Skip to main content

Celebrate National Hamburger Month With Some Creative Choices

Order up a burger and know that you’re right in style for National Hamburger Month. Of course, it takes more to make a great burger than just shaping a patty and putting it on the grill. We’ve found some restaurants around the country that will solve your burger craving with some unique options.

The 21 Club in New York City offers the same high-quality gourmet burger they first introduced to the market in the 1950s. The 21 Burger features custom prime aged beef that’s topped with sautéed onions, tomato, and house-made pickles served on a warm artisanal challah roll.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Austin, TX, wins rave reviews for burgers that feature beef from humanely raised cows without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. They grind the meat fresh daily to create such masterpieces as the Primetime Burger, crafted from a breed of Japanese Wagyu cattle: (Texas Akaushi beef, brie cheese, truffle aioli, arugula, caramelized onions and steak sauce).

All natural, hormone-free beef is ground fresh daily at Burgatory at soon to be five locations in Pennsylvania. Lots of unique choices. Check out the Elk Gone Wild Burger—Diablo dusted grass-fed elk with smoked gouda, caramelized onion marmalade & bacon jam with roasted tomato vinaigrette tossed arugula.

If you’re ever in San Antonio, N.M., The Buckhorn Tavern is the place to be when you’re craving a burger. The claim to fame is the Buckhorn Green Chile Cheeseburger. The juicy beef is topped with loads of green chile, pickle, tomatoes, lettuce and mustard. Don’t get distracted by other burger choices on the menu. This is the one to order.

Dirty South burger at Chuck'sThey’re definitely thinking outside of the traditional burger box at Chuck’s in Raleigh, N.C. If you’re not a burger purist, try The Dirty South (Carolina).

Shown in the picture to the left, it’s crafted from smoked pork shoulder, red pea “chili,” crispy tobacco onions, roasted tomato malt vinegar slaw, Ashe Co. mountain cheddar and mustard.

If you’re not a meat eater, you can still enjoy a burger. Farm Burger, which offers 100% grassfed beef, chicken and pork, also has vegetarian and vegan options. At its three metro Atlanta locations, order up a Veggie Quinoa Burger made with mixed greens, marinated beets, balsamic onions and garlic aioli. At the location in Asheville, N.C., there’s a Vegan Burger on the menu. It has sea island red pea, smiling hara smoked tempeh, black-eyed pea burger, clover sprouts, red cabbage and basil tofu spread.

The Manual
The Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. Whether it be fashion, food, drink, travel…
The best añejo tequilas to prepare for Cinco de Mayo
Drin anejo tequila this Cinco de Mayo
Tequila shot with salt

When it comes to drinking holidays, there are two that stand out. The first is St. Patrick’s Day with its green beer, Irish whiskey, and dry Irish stouts. The second is Cinco de Mayo with its tequila and Mexican beer. While we honestly don’t know why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we do know that Cinco de Mayo is not a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day (that’s in September). It’s the day to remember the Mexican victory over France in the Battle of Pueblo.

Over the years, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we’ve enjoyed our fair share of blanco tequila shots and light Mexican lagers. As we’ve grown, we’ve realized we prefer something with a little more complexity. That’s why this year we’re going to sip añejo tequilas instead.
What is an añejo tequila?

Read more
Secrets revealed: Easy ways to elevate your cocktail game from a pro mixologist
How to improve your home mixology game
grasshopper cocktail

Making a top-notch cocktail is not implied. Even if you're working with a great drink recipe or all the necessary ingredients, you still have to execute. Fortunately, we know some people in the trade who have been turning out incredible cocktails for years.

That's certainly the case with Mike Milligan. He's the lead barkeep at Four Seasons in Oahu. From twists on classic cocktails to nailing a good egg white drink, he's the man for the job.

Read more
Clams vs mussels: The differences explained
These two delicious ingredients are more different than you think
Seafood pasta

For whatever reason, shellfish has a rather high-maintenance reputation. Perhaps it's simply the lack of familiarity in many American households. Clams and mussels are indeed a delicious indulgence when dining out, but they are not necessarily a staple of weeknight dinners at home—at least, not necessarily in non-coastal states. Salmon or shrimp may be the fish that grace our tables on seafood night, but seldom mussels or clams. This may be because shellfish can be tricky and unfamiliar.

The truth is that both clams and mussels are impressive, delicious ingredients that are truly easy to prepare in a variety of ways. Whether steamed, broiled, baked, sauteed, or grilled, these beautifully briney little mollusks make for meals that feel elegant and sophisticated but with very little effort and usually a relatively small price tag. But what's the difference between these two shellfish, and how are they best used in your dishes at home?
Clams vs mussels: Similarities and differences

Read more