National Cheeseburger Day 2024 is on Wednesday, September 18, 2024: Did anyone else know that today, 918, was National Cheeseburger Day?

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 is National Cheeseburger Day 2024. National Cheeseburger Day! National Cheeseburger Day!

Lol I was not aware of this and am ashamed to admitt that I did not honor this day by eating one. There's always next year I guess! hehe! =]

Culturally Curious™, is Labor Day fair to all?

Some workers take advantage of Labor Day to earn extra money. Many workers get time-and-a-half, double-time, etc. for working on a holiday. In my experience, people tip well on major holidays so waitstaff may earn more money on a holiday such as Labor Day.

Other workers get to "trade" holidays. By working Labor Day, they may get a different holiday off, a holiday which may be more meaningful to them.

For those who have to work (police officers, hospital workers, etc.), they need places to eat once they get off their shifts. After putting in a full day of work, should they then have to cook or skip a meal because restaurants are closed? Shouldn't they be allowed to eat out on a holiday which they already spent working?

Labor Day isn't going to be "fair" until everyone who works is allowed the day off, including news reporters, television broadcasters, movie theater personnel, electric company workers, and others whom we don't think about as we celebrate by eating out, watching television, and depending on others to keep our civilization going.

What fraction of meals a day are hamburgers in America?

Two weeks ago, I reported a study by NPD Group revealing that Americans were eating fewer french fries. Well, now this group, in conjunction with Datassential, reports that hamburger sells are booming.

According to an article in Nation’s Restaurant News, hamburgers made up 14 percent of all restaurant orders in 2007, and in the year ending in March, total hamburger sales increased 2 percent over a year ago.

Just in case you thought Americans are eating healthier because of the fry decline, this study shows that fat is thriving: The bacon cheeseburger made up 42 percent of all burger sales, up more than 5 percent from a year ago.

The article pointed out that many higher-end restaurants are trying to reinvent the burger with premium meats and artisan breads. In fact, Angus burgers have experience double-digit menu growth over the past two years, but still are a minor player in the overall picture.

Perhaps the most startling figure to me was that 44 percent of all restaurants, including fine-dining establishments, have a hamburger on the menu. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve seen such high- end places as Spruce, Epic Roasthouse, Serpentine, Nopa, Flora and Wood Tavern, both in Oakland, feature burgers on their dinner menu.

In related news: A White Paper released yesterday by the James Beard Foundation called the “The State of American Cuisine” reported that on a national survey 44 percent of the respondants named hamburgers and cheeseburgers as our most iconic food. The full report can be downloaded on the James Beard Foundation website.