Inaugural Post for Albany Burger Exmainer

This post also appears at www.examiner.com, Albany Burger Examiner.

Welcome to Cheeseburgers in Purgatory, and welcome to my inaugural column on a meal that most of us take for granted yet appreciate greatly: the cheeseburger. As a painter and poet, writing an article about cheeseburgers in the greater Albany area provides an opportunity to share with fellow aficionados my passion for my favorite everyday food. Along with the written description, pictures – possibly even paintings – might accompany this column.

Almost every self-respecting restaurant or bar that serves food will likely have a cheeseburger on its menu. Some will offer a number of different burgers with different toppings, naming them related to the toppings (e.g., Bacon Blues Burger at Brown’s Brewing Company) or to something specific about the area or neighborhood (the Willett at Tess’ Lark Tavern). Some will graciously allow you to create your own burger. My mission, with this column, is to explore all these options – within my means and without pushing my heart to its limits – and share my feelings on the burger, the environment in which it is served, and any other thoughts that enjoying the burger evokes.

Over time, there are three ways that this column will try to approach the burger. The first is to pick a single place, and explore all of its different burger options. The second option, is to seek out a number of different places and sample burgers with a similar design (example: a bacon, swiss and mushroom burger), or to find places that allow me to create my own burger and experiment, without limitations. This last exercise would be reserved for places that I consider the best burgers in town.

Additionally, I will write about what I drank with the burgers, whether it is a soda or a beer or a glass of wine, and how that beverage interacted with the flavor of the cheeseburger. I will also try to write about the local flavor of an establishment, if there is anything unique to it. This column is dedicated to and organized around the cheeseburger, but it is important as a writer to keep my eyes open and share experiences that you, the reader, might appreciate.

Lastly, the title of this column needs a little explaining. Due to various external and internal forces, my life is going through a period of major transition. A lot of change, a lot of movement. It is neither a utopia nor a dystopia; nor is it a heaven or hell. It is purgatory. While transitions occur, one sometimes feels that one is in a state of limbo, trying to take action but waiting for movement in any direction. This is the state I find myself. Perhaps this odyssey with the cheeseburger will push me along to a better place. At the very least, I – and my readers – will enjoy each moment as we savor our cheeseburgers in Purgatory.

Nearer my God...

The Bacon Blues Burger, Brown's on River Street in Troy.
417 River Street, Troy, NY ph. (518) 273-2337

Writing about a cheeseburger is actually harder than anticipated. I've sat on this post for a while, started to write a piece describing the restaurant and the burger, deleted that, and then wrote about two false heart scares I had and whether it was in the best interest of my health to engage on an epic journey involving cheeseburgers (which inspired the title of this posting). The health scare writing just seemed too dark and almost discouraged me from taking on this column at all, so I deleted that as well. The best thing I could do, I figured, was just write and edit and see what happened.

The Bacon Blues Burger, inspired by both the City of Chicago and - in name at least - Jake and Ellwood Blues, is an outstanding cheeseburger. That first bite of medium-well ground beef, melted blue cheese, bacon, and a lightly-battered onion ring (with just a little ketchup in the center of the ring and a tomato for good measure) obliterated any concerns I had for my heart. The second, third and fourth bites, taken with healthy sips of Brown's pale ale, were just as enjoyable.

Also, I had the company of a wonderful woman friend that afternoon. Our discussion about writing, websites, collages, gardening, and being able to enjoy the intricate designs and patterns that appear before our very eyes, if we just paid attention to them, contributed to the experience. It also led me to believe that sometimes having a companion along for each outing might not be a bad idea. At the very least, I would probably slow down my pace of consumption.

Our discussion led me to think about how to craft a column about cheeseburgers so that it is readable and exciting. Sometimes, a short and brief description of the meal is appropriate. At other times, perhaps a comparison of similar types of burgers at different establishments might provide readers with options for their own exploration. Lastly, experimenting with different burgers from the same place could be fun, especially at places that allow you to create your own burger. There are myriad options.

I am glad that I formally kicked off this initiative at Browns and with the Bacon Blues Burger. The beer, the companionship, taking the photograph, and of course the burger itself, all made for a wonderful hour and a great experience.

Creature of Habit

As a consumer of cheeseburgers, I tend to be a creature of habit. This habit involves walking around the corner and sitting at the middle of the bar at Justin's on Lark Street in Albany, ordering either a beer or a soda - depending on my mood or schedule, and then placing an order for a cheeseburger. I am a regular there, and it is usually a given to whichever beautiful woman tends bar that afternoon that I will order the burger. And up until recently, I would order the same burger: swiss cheese and bacon, tomatoes, no lettuce, no onion and macaroni salad. Justin's has a great macaroni salad, by the way; not to heavy on the mayo, lightly seasoned. Sometimes, if famished, I will order their outstanding, well-salted steak fries, but usually I will settle for chips.

When the burger arrives, I will usually spread a not-so-light coat of mayonaisse on the inside of each bun, followed by just a little ketchup. I will then hold the burger vertically, to allow any excess juices or ketchup drip onto the plate, and then I will take that first bite. The best first bite is when I take in the burger, a bit of bacon and the swiss cheese all at once. It is not a big bite, in the Homer Simpson style, but a smaller one, in which I take in the burger and its accessories and chew quietly, savoring the special combination of flavors. Then I will swallow and chase the bite down with a sip of beer, usually a Sierra Nevada.

What makes the experience special for me at Justin's is the fact that I am a creature of habit, a regular, and that I have a good rapport with the lunchtime cook, who is always conscientious about how my burger is done (even one time bringing out extra bacon when he forgot to put it on the burger). I also have a good rapport with whichever bartender is there.

Eating a burger at Justin's is almost a regular religious experience, much in the same way that old men and women attend the same mass at the same church every day or every other day. Sitting there, enjoying my burger, i savor the process of ordering, eating, drinking and conversing (if anyone is around). Upon leaving, I usually feel content and fulfilled, and have faith that when I go back, my needs will be met again.

Welcome to Purgatory

My life, currently, is Purgatory. A state of limbo, neither Heaven nor Hell, where sometimes my best efforts and attempts to improve things end up with me...well, waiting for an outcome, a decision, or an improvement.

This sounds a bit too passive, and perhaps a bit too defeatist, but it is what it is.

This is no way to live.

One of the few affordable luxuries in my life - besides a few oils and some canvases - is the simple pleasure of a cheeseburger. And while sitting at the bar of a local restaurant, savoring my most recent cheeseburger, it dawned on me that it was time to be a bit more proactive. If I love writing, love bars, and love cheeseburgers so much, why not find a way to get paid to write about the various cheeseburgers served at local establishments!

Recently, I applied to do a column for an online newspaper/magazine, where I would discuss the cheeseburger....and where to find good ones in the Capital Region. I would also discuss the different choices we have for our cheeseburgers, what places had the best cheeseburgers, what kind of beer or wine goes well with any cheeseburger, and how I would avoid getting fat while engaging in this odyssey.

Should this attempt to get paid to write about cheeseburgers fail, I've decided that I should write the column as a blog.

This is that blog.

Welcome to Cheeseburgers in Purgatory.