Exotic Foods

Hamburger, Icon Of Global American Culture 

Today, a Hamburger or simply Burger is typically associated with fast-food restaurants and diners. However, it is also sold at various other restaurants, including high-end establishments. With many international and regional variations of Burger, some of the largest multinational fast-food chains feature the Burger as one of their core products. For instance, McDonald's Big Mac and Burger King's Whopper, which have become global icons of American culture.

Essentially, a Burger consists of fillings, usually a patty of ground meat, placed inside a sliced bun or bread roll. The patties are often served with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, bacon, or chilis with condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish or a special sauce. A Burger patty topped with cheese is called a cheeseburger. In some cultures, a burger is considered a sandwich. 

Although the Burger's origin is unclear, ads of 'hamburger steak sandwiches' were noticed in US newspapers since at least the 1890s. The invention of hamburger is commonly attributed to various individuals, including Charlie Nagreen, Frank and Charles Menches, Oscar Weber Bilby, Fletcher Davis, Louis Lassen, et al. Some trace the origin of the hamburger to Hamburg in Germany.

Video Link: Hamburger

(Video: Courtesy Epicurious)

Vada Pav or Bombay Burger

Vada Pav is a vegetarian snack that consists of a deep-fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun called pav, which is sliced almost in half through the middle. It is generally accompanied with one or more chutneys. It is also called 'Bombay Burger' in keeping with its origins and its resemblance in physical form to a burger.

It was a common snack among textile mill workers in Central Mumbai, erstwhile Bombay. Ashok Vaidya of Dadar is often credited with starting the first Vada Pav stall outside Dadar railway station in 1966. Some sources credit Sudhakar Mhatre who started his business around the same time. One of the earliest kiosks selling Vada Pav is said to be Khidki Vada Pav in Kalyan, a far-flung suburb. 

A boiled potato is mashed and mixed with chopped green chilli and garlic, mustard seeds, asafoetida and turmeric. The mass is then shaped into a ball, dipped into gram flour batter and deep fried.  

Video Link: Vada Pav 

(Video: Courtesy SuperChef)