Navarre, Cheeseburger in Paradise

Ah, the hamburger. Culinarily speaking, perhaps the most American of foods, regardless if you ask someone from here or not! Ground beef, shaped into a round patty (or square if you are Dave Thomas or his redheaded icon Wendy), grilled up, traditionally speaking placed upon a sesame seed bun alongside ketchup, yellow mustard, crisp lettuce, tomato, onion, plus maybe a dollop of mayonnaise and slice of cheese, most certainly isn’t the healthiest of meals, but it is one of the most consumed sandwiches on the planet, and is the backbone behind some of America’s most successful eateries. Where would that clown Ronald McDonald be without the hamburger? What would the Burger King reign over without the hamburger? Would Jim Cornette have starved traveling this country in the 1980’s if it weren’t for the hamburger? That’s a rhetorical question, but when one thinks about how apart of our culture the hamburger has become, it is pretty astounding. What the taco is to Mexico, or pasta is to Italy, the burger is to The United States.

Don't think the fanaticism ends with the hamburger! Its slightly more caloric cousin, the cheeseburger, is possibly even more popular. Although, many Americans, and people worldwide, have dropped the “ham” and “cheese” parts of the name of the burger and have evolved into calling it just that, a “burger”. Often specialties burgers, even if they include cheese, find that article of food void in their title, like with the “western burger” for example. Onion rings, cheese and bar-b-q sauce top this regional favorite, but you’ll notice it isn’t called a “western cheeseburger”. No, cheese is implied, as for the most part, the “cheese” portion of a “burger” is almost assumed, as it is deemed an integral part of its creation.

Over time, burgers have evolved into a wide variety of styles. Even the ground beef isn’t mandatory anymore, as buffalo, venison, kangaroo, elk, turkey, lamb and even salmon are transformed into patties and given the burger treatment. For the vegetarians amongst us, burgers made of tofu and ground vegetables are an option. We've even got the new fake meat from companies like Impossible Foods that is 100% free of cow, but with the taste of a normal beef burger. While sesame seed is the most commonly used, burgers are served on nearly every type of bread imaginable. The patty melt, for example, is served on slices of toasted sourdough bread, to point out a widely eaten variant of the world’s most popular sandwich. Some burgers, like the Big Mac, feature an extra slice of bread in the middle, while others are served with one only piece of bread, which is called open faced. By this point and time in human history, every combination of toppings you can imagine has been placed on a burger, and probably by more than one person.

Where the burger was created is often a debated topic. Most sources believe it was created in Germany in the late 1800’s, and this theory would explain the name of the sandwich. The “Hamburgh sandwich” was found in a cookbook by Hannah Glasse written all the way back in 1758. The first American publication to mention the sandwich was in the year 1884, inked by the Boston Journal, and then again in 1896 by the Chicago Daily Tribune. Regardless if the hamburger was invented in Germany or in the United States, it was during 1904’s World’s State Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri where the hamburger’s popularity began to really take off. The New York Tribune called the hamburger “the innovation of a food vendor on the pike”.

White Castle was the first major hamburger establishment, and in many parts of America, is just as popular today as they were when they first opened their doors all the way back in the year 1921. White Castle is famous for what is known as a slider, which is basically a miniature hamburger. Theirs happen to be square as well. The second major hamburger chain in America hasn’t stayed as prominent as the first, as Kewpee Hamburgers, a former East Coast chain, has been reduced to only five locations, and as I’m writing this, I’m tempted to go on a road trip to try them out. The future is unclear for Krystal however, which ironically, also feature square sliders, just like White Castle. Their recent bankruptcy is pretty sad for us burger historians, as they first opened their doors in 1931. 1936 was the year that Bob’s Big Boy restaurants opened for business, and became a popular spot for travelers, truckers and locals to eat massive burgers for a steal of a deal all across the country. In 1940, McDonald’s came into existence, and forever changed the way the world would look at the hamburger, and perhaps changed our perception on clown’s as well. Only eight years after being in service did they create their “Speedee Service System”, which laid the groundwork for the foundation of fast food as the world knows it today. When you look up "game changer" in an American dictionary, those flattop grills of theirs are what you will see.

Today, burgers are sold literally everywhere. In microwaveable plastic bags at gas stations even. While fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, White Castle, Krystal, Carl’s Jr, Hardee’s, Checkers and others litter roadways and highway entrance/exit ramps nationwide, the fast food establishment isn’t by any means the sole location where people buy their ham and cheeseburgers. A step up in quality from fast food comes the burger stand, a historic American creation, mimicked quite well by national chains such as SmashBurger and Five Guys Burgers and Fries where giant sized, juicy burgers are served up with the quickness, but provide a more restaurant or diner style experience with their lack of drive thru window and their larger dining areas. Beyond the burger stand, American diners, while not known for their duck l'orange or clam risotto, do happen to make the types of burgers than French chefs chow down on after a hearty night of working or partying (or both). To use a couple major chain examples, Denny’s serves the culinary delight even during breakfast hours, and even The International House of Pancakes changed its name to The International House of Burgers for a spell to highlight their own varied burger selection. The burger is so American that our five star restaurants more often than not carry fancy and unique versions of the famous sandwich.

But now let us get to the “meat” of this article, and yes, I do think I’m funny. Navarre, Florida is known for a lot of things, from its extraordinary beaches to its fresh seafood to its beautiful homes and its wonderful, centralized location to many exciting metropolitan areas. It is a quiet city, and the adjacent stretch of Emerald Coast, Navarre Beach, is known as "Florida's Most Relaxing Place" for a reason. While not widely known as a meat lover’s paradise, the fact of the matter is, Navarre is home to two independently owned and operated burger stands that are 100% mouth-wateringly delicious. Top’s Burgers and The Copper Bull will delight any burger fanatic who happens to stop by this idyllic beach community, and you know what, the fries are amazing as well. On "top" of the burger stands, the restaurants, diners and smokehouses of Navarre all expertly craft burgers as well, so no matter what your date or your family is in the mood for, if a good burger is what you want, a good burger you shall get. Just so I don't go on forever and ever about the local burger's here, this article is going to focus just on the two aforementioned burger stands. But for your own personal information, as far as I know, nor I or anybody on our has ever had a bad burger in Navarre.

Let us begin with Top’s. A sort of local chain, Top’s Burgers stands can be found in Pensacola, Navarre and in Fort Walton Beach. A burger stand which only opens their doors in coastal towns, now that is something I can get behind! It is difficult to not picture a 50’s style diner when ordering from their short but sweet menu. The simplicity of it, with nothing except burgers, fries, tots and dogs being sold, reminds me of the days when selections at restaurants weren’t as plentiful, and they were all fatteningly delicious. Each location has its own specialty burgers, but my favorite (no offense Pensacola or Fort Walton Beach!) are the Cajun flavors offered at the Navarre location. Whether you’re just looking to save a few bucks on a meal, want something to take to the beach and stare out at the water with, or are a busy commuter looking to scarf down a meal in their car, Top’s has you covered as competently as their fries and tots can be covered in chili cheese.

The Copper Bull is a bit more creative with their menu, and although I do appreciate the subtly of Top’s, I love the contrast their menus give each other. While The Copper Bull offer burgers, dogs and fries like most typical burger stands, The Copper Bull also serves treats such as chicken strips, fish and chips, as well as truly unique takes on the burger. When I say creative, I mean they a beer battered burger, perfect for that person in your life who thinks they’ve tried it all. All of this, and a drive thru to boot! The Copper Bull reminds me of a high end specialty burger restaurant, except without the pretentious dining room and overly priced meals.

While Navarre has all of America’s favorite fast food restaurants, including a Culver’s (great burgers, and if you haven’t tried a frozen custard before, do yourself a favor and try it next cheat day), as well as some terrific restaurants serving up some fantastic burgers, if you’re looking for a quick burger, and want to try a unique one that you can’t find all across the country, Top’s and The Copper Bull have you covered, and are two great examples as to why Navarre and Navarre Beach are one of Northwest Florida’s most wonderful communities. If you haven’t eaten a Top’s or The Copper Bull burger with your toes in the sand, you’ve never burgered quite as well as I have, and yes that is a challenge to outdo me!