THE BURGERS of SUMMER

The summer of 2008 was the summer of the hamburger for Troy's Work Table. Here are some of the highlights...

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BOX CAR BURGERS - Ellensburg, Washington - June


This was a planned rest stop on the way home from eastern Washington. I believe that I am ordering the #5 Train Master, which contains a single 1/3 pound beef patty, but instead find myself saying #6. Number six is a Locomotive, which contains two 1/3 pound beef patties, or a total of 2/3 pound of beef. In other words, more than I bargained for.

Box Car Burgers contain 100% beef that is charbroiled, a bed of bib lettuce, vine ripe tomatoes, red onions, and Box Car sauce. My Locomotive also included Swiss cheese and bacon.

Half way through this monstrosity of a burger, I had to remove one of the beef patties or I would have never been able to "finish" it. The burger, however, was excellently executed. The Box Car sauce was the pièce de résistance.

The combo meal included fries and a Coke.

If you are ever in Ellensburg, then I highly recommend a Box Car Burger.

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HAN'S BURGERS - Federal Way, Washington - July


Han's is one of the wife's favorite burger joints, and it is easy to see why. The burgers are well crafted and taste delicious.

The Bacon Cheeseburger consisted of a sesame seed bun, 1/4 pound beef patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce. I added ketchup and mustard.

The burger was accompanied by perfectly deep fried crinkle-cut French fries and a Coke.

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COPPER CREEK INN - Ashford, Washington - July


Copper Creek Inn is located a few miles outside of Mount Rainier National Park's Nisqually gate. For me, their Copper Burger was the summer burger par excellence.

My enormous Copper Burger included bun, burger, fried egg, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and rings of red onion. I removed all but a few of the red onion rings. I even kept the pickles on, which I am not prone to do. The burger was divine.

It was made even better with thick steak cut French fries and Big Sky Summer Honey Seasonal Ale.

If you head up to Mount Rainier to hike or camp, make sure you stop in at Copper Creek Inn.

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DOME BURGERS - Seattle, Washington - August


The child and I were wandering around Pioneer Square and environs in Seattle and decided to get burgers for lunch. Dome Burger provided me with a simple classic burger that was perfectly charbroiled. The Bacon Cheeseburger consisted of a sesame seed bun, 1/4 beef patty, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheddar cheese, ketchup, and mustard.

It was accompanied by thin cut French fries that were okay. I also ordered a root beer float, which meant I received a cup with a scoop of ice cream in it to which I then had to add fountain root beer. Fortunately, the burger was the standout of the combo.

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MOUNT VERNON FOOD COURT PAVILION - Mount Vernon, Virginia - August


Now, you may think that a place that honors the life of our first President would take greater care with its cuisine, even in its food court. Such was not the case, however.

The burger wasn't bad. It just wasn't spectacular. And, I imagine that George Washington, if he wanted a hamburger, wanted a spectacular burger. I also imagine he wouldn't tolerate crabby slaves, er, food court workers. Well, TWT did. (If you really dislike your job that much, then quit!)

The burger was a bun, patty, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, overcooked bacon, mustard, and ketchup.

The thick steak cut fries were very good. I also had a Coke.

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WALLY'S DRIVE-IN - Buckley, Washington - September


Wally's served up a good solid burger in its Bacon Cheeseburger. It was 1/4 pound 100% beef patty on a bun, with mayo, onions, pickles, lettuce, mustard, ketchup, cheddar cheese, and bacon. I removed most of the onions, allowing a few for flavor, but otherwise ate the entire thing.

Thick, perfectly prepared French fries and a Coke made a meal.

The child enjoyed a corn dog, another "staple" food of the summer for the wanderings of Troy's Work Table.