The history of the burger – Part 1
Hello Burger Fans!
Today we’re going to tell you the thrilling “History” of the Burger!
You know, The Huggy’s Bar is an indisputable burger fan. But before becoming a true Burger expert, it was essential for us to know its history.
Act 1 – Episode 1: Origins – aka the Big Bang of the Burger
The origins of the hamburger go back to the 13th century (yes, that far!). At that time, the Mongolian and Turkish tribes known as Tartars travelled long distances on their faithful mounts without being able to stop to eat. They had the brilliant idea of placing beef under their saddle to tenderise it so it would be easy to cut and eat with one hand. And yes, no fridges or knives at the time – it was all makeshift...
In 1238, a Mongol emperor invaded Moscow, introducing minced meat, which Russians then called “Steak Tartare” in reference to the invaders. The Russians embellished this meat with onions and raw egg. As you can see, we didn’t invent anything…
This dish travelled and was introduced to Germany in the 14th century, where Germans seasoned it with numerous spices to aid preservation, and ate it raw or cooked.
By the 18th century, this dish, then called “Steak de Hambourg”, was ubiquitous in German cooking.
Act 1 – Episode 2: The Great Migration aka So long Patty!
In the 19th century, many Germans longing to conquer the New World left Germany en masse via the port of Hamburg to reach New York. Like all mass migrations, the migrants brought with them typical foods from their country, including the famous Steak de Hambourg, packaged as dried sausages, spiced and rolled in breadcrumbs, allowing for excellent preservation. And yes, there was a time when the 4‑week boat crossing was the only way to get to New York – and without a tax‑free zone of course!
Very quickly, numerous stalls selling “steak à la façon de Hambourg” sprang up on the New York docks. The Jewish immigrants continued to prepare it this way and the recipe spread across America. From New York to California, via the Great Lakes, Dakota, Iowa and Colorado. At the time, beef was expensive in the United States and not very popular. Pork was sold and cooked mostly by Americans. The Steak de Hambourg thus appeared as a good alternative, allowing families on modest incomes to eat beef.
Minced steak thus made its big appearance in the United States. But there was still no question at the time of serving it between two slices of bread…
The rest of this culinary adventure awaits you in la deuxième partie de notre série sur l’histoire du burger. Discover how the burger became the iconic dish we know and love today.
Fancy savouring an authentic burger after this fascinating read?
Don’t wait any longer and book your table now at your favourite Huggy’s Bar restaurant!
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