
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Heaven on Earth with an onion slice
Not too particular, not too precise
Just a Cheeseburger in Paradise
I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and French fried potato
Big Kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well good God Almighty which way do I steer?
From listening to other hits and whathaveyou, determining that Key West was indeed the paradise of which Buffett sang was not hard at all. So when a trip took me to the southernmost part of the continental United States I went to find whether the mythical burger could be found.
Of course, to find it you have to go to Margaritaville, Buffett’s original sidewalk cafĂ© now replicated in 13 other cities across the U.S. and the Caribbean. It’s located on Duval Street, a bustling avenue of tourist shops, restaurants and historic locations a block from the end of U.S. Highway 1. The windows are usually open and there’s usually a wait, from what I gathered.





The hubster ordered up a Jumbo Lump Crab and Shrimp Salad ($14.95) -- a blend of lump crab meat, some pinkish shrimp, rotini pasta and olives on top of mixed greens with tomatoes in a lemon vinaigrette. He was pleased with it, though I was a little concerned on the price. Ah, it’s where we were, of course. I will say, it had far more crabmeat than I had

So, there’s all that. Of course, it was time to get on with the Cheeseburger in Paradise ($9.95 with French fries or onion rings), and when I ordered it I had asked that it be “like the song and medium rare.” Out it came on its own special Cheeseburger in Paradise plate and everything on it just the way the song says -- with the

The lettuce was iceberg. The bun was seeded. The big chunk of tomato was impossibly red and the cheese -- a high quality American -- was melted into the meat. I almost ditched the white onions when I went to apply the Heinz, but realized that would defeat the purpose. The fries were skinless white dipping fries and the “big Kosher pickle” was a flat Vlassic-style slice.
Then there was the meat. I approved of the reddish tone that I could see through the bit of crust, though disappointed it was a griddle burger (I’d been hoping for flame broiled). It looked a little smashed on the outside, and when I went to see if the bun was toasted (it was) I noticed a little grill gristle common to hand patted smashers.

And I have to say, Buffett might have been onto something. Without the Heinz 57 that burger was just another burger. But with it, the burger became a nice hearty handful with a good and almost signature flavor.
It’s not a burger I would have gone a huge way out of the way for, but being there I could appreciate it for what it was worth. And now I can say I have had a Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Hi there, my name is Aaron, an official Vlasic rep. Thank you for mentioning Vlasic pickles! Your burger looks great! Thought you and your readers would be interested in some of our other recipes. http://bit.ly/g7mXFd
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