A 'Shady' Burger

I was inspired by the recent post of traveling around in Mid-Connecticut with one stop being at Shady Glen. I have been there myself and can vouch that it is unique. The technique reminds me a something that I ate at a restaurant where I worked as a kitchen snack. 
Without further ado, here is my attempt to make one myself.
Here is a 5 oz. burger and the American cheese seems like it is a little better than the waxy variation that is commonly found at many places.


I seared the bottom and then flipped it over and placed the four slices on top.



I think that the burger may have been too juicy, or the cheese was sliced kind of thick. I did not have the griddle that hot, maybe med-high. The cheese was cooking fine on the bottom, but the top was not firming up as expected. You can see the golden edges that was forming under the cheese.

It's a success. Crispy, chewy cheese covering a nice juicy burger.




Professionally speaking, I would probably not do this burger. I do not like griddled flat-top cooking, I prefer a grill with flames lapping up to the meat with a hot flame. I love grill marks and let's face it, the cheese will drip through the grates.
That said, this was very good, and as a first try, I was happy with the results.

mark

Mark,

That looks very good to me.  Thanks for posting this technique.  I will need to try it out and see how well it works for me.

Rob

Doggydaddy, that looks fabulous! While Rob & I were sitting at the counter of Shady Glen after eating, the man next to us was asking his server about the cheese. "Alls I can tell ya is that it's American but a different brand than ya find in the stores," she said.  The brand is secret, as it should be.

The booth closest to the grill was taken when we arrived, but I explained to Rob that after the burger is flipped and the cheese is applied, the cook puts a large pot lid over the sizzling burger so the surface area of the cheese gets cooked by steaming.  That's alls I know about it, unfortunately.    Chris

Thanks a lot,

I am trying to create a motto for myself as I can't travel as much as I want , but it is something like : "I am my own road trip...."

Some folks would say that I am just a trip.....

mark

I am glad Chris remembered the part about putting a pot lid over the burger.  I had forgotten that completely.

That's a good idea about being creating your own roadfood trip at home by replicating the cooking techniques where possible.   When we can't travel, it's always good to be able to make the food.

If you read in the news about a house fire in Niagara County in NY State where the fire department was puzzled about someone getting a hamburger all steamed up or making some kind of weird cheese skirt, then you'll know I was less than successful with my attempts.

Rob

I think you were very successful!!! Looks fabulous!

WOW!  Killer Burger!

ayersian


Doggydaddy, that looks fabulous! While Rob & I were sitting at the counter of Shady Glen after eating, the man next to us was asking his server about the cheese. "Alls I can tell ya is that it's American but a different brand than ya find in the stores," she said.  The brand is secret, as it should be.

Maybe it was secret because it was some of that "commodity cheese".  That's pretty good stuff.

Do the same thing using sliced Mozzarella but sprinkle granulated garlic on the part to be fried!

chewingthefat


Do the same thing using sliced Mozzarella but sprinkle granulated garlic on the part to be fried!

Actually, that was the first way I used to do this at a Italian restaurant years ago, so I was familiar with what I was doing.
I think that there is a Mexican version too. Either way, I think that there is a real name for this. I call it fried cheese for lack of a better name.
That said, maybe some of you are familiar with Queso fundido, which is melted cheese with chorizo, jalapenos and whatever and rolled in tortillas or scooped up with chips.  If you love melted stringy cheese with your pizza, this is sort of what it is like.
That is a microwave meal in about two minutes or less....

mark
mark

Mark, I think 'I am my own road trip' is a great motto.  Remind me to get you to make me a cheese skirt.  ;)

Nancypalooza


Mark, I think 'I am my own road trip' is a great motto.  Remind me to get you to make me a cheese skirt.  ;)

Nancy,

You know that I'm just the guy to do it.

mark

That's terrific Mark.    We have a glass top stove, wonder if I can use a griddle on it? BTW, looks like five pieces of cheese in the first picture - mouse come by and get one?

John A


That's terrific Mark.    We have a glass top stove, wonder if I can use a griddle on it? BTW, looks like five pieces of cheese in the first picture - mouse come by and get one?

I think if you look real closely, the "fifth piece of cheese" (under the burger patty) is actually part of the pattern on the plate. 

That looks great! I would be satisfied just being able to eat the cheese hanging over the edges. Well, not really, but it would be mighty tastey.