The History Of The Hamburger: From Genghis Khan To A Symbol Of America

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Like most world-famous foods, so does the hamburger there are many fathers and homelands. His tracks date back to the 12th century, he traveled a lot of countries, traveled by land and sea and after all his incarnations today he is comfortably settled everywhere. But there is only one country where the hamburger is so popular that it has become a national dish. And that, of course, is America.

Otherwise, as its name suggests, the hamburger is considered to have been born in Hamburg, Germany. In the 19th century, with the migration of German immigrants, he moved to America. But at the time, its main ingredient, minced meat steak, had already made its way into history.

The first traces of the hamburger date back to the distant 12th century. At that time, Genghis Khan (1155-1227) decided to conquer the world with his army of ferocious Mongol cavalry. They rode small muscular ponies and spent so much time in their saddles that they did not even have time to get down to eat. The Mongol chief's cavalry began to carry with them minced meat, which they placed under the saddles to flatten so that it became comfortable to eat with one hand on the road.

In 1238, Genghis Khan's grandson, Kubilai Khan, invaded Moscow and introduced minced meat, later recognized by the Russians as Steak Tartarus (Tartarus was the name given to the Mongols at the time and to this day). today). There, the dish is enriched with onions and raw eggs and flavored in this way, it travels around Europe.

Every Bulgarian's favorite meatball today testifies that the trend that originated with the Tatars has not passed Bulgaria. Thus, from country to country, minced meat arrived in Hamburg, Germany, where it became especially popular in the late 18th century.

The middle of the 19th century was the time when a huge number of Germans decided to leave their country and go in search of happiness in America. And, of course, their path to a new future and great opportunities starts from the port of Hamburg. The minced beef steak is the main dish served on board the HAPAG (Hamburg Amerikanische Paketfahrt Actien-Gesellschaft), the most popular line sailing between Hamburg and the United States.

At this time, the meat is salted, mixed with onions and breadcrumbs, and sometimes pre-smoked so that it can be stored during the long journey. And so, the hamburger crosses the Atlantic with immigrants. At this time in the port of New York, the sellers of meat stalls showed cunning and began to lure German sailors with inscriptions: Steak, prepared in Hamburg.

Jewish immigrants did not stop making the chopped steak, and the recipe spread throughout America. From New York to California, passing through Dakota, Iowa and Colorado, the hamburger, which reminds immigrants of their homeland, is rapidly becoming a sign of belonging to Uncle Sam's country.

The hamburger is even being served to workers in the factory canteen. By this time, the meat was already placed between two slices of bread and accompanied by several potatoes. By the way, many Americans dispute the authorship of this brilliant idea, which today defines the burger portion.

The burger is not only being eaten more and more often and its recipe is touring America, but it is being written about. On January 5, 1885, a newspaper in Washington first mentioned the word hamburger in one of its columns to describe the famous Hamburg steak.

In 1931, the comic Popeye released a new character, Wimpy, whose hallmark was that he adored burgers. Its popularity grew so much that a hamburger chain was named Wimps. In 1978, however, its creator died and by his will all 1,500 restaurants of the chain were closed.

But the hamburger doesn't die. In 1940, two brothers decided to open a hamburger stand in San Bernadino. Morris and Richard MacDonald began offering them to their customers in a self-service restaurant and quickly became known throughout the country.

In 1954, Ray Croc, a kitchen appliance retailer, was intrigued by a large order coming from California. During a tour, Cork took the opportunity to go to San Bernadino and visit this curious customer. So he found himself in the modest restaurant of the McDonald brothers and the long queue of customers in front of him.

Impressed by the speed of service and the low prices of small breads with chopped steak, ketchup and salad, Ray Kroc offered a deal to both owners. He later left them with a franchise agreement authorizing him to open a chain of restaurants, which he would later name McDonald’s.

We all know the continuation of history, and that is - the conquest of the entire planet.