Company Blog
Setting Your Ground Rules
by Adam Zack — March 10, 2015
To us fervent carnivores there is nothing quite like the quest for the perfect burger. I have driven many miles, read extensive reviews and scoured social media for the ultimate combination of beef, bread and condiments that comprise burger perfection. (And for the record, I believe I have found it at The Riders Club in San Clemente, CA.) But what about creating the perfect burger at home? With the right ingredients, you don’t have to travel beyond your own kitchen to find taste nirvana.
It all starts with the beef. And that is an area the big chain stores cannot compete with. Nearly all of them sell pre-ground beef in chubs. To the hamburger aficionado, that is cardinal sin #1. You have to have a combination of freshly ground chuck or sirloin. Some burger blends use short rib and steak trimmings. It has to have some fat in the blend. Yes, I said it – fat. Fat is flavor. Fat is juiciness. Fat is tenderness. I’m not talking all, or even mostly fat. I’m talking 20%. Maybe 22%. It has to be high quality beef too. No Holstein. No bull meat. We’re talking USDA Choice beef. The patty has to be gently formed. Not mashed and compressed. Gently formed to insure tenderness. The supporting players in this quest for perfection are also stars in the final result. Brioche buns? Check. Applewood Smoked bacon? Check. Aged cheddar cheese? Check. The freshest lettuce, tomatoes and onions? Check, check and check. And how about the recipe for the best burger sauce ever? You can do that.
Now why the heck is he making me hungry for a hamburger when I have a grocery store to run? The opportunity is to promote your store ground burger blend. Call it the Ultimate Burger Blend. Offer a money back guarantee of tenderness and juiciness. It all starts with your Ground Rules. As in your in-store ground beef RULES. It’s the best, and it needs to be promoted. Summer’s coming and your competition isn’t touting their ground rules, are they? Of course not. Promote it through social media. Have a burger recipe contest. Run burgers as a weekend special. It’s All-American. It’s easy. It’s affordable. Your employees and customers all love the final product, and it all starts with you. Imagine the talk around town starting with “I made the BEST burgers last night…” and your store being the source of them.
So get promoting. And don’t even get me started on fries; I make the best ones and could write another 500 words on that quest for perfection.
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