I have spent an hour of thinking and drooling about all of the deliciously desiring foods that displayed in my head trying to answer this question. Growing up I’ve always been one to be diversely interested in the food realm. Exploring through all types of different combinations of foods throughout different cultures. I can never get a hold of myself when I’m asked this question. My brain can never finalize or select one favorite meal as it’s distracted by other competing foods. But narrowing down my decisions to one of my favorites but also one of my most eaten meals I must select a cheeseburger with a side of French fries. Now some may be disappointed in my selection, while others can vision the same home loving meal I do. Beginning with the soft, warm heavenly buttered brioche bun. Continued by adding a cooked ground beef patty topped with the oozing melted cheese of your choice. This is just the traditional cheeseburger but there are countless options of toppings you can add such as, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, guacamole, fried egg, fried onions, pulled pork, or bacon. Also, some of the traditional sauces such as ketchup, mayo, mustard, or barbecue serve great with burgers. Now onto the side of lightly salted, deeply fried potatoes also known as French fries. Your French fries can be cut into all shapes and sizes including thin strips, chip shaped, or even waffle shaped.  

There’s nothing like fall season Sunday mornings as my family would clean up the living area and kitchen in preparation for the football games the evening brings. To begin, my Dad works outside cleaning the backyard deck and the grill as me and my brother split the chores of the living room and kitchen. Usually I’m in the kitchen preparing dishes for large servings and my brother just straightens up the couches and chairs. Before and while we cook we would always listen to some smooth music in the background of ESPN predictions on the TV. We begin to cook maybe an hour before the first kickoff. After washing and preparing dishes I begin to cut and wash the potatoes. As my Dad is out on the grill working away at the flaming ground beef patties. Once the fryer is preheated to the right temperature my brother loves to dip in the fries and watch them cook into a nice crispy texture and bright golden color. With everything cooking I set up 2 huge bowls of chips, usually a combination of regular Lays and nacho Doritos, with a side of dip. Waiting for

the food to be done me and my brother would put together a salad bar of the toppings of our choice. Finally, once the burgers are cooked to perfection and the fries are crispy golden we all come along and put together my favorite meal, the American Cheeseburger with a side of French fries. Before taking our seats for the game me and my brother usually grab a cold glass of water, but my Dad loved his DrPepper on Sundays. 

My father had told me his love for the meal was because, “It’s a quick and easy meal I truly enjoy making. I love the environment while I grill, either at a family gathering cooking out or even on football Sundays in the kitchen. Cheeseburgers were one of the first meals my mom had ever taught me to make, I loved them growing up. But, specifically on Sundays this evening meal means way more to me than eating cheeseburgers and french fries. Instead it was a gathering that me and the family dread because after our long weeks of work we all get to come together and relax, sharing time with each other that we usually don’t get to have.” He told me he believes I love the meal so much, “only because of football not only every saturday but every game day for him, every time we went to see a game, either pop warner or nfl he would always eat a cheeseburger. It was like cheeseburgers and football was an inseparable couple for him.” I do love a good cheeseburger. But my dads favorite meal was “ Well-done sirloin steak with a side of home cooked mashed potatoes with any greens to top it off.”He loved this meal first because, you can also cook a steak on the grill sort of like a cheeseburger but like he said he enjoyed the environment of grilling, but second the key to this meal was the preparation and time dedicated to the sides.