Re: Dinner in the year of our lord 20241031.

On Sat, 2 Nov 2024, jmcquown wrote:

On 11/2/2024 6:33 PM, Michael Trew wrote:

On 11/2/2024 5:17 PM, jmcquown wrote:

On 11/2/2024 5:02 PM, ItsJoanNotJoAnn wrote:

 You're probably right and I just can't seem to grasp
paying $20 for a burger, fries, and drink at Five Guys.
Whataburger was super unimpressive, and I even gave them
a second chance just in case it was an off day for them
or me.

 There is a 'Five Guys' in Beaufort.  I know some people who went there and they were definitely not impressed and said the price was outrageous.
 I have to ask, what's the big fascination with "smash burgers"?  Anyone ever heard of the Maillard reaction?  Restaurants charge a lot of money for something anyone can do at home by simply calling it a "smash burger".  Got a hot skillet?  Got a spatula?  You can make a smash burger for less than half the cost of having someone flatten it for you.

 Same deal as Primanti brothers.  Overpriced and over-hyped chain restaurant food.

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I suppose I just don't understand why people pay for overpriced food they could easily make at home, especially something as simple as hamburgers. Give it a fancy name such as "smash burger" and some people are all over it. It's a hamburger cooked hot and fast in a skillet in butter, smashed down with a spatula.  It does not warrant a $20 price tag.  Funny thing, for years chefs urged people to not press burgers with a spatula when cooking them because they'd be dry.  Now smashing them is all the rage.  Go figure. :)
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Jill
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Thank you for explaining the smash phenomenon! There is a place called "smashburger" here and I always wondered what it was. Now I know.
I suspect they have to add cheese to mitigate the potential dryness.
As for paying, I think it is due to the time savings. Professional business men value their time. Yes! They could go home and cook a burger, but that would negatively affect their work. Instead they choose a quick stop for a burger on their way to their next business meeting. At least I do (when I have physical meetings and my day is packed) from time to time.