Did you know that Babingtons was amongst the first eating establishments to introduce the world’s most famous sandwich to Italy?

Here is the story of our very first hamburger.

As always Babingtons looks into the future

In 1893, a time when in Belpaese (Beautiful Country, as Italy was poetically named due to its mild climate, cultural heritage and natural endowment) tea was an unknown quantity and only considered for its medicinal purposes. However two young English gentlewomen decided to sally forth on a great adventure, that of opening a Tearooms in the centre of the Eternal City. From here their dream was to share with their guests their knowledge and enjoyment for tea.

Not only.

As Rory, direct descendant of Isabel Cargill and current owner of the Tearooms along with his cousin Chiara, affirms for us:

“Babingtons’ DNA has always ushered us towards a search for the new, for the future; all the way back to when the brave Anna Maria and Isabel, became the first female entrepreneurs to open a Tearooms in Italy. Today we want to express our innovative ideas in a more trendy and contemporary way, with events such as our Victorian Happy Hour. With our tea based cocktails, our modernised recipes, our accessories and our packaging we look to the future, whilst keeping a firm eye on all those quintessentially English quirks which have guided us over the past years”.

Speaking of recipes, amongst the classics of British culture such as the club sandwich, eggs Benedict and English brunch, there is one in particular which Babingtons is most attached to, the hamburger.

Hamburger in Rome: the story of Babington’s first

Nowadays the hamburger is to be found all over the place, be it in blazoned fast food joints or fashionable “hamburgeries”; amongst typical Italian, vegan or vegetarian restaurants, in some shape or form you will always find a hamburger!

And to think that not so long ago a hamburger was practically unheard of in Rome.

Until a few, perhaps foolhardy, pioneers decided to take on the gamble of launching the hamburger in a country steeped in its own traditional cuisine and reluctant to try new or different flavours and customs. Italy! And Babingtons was among the very first to prepare and serve this innovative and exquisite recipe to its customers, back in the 1950’s.

How was our hamburger born?

For this eureka moment we have Maggie to thank. One of our waitresses who is to this day held dear in our hearts. Maggie was of American origins and when she came to work for us at Babingtons she told her colleagues all about the new American craze, the “squashed meatball”. A sort of flattened ball of minced beef.

This happened in the 1950’s and from that day Babingtons has served beef burgers to its clients, amongst many other Anglo Saxon dishes, and never looked back!

Hamburger in Rome: Babingtons recipes

Since our dear Maggie introduced us to the delicious “squashed meatball” recipe we have not been able to do without it. We have extrapolated from the classic beef burger made from pure Chianina beef into our newest recipes created especially for this our 125th anniversary year.

The hamburger you order today in our Tearooms is the fruit of careful research into the very best raw materials. Beginning with our mince meat. We only use prime Chianina free range, organic beef which we procure from one of the oldest and most famous butchers in Rome, and ending with the garnish all of which is selected from the best Italian and foreign producers, for their freshness and authenticity.

As in our Egg Burger, for example, where the Chianina beef is complimented by fresh, organic, free range eggs and deliciously melting cheese. Or our Mushroom Burger, topped with pan fried fresh mushrooms and smoked streaky bacon imported from a small farm in Ireland who still use traditional smoking methods handed down from generation to generation. And finally our Burger on Muffin, served in a fluffy, freshly home baked English muffin with our famous (and top secret) cheese sauce.

What about chips? As per tradition our burgers are served with fried chips or if you prefer, a selection of seasonal vegetables or salad.

Hamburgers in Rome, now you know where to go

Deliciously exquisite and irresistible. Babingtons bespoke beef burgers are waiting for you, cooked to order, especially for you; served throughout the day, because it is never too early or too late for a “squashed meatball”!