Why is it called a hamburger when there is no ham in it? The short answer is that it came from Hamburg, Germany.

Hamburger started with the Tatars (or Tartars), a nomadic people* who invaded central Asia and eastern Europe** in the Middle Ages. The Tatars ate their shredded beef raw (hence the name "steak tartare" these days). According to one account, they tenderized their beef by putting it between the saddle and the horse as they rode. When the Tatars introduced the food to Germany, the beef was mixed with local spices and fried or broiled and became known as Hamburg steak. German emigrants to the United States brought Hamburg steak with them. It showed up on New York restaurant menus in the 1880s. Hamburgers became a sensation as sandwiches at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kan., is the world's oldest chain of hamburger restaurants. The hamburger's popularity exploded in the United States after World War II when burgers became the main menu item at drive-in restaurants spawned by the growing number of cars. McDonald's, which started as a hamburger stand in San Bernardino, Calif., has spread the hamburger around the world. The world's largest restaurant chain with more than 26,000 restaurants in 119 countries has served billions of hamburgers.

Text teacher A: Is the word hamburger connected to ham? B: How werw they served at the Saint Louis Worlds Fair in 1904? C: What was the role of McDonals in turing the hamburger into the most typical American Food? The hamburger has no connection to ham. It got its name from German town of Hamburg, which was famous for its ground steak. German immigrants to the United States introduced the Hamburger Steak. At the St. Louis Worlds Fair in 1904, hamburger steaks were served on buns were served on buns for the first time. Hamburgers on buns were conveniente and tasted good. This became the usual way of eating hamburgers. How did the hamburger become the most popular, most typical American food? The introduction of the bun is na important part of the answer. Another importante part is McDonalds, the fast-food restaurant. The first McDonalds was opened in San Bernadino, California, in 1949. Hamburgers were the main item on its menu. People liked the restaurants. Mc Donalss was a part of nearly every community in the United States. There were also other fast-food restaurants that sold hamburgers. McDonalds alone sold millions of hambuergers a year. Today, of course, there are McDonalds restaurants around the world. The food they serve is considered typically American. And although*** McDonalds has Expanded its menu, the main item on that menu is as Always the Hamburger.

Glossary

*nomadic people Povos nomades ** eastern Europe Europa Ocidental ***although embora