MILLIANS: Burgers on the brain

Published 1:53 pm Thursday, May 22, 2025

“Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are.” 

The line was written by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer, politician and author in the early 1800s. He is the author of the “Physiology of Taste.”

You’ve got to hand it to Mr. Brillat-Savarin. The Frenchman knew what he was talking about.

I guess he was called a gastronome. Foodie works for me.

A foodie, I am told, is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food, and who eats food not only out of hunger but also as a hobby.

I’m guilty on all counts. 

Not high-end food like Beluga caviar, white truffles, or foie gras. 

I’m talking about everyday food like pot roast, mashed potatoes and butterbeans.

LitHub came up with a list of the best food scenes in literature that define the characters and tell the story by way of the kitchen.

My favorite is from the movie “Heartburn.” It is based on writer Nora Ephron’s failing second marriage to political journalist Carl Bernstein (of Watergate fame), who she learned was having an affair while she was pregnant with their second son.

Ephron (played by Meryl Streep) finally reaches her breaking point, hurling a key lime pie into the face of Bernstein (played by Jack Nicholson).

I don’t blame her.

Of course, hamburgers fit my definition of everyday food.

They are our national dish — the most popular food item in the United States. 

McDonald’s sells 6.5 million burgers per day worldwide. That’s 75 burgers sold every second. Or, 2.36 billion burgers sold in a year.

Burger King claims to sell 2.1 billion Whoppers a year, but I wonder. Their drive-thru lane moves kinda slow. 

Add in other fast-food hamburger joints here in Milledgeville – including Wendy’s, Krystal, Sonic, Freddy’s, Dairy Queen, and Cook Out – and that’s a lot of burger options. 

Then, add in hamburgers from casual dining chains such as Chili’s, Appleby’s and Ruby Tuesday’s. 

Even more burgers.

But Milledgeville Burger Week, which is back this week and runs through Sunday (May 25), always manages to be unique. It’s a welcome change from hamburger chains.

Visit Milledgeville does a terrific job with this every year. When I see the words “EAT TO WIN,” it has my undivided attention.

I love the slogan: “Ten Days of Burgers on the Brain.”

And it’s all local. The burgers are only $10.

Get an official Burger Week passport – from the Visitor’s Center or download it from www.milledgevilleburgerweek.com.

Collect five or more stamps from the dozen participating restaurants, and you can enter to win “Burger Swag” and a Burger Week T-shirt.

The Burger Week lineup: 

• Amici: The Meech Seoul Burger.
• Bollywood Tacos: Baja Cheese Burger.
• Buffington’s: The Flyin’ Hawaiian.
• Cantina Letty: Taco Burger.
• Greene Street Pool Tavern: The Sloppy Waffle.
• Greene’s: Brisket Burger.
• Kay Thai: Thai BBQ Burger.
• Legends: Smash Burger.
• Metropolis: Metrop Peachy Burger.
• Shima in Milly: Ushi Burger.
• The Brick: Brown Sugar Hot Burger.
• Wings, Rings & Things: The South’s Best.

The hamburgers with the smashed patties (Greene Steet Pool Tavern, Legends and Wings, Rings & Things) really piqued my interest.

The most colorful burger description award goes to Greene Street Pool Tavern’s Sloppy Waffle: “Three crispy beef smash patties layered with melty cheese, stacked between two real Belgian Liege waffles. Topped with pepper jack mac & cheese bites, spicy ranch and tangy coleslaw. It’s sweet. It’s spicy. It’s absolute chaos in the best way possible.”

Just make sure you have plenty of napkins.

Yes, I am what I eat: A common man. A burger lover.

Rick Millians, a 1970 Baldwin grad, is retired after working at newspapers in Georgia, Ohio and South Carolina. Reach him at rdmillians@aol.com.