Ah, it should have been "most over the top burger". Which would really be a far more interesting list.

I'm not sure how "over the top" came to equal "ultimate," which I read as best tasting.

I still don't think anything breaded and deep fried can be a burger, no matter how good it tastes.

Funny that they wanted "over the top" in Maryland. The burger they selected for Oregon (which I have eaten) is as classic as a burger can get. The one they selected for Colorado is a joke.

Bill Bateman's Bistro has (had?) a burger who's diameter is roughly that of a dinner plate. A friend and I ordered one (each). It was fun. I can say I did it (consumed over three or four sittings). "Over the top" in the sense of whacky. But "ultimate", by Lissa's definition, no. It's just big.

The Heart Attack Burger is okay. Actually, Mother's regular burger is better (order it blackened). I've only had about 40 of them. Just don't tell my Wii Fit. I'll never here the end of it.

I agree with Lissa. Why not call a sloppy Joe a deconstructed burger?

Well, just don't call a sloppy joe BBQ. It is quite a bit of a culinary letdown when I order BBQ thinking I'm going to get some pulled pork or shredded beef only to get ground beef in some kind of a ketchupy tomato sauce.

The phone call to Suzanne Loudermilk illustrates what's wrong with those national "best of" compendiums that some magazines dine out on. "What are the three most over the top hamburgers in your city? Quick, Miss Loudermilk, we're short staffed here and the clock is ticking. Anything with crab dip? Candied yams? Creamed spinach? A fried burger? Great. Thanks for your help. G'bye now." Okay. Maybe the conversation didn't happen exactly that way. But judging from the results, I doubt that I'm far off -- in Maryland or any of the other 49 states.

So ... while you are/were contemplating Baltimore burgers, I got to eat a Maid-Rite Sandwich (seasoned "loose" hamburger meat on a bun) in the Heartland where they belong. They looked at me funny when I didn't order a beverage, but that's because they didn't know that I had already stopped next door at the Little Amana Winery for a split of their Piestengle (dry rhubarb wine). I did have the cheese curds. I have said in this space before that I will choose a Maid-Rite over any burger in this town -- not that I try many. And I was overjoyed to find out that I could buy a Maid-Rite coffee mug to add to my collection of (uh ... oh my!) 178 others.

And while I'm in travelogue mode here I got a tip from another visitor to Amana that there was a cool Danish settlement west of Des Moines. I stopped for lunch and found "The Danish Cafe," next to the largest working reproduction Danish windmill in America, which had (doncha know!) a Danish buffet for lunch. Terrific ... well, if you like things from the sweet/bland quadrant of the tasting field. Try everything once!

Danish buffet? Cool! Can we have one here?