Flash CNF: Hamburgers and Writing

[My Work]

Hamburgers and Writing

The invention of fire and the wheel are innovations lauded for their impact on humanity. The humble hamburger is also a member of this august pantheon. Consider its genesis and evolution—

First, a butcher who, having portioned a side of beef into steaks, chops, ribs, roasts, and the like, is left with a pile of trimmings. Rather than discard these heterogeneous bits of meat and fat, our enterprising butcher grinds the trimmings into a homogeneous mass of beef. The ground beef is then added to the display case with the butcher’s other offerings.

Second, as innovation begets innovation, the industrial revolution created a need for people to consume meals outside of their homes. Hot meals that could be eaten without utensils on the go became popular. While sausages--and later hot dogs--also occupy this culinary niche, hamburgers became the meal of choice for many Americans.

Bite after hot, juicy bite of a hamburger nourishes the body, energizing it for the demands of the day. This gustatory experience may be augmented with various toppings—lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, cheese, and even more exotic items.

Like a butcher, writers gather the scraps of their observations and musing to create material for their work. Like a hamburger vendor, writers form this material, frying it on the griddle of their skill, creating something that may be held in the hand and consumed on the go. Readers’ thoughts and emotions are thereby nourished. Hold the onions.