Ted's Restaurant facts for kids
Ted's Restaurant is a famous place known for its special hamburger called the "steamed cheeseburger." It opened way back in 1959! You can find its main restaurant in Meriden, Connecticut, in the United States. Ted's also has a cool food truck and a concession stand where they sell their unique burgers.
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The Start of a Steamed Tradition
People think the idea for the steamed cheeseburger, also called a "steamer," started in the 1930s at a place called "Jack's Lunch" in Middletown, Connecticut. The exact story is a bit fuzzy, but everyone agrees that Ted Duberek opened his own restaurant, Ted's, in 1959. He started serving these steamed burgers in Meriden. Back then, many factory workers were in the area, and Ted's was popular with them. The factories worked all day and night, so Ted's even stayed open until 4:00 AM!
How a Steamed Cheeseburger is Made
Unlike regular cheeseburgers that are fried or grilled, Ted's steamed cheeseburgers are cooked in a special way. They use a stainless-steel cabinet that steams the food. Inside, there are small trays. One tray holds a hamburger patty, and another holds a chunk of cheese.
This steaming method is unique! It makes the fat in the meat melt away. The melted fat then drains from the tray when the burger is ready. What you get is a really moist and juicy burger. After cooking, the meat is scooped onto a bun. Then, the melted cheese is poured right over the top. You can add your favorite toppings too!
Passing Down the Restaurant
Over the years, many local factories moved their work overseas. Ted's Restaurant kept going, but with shorter hours. Ted Duberek passed away in the early 1970s. His son, Paul Duberek, took over the business. Paul ran Ted's until 2007.
That year, Paul sold the restaurant to his nephew, Bill Foreman. Bill had worked at Ted's when he was in high school and college. Bill has kept the restaurant running much the same way. The steamed cheeseburger is still the most important item on the menu!
Ted's in the Spotlight
Ted's Restaurant became even more famous when it was shown on TV! It was featured on the Man v. Food show on the Travel Channel. This happened in December 2009, during the show's second season.
Taking the Steamed Burger on the Road
Ted's also has a cool food truck! It's called the "Steam Machine." This truck sells steamed cheeseburgers at different places. You can find it at Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. It also visits the Xfinity Theatre amphitheatre in Hartford. Plus, it sells burgers at UConn Huskies football games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Ted's also has a concession stand inside the XL Center arena in Hartford, Connecticut. It's located behind section 101, so fans can grab a steamed cheeseburger during events!
Steamed Burgers at the Ballpark!
In August 2018, Ted's had a super fun promotion with the Hartford Yard Goats. This is a minor league baseball team. For one home game, the Yard Goats changed their name! They became the "Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers." The team even wore special uniforms that looked like the food item! Ted's sold fresh, made-to-order steamed cheeseburgers to fans. They had a special "Hartford Neighborhood Flavors Cart" set up right at the stadium.
