The time I had a burger named after me

The Kevin HunsBurger
January 4, 2013

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's hard to believe four years have passed since the creation of the Kevin HunsBurger. Crossroads Coffee Company in Carterville came up with the concept. I'm forever grateful for the gesture. Crossroads has since closed (it has nothing to do with the burger) and I'd like to start the effort to get another southern Illinois restaurant to add it to their menu.

The first bite thumbs up!

The Kevin HunsBurger backstory can be read here. But long story short it was an Angus patty topped with pepper jack cheese, homemade chili, waffle fries and jalapenos. They were all things I'd order in one form or fashion from the vast Crossroads menu with my coworkers. We'd eat there every Friday in a tradition that became known as our 9 a.m. Happy Hour.

Check presentation to ACS

Aside from stroking my ego by having a menu item bearing my name, Crossroads did something even cooler with the limited edition burger. Two dollars from each Kevin HunsBurger sold got donated to the American Cancer Society. We raised hundreds of dollars for the cause, which is still near and dear to me as my mom is once again battling this horrible disease.

The last Kevin HunsBurger
Oct. 2014

I don't want to name names, but I'm going to. Fat Patties, S&B Burger Joint and Burger Nook are a few of my favorite places to grab a hamburger. In 2017 I'd love to see the Kevin HunsBurger on one of your menus and a team effort in helping a local charity. I'm open to ideas, but I really want to give back and help promote business at the same time. 

Life is Too Short for Bad Coffee

The News 3 This Morning gang in 2012

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I still remember the first time I ever stepped into Crossroads Coffee Company in Carterville.  While I don't recall the exact year, I can tell you it was before Dan Gentz and his family bought the place.  The menu didn't even exist back then.  They only had coffee and pastries.  I was meeting a colleague with the Men's Health Conference to discuss our upcoming event and I had hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie.

I didn't think much of that first visit.  Sure the hot chocolate and cookie were good, but I did not drink coffee at the time, and didn't anticipate going back anytime soon.  Little did I know Crossroads would become my favorite place to eat in southern Illinois in a short period of time.

Adventures in eating fresh

My friends and coworkers on the morning show at WSIL used to go to Subway every Friday.  We'd leave the station at 9 a.m. for a break, and we didn't want bacon and eggs.  Since we all got up in the middle of the night, we were ready for sandwiches and pizza by that hour of the day.  We alternated with trips to Dairy Queen as well, just to add some variety to our Friday morning "Happy Hours."

I remember scrolling through my Facebook feed in late 2011 and seeing a picture of a hamburger posted by Crossroads.  It was the Crossroads Burger and it looked delicious.  I commented on the pic, asking if it was served at any time or just during lunch hours.  I was excited when the response was "you can get lunch anytime you want here."

They loved us there!

It took little convincing to swap our Subway/DQ trips with a visit to Crossroads.  After that first Friday we were hooked.  We went there every week, sometimes stopping in more than once.  Many of us visited with other friends and family members too.  Sadly, on October 31, 2014, Dan and his crew served their last cups of coffee and delicious food.

The first Kevin HunsBurger in 2013

You've probably read or at least heard about my story on the Kevin HunsBurger.  If not, click here for the details.  Long story short, on a Friday morning in late 2012, Dan joked with us about creating a burger in my name.  By January 2013, it was on the menu, and two bucks from each one sold went to the American Cancer Society.  I ate the very first one they served and I'm honored to say I had the very last as well.  

The last HunsBurger

Dan and his crew always treated the morning team right.  I can't put in to words how much I appreciate the way everyone there made us feel like Crossroads was our place.  It really was a happy hour (or hour and a half) for us.  The food was always top notch and there were enough menu options to keep anyone from getting bored.  Tables were reserved for us, which was great on busy mornings. Crossroads became a sponsor of a wrestling endeavor I was a part of at one point.  They also donated items for various charity events and helped people in the community anytime they were asked.

The team in 2014

I know Dan, Lisa, Taylor, and the rest of the Crossroads gang will do well in their future endeavors. I've never felt more important at a place of business in southern Illinois than when I was at Crossroads.  I think my friends would agree with that.  Thanks for the many memories.  You hold a special place in our hearts.

The Kevin HunsBurger

That's a thick burger!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

With a last name like Hunsperger, I was the target of lots of interesting variations growing up.  One that always seemed to stick was Hamburger.  Since I've always enjoyed hamburgers, the name never bothered me.  Little did I know back in my elementary school days that I'd actually have a hamburger named after me.

For about a year now I have joined my friends from News 3 This Morning for a weekly trip to Crossroads Coffee Company in Carterville.  Don't let the name fool you though.  There's more than lattes, cappuccinos, and coffee brewing there.  Crossroads has a complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.  There are burgers, soups, chicken wraps and more.  Since most of us get up at 2 a.m. or earlier, we all usually opt for lunch at 9 a.m. as opposed to the tradition omelets, waffles, or bagels the restaurant also sells.

We hit Crossroads every Friday, and depending on the week, we may go another day as well.  We've all dined there on our own too and I think it's safe to say it's "our place".  The management and staff are always very inviting and accommodating to our large (and often loud) group.  Oh, before I go any further, I am not in any way being compensated by Crossroads or anyone else for that matter.  As the blog name suggests, this is just My 1-2-3 Cents (even though I'm not writing about wrestling today)

I'm on a menu! So cool.

On a recent trip to Crossroads, a joke was made by one of my coworkers (I believe it was Kristin) that they should name a hamburger after me.  We all had a good laugh and as we were leaving, the owner Dan, called me to the cash register and asked if I'd be willing to have my name put on a burger.  I was absolutely ecstatic by the news.  Later that evening, he sent me a message on Facebook explaining what the sandwich would consist of and asked me what charity I would like to donate a portion of the proceeds to.  Again, I was flattered and humbled by this.  I picked the American Cancer Society, so now when someone orders the burger, two dollars will go to this fine organization.

On January 4 the big reveal was made.  I actually had the first ever Kevin HunsBurger.  They hadn't even done a test run of it.  Let me tell you it was awesome.  So, what's on it?  It's 8 ounces of Angus beef.  The patty is topped with lettuce, tomatoes, homemade chili (which includes BACON), jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and waffle fries.  It's an extremely thick burger.  I've already gotten some ribbing that as the health reporter I should endorse such a hearty burger.  Well, as I always include in my Food for Thought and Eat This, Not That reports, moderation is the key.

Two thumbs up!
Couldn't put it down for the second.

I was honored to have most of my friends from work there on the first day of the new treat.  Most of them ordered the burger (some had to split it with others because it's pretty darn big)  The meal is $10, with two going to the ACS.  I like the work they do in our area, and I really wanted to help them out.  There are plenty of wonderful organizations here locally, so picking one was difficult.

Of course, I'm bias, but I think the burger is delicious.  It's also very filling since it is topped with two different sides (the chili and waffle fries).  So if you're in the area, I would highly suggest the Kevin HunsBurger. Not only does eating one help support the American Cancer Society, but also a small business in our community.

If you do try one, please let me know what you think.