Hamburger Helper: Is 2009 the Year of the Burger?

A burger from the Shake Shack in New York City. Restaurant experts predict burgers will be a popular choice for diners and restaurants during the recession.

(Thomas Krakowiak)
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Burger Appeal 'Growing Every Day'

It's no accident that McDonald's is one of only two stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average that went up last year.

It is the burger for which consumers across the country are casting aside the pomp, the fluffy and the garish garnishes for the ultimate comfort food.

"A hamburger is the most universal symbol of what it means to be an American," said Ozersky. "I don't care what anybody says. You know the citizenship test where they [ask about] George Washington? They should have them say what a hamburger is. Because if you were in Afghanistan or, you know, or Mordor or whatever, the hamburger is something that is infinitely more recognizable as a symbol of America than George Washington is."

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All this is really a far cry from the nutritional and environmental outrage that seemed to be popping up the last few years about burger makers and their practices.

"Nobody cares about any of that," said Ozersky. "People love hamburgers and nobody cares about any of the social and environmental or health effects about them."

While that may not be true for everyone, it appears Americans can't imagine life without them.

Ozersky's next stop was the always-busy Shake Shack, one of the most popular burger joints in New York City. People line up around the block to eat there, and the Shack goes through 2,000 pounds of beef in a weekend. So, how is business?

"Incredible," said Randy Garruti, the head of Shake Shack operations. "[It's] growing every day... I think people are looking for a really good, high quality product at a fair price right now -- in a comfortable, fun setting -- and that's what we're providing.

Their special technique of using paint scrapers to flip the burgers cooks in all the scrumptious juices. And you get it for less than $5.