Boiled beef is sought after by gourmets all over the world. Tafelspit, the famous Viennese version, is made from special cuts and is reputed to be sublime. If I ever get to the famous Plachutta Wollzeile in that city, I'll report on it, but for now my topic is the steamed cheeseburger.
To truly appreciate a steamed cheeseburger, you have to put aside all your preconceived ideas about hamburger. Forget the sweet, crunchy caramelization produced by contact with the heat of the grill. Forget medium rare. Then you have to travel to a small area in central Connecticut where steamed cheeseburgers are a local delicacy.
I was visiting our friend Ina in Meriden when I set out to investigate this phenomenon. I went to Ted's Restaurant at 1046 Broad Street in that fair city, but there are other eateries in town where you can expand you r culinary horizons and sample the treat. Another restaurant I visited on my stay had to install a steamer to satisfy popular demand.