Summer Picnic Favorite: The Rich Heritage of the Hamburger
The hamburger has long been a favorite at summer picnics and backyard barbecues. Juicy, customizable, and easy to enjoy outdoors, burgers remain a classic warm-weather staple. But where did the hamburger come from, and how can senior living communities turn this summertime favorite into a fun-filled celebration?
The origin of the hamburger is uncertain. A couple of precursors are “apicius,” dating back to the fifth century, and “Hamburgh [sic] sausage, which was referenced in a cookbook from 1763. Elsewhere, steak tartare was first described in the 1800s. Jules Vern, in his 1875 novel, Michael Strogoff. Around the same time, restaurants in New York started offering “Hamburg-style” fillets, named by emigrants from Hamburg, Germany. By the 19th century, many American restaurants included some version of the hamburger steak, often as a breakfast item. The term “hamburger steak” was replaced by “hamburger” around 1930.
The union of the meat and the bun happened later, though the word “sandwich” first appeared in the mid-1700s (named in honor of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich). The hamburger sandwich is rooted in 19th-century Germany. The first documented sales of this type of sandwich in the U.S. were from the late 1800s. Among the earliest sellers of this food item was Fletcher “Old Dave” Davis, who sold ground beef patties between sliced home-baked bread at his Athens, Texas, lunch counter. He introduced his hamburger to the rest of the country at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The first hamburger restaurant is thought to be Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, which first appeared in the 1900s.
This Summer, celebrate picnic season and the history of hamburgers with creative and engaging activities:
Have a burger bar or pop-up with several versions of the favorite food: beef, turkey, lamb, bison, tofu, tuna, and more. Have a burger contest with prizes for the most creative, healthiest, and/or unique burgers.
Offer an adult “happy meal” with traditional ingredients (burger, fries, and a drink) or a gourmet version (such as bison burger, sweet potato fries, and wine or beer). Have dessert “burgers” (made from ice cream, cake, cookies, fruit, etc.).
Offer a pet-friendly burger for residents’ dogs and cats.
Host a picnic- or barbecue-themed trivia challenge or scavenger hunt.
Bring a local chef to lead a burger-inspired cooking demonstration.
Serve a summer brunch featuring creative breakfast burger options.
Organize a cooking competition where teams of “chefs” receive 3–4 surprise ingredients to create a burger-inspired dish.
Celebrate with a New Orleans-style second line parade complete with live music, festive flags and streamers, followed by a burger buffet for everyone to enjoy.
At Pi, we believe senior living communities should be both engaging and enriching. Creative events and seasonal celebrations help residents connect socially, spark creativity, and share moments of laughter and joy all summer long. Enjoy the unofficial start of summer!
Pi Architects | Contact us here or call us at 512-231-1910.
Recent Insights
