150 burgers a year: Are we really what we eat?

Alan Bine

The phrase "you are what you eat" was first coined in 1826 by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French author of a celebrated work on gastronomy, "The Physiology of Taste."

Brillat-Savarin, who studied food and cooking extensively, wrote, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” In other words, you are what you eat. If Brillat-Savarin was correct, yours truly might be in big trouble.

I happen to consume a fairly unhealthy, almost daily diet of fast-food calories, especially hamburgers. I don't want to brag that I'm an expert, but I do know my way around juicy hamburger patties and the different freshly baked buns they're wrapped in. Want to know the best burgers in our neighborhoods?

I conservatively munch more than 150 hamburgers a year. The burgers I eat are liberally stuffed with most of the usual condiments, but hold the cheese and lettuce, please. We have many good choices in Edmonds and nearby.

What's better, Burger King's Whopper or the Big Mac from McDonald’s? You very well might disagree, but my vote is in favor of BK's Whopper. I like that the Whopper comes with a substantial meat paddy that's flame-grilled and isn't a mess to eat like the Big Mac. 

Both Dick's and Wendy's have decent burgers, as do Herfy's, Red Robin, Blazing Onion, Jack in the Box, Burgermaster and Habit Burger. You might see me there; I do get around. But I'd rather go to Blazing Onion, Burgermaster and Habit Burger for my burger fix than the others.

I almost forgot Five Guys, Dairy Queen, and Shake Shack burgers because I've found them forgettable. My opinion of Shake Shack mostly has to do with the incredibly bad service more than their food.

My favorite Edmonds burgers will probably surprise many of you. It's those carefully crafted at Toshi's Teriyaki in downtown Edmonds on Main Street next door to the Edmonds Psychic. I wonder what Madame Dena knows about heavenly burgers to die for?

Although Toshi's is rightfully better known for its tasty teriyaki, its deliciously charred high-quality burger patty arrives in a nicely toasted bun dressed with the basics – lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles along with a crazy-good homemade sauce. (Thank you for your always smiling and friendly service, Choi.)

To me, Toshi's is everything a burger should be. Again, I'm pretty sure your favorite burger is probably another. Food preferences, like taste in movies, are so subjective.

Whichever burger you choose, would you like fries with that? I know, a dumb question. Talk about a french fried controversy. McDonald's and Burger King at it again, plus Wendy's, Red Robin, and Dick's. I happen to order those tasty taters at Dick's as well as Salt & Iron’s shoestrings. My discerning wife goes for BK's extra crispy ones, and also raves about the Greek fries at Kafé Neo on Highway 99. She also enthusiastically recommends the regular fries at Romeo's, across the parking lot from BK's drive-thru.

 Thank you, dear readers, for your kind indulgence with all this burger babble. Like a good burger (and neighbor), you happen to be a rare breed.