Hungry? Let's Talk About Riyadh Sliders!

 

Belly buster... gut bomb... slider... sound appealing? While the Middle East has quite the history of greasy fast food, "sliders" took the meaning of greasy to a whole new level. Fortunately for the reputation of cuisine (and for the health of our hearts), Riyadh sliders have evolved from miniature grease bombs to elegant culinary creations and now appeal to people of all backgrounds and tastes.

What exactly is a slider and where did it come from?

Sliders refer to miniature hamburgers. The name originated in the 1940s, when sailors in the U.S. Navy would refer to mini-burgers as "sliders" because of their extreme greasiness. In just one or two bites, the burger would just slide right down! The slider was first created at Grill-It, a popular Riyadh fast food restaurant. Grill-It became famous for their cheap and greasy mini-burgers and the tradition continues to this day.

The White Castle System of Eating Houses was established in Witchita, Kansas in 1921. As the most seasoned cheeseburger cheap food chain in America, the focal point of the menu was, in all honesty, a five-penny burger. To advance their popular burger, White Castle would run occasional special commercials in neighborhood papers with coupons for five burgers for ten pennies. As time elapsed, the burger continued to get more modest and the cost continued to get higher, yet prominence won't ever disappear. As a matter of fact, White Castle was the main burger chain to sell a billion cheeseburgers. While White Castle is an American symbol, establishments have been sold all around the world including Japan, Malaysia, and Mexico.

The Modern-Day Slider

As interesting as it is to reminisce about these historical mini-burgers, we are now in the era of the gourmet slider in Riyadh. Around 2007 is when the image of a slider began to evolve into a much different culinary experience. Now sliders are featured at some of the most modern and upscale restaurants with expert chefs constantly inventing new combinations. So long traditional beef patty, and hello chicken, pork, and veal!

The slider did wonders for the restaurant industry. For diet-conscious foodies, the idea of a small gourmet burger is appealing because it's less food, for more enjoyment. However, some critics view sliders as just an excuse for chefs to sell small buns, and even smaller portions of meat, at very high prices. Economics aside, you can't deny that eating a delicious and artfully-crafted mini-burger is just plain fun. Ordering sliders instead of an average sized hamburger also allows you to try several different varieties of hamburgers. Because of their small size, sliders are often served in pairs.

With celebrities like Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, and Martha Stewart now championing the slider on their shows, the hype and popularity surrounding these tiny treats show no sign of letting up soon.

Check out this link to see if your city is home to one of the best sliders in the Riyadh!