The HunsBurger 2.0

Yum
Courtesy: Tom Harness

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Four years ago CrossRoads Coffee Company in Carterville created the Kevin HunsBurger. I've written about it plenty of times before, but bring it up to set the tone for the today's post. I wrote a blog recently about hoping that a burger joint here in southern Illinois would bring back the HunsBurger. It was, for the most part, a joke on my part, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear back from two restaurants.

The HunsBurger

S&B's Burger Joint in Carbondale got to work on the idea. I exchanged a few emails with the owner and we worked out the details. It was decided the month of March the Reuben would be the HunsBurger. The burger is "a blend of corned beef brisket & ground Angus beef grilled to perfection, topped with Bavarian sauerkraut, loads of melted Swiss cheese, deli mustard and 1000 Island." 

The burger concept is not about me. Because of my last name and the fact that I was called Kevin Hunsburger a million times as a kid, it has made sense to work with restaurants on this. But the reason I've endorsed the idea both times is because a portion of the sales from the HunsBurger goes to charity. At CrossRoads, we raised hundreds of dollars for the American Cancer Society. Now S&B's is donating one dollar from each HunsBurger to the Austin Wade Foundation.

Austin was a classmate of my oldest son. When the boys were in sixth grade Austin died as the result of a brain tumor. His family and friends have honored his legacy some five years later. The Austin Wade Foundation helps families with a child battling cancer pay for expenses associated with the disease. My hope is that S&B's sells at least 250 HunsBurgers and the foundation receives $250 to continue helping families during a difficult time.

Thumbs up
Courtesy: Tom Harness

So if you live in southern Illinois, please stop by S&B's Burger Joint in the University Mall in Carbondale and try the HunsBurger. The promotion goes on until March 31. Thank you, all and thanks to S&B's for supporting such a great organization. 

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.