Sliders on the Menu

Eighty-five years ago, Billy Ingram created a proprietary industrial-strength spatula specially designed to flatten balls of ground beef into addictive little square burgers that he and his partner, Walter Anderson, trademarked as "Slyders."

Anderson had developed an efficient method for cooking hamburgers, using freshly ground beef and fresh onions. After grilling, a slice of dill pickle was inserted before serving. Management decreed that any additives, such as ketchup or mustard, were to be added by the customer. Anderson's method is not in use by the chain today, having changed when the company switched from using fresh beef and fresh onion to small, frozen square patties which are cooked atop a bed of dehydrated onions laid out on a grill. The heat and steam rises up from the grill, through the onions. In 1949, five holes in the patty were added to facilitate quick and thorough cooking. The very thin patties are not flipped throughout this process. This "steam grilled" method is unique among major fast food restaurants.

Since then, the Slyders have given rise to legions of fans called "cravers" and helped turn a single White Castle restaurant that opened in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas intoa 400-unit quick-service chain in 12 states with $537 million in annual sales. The company, a pioneer in fast food, also takes credit for selling 1 million and then 1 billion hamburgers before any of its quickservice competitors.

Today, high-end restaurants have upgraded the slider (and changed its spelling to avoid trademark infringement). Like their fast-food cousins, these baby burgers tend to be ordered in multiples, but they're now starring as trendy appetizers and samplers, more often washed down with a microbrew or martini than a milkshake.

At Fix at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, a trio of Kobe beef sliders sells for $21. They're grilled over a mix of three types of wood, topped with aged cheddar and grilled onions and served on toasted brioche. The beefy threesome is presented on an oval plate along with a cone of Thai spiced hand-cut fries.

Kobe beef with caramelized onions and gruyere is one of six sliders at the Barclay Prime steakhouse in Philadelphia, but the kitchen goes beyond beef. There's the seared tuna with Asian slaw, crab cake with Old Bay remoulade, and poached lobster sliders (prices range from $7.50 to $12 for a sampler). Stanton Social in New York City boasts a separate slider section on its menu: Kobe beef burger ($5), pulled pork sandwich ($5) and lobster rolls ($6).

Brian Meier US Foodservice Center Of The Plate Specialist At The First Annual Pebble Beach Food And Wine Event

Brian Meier added his 2 cents with this email:

The Slider Train Keeps On A'Rollin !!!

In addition to the Kobe Beef Sliders available from US Foodservice San Francisco the Slider phenomenon is popping up everywhere.

* Applebee's has Angus Beef Sliders on their appetizer menu.
* For dinner at Montrio's Bistro in Monterey on Saturday night, Steve Salle, Bruce Raymond and I had Tenderloin Sliders for an appetizer. 2 oz of Tenderloin on a freshly baked bun for only $12.95 each. They were fabulous !!!
* Look for Snake River Farms Kobe Sliders at the Coliseum - Home of the Oakland A's - courtesy of John Miller.
* Speaking of John Miller - I received a call this weekend from John saying " Hey, how about those Phillip's Ahi Tuna Medallions (#4766945) on Sliders with Soy Wasabi and Ginger."" Add a 2 oz Phillip's Crabcake (#5199649) for another Slider special.
Other Menu ideas include:

Mango Lamb Sliders, combine traditional Indian ingredients with a more western preparation. Tandoor-cooked slivers of lamb topped with mango chutney (2335917) served on a dish dusted with cumin salt and tamarind syrup add a cucumber yogurt sauce that is a traditional accompaniment and ideal for cooling the palate.

Foie gras sliders with pear chutney and basil.

Champions Sports Bar Marriott This sporty spot serves four mini-cheeseburgers (topped with mustard, mayo and grilled onions) on wooden skewers, two apiece. The burgers go down easy, accompanied by fine fried onion rings. $7.95

TGI Friday's, Friday's cheeseburger sliders, three to an order, are topped with sauteed onions, which add that White Castle touch. They also offer chimichurri sliders with melted provolone and a savory garlic-herb sauce. $7.29

Smoked Pulled-pork sliders, two to an order, are topped with sauteed onion and cole slaw $6.50.


Meatball sliders on Gorgonzola puffs; three to an order

Smoked Beef Brisket, simmered in barbecue sauce and served on King's Hawaiian rolls. Paired with zingy cole slaw.