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We adopted my brother in 1971 when he was six weeks old. He was 1/2 Greek and 1/2 Black. We were a white family from a small town in Michigan. It was the greatest way to grow up in that we learned quickly what we were made of and what was important in this world.

We gave up many family members and "friends" during this journey but they were worth losing! I moved to Phoenix about 4 years ago and it's very different even than Michigan in terms of race relations! I was so excited to support Obama in McCain territory!

My husband and I love burgers. We have not gone to Delux even though we've been told by others that their burger is the "best." It justs seems so contrived. My favorite burger is at a little restaurant called Ticoz. I get the #3 with some very cool toppings including a lime mayo that is wonderful. They come 2 burgers to a plate and I always have a midnight snack left!

I've never enjoyed reading a burger review quite as much as this one. You are an amazing insightful person! Thank you for sharing your story.

Really rich post, Damon. Kudos for adding even more meaning to a subject you already relate so passionately. It truly enhances the experience. (I'm talking about life and burger-blog-reading here, dude.) I wept a little myself. Also, I'm pretty sure your second patty mooed at me from the depths of cyberspace. Dang, that's some rare meat.

Belonging to a particularly discriminating burger lover, I understand more and more the unabashed appeal of your offerings-- this is a wonderfully multi-layered post!

Um... I've been in therapy for weeks because of my AHT addiction. Just when my therapist and I thought we had it figured out (reference A-AHT in the DSM-IV) this new review comes along and messes everything up! I thought I loved your burger blog because I love hamburgers but now I realize it's because you're writing is like nothing else I've seen in the food world. Seriously, Damon, I read a TON of food blogs and articles and I'll say it: you are officially my favorite now. I feel awful for Jonathan Gold. Not only will you soon be putting him out of work but his chances of another Pulitzer now that you're in the mix is nil. Thanks for what you do here!

Now I am totally interested - you gotta show us family photos - uh, the burger? I like my rare and I don't think I would've touched that one!

Wow, that was an incredibly moving post. And kudos for sending the burger back being overcooked, I have adoped the policy that if they don't get it right I will give them a chance to get it right the second time.

what a great post. too bad the burger wasn't up to the standard of the writing or the most moving sentiments offered to us by damon. i think here damon nicely put the occasion of his visit to this burger joint in most affecting context with the historic events of the week...

as a bi-racial american (like damon's brother and sister), i appreciated his incorporation of the inauguration (and his mother's and his family's journey) into the review. i found it most poignant how he made mention of the fact that he was eating a burger in the very state that so defiantly rejected the MLK holiday not too long ago, and how he made mention of the cognitive social "transformation" (albeit incremental) the country has made since his mother's family rejected her and her new family just a generation ago. america, like the burger at Delux may still be a "work in progress"... but thank goodness it seems like america is a bit farther along on that journey than this burger joint.

good stuff, damon. good stuff.

p.s. that shake looked great (maybe the only thing worth ordering there, perhaps?).

Good lord, that photo of the burger is raw not rare . . .

Maytag Blue..yum

Crater Lake Blue

rogue river smokey blue

I have never met a blue cheese I didn't like (mmmmaytag!)

I know I'm past deadline (damn) but I had to add Cato Corner's Hooliganfrom (CT) and Meadow Creek Farm's Grayson (VA) are two of my very favorites.
-Guttergourmet