What’s a peanutburger you ask? Well, if you live on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio than you probably already know the answer to this one. But for those of you from any other part of the world, let me tell you. Bearden’s is a diner style restaurant straight out of the 50’s. Ok, well technically it was started in the 40’s but it looks like it’s from the 50’s. Anyway they serve exactly what you would think they serve. Burgers, chicken fingers, hot dogs, onion rings, fries and milkshakes. Alright, and they serve some salads, but no one goes there for the salads. Let’s just say it is not a restaurant for vegetarians, unless of course your are ok with eating you weight in onion rings. Which actually might not sound all that bad to some. Me? I don’t know. I have never had one…. Nope, I have never had an onion ring. Is that weird? My parents are not big onion people or at least they thought they weren’t onion people. Trust me they are, they just don’t know it. Anyway, we never got the onion rings and since I have never had them I have never had the urge to try them anywhere else. I am thinking this maybe needs to change though, I hear they are good. Wait, I am getting off topic. I can not do that today. Today I have not one, not two, but three recipes. Burgers, fries and a milkshake. Cause honestly they just go together and I can not split them up. That would be just plain wrong. And mean. My mom and dad grew up eating peanutburgers during their lunch break at school. Yeah, can you believe that, they had a whole hour and a half to go home, or wherever, for lunch. So since Bearden’s was across the street from their school that’s where they went (not together back then, that didn’t happen until high school) for a treat. I guess Bearden’s used to be the “cool” place to go back in the day as well. My grandma actually used to go there on Friday and Saturday nights when she was in high school in the late 50’s. The waitresses used to serve your food on roller skates. No seriously. If you were getting your food to go or just eating in your car the waitresses would roll your order out to you on skates and then attach a tray full of food right onto your car door/window. Which makes me think of National Lampoon’s Vacation when the waitress brings them their food and their window shatters. Yeah, for some odd reason I love that movie. And for me that is really odd because I do not normally like comedies. Typically I am all about the dramas, love stories and a little action mixed in, but mostly I am really into the dramas and happy ending movies. Really though, why do waitress not do this anymore? Um, hello? Roller skates! That is awesome! Sorry, sometimes I act like I am five again and sometimes I secretly wish I was. Ah wait, that’s not a secret. I totally wish I was five and care free again.
Alrighty then, back to the burgers. They are maybe the weirdest sounding burger around, but trust me they are so good. Peanut butter slathered on a burger is amazing. So amazing it does not even need cheese, or even the bacon that you see sitting on top in a few of the photos! And that is coming from a “everything is better with cheese” person. Typically when we used to get Bearden’s we would just get the peanutburger with no other toppings, but since I have started writing this little blog I have discovered that venturing out of my food comfort zone can equal delicious things. Now personally my family still loves these burgers straight up. Just plain peanut butter and nothing else, but we are boring and typical. So if you thinking you want some cheese go for it, cheddar is delicious with the peanut butter and burger. And the bacon, well for some that is probably just a no brainer. Either you love bacon or hate it. It is a personal preference thing. If you love it go for it and if you are a true peanut butter lover just do the peanutburger straight up. Bun, burger, peanut butter, bun. Done. You can’t go to Bearden’s without getting the the Slim Jim Fries. You just can’t, they’re too good. They are slim, crispy and salty. Everything a fry should be and what every burger needs sitting right beside it. My slim jim fries are a little different though. I baked them, cause ya all know I hate frying. Promise they are just as good. Ah, wait. Your burger and fries? Yeah, they are still not complete. They absolutely, no questions asked, need to be washed down with a chocolate shake. Really, it’s not up for discussion. Just do it. It’s malted and it’s good and it is what your peanutburger and slim jim fries need. Plus, I might have a mental break down if I knew you ate this meal without shake. So just give your peanutburger the full Bearden’s tribute and wash it down with an icy malted milkshake and slim jim fries. Your burger will never be the same again.
Oh and yes, you should make these for Memorial day.
