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PaperclipPerfector  2mo ago (text post)   2137 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for January 2, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Hamburger is the pinnacle of human food, the zenith of an unguided evolutionary process. The taste which appeals to everyone from children and childish picky eaters to people who have personal chefs all around the globe, the way how it slots into logistics and economics to make it ubiquitous and cheap rivalled only by instant ramen, but with actual protein and with no need for utensils or even for sitting down to consume.

Yeah. You're right. Kenji (of serious eats) likes to call them culinary endpoints.

culinary endpoint: a creation so perfect in its simplicity that it cannot be improved upon, only tweaked.

Triumph of American cuisine. Frankly, the German hamburg steak that inspired it might as well be a different dish all together. More of a flat meatball than a burger.

The invention of the cheeseburger is entirely American. Thin patties, soft buns and Kraft's American cheese. Ketchup and mustard were used sporadically, but was only normalized once Heinz and French's (both American companies) standardized shelf-stable ketchup and yellow mustard respectively.

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