Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Luther - Bacon Cheeseburger on a Donut

As Adam Richman, host of Man vs. Food on the Travel channel, says “oh my goodness, oh my goodness.”  Sink your teeth into a bacon cheeseburger on a Krispy Kreme donut. (If you keep kosher, forgive me as I have probably offended you on so many levels). 

We watched Adam taste this concoction on the “Baseball” episode (in case you want to Hulu).  At the GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL, you can cheer on the Gateway Grizzlies and dine on this sandwich which tends to run between approximately 800 and 1,500 calories.  In some circles this is referred to as the Luther Burger after singer-songwriter and record producer Luther Vandross.  Whether he was the inventor or just a fan, try the Luther “Here and Now”; it will become an “Endless Love”.

The Luther
Man v Food Nation pop quiz: what 3 restaurants did Adam visit when in Dallas?  Answer at the bottom of the post.

Ingredients:
  1. Krispy Kreme or other glazed donut 
  2. Ground beef slider, aka mini-hamburger patty
  3. Slice of cheese like extra sharp cheddar or American
  4. Bacon
Cook the burger on the grill.  A slider fits the size of the donut better than a full size hamburger.  Cook the bacon.  As the slider finishes cooking, place the bacon on the meat, then the cheese.  Slice the donut in half and grill the donut on the inside to create a crisp “crust” for the bun. 

To assemble, place the burger-bacon-cheese on a donut half (glazed side up, touching the meat) and then top with the other half of the donut (glazed side down, touching the meat). 

The picture does not accurately reflect the assembly instructions above given that the donut is inside-out and the bacon is on top of the cheese vs sandwiched between the meat and the cheese.  So sue me – it still tasted good – and David would not permit me to make - or eat - another.

Answer to the MvF pop quiz:
1) Kuby's to sample their sausages
2) Sonny Bryan's for good TX bbq
3) Sprout's in Arlington for their meat lover's pho (pronounced: fuh as in "what the...")

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahhh, Mrs Mann. As the introducer of The Luther (a/k/a the Donut Bacon Cheeseburger) to your mouth, I take exception to some of your recipe. Excellent idea; imperfect execution.

I think the (The?) Krispy Kreme is too light and airy to make a good bun. A doughier donut is better. Tip: it's OK to buy the donuts in the morning (eating one - perhaps chocolate-iced with sprinkles - immediately, of course!), fridgerating the rest for the rest of the day. In fact, I think it's better if they go on the grill cold.

You need not make the patty "slider-sized." Just adjust your patty size accordingly, assuming you're making the patties yourself. Speaking of mini burgers, though, Luther appetizers on donut holes are quite tasty. Pop 'em in your mouth! Mmmm.

Sharp cheddar? Really? Why garbage this thing up with sharp cheddar? Good ol' fashioned Kraft 'merican singles are just fine. You must be a Yankee.

Where are the 'tots and the Shiner that, I am sure, accompanied your meal!? A cola beverage would be too sweet (and bad for your health).

The Baker's Mann said...

Dear Anonymous, you are accurate that you introduced me to the taste of my first Luther. We must have watched the same episode of MvF.

The ingredients are based on the episode and I will make note that any of these can be adjusted to taste or if a Krispy Kreme shop is not convenient to the reader. I too used American since I don't think the Munchkins would like the flavor of sharp cheddar. I definitely botched the execution regarding the direction of the donut and the placement of the bacon and cheese but my taste buds didn't know the difference. You did not mention the addition of jalapenos to your Luther. I expect an additional comment from your wife about that!

If you find the picture of your Luther with tots and a Shiner I will be pleased to post! Mine was served with a dose of Zocor/Lipitor.

Anonymous said...

If I could figure out how to upload photos to your blog, I would. But, alas, I am relegated to submitting snarky comments (helpful tips some, but snarky nonetheless). :)

The Baker's Mann said...

it's password protected for a reason :) Good thing you know my email address and can attach it and then I'll scan it for viruses (ha) and post.

Helpful, for sure, with a side of snark.