Jucy Lucy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Jucy Lucy hamburger with melted American cheese core. |
|
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Minnesota |
| Creator(s) | Multiple claims |
| Dish details | |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredient(s) | Hamburger Cheese |
| Variations | Multiple |
| Approximate calories per serving | 600 |
A Jucy Lucy (or Juicy Lucy) is a cheeseburger having the cheese inside the meat patty rather than on top. A piece of cheese is surrounded by raw meat and cooked until it melts, resulting in a molten core of cheese within the patty. This scalding hot cheese tends to gush out at the first bite, so servers frequently warn patrons to let the sandwich cool for a few minutes before consumption.
The Jucy Lucy was apparently invented at Matt's Bar in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, though this is disputed. The 5-8 Club, a short distance south of Matt's, also claims to have invented the sandwich; this establishment uses the "Juicy Lucy" spelling.[1] Concerning the spelling, Matt's Bar boasts on posters that "if it's spelled correctly, you're at the wrong place", while shirts worn by employees at the 5-8 Club bear the legend "if it's spelled right, it's done right."
The Jucy Lucy can be considered the cheesesteak of South Minneapolis, as it engenders similar feelings of protectiveness in many locals. However, reinterpretations of the Lucy are encouraged, rather than quashed (unlike better-known signature dishes of some other cities, such as the cheesesteak, the Detroit style coney dog, or the Chicago style hot dog); for example, the Groveland Tap in neighboring St. Paul serves a "Cajun Lucy" featuring jalapeño peppers floating in pepper jack cheese.
[edit] Media appearances
The dispute between the Jucy Lucy and the Juicy Lucy was highlighted on the Minneapolis episode of the Travel Channel series Man vs. Food. Host Adam Richman tasted both versions of the burger after stating his plans to settle the dispute. At segment's end, Adam announces his decision only to have it made inaudible by a loud passing truck.
[edit] References
- ^ Jay Boller & Justin Flower, Burger Battle Minnesota Daily, March 2008.
- Edge, John T. (2005). Hamburgers & fries : an American story. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0-399-15274-1.
- Cook's Country magazine, July 2007 issue
- Moskowitz Grumdahl, Dara (August 12, 1998). "A tribe called Lucy". City Pages. http://www.citypages.com/1998-08-12/restaurants/a-tribe-called-lucy/. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
