Garbage Plate Burger

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The Garbage Plate Burger is my homage to the college town I lived in for 5 years.  The Garbage Plate is an icon in that area, and for good reason!

I lived in Rochester, NY for 5 years. I went to college there. In that whole time, I had one, count them ONE garbage plate. Yes, I realize that I should have probably had at least 3 or 4 a year. Because it’s like this hangover cure or something. I don’t know because I don’t get hangovers. But I get why the Garbage Plate is so popular.

What IS the Garbage Plate?

There’s a restaurant in Rochester, New York called Nick Tahou Hots. Hots being a slang word for hot dogs. The restaurant was established in 1918 by a Greek immigrant named Alex Tahou. He initially served up hots, both red and white, with potatoes or po-tots. It was pretty much everything the cook could make on a plate.

Rochester, New York isn’t a huge city, but is popular for some pretty big things like Kodak. Then there’s Wegman’s stores that started there. Xerox started there! Geneseo (Genny) beer hails from Rochester and then there’s Zweigle’s hots. Which are sold at Wegman’s even in my part of the country. For me, I remember Kodak, Genny beer (from frat parties), and Zweigle which are served at Rochester Amerks games and Nick Tahou’s Hots.

You would think that this dish, being such an icon in the Western New York area, would be around forever. While the actual dish might have been, the name was not. The story goes that college students in the area would ask for the dish with all the “garbage on it” when they place their ordered at the restaurant. Hence the name Garbage Plate was born. And finally trademarked in 1992.

 

I had one. Ever. In my entire time at RIT.

And yes, it was after a long night of drinking. I remember being in the restaurant. I remember eating the garbage plate and all the flavors and textures. And remember being oh so happy to eat such delicious and comforting food. Finally, I remember the rather large amount of gas I had after eating it. Oh my word. TMI. I know.

When my friends and I were there in the early 90’s, it wasn’t the best place to be in the middle of the night. I remember it being a dive with some unsavory characters combined with the college students. Form what I’ve read, they’ve cleaned up their restaurant a bit and it’s not as much of a dive as it was when we were there. Oh so long ago.

No matter the atmosphere, or the hots dogs and toppings, the Garbage Plate is something that I remember distinctly. And it’s something you really need to experience firsthand when you’re in the area. That and an Amerks game, some DiBella’s subs, Zebb’s wings and a fish fry, and a college hockey game. I recommend and RIT hockey game. Oh, and make sure you’re there for the weekend to get to the public market!

I haven’t introduced the hubs to this delicacy until this burger. I’m not sure he appreciated all the flavors. Of course, I didn’t add the home fries and macaroni salad to his burger. You really need to have it all in one plate and one bite to really appreciate this dish. But I did have the burger, hot dog, cheese, the hot sauce, and some onions to his burger. And had the macaroni salad on the side.

 

There are all the delicious layers in this burger.

I opted for the potatoes instead of the baked beans. I can’t imagine baked beans on a burger, but now I have to think about that next year. So, there’s the home fries or fried potatoes on the butter, the burger with American cheese, a hot dog grilled and cut in half, the hot sauce, the macaroni salad, diced onions, yellow mustard, and the bun.

Yes. I did eat it all. Because it’s so good! All the flavors and textures make for a killer experience! Not exactly the same as an authentic Garbage Plate, but pretty darned close to it. It’s the sauce the hot dogs that really bring it home. And then there’s that macaroni salad.

 

Y’all, this macaroni salad is OH SO GOOD!

This burger was actually my lunch the next day. I tried eating it like a regular burger. It’s almost impossible. The macaroni just shoots out. The potatoes hinder the bite, and the burger/hot dog topper makes a total mess. Not to mention the sauce, chopped onions, and yellow mustard topping. You can imagine how this begins to make a total mess if you’re not careful. I ALMOST dropped the red hot sauce down the front of my new shirt. So, beware.  You’ll need lots of napkins and maybe a bib.  

But it’s oh so worth it!

#BurgerMonth is almost over!  Have you found some inspiration for your burgers this Memorial Day weekend?  I hope so!

The rest of the #BurgerMonth Recipes

• Garbage Plate Burger by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Patty Melt on Sourdough by Real Life With Dad
• Seasonally Delicious – Burger and fixings using what’s fresh (and in stock) by Good Cook Doris
• Quesadilla Burger by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Mozzarella Burger by Making Miracles
• Carne Asada Burger with Chipotle Guacamole by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures