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In tough times, diners aren't going for the prime rib or petit filet mignon.
Instead, they're looking to get their gourmet beef fix from designer hamburgers -- and restaurants are turning the fast-food sandwich into a "fine dining experience" all over the country, Voice of America News reported.
"I think with the economy the way it is now, honestly, I think there is more room for profit in a burger restaurant than there is in a steak house right now," Greg Cook, head chef at the BLT Mirage in Las Vegas, told VoA News. "I think that the general public can always afford to have a burger."
And they're not the only ones turning to toppings like fried eggs, spicy fresh aïoli and even truffles to take burgers to the next level.
"We're using certified black Angus beef. It's all organic, no hormones," Brian Ogden, owner of Munch Bar at Ceasar's Palace, told VoA News.
"We're going to the farmers' markets everyday, picking out the ingredients, the lettuces, washing them ourselves and doing all organic romaines and icebergs and the boutique lettuces like red leaf, making our jalapeño mayonnaise, spicy remoulades, little relishes, homemade relishes from scratch. Takes a lot of stuff that goes into this everyday and our guys start early in the morning prepping the ingredients fresh daily."
Even Iron Chefs are going gourmet with burgers, like Chef Kerry Simon, owner of KGB: Kerry's Gourmet Burgers in the Harrah's casino in Las Vegas.
"I did 'Iron Chef' and it was a main ingredient on 'Iron Chef' so I did the ultimate hamburger and then I started fooling around with other different flavorings of meat and that kind of thing and my other restaurants and we've gotten awards for burgers in my other places so one thing led to another, Harrah's called me and asked me to do a burger bar," he told VoA News.
And burgers are expected to continue to be big sellers as the economy staggers on.
A survey from consulting firm Technomic found burgers have become more popular in the recession, with 90 percent of respondents saying they have them at least once a month. More than a third bite into a burger once a week, VoA News reported.
Are you going gourmet with burgers? Tell us in the comments.
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9-15-2010 @3:12PM Chris said... a mix of ground beef and ground buffalo. Topped with smoked Gouda thinly sliced and Dijon mustard.
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9-18-2010 @8:30AM accutek380 said... we can do that in our back yards I hope those peole didn't over pay what a waste of money
9-17-2010 @7:05AM Craig said... Pardonez Moi, BUT, are you just completely Forked in the head??? Angus turds aside, this ain't no ribeye; no matter whether you put it in a party dress and make it sing God Bless America. This idea is being foisted on America by the same "folks" that made women want to join the workforce and bring the dawn of the 2 income wealthy class (with kids) that became a necessity as deregulated, corporate America inflated the price of consumer goods beyond what the average one income household could afford. And LOOK where we are now! The economic backlash of greed has brought an end to the possibility of those once-desired and now-needed jobs, putting millions of them overseas with bottom-line profiteering, collapsing the economy and devastating the financial security for all but the absolute upper echelons of corporate directorships. So, grab your 73% lean and gril it over your dumpster grate behind the RNC; because Mitch McConnell has said "Let them eat burger cakes", and you asked With What Sir?
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9-17-2010 @9:10AM Kerry said... hahahahahaha! i love that you aren't ashamed to take food (and no doubt yourself) waaaaaaay too seriously! :-)
long live the gourmet burger!!
9-17-2010 @10:06AM Valerie said... I don't agree with all of what you said, but I do appreciate your humor and sarcasm and comedic timing!!!!!! I am so laughing!!!! Thank you!!! :)
9-17-2010 @10:15AM Don Sherline said... There's always someone who tries to make the conversation into something political. Quit trying to make it into something that it isn't. This is an article about burgers, damnit. Nothing more.
9-17-2010 @8:12AM Bill said... Burgers are burgers-Even though I love a good juicy burger, the expression goes " You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. " There is nothing better than a good steak, marinated or plain, medium rare. And, for all these overpriced restaurants and steakhouses, I still rarely find something better than what I can get from a good butcher cooked on my grill in my own yard.
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9-17-2010 @11:35AM Jim said... KUDOS!!! Finally! Somone who has it right.. A burger is a burger. Fancy fixin's aren't the way to go. There is nothing like a burger hand formed and cooked over REAL charcoal in the back yard. Have a layout set aside with the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayo, mustard, & ketchup,a dn then pig out! The farthest "different" offering to a burger is grilled onions.Screw these gourmet burgers. Damn.. Now I have a bunch of drool going on.... Time to prep the grill...
9-17-2010 @11:52AM Bill said... To Jim-
If you don't mind me adding mushrooms and swiss to the burger fixins- we gotta get together one day!!!!
Ever try a burger on an oversized English Muffin! Nor THAT'S goumet to me!!!
Yea- I'm droolin now too...
9-17-2010 @8:36AM pamela j camara said... I come from a family of eight. My dad worked two jobs, mom never worked, but cooked like a pro. One of my favorite hamburgers were her Italy burgers. She would mix the hambugers with all her great spices, make your burger, then cook them on a grill, All we had was a charcoal grill. Serve with slice provalone cheesse and tomatoe, great. If too cold out side, she would cook them in a big fry pan, add her great sauce and make meat ball burgers. A run off on that she would make brown gravy ,onions and mushrooms and serve over mashpotatos, quick cheap meal!
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9-17-2010 @10:24AM Sunday said... Hey Pam ~ Loved reading about your reminicing of your Mom's burgers...except for one thing - It's never too cold to grill outside!!! lol :)
9-17-2010 @9:28AM memaw said... I think there has always been a market for a good hamburger; they were just harder to find.
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10-15-2010 @11:30AM GemandJewell said... I agree. I've made many "Gourmet" burgers myselfat home over the years, including some that I see in the burger joints now a days. Like with a fried egg or onion rings or pineapple etc. Although the fancy burgers taste great and are less expensive than steak when dinning out, they are still way over priced at most places and can never replace a good Steak dinner!
9-17-2010 @9:57AM Chuck said... Sorry but new steak is veal, a hamburger is a hamburger no matter how much you charge for it. I don't care if you ground up fillet mignon it's still a hamburger when it gets ground up. So don't peddle your overpriced burgers as if they were steaks. Steaks take a certain art to cook them properly and anyone can cook a burger so any fool that pays over $6.00 per burger should know they are getting ripped off.
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9-17-2010 @10:06AM Don Sherline said... Burgers the "new" steak? "Designer" hamburgers? It's a joke, right? Someone's failed attempt at comedy? GET REAL!!! There's nothing "new" about it and it's not steak, it's burger. In economic hard times people have always gravitated towards more burger and less steak. Burger is less costly. No matter how you fix it or what you do to it, it's still ground beef, not steak.
While we're on the subject, OH, YEAH!!!. There's nothing like a burger about 1/3 pound pre cooked, reasonably lean, and cooked on the old kettle charcoal grill. Dress it up however you like it and you're there!
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9-17-2010 @11:42AM JudeThom said... A good burger is a wonderful thing, much better than steak anyday!
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9-17-2010 @11:44AM JudeThom said... A good burger is a wonderful thing! Much better than steak anyday!!!
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9-17-2010 @12:00PM Larry said... The food Nazis aren't gonna like this!!!!
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9-17-2010 @12:20PM Sam said... Actually, what you pay for these "gourmet" burgers at most restaurants will pay for a nice steak at a reasonably priced restaurant like Outback! I'm not sure what you gain, other than overpaying for a hamburger!
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9-17-2010 @12:25PM shunk said... Who says steak is too expensive? The same people who'll take the whole family to a pro baseball or football game and fork out a bundle. Change your priorities. Watch the game on tv and eat steak instead.
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