Ready To Try A “Steamed Cheeseburg?”
Well, I am, since the terrific restaurant Hamburger America in New York brings in a Chef to share a unique burger recipe each month! This time, let’s see what Bill Foreman of Ted’s Restaurant in Meriden Connecticut has to offer!
“Hamburger America” is Chef and Burger Historian George Motz’s restaurant on New York’s lower west side, and every month, another Chef’s unique burger is featured on the menu.
The “Steamed Cheeseburg” History!
Ted’s “steamed cheeseburger” is also referred to as a “steamer” or a “cheeseburg”,and is believed to have been invented at a restaurant called “Jack’s Lunch” in Middleton Connecticut in the 1930s. The hamburger is cooked in what looks like a mini-meatloaf pan, and so is the cheese!
Ted Duberek opened his namesake restaurant serving the steamed burgers in 1959 in Meriden, and has brought his “cheeseburg” to Hamburger America, so let’s see them make it!
There’s the main grill sizzling away, but note the metal box to the left – inside it, the “cheeseburg” is steaming away!
There are the finished burgers, with the raw onion sitting on the bun next to it. they will also add ketchup and mustard to it.
But the real fun comes when they top the burger with the melted white cheddar cheese – take a look:
How delicious does that look? Now, it’s just a matter of putting the bun on and bringing it to me!
Behold The Steamed Cheeseburg!”
So there you have it: a very thick meatloaf-style burger sitting atop a large hunk of raw onion, with a gooey blob of melted white cheddar cheese on top, along with ketchup and mustard! Here it is up close:
My verdict?
I will be honest to say it took a little getting used to: that is a thick burger to be sure! It had a mild flavor since it was steamed, but that allowed the creamy richness of the cheese to shine, and the ketchup and mustard provided a tart pop on the palate as did the raw onion!
Here’s a close look at how they make the burger:
I love Hamburger America, and applaud George Motz for highlighting other great Chefs…here’s one I had a few months ago:
This “secret olive sauce” rocked! Take a look at the sauce that was trucked in a thousand miles!
George Motz is famous for his “grilled onion” smashburger…here’s what they look like on the grill:
I was there when the restaurant first opened its doors to the public last year and George himself cooked for me! See my review here:
These are great burgers, but not the only ones in town – have you ever tried a “gas station burger?”
While they are pumping gas outside,, inside they are making one of New York’s best smash burgers! See my review here:
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Categories: Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Burgers, Cheeseburgers, Chef memoirs, Eat This!, Fast Food, Food, Food Travel, Recipes, Restaurants, Travel, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
I think I want some secret olive sauce…
It was SO good…basically the Japanese kewpie mayo with sliced green olives and a bit of very finely diced red bell pepper.
I make one similar, but not with the peppers, I’ll definitely have to give that a try!
It’s a delicious topping to be sure!
Need a fork and knife for that one. I’d probably have cheese and the juices flowing down my shirt. Interesting review.
Yes, the “meatloaf” vibe took a bit of getting used to, but it tasted really good…I just don’t need that much meat on a burger! Thanks for commenting, much appreciated!
Like eating a huge steak. Ha ha.
My menfolk would love this 👌😋
I’ll bet the steamers are great!
Beth, I was torn a bit because it presented as a mini-meatloaf so it took a bit of getting used to but tasted great so I grew to love it! Thanks for the comment!
That’s a massive burger pattie!
Agree it was more meatloaf than burger patty – that said, it looks bigger than it is, no more than a quarter pound! Thanks for the comment!
The boys and men here would love this burger and many of the others you promote here..this blog is the home of burgers I know so more about burgers since reading your blog, John 🙂
Looks like a lot of food, but very jucy looking
It’s smaller than it films, but to be honest, it IS more meatloaf than burger! Thanks for commenting, always great to hear from you!
Love the look of that one. I should never read these posts before dinner, because now I really want one!
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete, I enjoy going to this restaurant when they have their specials, as I’d never heard of this before and it was fun to try! Thanks for commenting!