Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (ayersian)

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:22:48 GMT

A huge loss, indeed, though he did live to the age of 93 eating Louis Lunch burgers! Now that's impressive. Chris

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (mr chips)

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:33:35 GMT

Sad news.

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (wheregreggeats.com)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:27:39 GMT

Too bad. He sure leaves a legacy.

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (Michael Hoffman)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:19:37 GMT

Well, the first part is close to the truth. It was the Tartars, and they did ride with the meat under their saddles.

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (Michael Stern)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:57:18 GMT

We met Ken when he was behind the counter at Louis Lunch well over 30 years ago. He was a real connection to America's foodways, and a wonderful character. When we were researching 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late a few years back, he gave us his version of hamburger history with a completely straight face:

When the Tartars ravaged Europe, they killed cattle, butchered them, and put cuts of meat under their saddles as they rode north, thus creating steak tartare, the meat pulverized by galloping and flavored by the horses' sweat. When, finally, the Tartars arrived in Hamburg, they stayed a spell and decided to cook the meat that had been ground up under their saddles and thus it was in Hamburg that the first hamburger was cooked. It was his grandfather's genius to sandwich the meat patty in toast so it became edible without utensils. And thus the hamburger was born!

Ken's death is a great loss; he will not be forgotten.

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (ann peeples)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:51:48 GMT

How sad.From all the posts here about Louis Lunch, he was half of the experience of going there.

Re:Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (MellowRoast)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:21:22 GMT

Indeed sad news.

Ken Lassen of Louis Lunch, Dead (Michael Hoffman)

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 10:20:42 GMT

Ken Lassen, who ran Louis Lunch for 65 years, has died. It was his grandfather who started Louis Lunch and is credited with inventing the hamburger.
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/12/26/news/new_haven/doc4d16cb88cb86a951417668.txt?viewmode=fullstory