Jucy Lucy

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Jucy Lucy
Jucy Lucy Cheeseburger.JPG
Cross-section of a Jucy Lucy, showing the molten cheese in the center of the patty
Alternative namesJuicy Lucy
CourseEntree
Place of origin United States
Region or state Minneapolis, Minnesota
Created byMultiple claims
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredients Hamburger, cheese
VariationsMultiple
Food energy
(per serving)
600  kcal  (2512 kJ)

A Jucy Lucy (or Juicy Lucy) is a stuffed cheeseburger with the cheese inside of the meat instead of on top, resulting in a melted core of cheese. It is a popular, regional cuisine in Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Two bars in Minneapolis claim to have invented the burger, while other local bars and restaurants have created their own interpretations of the style.

Contents

Origins

Two bars about three miles (5 km) from each other on Cedar Avenue in South Minneapolis both claim to have invented the burger: Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club. Matt's credits the bar's former owner (and namesake) Matt Bristol. [1] One account claims it preceded his purchase of the bar in the 1950s, but that Bristol formally added it to the menu and thus popularized it. Another version is that the burger was invented by a customer in 1954 who remarked "Oooh, that's one juicy lucy!" after biting into it. The 5-8 Club does not provide a particular origin story, but the bar itself was originally a speakeasy dating to the 1920s. [2] [3]

The two bars offer slightly different versions of the burger. One difference is the spelling: Matt's removes the letter "i" in "Juicy" (supposedly an inadvertent misspelling dating to the burger's creation), while the 5-8 Club utilizes the normal spelling. Shirts worn by staff at the 5-8 Club have the motto "if it's spelled right, it's done right" while advertising for Matt's Bar says "Remember, if it is spelled correctly, you are eating a shameless rip-off!" The 5-8 Club offers several different cheese options for their version while the version at Matt's only contains American cheese. [2] [4]

Jucy Lucy burger from Matt's Bar enjoyed by a lake Juicy Lucy.png
Jucy Lucy burger from Matt's Bar enjoyed by a lake

The rivalry between both bars and their interpretations is longstanding, but has gained more exposure since receiving a mention in Time in 2008 and being featured on food-related television shows such as Man v. Food and Food Wars . In 2014, President Barack Obama visited Matt's and had a Jucy Lucy, prompting the 5-8 Club to offer him one of theirs. [5] [6]

In 2018, the editors of the Thrillist wrote that "The Jucy Lucy is ... an important milestone in the evolution of hamburgers themselves, leading the charge for industrious chefs (and more than a few infomercial entrepreneurs) to begin stuffing their burgers." [7]

Preparation

A homemade Juicy Lucy patty, uncooked and unassembled Juicy Lucy preparation.jpg
A homemade Juicy Lucy patty, uncooked and unassembled

The burger is prepared by putting cheese between two patties of meat, then sealing both patties around the cheese to create a single patty with a cheese core. As the burger cooks, the cheese inside melts. This has the effect of keeping the meat near the center of the burger very juicy. It also separates the cheese from the bun, resulting in a slightly different texture than the usual cheeseburger. Burger toppings such as condiments, onions, and pickles may be added. [2]

Other variations

Variations of the burger at other restaurants use the same basic preparation procedures but offer different variations in terms of toppings, the burger's filling, and any accompaniments. [8] [9] [1] Some of the best known are Blue Door Pub and The Nook. [10] In 2018, Bon Appétit magazine declared the best Juicy Lucy in Minneapolis and neighbouring Saint Paul to be the one served at The Nook. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheeseburger</span> Hamburger topped with cheese

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patty melt</span> Type of burger

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quarter Pounder</span> Hamburger sold by McDonalds

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt's Bar</span> Restaurant

Matt's Bar is a restaurant in south Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is known as one of two businesses that created the Jucy Lucy.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">5-8 Club</span> Restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The 5-8 Club Tavern & Grill is a restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1928 as a speakeasy, the eatery is one of two Minneapolis establishments that claim to have invented the Juicy Lucy cheeseburger in the 1950s, the other being Matt's Bar. The 5-8 Club also serves its Saucy Sally burger and other dishes including fried cheese curds and onion straws. The restaurant, which has been featured on several Travel Channel TV series, has three additional locations in Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steamed cheeseburger</span> Type of hamburger

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Door Pub</span> Restaurant chain in Minnesota, United States

Blue Door Pub is a chain of restaurants in Minnesota. There are currently five locations, although two are temporarily closed. It is known for the Blucy, a variant of the Jucy Lucy. The Blue Door has been featured on Food Paradise, Man v. Food, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butter burger</span> Hamburger topped with butter

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fried onion burger</span>

A fried onion burger, also called an Oklahoma onion burger, is a regional burger style and specialty of Oklahoma cuisine. The dish was created in El Reno, Oklahoma, in the 1920s by a restaurateur searching for a way to stretch ground beef with a less expensive ingredient in order to cheaply feed striking railroad workers during the Great Railroad Strike of 1922. Its primary ingredients are thinly-sliced onions and ground beef.

References

  1. 1 2 Motz, George; Zimmern, Andrew; Brearton, Kristoffer; Young, Douglas (2016). The great American burger book: how to make authentic regional hamburgers at home. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang. ISBN   978-1-61769-182-9. OCLC   921863985.
  2. 1 2 3 Grumdahl, Dara Moskowitz (August 12, 1998). "A Tribe Called Lucy". City Pages . Archived from the original on July 15, 2016.
  3. Flower, Justin; Boller, Jay (March 13, 2008). "Burger Battle". Minnesota Daily . Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  4. Zimmern, Andrew; Mogren, Molly (2012). Andrew Zimmern's Field Guide to Exceptionally Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Foods. Macmillan. pp. 110–111. ISBN   9780312606619 via Google Books.
  5. Turtinen, Melissa (March 17, 2014). "Minneapolis bar tops Travel Channel's chow down list". Bring Me the News.
  6. Hammerand, Jim (June 26, 2014). "Obama takes a position in Juicy Lucy wars". Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal .
  7. "The 101 Dishes That Changed America". Thrillist . March 20, 2018.
  8. Brenden, Carl (February 12, 2014). "The 8 Best Juicy Lucys in MSP". Thrillist .
  9. Henderson, Eric (May 5, 2011). "Best Juicy Lucys In The Twin Cities". CBS Minnesota .
  10. Moskowitz Grumdahl, Dana (February 2, 2018). "The Best Juicy Lucy Burgers in the Twin Cities". MSP Mag.
  11. Delany, Alex (September 13, 2018). "Who Makes the Best Juicy Lucy in Minneapolis? I Ate at 9 Spots to Find Out". Bon Appétit.