Wild Boar Burgers… At Fuddruckers?
I’m not sure how widespread the Fuddruckers burger chain is, but there’s one near me and I have to say it’s not bad. They’re one of these places that basically cooks up the burger, slaps it on a bun, and then sends you off to their condiments bar to load it up to your delight. I probably like that part better than the burgers, which are good enough, but adding the perfect storm of condiments makes it much better.
So what’s this got to do with hog hunting?
Not too much at first glance. But I just read an article on SlashFood.com about how Fuddruckers is rolling out a line of “exotic” burgers. They’ve had bison burger for as long as I can remember, but apparently they’re adding elk burgers now, and in September we can expect the arrival of their Wild Boar Burger (reportedly to be followed by the ostrich burger, although I seem to remember that they were already selling these at the restaurant near my house).
Personally, I’m willing to give it a try. The bison burger didn’t really set my taste buds to dancing, honestly, but I’m curious to see how they handle the elk and wild boar.
Wonder where they purchase the ‘wild’ boar from? Lots of states don’t allow the sale of game…but of course, some states catagorize wild boar as game, while others say its feral. And then there are states like NC, which have both!
July 13th, 2010 at 5:42 am
Brian,
A majority of wild game (elk, venison, etc.) served in restaurants in the US comes from farms in New Zealand, although there are a few suppliers here at home too. I believe that some Texas ranches sell wild boar, and if you can meet the FDA requirements, CA ranches can sell it also. However, these are not the free-roaming wild boar, but managed, fenced, and certified disease-free animals going to market.
In the US, the meat of true wild game (e.g. feral hogs, whitetail deer, etc.) cannot be sold commercially. That goes back to the market hunting days and the associated destruction loss of wildlife stocks, but it’s also a health concern, since wild animals are not managed to control disease or parasites that may be harmful to humans.
July 13th, 2010 at 6:41 am
I’d definitely try a wild boar or elk burger. I’m thinking the wild boar is going to be a little tastier, but I’ve been wrong before.
And one of our local restaurants also sells Ostrich burgers, although I’ve yet to try one.
I might have to put that on the to-do list.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Gotcha
July 13th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Fuddruckers is also the chain that has banned customers from bringing their weapons into the restaurant even if they have a license.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:45 am
I’m all for anything that gets the public thinking about the fact that wild game is food – even though you can’t sell anything but farmed game. It’s a start.
I understand why we had to ban the sale of wild game, but the downside has been a mass amnesia about the fact that these are animals we can EAT.
July 13th, 2010 at 9:24 am
We were out for a team dinner a couple of weeks ago and at an upscale Italian restaurant in Walnut Creek. I was suprised to see the special was a dish with wild boar. That cracked me up since I was sure it wasn’t as wild as what Phillip has loaded up in our freezer.
July 13th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Dave, thanks for pointing that out. While I absolutely disagree with their philosophy, I totally support the right of any private business to decide what they allow in their establishment. It is up to us, as consumers, to decide if that’s important enough to keep us from patronizing that business.
Holly, I’m afraid that disconnect extends way past wild game meat and includes domestic critters as well. An awful lot of people can’t make the connection between that hamburger and “Elsie” the cow out in the pasture.
July 14th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Can’t hurt to try!
July 14th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Had the Elk burger last night at Fuddruckers in Roxbury NJ.
Damn good…it doesn’t have a chance against a good Elk Ribeye steak but for a fast food joint, damn solid. Ordered in medium rare and they cooked it perfect. Rich tasting, beats the snot out of eating ole bessie the cow for the 1,000,000th time.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
As for Dave’s post above…I don’t want to eat my Elk burger next to someone packing heat. Kudos to Fuddruckers for not allowing heat packing right wing red necks to strut their sense of freedom with a 9 millimeter. Get real.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Answer me this (even though it’s utterly irrelevant to this conversation).
Why does the open carry of a handgun disturb folks like you so badly? I mean, seriously, put aside the silly tendency to lash back at someone who’s doing something out of the ordinary… do you honestly feel threatened when you see someone carrying openly? How do you feel not knowing how many people in that restaurant are carrying concealed (illegally or not)? Or are you comfortable in the fantasy that no one on the street is carrying? If you can’t see it, it’s not there?
Personally, I have no desire or intent to carry either way except when I’m hunting. But I don’t understand why seeing folks wearing a handgun on their hip gets people so worked up as to resort to ignorant name-calling. It just seems pointless and kinda dumb.
August 2nd, 2010 at 7:46 pm