You could argue that the current best selling burgers (Maccas, Burger King) have won, or that certain gourmet burgers are the best. Not for me to say. I’m thinking of the next best thing, and to achieve that it needs to tick more boxes. Specifically Ease of Eating, Healthiness and Taste
Ease of Eating
This is easy. Most modern burgers are too vertical to fit in your mouth. This causes you to squeeze down on them and create a mess (or use a knife and fork). One excellent chain understand this – Smash Burger. What they don’t get is that the vegetables slip and slide…
Healthiness
The lazy burger creators will argue that lettuce, tomato and onion fulfil their vegetable requirements. But the kids of today want more healthiness (perceived or otherwise) than the 1950s.
To solve the slippery vegetable issue, I propose a vegetable fritter instead, but keeping the lettuce on its own – visually appealing. The lettuce is also a juice barrier to stop the bottom bun half getting soggy
A fritter means simpler construction, easier eating, and the capacity to introduce a variety of other vegetables, like carrot, kale, capsicum…
It is not too different to the currently popular hash brown in a burger.
Taste
I reckon regions work well – American, Australian, Asian, Chilli, Indian, Mexican. The beef remains the same, the lettuce is the same, all that changes is the vegetable fritter and the sauce
The Bun
Most burger businesses have a standard bun. I propose a choice of:
- Thin and unobtrusive, reminiscent of 1950s buns but flatter
- Sour dough, like a submarine sandwich
- Artisan – like a knot roll with seeds
The Meat Patty
Definitely offer a Vegan alternative, with Beyond Beef and vegan cheese.
The beef patty should be, like Smash Burger does, flat with a greater surface area and plenty of caramelisation, even the odd burnt bits.
A “less death” option could be 50% beef, 50% something else (like hamburger helper but use something cool). And it should cost $1 less!
The Cheese
I don’t think people care much which variety of cheese it has, just whether it has cheese or not. Probably two slices, above the patty and above the fritter – American or Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack x Cheddar.
Pepper Jack would be a good name for a burger place.