Double-Barrel Lunch
Butter Burger Cheese Value Basket from Culver's
BURLINGTON, IA - The gluttony continues. Less than 48 hours after my Maid-Rite experience, I finally made a trip to Culver's to try their vaunted Butter Burger. I'm making good on my vow to try all the local things I can before leaving Iowa at the end of the week. I wouldn't be so disgusted/impressed with myself had I not already partaken of a delicious lunch spread at the school beforehand.
First things first. Perhaps in honor of our visit,
the good folks at our host school had a faculty pot luck today. The theme was
salad, so you would think that it would be healthy from top to bottom. Never
underestimate the ingenuity of the Midwestern mind. Just because something is a
salad, it doesn't mean that it can't include fun stuff like marshmallows or
Doritos.
Sumptuous salad spread at Corse Elementary in Burlington, IA
I have to say at this point, don't knock it until you try it. The salad with Doritos was filled with lettuce, meat, cheese, and olives. The Doritos add a nice element of crunch to the mix, as well as that inimitable flavor of nacho cheese and salt. The spread's other highlights included a nice potato salad and some promising fruit concoctions. The dessert table was packed sinfully with homemade brownies, sheet cakes, and what appeared to be an irresistible chocolate bundt cake.
I had to be judicious in my sampling of the homemade fare, because I had an appointment with Brian to make our pilgrimage to Culver's. Having been to Culver's in Sioux City with Katie to try their frozen custard, I had been anxious for months to try their signature "Butter Burger." Epicureans, take heart. It's not actually a butter patty between buns. The Butter Burger derives its name from the fact that the bun is brushed with butter before being toasted. That extra touch gives the burger its singular taste.
I was quite impressed. The patty itself was quite tasty. The quality of the meat is high, and it's shaped into a refreshingly imperfect oval. In its taste and preparation, it calls to mind another Midwestern institution, Steak & Shake. The buttered bun really does make a difference. The slight hint of butter lives in each bite, and the toasted bun gives the whole thing a slight crunch that truly separates it from other fast-food fare. The presence of a raw onion slice - usually something I don't particularly care for - makes the burger fight back a little bit as you sink your teeth into it.
Culver's is a relatively new chain, and you can tell that a great deal of thought went into its creation. The workers wear clean white uniforms with hats and aprons, and the dining area is spotlessly clean. In another twist from the usual fast food routine, even though you order at the counter, you don't have to wait there for your food. They give you a numbered card, you take a seat at a table, and a server actually comes out with your food when it's ready.
My only regret is that I waited so long for my first Culver's burger. I highly recommend it to anybody. What I don't recommend to anybody is to eat lunch twice within the same hour, especially when you have a physically demanding performance to do in the afternoon. That may not have been the wisest thing I've done.
Sumptuous salad spread at Corse Elementary in Burlington, IA
I have to say at this point, don't knock it until you try it. The salad with Doritos was filled with lettuce, meat, cheese, and olives. The Doritos add a nice element of crunch to the mix, as well as that inimitable flavor of nacho cheese and salt. The spread's other highlights included a nice potato salad and some promising fruit concoctions. The dessert table was packed sinfully with homemade brownies, sheet cakes, and what appeared to be an irresistible chocolate bundt cake.
I had to be judicious in my sampling of the homemade fare, because I had an appointment with Brian to make our pilgrimage to Culver's. Having been to Culver's in Sioux City with Katie to try their frozen custard, I had been anxious for months to try their signature "Butter Burger." Epicureans, take heart. It's not actually a butter patty between buns. The Butter Burger derives its name from the fact that the bun is brushed with butter before being toasted. That extra touch gives the burger its singular taste.
I was quite impressed. The patty itself was quite tasty. The quality of the meat is high, and it's shaped into a refreshingly imperfect oval. In its taste and preparation, it calls to mind another Midwestern institution, Steak & Shake. The buttered bun really does make a difference. The slight hint of butter lives in each bite, and the toasted bun gives the whole thing a slight crunch that truly separates it from other fast-food fare. The presence of a raw onion slice - usually something I don't particularly care for - makes the burger fight back a little bit as you sink your teeth into it.
Culver's is a relatively new chain, and you can tell that a great deal of thought went into its creation. The workers wear clean white uniforms with hats and aprons, and the dining area is spotlessly clean. In another twist from the usual fast food routine, even though you order at the counter, you don't have to wait there for your food. They give you a numbered card, you take a seat at a table, and a server actually comes out with your food when it's ready.
My only regret is that I waited so long for my first Culver's burger. I highly recommend it to anybody. What I don't recommend to anybody is to eat lunch twice within the same hour, especially when you have a physically demanding performance to do in the afternoon. That may not have been the wisest thing I've done.
Posted: Wed - April 13, 2005 at 01:22 PM
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Published On: Apr 13, 2005 01:26 PM
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Published On: Apr 13, 2005 01:26 PM