Libertine Burger – winner of the UK's best burger award, has launched a special edition burger to mark the occasion, besides reminding the nation of some of the lesser-known facts about theis popular fast food.
The special #195 burger - a Libertine's 150g signature beef patty with house smoked pulled pork, pickled red onion, Monterey Jack cheese, American cheese and dirty mayo – costs £12.50.
It's available in the award-winning burger brand's Midlands restaurants in Leamington Spa and Rugby and is the perfect way to celebrate National Burger Day in style.
The special creation will then make its an appearance at national food festival The Big Feastival, which takes place in the Cotswolds across the August Bank Holiday weekend (August 26th to 28th), where Libertine will take up residence in 'The Smokery' field.
Those who aren't local to the Midlands don't have to miss out - anyone can enjoy Libertine's popular range of beef and vegan burgers and sides in the comfort of their own home thanks to their DIY kits, which are delivered nationwide to your door, plus step-by-step instructions.
And if you were wondering why burgers are so popular that they have their own special day, Libertine is reminding people of some of the things you might not know about burgers, with five facts about the beefy delicacy.
When was the first burger eaten?
The Oxford English Dictionary lists the first mention of a hamburger in 1889, but it's thought to have been appearing on menus long before this. In Germany, a meat patty between bread called Rundstuck Warm was popular at least two decades prior to this mention.
So, why do we call it a hamburger when it's actually made from beef?
It's generally agreed that the origins of the burger as we know it today can be traced back to the German city of Hamburg, hence the use of the word 'ham' as a precursor. Ground meat, which was a type of salt beef, was shaped into a patty and cooked, although there was still no bun at this stage. But did you know a real Hamburg steak can also be served raw and probably came first? It is thought the Germans got the idea after sailors travelling to Russia were inspired by their steak tartare.
How did burgers become so popular?
As Hamburg was a popular port for German immigrants to travel to the US, they took their burger recipe with them. Burgers started to appear on menus in America in the 19th century. Similarly Germans also emigrated to the UK, and by the time of the First World War hamburgers were being sold as 'Liberty Sandwiches' to avoid the German name.
When was the first cheeseburger made?
Everyone knows burgers taste better with cheese, but it seems no one actually had the idea of adding it until 1924. Many food historians credit 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger with slapping a slice of American cheese onto a cooking hamburger at his father's sandwich shop 'The Rite Spot' in Pasadena, California. And so the cheeseburger was born!
How many burgers are eaten in the UK each year?
UK meat eaters consume a whopping 2.5 billion beef burgers a year, a recent survey revealed. This equates to 52 burgers per person over a 12 month period. But for those wanting to cut down on their meat consumption to help the planet, the University of Oxford said swapping at least one meat-based meal a week for a plant-based alternative could collectively save the equivalent C02 emissions of driving 27 billion miles in a car.
Charles Harres, founder of Libertine Burger, said: “Burgers are pretty much a staple of the British diet these days, but not many people know some of the fun facts behind them, so we thought it would be fun to share them as the nation marks National Burger Day.
“If you choose any day to tuck into a burger, it should be on National Burger Day, so we've pulled out all the stops to create something that celebrates the humble burger and gives a nod to some of its history, with a nod to its popularity in America as well as the signature ingredients that we use from our local, trusted producers like Aubrey Allen.
“And for those who can't make it to us to have us cook our new signature burger, they can still enjoy our great kits wherever they are in the country to join in the burger fun.”
You can find more information on Libertine Burger and all their meal kits here: https://libertine-burger.myshopify.com.
