Centerless burgers

I spend a fair amount of time trying to research my market. I recently came across this site:  www.4food.com Their concept is removing the center from burgers and filling that center with a variety of toppings. They are called w(hole) burgers. In the same sense that the toppings make a pizza, their toppings (over 25) will make the burger.




Then they sell the cut out centers in a small little Chinese take-out box that you eat as a side.

Not sure if any of you have heard of this before, but if not click the "The story" link on the top menu and watch the animation about the premise behind the idea.

4food is slated to open in NYC in March of 2010.

Think this will be a success?

(link works now)

I'm a burger purist, and I've seen some strange toppings in my life, but to cut a hole in the center? NOT.

It's just marketing...giving people something to talk about...

Well whilst I like some quirky food items, would this not make the burger " ring " awfully dry, by removing the centre ? I appreciate the idea is to make up for that by adding the toppings, and if its bog standard flat dry grey global-chain-style burger than it probably wouldn't do it any more harm - but, still ?

They could sell the holes as sliders. The Donut people sell those little poppers don't they?

They're going to...here's the (w)hole story behind it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXyCcnUXzEE

Foodbme


They could sell the holes as sliders. The Donut people sell those little poppers don't they?

Indeed, and people buy them!

I think it would be very difficult to cook a juicy burger this way. I would try it but I think they would be hard,messy,and the topping center idea doesn't sound good...Russ

The stuffed method works pretty good. But again it is tough to cook properly. I don't think this idea is going to work...Russ

They need to bring back the corner pizza joints there, where you can get quality NY pizza and not worry about the crust sucking.

If you actually served burgers this way you could extrude the meat and cut out the rings. Saving the centers would be ignorant. ...Russ

NYPIzzaNut


They need to bring back the corner pizza joints there, where you can get quality NY pizza and not worry about the crust sucking.

You didn't notice that this thread is about a hamburger?

I notice a lot of things around here.  I also noticed they plan to open up in NYC and that they mention pizza in the article.

NYC needs another hamburger joint like a hole in the head.

I think NYC is losing its cachet as the home of the best pizza in the country.

Didn't mean to upset anyone.  On with the show.

Michael Hoffman

NYPIzzaNut


They need to bring back the corner pizza joints there, where you can get quality NY pizza and not worry about the crust sucking.

You didn't notice that this thread is about a hamburger?

Actually about 1/2 of a hamburger...Russ

I think it is also  about donuts.

Right. Half.

NYP, the Corner Pizza Parlor is a great reason why we should all support Mom and Pop operations. The best pizza I had growing up in Bpt,Ct was a corner Pizza joint owned by an Italian family called Rocco's, and another is Jerry's pizza. The Mom and Pop operations used the best Cheese, homemade sauce, fresh dough, real Italian meatballs and Italian sausage. I am planning a trip to the East coast and plan on many visits to local Mom and Pop restaurants through New England......... .......take care   BillyB

In whatever way you do think about it - I have to hand it to him that it was a pretty creative stroke. This guy not only pretty much has originated an idea, but he had the "nads" to go through with it, get investors, and pretty much sink a ton of money into it.

If it does fly, believe me - you will see every fast food restaurant from Mickeys to BK copy the idea, or at least try it out. I am betting that he is going to get both a lot of local media coverage, as well as national and international.  The media love new quirky things like this that buck the status quo. That is what is going to suck for him. Great ideas are always copied and then your niche becomes diluted. Sad.

BillyB


NYP, the Corner Pizza Parlor is a great reason why we should all support Mom and Pop operations. The best pizza I had growing up in Bpt,Ct was a corner Pizza joint owned by an Italian family called Rocco's, and another is Jerry's pizza. The Mom and Pop operations used the best Cheese, homemade sauce, fresh dough, real Italian meatballs and Italian sausage. I am planning a trip to the East coast and plan on many visits to local Mom and Pop restaurants through New England......... .......take care   BillyB

..I grew up similarly..in Yonkers..

AZdog


In whatever way you do think about it - I have to hand it to him that it was a pretty creative stroke. This guy not only pretty much has originated an idea, but he had the "nads" to go through with it, get investors, and pretty much sink a ton of money into it.

If it does fly, believe me - you will see every fast food restaurant from Mickeys to BK copy the idea, or at least try it out. I am betting that he is going to get both a lot of local media coverage, as well as national and international.  The media love new quirky things like this that buck the status quo. That is what is going to suck for him. Great ideas are always copied and then your niche becomes diluted. Sad.

My guess.....fails within first year....no cares...no copies it. That's just my $.02. It seems like a marketing ploy to me. A burger is a burger. You loose the big beefy, juicy quality. Toppings can go on top of the patty just fine.

My guess is the joker will end up with a corner pizza joint...

I'd be concerned about what they'd use to poke the holes out.

And this new device is called a Biscuit cutter, tada

I showed this to my kids and neighbor's teenagers.  They went nuts and loved the idea.

I think we found the market.

It would be the crotchless underwear of the beef industry.

saps


It would be the crotchless underwear of the beef industry.