With our hamburgers in Budapest, we not only want to cater for those who want to themed restaurants in Budapest prefer places that have something to do with magic, but undeniably we also target those who live and die for a good quality burger. And at The Magic, there's no shortage of them: our magic burgers are sure to have everyone licking their chops. But how long have we had this simple but great dish, the creation of which is the stuff of legend? Who is the father of the burger, or who has made a major contribution to making it one of the most popular toppings in the world, both at home and abroad? Read on to find out more about the burger and where it came from!
From Hamburg steak to a burger joint in Budapest
It's hard to think of the burger as an innovative invention, but after the days of eating with a knife and fork, strictly over a table, the hamburger was a real curiosity even overseas. The word hamburger itself comes from the name of the German city of Hamburg. It is said that immigrants from Hamburg brought their recipe to America, which at the time was nothing more than a piece of meat hidden between two pieces of bread. However, the meat known collectively as Hamburg steak was already popular in Germany in the 1700s, but only the type of meat itself was known then. It was nothing more than a kind of beef mixture flavoured with onions and spices.
The hamburger has had an easy time gaining a foothold in America: popular fast food chains like McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's have quickly seen the fantasy in this culinary wonder.
They are the ones who helped invent the hamburger
There are still many theories about who, when and where the hamburger was invented, and how it is still known today. In the running for the hamburger inventor prize is Fletcher Davis from Texas, who took the sandwich to the World's Fair in St Louis. But then there's Charlie Nagreent, who is said to have been just 15 when he sold the first meatballs sandwiched between two slices of bread at a fair in Seymour.
According to the earliest known American sources, the Hamburger steak first appeared on the menu of the Delmonico Restaurant, which was attributed to chef Charles Ranhofer. At the time, it was 1873, the dish on the menu was up to 10 centimetres high and was sold as the most expensive dish on the menu.
And last but not least, the invention of the hamburger is also associated with Frank and Charles Menches, who sold sausage sandwiches at a fair in Hamburg, New York. They did this until they ran out of pork, but to save the day, they started selling beef sandwiches to hungry customers.