Luther Burger

Luther Burger

Homemade Luther Burger with fries
Origin
Alternative name(s)	Donut burger[1] Doughnut burger[2][3]
Place of origin	United States
Creator(s)	Disputed
Dish details
Main ingredient(s)	Doughnuts
Approximate calories per serving	800 to 1,500 calories (3,300 to 6,300 kJ)

A Luther Burger, or doughnut burger (among several naming variations), is a hamburger or cheeseburger with one or more glazed doughnuts in place of the bun. These sandwiches have a disputed origin, and tend to run between approximately 800 and 1,500 calories (3,300 and 6,300 kJ).

Origins

According to legend, the burger was named for and was a favorite (and possible invention) of singer-songwriter and record producer Luther Vandross.^[4] This origin is mentioned in a January 2006 episode of animated series The Boondocks, "The Itis", in which the character Granddad creates a restaurant which serves the burger.^[5]

Mulligan's, a suburban bar in Decatur, Georgia, serves the Luther Burger in addition to their "hamdog". The Daily Telegraph reported that Mulligan's may be progenitor of the burger when the owner substituted the doughnuts when running out of buns.^[4][6]

Products

Marketed names
Crave Doughnut Burger
Craz-E Burger[6]
Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger[7][8]
Krispy Kreme Donut Burger[9][10]
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Burger

The Gateway Grizzlies baseball team of Sauget, Illinois have served the Luther Burger at their ballpark. Their version consists of a deep-fried Krispy Kreme doughnut around a black Angus all-beef patty, melted cheese, and two strips of bacon. Dubbed a cardiologist's worst nightmare, this burger is 1,000 calories (4,200 kJ). Aside from bringing in revenue from sales, it has drawn more fans to come out to the ballpark: apparently, attendance at games has increased and the burger is one of the most popular aspects of the park. The burger has met with criticism from burger purists and from people who are turned off by the thought of the taste and the health implications.^[11]

In Astoria, Queens, a Lebanese burger restaurant began selling a halal-compliant version of the Luther Burger (a Crave Doughnut Burger) with turkey bacon in 2010. The restauranteur added the ¹⁄₄-pound (0.11 kg) burger to the menu after a friend experienced one while traveling through the Southern United States. Restaurant owner Mr. Zabib sells 10–20 of the US$6.50 burgers per day, and is fairly certain they were unique to New York City upon their introduction.^[12]

Doughnut burger served at the 2010 Olmsted County Fair in Minnesota

Around the United States, copies and variations of the Luther Burger have appeared at state fairs. The 2010 Wisconsin State Fair variation held a ¹⁄₄-pound Angus beef burger, topped with Wisconsin cheddar cheese and two strips of chocolate-covered bacon, on a toasted Krispy Kreme doughnut bun. The burger sold for US$5 and equaled 1,000 Calories.^[7] Erika Celeste, for National Public Radio's All Things Considered detailed a "doughnut burger" sold at the 2010 Indiana State Fair when discussing the imaginative and caloric "arms race" at state fairgrounds to devise new "wackier" menu items: "[a] fresh patty of beef and melted cheese sandwiched between two glazed doughnuts". The Indiana vendor explained his impetus to sell the burger after seeing Paula Deen "[do] it on TV". The 800-calorie (3,300 kJ) burger was described as having a salty-sweet taste, and surprisingly ungreasy.^[13] The "Krispy Kreme Doughnut Burger" as served at the 2010 Mississippi State Fair was garnished with "lettuce, tomato and a generous slice of raw onion", and was estimated to provide 1,500 calories (6,300 kJ).^[14] The Alabama,^[9] Arizona,^[1] Louisiana,^[10] North Carolina,^[8] South Carolina,^[2] and Tulsa State Fairs^[3] also served up Luther Burger variants in 2010.

Epic Burgers and Waffles (EBW) introduced their doughnut cheeseburger to the 2011 Canadian National Exhibition; they were inspired after seeing it at fairs in the Southern United States and noting its popularity at the Calgary Stampede the month before. EBW's version cost C$8 (or C$10 to add bacon and a fried egg), and contained 1,500 calories (6,300 kJ).^[15]

See also

Food portal

• Bacon Explosion
• List of sandwiches

Media related to Luther Burger at Wikimedia Commons

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Yost, Barbara (2010-10-08). "20 restaurants with over-the-top dishes". The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona: Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5trAien6K. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Leary, Sara (2010-10-24). "A Fair Finale". The Daily Gamecock (Columbia, South Carolina, USA: University of South Carolina). Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5tqs1RJ0y. Retrieved 2010-10-29. "Annual festival ends with concert, fanfare" 
3. ^ ^{a b} "A little night music". Tulsa World (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA: World Publishing Company). 2010-10-07. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5tqshk9xM. Retrieved 2010-10-29. "Fair enough? Hardly." 
4. ^ ^{a b} Mikkelson, Barbara; Mikkelson, David P. (2005-03-03). "Luther Burger". Urban Legends Reference Pages. San Fernando Valley, California, United States. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5tbNy82S7. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
5. ^ "The Itis". The Boondocks. Adult Swim. January 22, 2006 (2006-01-22). No. 10, season 1.
6. ^ ^{a b} Leonard, Tom (2009-10-06). "Craz-E Burger: Americans embrace 1,500 calorie doughnut burger" (in British English). The Daily Telegraph (London, England, UK: Telegraph Media Group). ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. http://www.webcitation.org/5tsWlHJma. Retrieved 2010-10-30. "Calorie-comfortable Americans have found the perfect rejoinder to the healthy eating lobby - the doughnut burger." 
7. ^ ^{a b} Hammel, Cailley (2010-08-06). "A Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger? Only at the State Fair". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: Journal Communications). ISSN 1082-8850. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5tbMwPpya. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Krispy Kreme Cheese Burger Proves Popular At NC State Fair". The Raleigh Telegram (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA). 2010-10-29. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5tqrfknco. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Okarmus, Matt (2010-10-17). "Last call for the fair: Autauga County Fair wrapped up Saturday; Montgomery's ends today". Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama: Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5trBSSk6U. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
10. ^ ^{a b} Pea, Donecia (2010-10-22). "More, more, more". The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana, USA: Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5trAN46ad. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
11. ^ Golden, Jessica; Figueredo, Lynda (2006-06-23). "Ballpark Burger Adds Krispy Kremes to the Mix". New York City, United States: ABC News. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5tbKizk1S. Retrieved 2010-10-19. "An All-Beef Patty With Cheese, Bacon on Krispy Kreme Donut Buns" 
12. ^ Pearson, Erica (2010-07-07). "Try this burger with bacon and cheese served on a sugary doughnut bun, but no lard included". Daily News (New York City, USA: Mortimer Zuckerman). Archived from the original on 2010-11-02. http://www.webcitation.org/5tx7N06BV. Retrieved 2010-11-02. 
13. ^ Celeste, Erika (2010-08-20). "In Iowa, Indiana State Fairs, Weird Foods Reign" (streaming audio). All Things Considered (Indiana, USA: National Public Radio). Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5tbTkvUU1. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
14. ^ Wilson, Karen (2010-10-13). "Introducing the Donut Burger…". Jackson, Mississippi, USA: WJTV. Archived from the original on 2010-10-29. http://www.webcitation.org/5tqtI5i1c. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
15. ^ Er-Chua, Gloria (2011-08-04). "Doughnut cheeseburger debuts at CNE" (in Canadian English). Toronto Star (Toronto, Canada: John Cruickshank). ISSN 0319-0781. OCLC 137342540. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. http://www.webcitation.org/60lXqa5F8. Retrieved 2011-08-07.