Today is the 60th anniversary of the legendary In-N-Out Burger. As we posted about earlier this month, the rumors about a special price rollback today are false. Repeat: The In-N-Out rumors are a hoax! So don't be bum-rushin' the place for dinner tonight.
Today we're going through a stack of shamefully unanswered emails. Here's one that poses an interesting question that perhaps AHT readers can shed some light on....
Dear AHT: I have a question for you that maybe you could answer for me and my friend, chef Chris George of Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'm trying to get him to put a tortilla burger on the lunch specials menu, and he wants to know where the recipe originated. I'm pretty sure it's a New Mexican invention, but I couldn't find anything from googling it or on Wikipedia.
A tortilla burger's pretty easya burger is grilled, wrapped in a flour tortilla, cheese and green or red chile is put on top, and it goes under the broiler for a half a minute. You eat it with a fork and knife. We had it at the Blue Corn Cafe and Brewery in Santa Fe when I worked there. It's somewhat common on menus in New Mexico. I'd serve a little salad with a fresh cornbean-cilantro-and-lime topping on the side.
Whaddaya think? Can you help shed some light on the subject? Chris and I want to know. Dave
Dear Dave: I suspect burger purists are horrified at the idea of this concoction, but it sounds pretty interesting. Almost like a burger-based version of Taco's Bell's excellent Crunchwrap Supreme product. But a thousand times better. I don't know what the origins are, off hand. Can't your friend Chris add it to the menu without the origin story? See how it goes. And when you make them, take a picture and send it our way.
Readers: Do any of you know the origin of this "burger"? Email us or leave your answers in the Comments section. The Management
Some quick googleresearch reveals that Blake's Lotaburger started in 1952 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now has 75 locations in the Land of Enchantment.
AHT thinks the billboard is brilliant, but we've never had a Lotaburger. So tell us, New Mexicans: Do you stand in awe of Blake's?
Here's a killer list we've mentioned on AHT but have never elaborated on. It's Alan Richman's top 20 from his July 2005 story "The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die" in GQ. Do click through to read the entire piece; it quickly made its way onto the Required Reading list at AHT HQ. Bon appétit! ...