"mini-cheeseburgers" vs. "steak sliders"

What is this? You got it, a so-called "mini cheeseburger". Last weekend I had the great privilege of going to dinner with two of my friends, in order to keep their privacy, (they would not even let me take their picture for the blog), we will call them Spanky and Clover. We made this outing for Clover's birthday extravaganza and since where she comes from they do not have an Applebees, that was the restaurant of her choosing. As we browsed the menu, Spanky decided a nice cheeseburger and fries sounded deluxe. Much to our surprise they not only offered a regular cheeseburger with fries, but you could get 3 mini-cheeseburgers with fries. Well, really who would want the regular cheeseburger when you could get 3 mini-cheeseburgers?! We even asked our waiter what the point was, why 3 minis should be more enticing than just one regular size... his answer was something like, "well, no one else has it". It convinced me. After a little bit of coaxing and bargaining Spanky was convinced that it was a far superior choice to order the minis. (or at least I told her I would photo the minis for the blog, rather than her, and so she went for it.) I mean they were a dollar less as well.. why wouldn't you?! When we got done eating Spanky still had one of the three left over.. our waiter, like any good waiter would, asked if she would like a box... she declined...

We had a great night the minis were everything we could hope for and the company was deluxe.
---this is where this post would normally end. But...with something as great as mini-cheeseburgers, you know the story continues. The next morning I receive this email from Spanky...

"Okay – no joke. I go to my parent’s house last night to see if I can set up their TV to record The Biggest Looser for them, and of course, I check out the fridge for anything I may take for dinner. Lo and behold what did I see - - TWO MINI CHEESEBURGERS. I couldn’t believe it. I even had to pick up the plastic bag they were in to inspect. Apparently, I am not the only one who fell for “no one else has them” line"...." Watch out world – here they come!"

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I was rolling it was so funny. The revolution of Mini-Cheeseburgers is on its way. What are the chances really?? The next day I receive another email....

"Who knew 3 mini-cheeseburgers could be the source of so much great blogging material? Yes, the saga continues… I’m talking to my mom yesterday and start to tell her about the mini cheeseburgers, and she starts on her own story of how she and my dad went to Red Robin on Monday. I stop her and say, don’t you mean Applebee’s (remember – they have the mini cheeseburgers, “no one else does”). She thinks back, and says no (a little unsure now) but confirms by saying it was the restaurant right across from the District movie theater. So – yes, she’s right it is Red Robin. But wait – is that where the mini cheeseburgers came from??? She reports my dad ordered “steak sliders”!!! Looks like a mini cheeseburger, smells like a mini cheeseburger, and later today I’ll be able to tell you if they taste like a mini-cheeseburger because they are now in my mini fridge at work courtesy of my mother. Bottom line, Applebee’s is NOT the only restaurant with the (dare we use the word again) mini-cheeseburgers BUT they also have a less creative marketing/naming team than Red Robin who came up with “Steak Sliders.” Had I been debating last Saturday over a regular cheeseburger or steak sliders, Julia would not have had to make the fateful bargain to see the mini-cheeseburgers instead of taking my picture in order to entice me to make my selection. "

***There you have it folks...if Applebees tries to sell you their mini-cheeseburgers because "no one else has them"... they are lying. Besides, steak sliders sounds was cooler than mini-cheeseburgers, don't ya think? If only Spanky had taken the waiters offer of taking hers home, I could tell you which one really is better-- a side-by-side blind taste test would have been the bomb. Lesson learned--- expand your horizons--- try something new, you will never know what you are missing unless you do.