What does it take to make a great burger? Unlike one European chef who recommends 30 hours of intricate preparation, we know the answer: Use high quality meat with a fat ratio of 20% to 30%, handle with care and grill with precision.

Did you know that the club sandwich may have originally only had two pieces of bread? Some believe the extra slice of bread was originated on double-decker railroad club cars.

You know that steak, burgers, and even stew are beef based and an important part of any authentically American menu. Beef has been the meat of choice for humans for a long, long time. Care to guess when cattle were first domesticated? Food historians agree that happy event occurred over 8,000 years ago.

It's sometimes said that American cuisine is based on breakfast, and with good reason. The number of breakfast dishes commonly found on the menu of an American restaurant is generally far more than that of other ethnic cuisines. There's something for every taste, whether it's pancakes, eggs, bacon, or biscuits.

Favorite comfort foods for kids include mashed potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken soup and macaroni and cheese. These dishes are especially popular with younger kids because of their simple but delicious flavors - plus they are served warm and they are very filling.

People like comfort foods for a variety of reasons. For some people, it's all about bringing back a sentimental or nostalgic feeling. For others, it's because the foods are soft and easy to eat.

For savory fare beyond compare, we invite you to our diner. And it wouldn’t hurt to try dessert, for there are not any finer.

You may have heard the term "melting pot" used to describe America, and this is an apt term for America's cuisine, as well. Traditions, preparation methods, and ingredients from other countries have been assimilated into traditional American foods, making American cuisine very dynamic and interesting.

In the 18th century, classic American restaurant fare had a distinctly provincial flare. “Game was plentiful, including venison, pigeon, raccoon and elk. Turtle was considered a delicacy … [and] oysters were fast becoming a passion with Americans.” (America Eats Out, 1991)

Soup and salad is probably the most popular lunch pairing because it's enough food to satisfy you without weighing you down so you can go back to work.

Slow cooked stew dishes are hearty comfort food dishes that are perfect for filling lunches or satisfying dinners. Popular stew recipes include beef stew made with large chunks of beef and vegetables and bean stews made with lentils and carrots.

As with several American food favorites, the club sandwich was popularized in this country at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Several different versions of this perennial favorite were featured on the menus of four prominent restaurants.