I don't know what to make of the secrecy behind the Bury's World Famous Hamburger recipe.
My wife used a published recipe for that famous tomato-based sauce over the weekend, and the burgers were as good, actually better, than those patties in a bun whipped up each September at the two competing stands at the York Fair... .
Joe Bury used his secret recipe at his immensely popular chain that operated around York County for decades until the 1980s. That chain declined as national fast-food restaurants increasingly flowed into the county.
Since then, the best public opportunity to enjoy Bury's burgers are those stands at York Fair. Ask those fair operators for the recipes, and you'll receive a polite, but firm, no.
Indeed, I've put forth the idea that one or both York Fair standholders could serve their fare at the Oyster Festival and other public events during the year.
But the recipe - or what is darn close to that secret recipe - is public and serves as a business opportunity for some entrepreneur. I mean, how often do you see burgers on a menu served up with a slathering of tasty tomato sauce and topped off with a sweet onion slice. If you've never had that opportunity and don't want to experiment at home, stop by one of the Bury's stands at the fair.
Some critics of the published recipes say an important ingredient is missing. Well, it might be important, but my taste buds can't locate it.
Anyway, others beside my wife are cooking Bury's burgers at home using their own or one of the published recipes.
Between the 4th of July and the York Fair, people from all over the world increasingly click on the blog links below. (These blogs have a counter so we can see your favorite posts.)
That is the season when Bury's is resurrected as burger king.
Bury's recipes
- Bury's recipe as published in the York Sunday News, 2000, click here.
- That York Sunday News recipe with additional ingredient reportedly from Joe Bury himself, click here.
- A quick alternative: This Bury's burger sauce comes from a can, click here.
York Town Square posts on Bury's Famous Hamburgers:
Yet another Bury's hamburger drops into the cooker.
Bury's burgers: 'You won't get that recipe'.
The quest for Bury's secret hamburger recipe continues.
This Bury's recipe comes from a can,
Reader reveals Bury's secret recipe.
Is Bury's secret sauce really secret?
Bury's burgers: Nostalgia on a bun.
Fair, Bury's go together like tomato sauce, burgers.
Bury's burgers: ''That was it - no slaw, no relish, no pickles'.
Playland plays nostalgic note for York countians.
Bury's burger memories far from buried.
To read stroll back memory lane, see posts in Nostalgia and Memories category.
Home town memories:
Our family enjoyed Bury's Burgers once a week, 6 for a dollar with french fries! That was a special meal, and tons tastier than any of the fast food burger joints of today.. mr Bury knew our names, and always asked after the family, etc.. Love it!
Sorry they are doing most of the food themselves (oyster fest.)
And were not interested thanks for the thought
Ps if my mother and my wife only cooked the sauce for 10 min
They would kiss u