Ted's World Famous Steamed Burgers

I just returned back to the office from a lunch trip to Ted’s in Meriden, CT. And, since I am way too full to actually work, I figured I’d blog instead.

I have heard a lot about Ted’s prior to today. It has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Hamburger Paradise, written about in Connecticut Magazine, US News, and mentioned in Hamburger America, just to name a few. With a place as famous as this practically in my back yard, I couldn’t not go.

So, we pull up to this tiny little building, and I recalled words of wisdom I have heard (on television). It’s the little grease holes like this that usually have the best food. So, in we go, bumping elbows with everyone else in the place. All four of them. From the outside it’s small. From the inside, it’s tiny. Three booths that sit four (two comfortably) and a counter with eight or so stools at it. I ordered the steamed cheeseburger with all the sides and some cheese fries.

The fries came first, and since I had read up on my gastronomic destination for the day, I was not surprised to see that they were in fact home fries. Chucks of potatoes left on a flat top griddle to crisp upon the outside, yet stay nice and soft on the inside. All topped with a hunk of steam-melted cheddar. Kinda greasy. Very tasty.


When the burger arrived, I actually drooled a little. It might have been from the cheese off the potatoes scalding the top of my mouth, but I’m not sure. One bite into the burger, and the juicy goodness that is steamed cheeseburgers began to run down my hand. The burger was very moist, but did not have that much flavor itself. The meat kind of reminded me of when my mother used to microwave frozen burger patties when we got our first microwave, except these were not dried out and didn’t tire my jaw to chew. Or like if you’ve ever browned ground meat in a pan with no seasonings, then tasted it before adding anything else.


My lunch was topped with ketchup, mustard, mayo, onions, lettuce, and another hunk of melted cheese. I added a dash of salt & pepper to complete the seasonings. All in all, a good burger. Definitely not the best I have ever had, but it’s hard to compare. A steamed cheeseburger is something completely different than a grilled burger.

So, as I loosen my belt and return to work I leave you with this. If you are ever in the area of Meriden, CT, I would highly suggest stopping at Ted’s and trying a steamed burger. It’s not the best burger in the world, but it is surely worth a try, and an honorable mention.

Introduction to the Average Food Guy's blog

My name is Rob. I’m an average guy living in New England who has a passion for food and a wife that shares my love of culinary adventure. My point of view may be different from yours as to what “good food” means. Just because a dish may have foie gras or truffles doesn’t mean it’s good. To me, good food is food that is prepared with fresh ingredients by people who love the idea of a good meal. And not just to eat, but everything about it. Eating food is the destination. But, as with life, food is more than that. Food is a journey.

Food to me is more than just sustenance. It is the life blood of society. It is what has been bringing humans together for thousands of years. Did you ever hear a story of a caveman eating around a fire by himself? Of course not, and there’s a good reason for that. Food is the defining factory of every society. Some say it may be language, but food is a unique language all its own.

So, here is my plan. I love to prepare healthy, fresh home cooked meals, but I also love to travel. When I travel, I do my best to stray off the beaten path away from the “touristy” areas to get a taste of what the locals eat. I do this for several reasons. First, I hate crowds filled with annoying vacationers trying to take pictures of EVERYTHING! Oh look, yet another old building. *click click*. Second, I believe that the best food is not necessarily what the natives serve to visitors, but what the natives themselves eat on a daily basis. And, like I said before, food to me is more than just what is served to me on my plate. It is the full experience of the surroundings, the people, and the sights and sounds of the area.

Having delved into my Bourdanian sounding rants, let me come back to reality. I don’t get paid to travel the world and eat crazy and exciting new foods. So, my writings will be more of the local nature. When the wife and I eat out, I will write about it. I will give you my thoughts on the food, the atmosphere, and the all around dining experience. I will also include some of our own personal recipes, which are, for the most part, modified recipes from cookbooks, restaurants, or the Internet, but nonetheless our own.

Why am I doing this? Since I was a little kid I have always loved cooking and food. I was two years old when I told my mother I wanted to be a chef when I grew up. After meeting my wife (and watching a lot of the Travel Channel), she convinced me that I had what it takes to write about food. She could see the enthusiasm in my eyes every time I cooked her dinner. She could hear the fervor in my voice when I told our friends and family about the amazing meals we ate when we traveled. She supports me in everything I do, so I do this for her. In the hopes that maybe, one day, I’ll actually get paid to do this. Imagine that, getting paid to travel the world, eat food, and write about it. Or, at the very least, score a free meal here and there.

Buon appetito.