In celebration of “National Birth of the Burger Day” on Wednesday, September 18th, Butera’s Craft Beer & Craft Pizza (32 Main Street, Village of Hamburg), will host a special “hamburger history” event from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The evening will include a hamburger sandwich on the menu utilizing the original hamburger recipe that debuted at the 1885 Erie County Fair. The authentic recipe will be provided by John Menches of Canton, Ohio, great-grandson of hamburger co-inventor Charles Menches. In addition, author and culinary historian Chris Carosa will present two “hamburger history” talks during dinner (6-7p & 7-8p) where he will tell the story of the first hamburger. Carosa is the author of Hamburger Dreams – How Classic Crime Solving Techniques Helped Crack the Case of America’s Greatest Culinary Mystery.
John Menches will be bringing his family’s original recipe from Ohio and patrons will be able to dine on the actual Original Recipe Menches Brothers Hamburger at the event. “Ever since we discovered the original recipe nearly thirty years ago, we encouraged people to taste the original recipe Menches Brothers hamburger so it can be a standard by which all other burgers are judged,” says Mr. Menches.
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of both the original recipe Menches Brothers hamburger and the book, Hamburger Dreams, will be donated to the historic Hamburg Palace Theatre. The 93-year-old movie house, and Village of Hamburg landmark, is in desperate need of major physical upgrades that include roof repairs, the updating of the existing heating and air conditioning and bathrooms.
“National Birth of the Burger Day” commemorates the legend of the invention of the hamburger sandwich that took place during the 1885 Erie County Fair by Frank and Charles Menches of Canton, Ohio.
