pesto, cheese, tomatoes, onions (doesn't matter which kind), ketchup, and mustard is essencial.
mtgall at 8:26PM on 08/06/09
Smoked ham or blue cheese
geetness at 11:16PM on 08/06/09
Cheese is a must and lots of it. American, cheddar, gruyere, monterey jack. Ketchup, mustard, tomato, lettuce and raw onions. That's my ideal burger with the toppings that makes the burger.
Durano at 4:19AM on 08/07/09
Swiss, avocado, arugula, tomato, horseradish-mayo..
drunkenchef at 11:04AM on 08/07/09
blue cheese and carmelized onions!
schrutebucks at 1:15PM on 08/07/09
Bacon! (Cheese is just a given)
flourgirl72 at 4:29PM on 08/07/09
avocado
g1racie at 5:47PM on 08/07/09
Sharp Cheddar. I am from Wisconsin, after all.
icanhascheezburger at 6:25PM on 08/07/09
A not to sweet hickory sauce and a fried onion! I'm salivating just thinking of it.
Mike13241 at 10:06PM on 08/07/09
Cheese of any kind!!!! Lots of it!!!
pintsize at 11:58PM on 08/08/09
I can be all over the board, depending upon what type of burger I am building, but the one constant is some variety of cheese.
takhomasak at 9:33AM on 08/09/09
I'm slowly branching out, but my favorite topping is still just plain 'ol ketchup.
Megalomac at 1:38PM on 08/09/09
grilled onions, lettuce, and black pepper kettle chips.
misterchinn at 2:24AM on 08/10/09
Grilled onion and jalapenos, avocado, and mayo
EatWisconsin at 10:30AM on 08/10/09
Cheese
bearsilber at 10:36AM on 08/10/09
has to be a tie between goat cheese + homemade guac + roasted red peppers OR raclette cheese and caramelized onions! mmmm.
amystrauss at 10:44AM on 08/10/09
A tribute the the great and thrice greasy Roy Rogers Double R Bar Burger. Thinly sliced ham and aged cheddar topped with and sauce of dijon mustard, honey and mayonnaise.
Holly Moore at 10:46AM on 08/10/09
too many to choose from but, blue cheese, bacon, caramelized red onions are a perfect start
tempspaz at 11:37AM on 08/10/09
I'm traditional. Lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheddar cheese, and some condiments. Nothing exciting here.
MeganCochran at 4:33PM on 08/10/09
Thank you all for entering, and congrats to our winners!
drunkenchef
icanhascheezburger
Carioca
stewmeat
burgerluver
Winners have been contacted through email with more info on how to claim their books.
Robyn Lee at 4:34PM on 08/10/09