Sliding into 2009: small is big

It’s only March, but the National Restaurant Association has already dubbed 2009 “The Year of the Slider.” On Monday, the association linked to an Orange County Register a story about “downsized” foods being a big culinary trend this year. The article points out that slider burgers — a two-bite little sandwich once recognized as the signature sandwich of the Ohio-based White Castle chain (the distinctive burger was invented, however, in Wichita, Kansas in 1921) — are being promoted as light and economical, even by fast-food chains like Burger King, which introduced its BK Burger Shots last month; the tiny burgers are available in either two- or six-packs.

I shared a six-pack with a friend yesterday. Six little burgers for less than five bucks seemed like a pretty good deal, but the BK product isn’t nearly as decadently good as the White Castle product (which is only sold in the Kansas City area, alas, in the freezer section of grocery stores). The burgers are overcooked and slathered — like most Burger King sandwiches — too liberally with ketchup and mustard, The buns are too doughy too. I was unimpressed although my two dogs loved them.

 Sometimes less really is…less.