Slugburger

Slugburger

Slugburger with onion rings
Course Main
Place of origin United States
Region or state Southeast
Creator John Weeks
Main ingredients Beef or pork with an inexpensive extender such as soybeans
Cookbook:Slugburger  Slugburger

A slugburger (originally Weeksburger) is a traditional southern delicacy found in the area of Northeast Mississippi, particularly Corinth, New Albany, Booneville, Iuka, Tishomingo, Burnsville, West Tennessee, and northwest Alabama. Consisting of a patty made from a mixture of beef or pork and an inexpensive extender such as soybeans, it is deep fried in oil. It is typically served on a bun with mustard, pickles, onion, and in some places with a side of French fries.

History

John Weeks brought his hamburger recipe from Chicago to Corinth in 1917. Weeks had his hamburger meat ground to specification by local butchers, which included potato flakes and flour. These small hamburgers were originally called Weeksburgers. Sometime before 1950, soy grits replaced the potato and flour and has remained the primary extender. According to town legend the term "slugburger" comes from the slang term for a nickel.[1][2]

At one time, five of the Weeks brothers were selling Weeksburgers in the south end of Corinth. They were John, Dave, Cord, Bill, and Fate Weeks. Fate, the youngest brother, also had a dozen different hamburger stands that he ran. He started working for his oldest brother John in 1919. In 1947, he purchased an old trolley car for $100 and converted it into a cafe. During his career, Fate Weeks converted four trolley cars into hamburger joints. His last trolly was located in Booneville Mississippi. As of the spring of 2015, his son, Willie Weeks, is still selling Weeksburgers from a portable building cafe in Booneville.

In Tupelo, Mississippi, slugburgers are known as doughburgers and often contain flour and egg rather than soy grits. A local drive-in "Johnny's", that Elvis Presley frequented as a boy, serves doughburgers.[3][4]

Thrill List recommended restaurants for this burger are White Trolley Cafe and Slugburger Cafe, both in Corinth.[5]

Borroum's drug store in Corinth is another location well known for their slugburgers.

Name origin

According to town legend the term slugburger comes from the slang term for a nickel.[6][7] or for "being an imitation hamburger". Another reason given is that in the meat packing trade, slug was a dressed forequarter of lamb or mutton and a slugburger extender. Another origin comes from the feeling after eating too many slugburgers or are sensitive to fried food and felt like someone had 'slugged' you.

Slugburger Festival

World Slugburger Eating Championship [8]
Year Winner Burgers Runner up
2012

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Matt Stonie

Matt Stonie

 30 ‡
2013 31 ‡ Joey Chestnut (30)
2014 43 ‡ Joey Chestnut (42)
‡ World record set

Each year the citizens of Corinth as well as those who travel from miles around descend on the town to pay tribute to this local culinary specialty at the annual Slugburger Festival. The festival is held in downtown Corinth for three weekend evenings during July and run by Main Street Cornith. There is entertainment at Train Depot and a carnival by Trailhead Park plus the World Slugburger Eating Championship.

TripAdvisor.com considers the festival one of the “wackiest” Summer events along with The Great Texas Mosquito Festival, Michigan’s Humungus Fungus festival and the Hollerin’ Contest.[5] As a part of the entertainment, the festival holds a singing contest, Slug Idol, featuring contestants from surrounding counties in Tennessee and Mississippi.

The Slugburger Festival was started in 1988. In 2012, the first World Slugburger Eating Championship was held at the Festival. In 2014, reigning Matt "Megatoad" Stonie from San Jose, California set the world records with 43 slugburgers eaten in 10 minutes beating out Joey Chestnut in the field of 11.

See also

References

External links