SLUGBURGER FESTIVAL - CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI

When someone asked me if I wanted to try a slugburger, I thought they were joking. When I found out it wasn’t a joke, I thought it was a burger made out of slugs. When I found out it wasn’t made out of slugs, I still wasn’t interested in trying something coined a “slugburger” because you can never be too sure what people in the South use in their special recipes.

But as it turns out, the slugburger (first known as the “Weeksburger”) is pretty dang tasty.

This infamous burger can only be found in the southeast, near its birthplace of popularity—Corinth, Mississippi. John Weeks brought his Weeksburger recipe down from Chicago in 1917. He made these burgers from hamburger meat (ground to order by his butcher), potato flakes, and flour. “Extenders” of potato or soy helped fill out the burgers when meat was a more expensive commodity and they remain ingredients in the modern slugburger. The mixture is deep fried and served with mustard, onion, and pickle.

Although there are several possibilities for the slugburger’s etymological origins, a popular belief is that the name arose from the slang term for a nickel—a “slug”—which was likely the asking price.

In July, Corinth, Mississippi hosts the annual Slugburger Festival. This event has been named #2 on TripAdvisor’s Wackiest Summer Events and with activities like the “Miss Slugburger Pageant” and the slugburger eating contest, it’s easy to see why. The event runs from Thursday through Saturday with carnival rides, funnel cakes, live music, and of course, slugburgers being slung for $2.00 each.

But you don’t need to wait for the festival. Anyone can enjoy a slugburger when traveling through Corinth. The White Trolley Cafe sells them for 85 cents each all year round. Take that, Dollar Menu!