Did I mention that it's National Hamburger Month! Let's celebrate!
But what are we celebrating? Is it the mating of bread and beef by the Mongol Tartars? Or is it the sandwich made in Hamburg Germany in 1891 of two slices of bread, ground sausage beef, mustard, a pickle or two, and a fried egg? Yeah, right!
Unfortunately, precisely who, sometime just after 1900, invented today's bun-and-beef delight is not clear. What is clear is that, 100 years later, business is booming. Here are some companies to discuss around the barbie this weekend.
McDonald's
Wendy's
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Red Robin may be upper scale, but there is something about having a hot burger delivered to your car by a skating attendant that makes Sonic
Checkers
Finally, it's not all roses in burgerland. Back Yard Burgers
So, by all means, celebrate the paradigm-shifting marriage of beef and bun, but know that not everyone is doing likewise. Beef is taboo for Hindus and frowned upon by many Buddhists in East Asia. For investors, there should be very few frowns if analyst's 2005 estimates prove out. Now that's something to celebrate!
Here is the trivia W.D. will be taking to the cookout this weekend. Henry Ford invented the charcoal briquette in 1920 with the help of Thomas Edison using wood scraps and sawdust from the car factory floor. Yum! E.G. Kingsford bought the invention.
Want to discuss the Art of Fun(ky) BBQ or Recipes and Cooking? Or, how about talking about McDonald's or Red Robin Gourmet Burgers? Join in our discussion boards.
Fool contributor W.D. Crotty does own stocks in McDonald's and Checkers.