Intro

1. a : ground beef
    b : a patty of ground beef
2. : a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun
             --Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A hamburger, beefburger or burger is a sandwich consisting of one or more cooked patties of ground meat, usually beef, placed inside a sliced bread roll or bun.
             --Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Introduction Manifesto

Burgers are everywhere! From hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle, to the heart of the tropics. From California, to the New York island. From deep below the Earth's surface, to the outer reaches of space. They can also be found in the small town of Sitka, Alaska.

I moved to Sitka in February of 2015, and since then I've eaten many burgers here. Burgers at restaurants, burgers at home. Burgers made with beef, burgers made with ground or finely chopped salmon, burgers made with the meat of deer that my girlfriend shot and killed. (I believe they have all been fawns.)

But what is the best burger in Sitka? Or rather, what is my favorite burger? After all, there are different burgers for different occasions. Do you want a classic, traditional burger? Or a burger with lots of fancy shit? Or this slightly odd burger from Wikipedia? (Despite being online, Merriam-Webster still does not have pictures or GIFs and provided no image of a burger.)

No, I am not looking for the best burger in Sitka. What I want is simply a good burger. But I've got one challenge to face--I live on an island.

Yes that's right, Sitka is on an island. If I want to go to another town I have to get on a ferry or in an airplane or something. I can't just go grab some Culver's (favorite fast food burger), or go out to Rockwell's or Kuma's (favorite Chicago burgers), or have my dad grill one up (favorite burgers all around). No, I've got to find my burgers right here.

So allow me to take this moment to invite you on a journey. I am going to eat all of the burgers I can find in Sitka, and let you know what I think of them. On this blog--my burger blog. But before we begin, some ground rules:

• What is a burger?
•  See above.
• How will you find these burgers?
• There are 14 miles of road here, so it's not too hard.
• Will this include frozen burgers from the grocery store, or weird gas station burgers?
• Nope. I will only eat burgers at establishments that prepare the food on-site, serve it hot and ready to eat, and in which it would not be frowned upon to eat the burger right then and there.
• How will you judge the burgers?
• Easy--with my gut.
• What are you going to do about non-beef burgers?
• I believe in a pluralistic view of burger meat. Who am I to say what is and isn't a burger? I'll leave that to the fine people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and the many editors of Wikipedia.
• Will you be featuring a variety of guest contributors, who'll offer up unique takes on the subject in an assortment of styles and mediums?
• I damn well better be (you know who you are).
• I live in Sitka. Can I join you when you go eat burgers so I can watch you? Watch you eat burgers? 
• Sure! Who am I to judge? Again, I'll leave that to the fine people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
• Why are you doing this? 
• Why not?
• Are these really "ground rules"?
• Too late. Ok, time for one last question, and then we've got to get started!
• How often are burgers round? 
• According our nation's most preeminent dictionary, they are typically round.