The Difference between a New Zealand and a U.S. Cheeseburger

The difference between a New Zealand cheeseburger and a U.S. cheeseburger is very small, but it could save your life. That’s actually not true, but it’s fun to be dramatic.

If you’re like me, there are times when you just crave a good burger. With that being said, I have found a strange difference with the burgers here that I was not expecting. The average burger in New Zealand (as far as I’m aware) has consisted of these things:

The meat patty, duh. Cheese, of course. Lettuce, yes please. Tomatoes, it ain’t a real burger without those. Grilled onions, delicious. Carrots, I’m sorry, what?

I’ve never thought about putting carrots on a burger before, and I don’t think many U.S. citizens have. I first discovered this phenomenon in Christchurch when I ordered a burger from this one take-away place that was ran by a bunch of Asians. I never got a burger with carrots on it before, so I was thinking, “Okay, whatever. I guess this must be some sort of weird Asian version of a cheeseburger.” Back in the states, I probably would have just said, “LOL, no,” and scraped off the carrots, but I have been sticking to my new motto which is: TRY! Besides, I was thinking, “Who knows, maybe the Asians are onto something.” And let me tell you, damn good burger.

Then, yesterday, as every young person went to the bars for St. Patrick’s Day, I decided to do the same. However, I’m socially awkward and shy, and about 87 years-old at heart. Do I want to be around a bunch of loud drunk 20-something year-old’s? Nope. I want to be sitting in a rocking chair, doing a crossword, and waiting to die. Thanks. So, eventually, I got onto a street that didn’t have any of the loud, popular bars, and found a really nice, quiet bar where everyone was 35+ years-old, minus me and the two very cute girls who were working at the time. I ordered a burger and a beer, and it was amazing! It also helped confirm that carrots in a burger is just something that happens in New Zealand, and I am okay with that. Hell, if we could start doing that in America, that would be awesome. We can call it the ‘New Zealand Carrot Burger.’ Now that’s fancy. People will be like, “Wow. This place has the New Zealand Carrot Burger. This place must be a five-star restaurant.” Or they might say, “Did that guy just order the New Zealand Carrot Burger? He must be rich. I’m gonna go hit on him.”

Where am I going with this?

Oh, right. Nowhere.

Well there you go. That was my sort of educational, but mostly nonsense post. Have a good one, and remember, don’t kill people (unless you really dislike them).