The Dave Chang Show 25 for 25: The Rise of the Burger
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Sep 29, 2025 Dive into the juicy evolution of the burger and its pivotal role in fast casual dining. Discover how DB Bistro redefined it as a luxury item and how Eleven Madison Park's team birthed Shake Shack from a humble cart. Learn about celebrity butcher Pat LaFrieda's unique blends that elevated the burger experience. From Minetta Tavern's iconic Black Label blend to the science of cooking techniques, this discussion fuses culinary history with modern trends. Get ready for a delicious exploration of the ultimate umami sandwich!
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Financial Shock Accelerated Fast-Casual
- The rise of fast-casual and gourmet burgers coalesced around the 2008 financial crisis and changing dining patterns.
- Higher-quality ingredients and chef-driven experiments made burgers culturally and commercially viable again.
DB Bistro Modern’s Game-Changing Burger
- Dave recalls Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Modern short-rib and foie gras burger that sold for high price and shocked New York.
- That luxurious chef-created burger prompted a meta conversation about what a burger could be.
Shake Shack Proved Premium Works In Small Spaces
- Shake Shack began as a simple Madison Square Park cart tied to Eleven Madison Park's staff and scaled organically.
- Its success showed high-quality ingredients could work in compact fast-casual operations.