The Sinkburger
If you’ve ever been into The Sink, you’ve walked underneath Llloyd Kavich’s “Sinkstine Chapel” on the ceiling of the entryway. This brilliant re-creation of Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Man” shows God handing a Sinkburger to Adam and perhaps some Sink Rats. The Sinkburger is a classic hamburger made with shredded American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and The Sink’s famous hickory sauce.
It’s no surprise that the hamburger is our national dish and one of the world’s most beloved foods, but have you ever wondered where they originated? What’s the history? Let’s take a closer look.
The First Burgers
Hamburgers are thought to have come from Hamburg. Or at least, the patty comes from Hamburg. The beef was said to be mixed with onion and regional seasonings and then formed into a pancake. This dish arrived in the U.S. with the wave of German immigrants during the first half of the 19th century. Because Hamburg was known as an exporter of high-quality beef, restaurants began offering a “Hamburg-style” chopped steak.
You may be thinking, “a hamburger is more than just a beef patty.” While it is unknown who first decided to put this beef pancake between two slices of bread, we do know that the burger-on-a-bun found its first large audience at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The New York Tribune referred to the hamburger as “the innovation of a food vendor on the pike”.
According to Wikipedia, a hamburger restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut called Louis’ Lunch, claims to be the first restaurant to serve hamburgers and the oldest operating hamburger restaurant, opening in 1895. Pictured on the left.
Our History
Just 28 years later, Summer’s Sunken Gardens (nicknamed “The Sink”) opened on The Hill in Boulder, Colorado. The now-famous Sinkburger was introduced in 1958 by owners, Joe Beimford and Floyd Marks for less than a quarter! It’s been a fan favorite ever since.
Come on in and get the original Sinkburger or customize your own! The Sink now offers local grass-fed beef, turkey, portabello and veggie patties along with a variety of toppings.
