Rant #2,149: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Before we get into a Julie Andrews karaoke competition, a few of my favorite things in the world are hamburger chains and their offerings.

Yes, I have loved these round, perfect patties of beef since I first ate at a White Castle in Queens, New York with my father years and years ago.

We would sit in the car and chow down on their square patties of beef, but, of course, in most places, we are talking about round patties.

And we aren't talking about White Castle anymore, although that chain has lived long and prospered.

We are talking about square, round and all shaped patties of beef at a variety of different venues--sit down, casual and fast food, and according to a new survey, one of the newest venues dispensing what may be America's favorite fast food is our favorite such venue when we have a craving for a hamburger ... or two.

For the second year in a row, fast casual chain Five Guys won Harris Polls' 30th "Burger Brand of the Year" award, beating out In-N-Out, which had topped the chart for five straight years.

I ate at Five Guys exactly one time, and I have to say that I was impressed with their burgers, which tasted quite a lot like the ones my mother used to make when I was a kid, in a fry pan. And you could actually taste the beef being used, which with all the fillers that are usually in these things, is an accomplishment in itself.

In-N-Out is basically a West Coast phenomenon, so I have yet to taste their burgers, but I am told that they are top of the line.

Harris surveyed more than 77,000 people to come to its conclusion that Five Guys is our favorite hamburger, determining what they call "brand equity" at 17 different chains, including the usual suspects--McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's--and several other venues--such as Jack-In-The-Box, Hardees, Carl's Jr,, and yes, the aforementioned White Castle--and strong familiarity, quality and future consideration scores won Five Guys this year's prize.

What probably hurt In-N-Out is the fact that it is a regional chain, only operating in 300 locations in six states, the furthest east being Texas.

In contrast, Five Guys--which ironically, was born the year this poll started--is in 1,500 locations across the country, and it is also in several foreign countries.

Personally, like I said, I have only eaten in Five Guys once, but I have eaten in the three major players--McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's--thousands of times.

For me, I like Wendy's hamburgers the best of the trio. They simply have more taste than the other two, although both Mickey Dee's and BK burgers have their merits.

And yes, you can get one of the trio's burgers just about anywhere in this country, and if you travel abroad, you can get their burgers in many countries too.

Look, the best hamburgers are really and truly the ones made at home--I had two last night for dinner and they were way, way above anything you can get on the outside--but if you are on the road, in a hurry, or you just want to take a break from cooking at home, you simply cannot beat the venues that abound around our country that offer burgers of every shape and size and concoction imaginable.

I have often wondered why America's other favorite feel-good food--hot dogs--have never taken off like this in a restaurant setting. Sure, just about all the fast foods at one time or another have offered franks on their menus, but it just doesn't have the spark that hamburgers do.

I think it has to do with the flexibility of burgers versus franks.

You can put just about any topping on a burger to make a meal, but franks, because of their shape, don't take to every topping as easily as a hamburger does.

(And yes, a couple of chains have tried a flat frank, shaped like a hamburger, but it just hasn't worked to capture our fancy.)

And honestly, there is nothing better than a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut.

Beyond those two toppings, you are on your own.

And since Memorial Day is Monday, many of us will start our barbecue seasons--weather permitting--and there is nothing like a hamburger on the grill.

But again, if you prefer to go out to have your burgers, Five Guys appears to be America's choice.

But I still remember those times with my father, sitting in his car and munching on White Castle hamburgers with their thick shakes.

That experience grabbed me hook, line and sinker, and I just love those slabs of beef, I really do, so yes, they are truly a few of my favorite things, for sure.