Eponymy in August is winding down [ed note: for 2016], but I thought it would be fun to do another fun, food-related one. So let’s talk about the Luther Burger.
The Luther Burger is a bacon cheeseburger served on a sliced and griddled Krispy Kreme doughnut. Unlike a normal hamburger bun, the doughnut bun is served with the cut side to the outside to let the glaze melt into and mix with the interior contents.
The origins of this dish are murky but date back to at least 2005. It’s possible that the burger, named for Luther Vandross, was in fact invented by Mr. Vandross himself. While Mr. Vandross is known or widely believed to have been a fan of the sandwich, Mulligan’s Bar in Decatur, Georgia holds its own claim to the title of inventor. A 2006 episode of the Boondocks TV show (a seriously underappreciated piece of contemporary American media; you should watch it if you haven’t) mentioned it by name, and this is how I first heard about it.
Luther Vandross had a successful 30-year career as a singer, songwriter, and music producer. He did backing vocals for a number of R&B and pop icons early in his career before (and even for some time after) breaking out into his own solo career in 1980. Vandross won eight Grammy awards, including the 2004 Best Song award for “Dance With My Father.” For my generation, he is best remembered for performing “Endless Love” with Mariah Carey in 1995, and for his 1991 solo hit “Here and Now.”