BURGERS ON AN OUTDOOR GRILL >>>

May is National Burger Month, that special time when you can channel your inner Hamburglar. Burgerphiles can sample their way through the specials around town, while the ne'er-branch-outs can perhaps be tempted to try something new - like Dave's Meat and Produce.

There is no car service at this North Tacoma neighborhood grocery store, so you have to order from the young man behind the outdoor grill. There's no rhyme or reason to the ordering system. And you must pay inside the store.

Oh, but the burgers are marvelous. You can choose a regular $4 hamburger grill side, or venture inside the store for fancier options at $5.99 a pound: bacon blue cheese, mushroom Swiss and jalapeno and cheddar cheese. You may also have a $3 brat grilled to your liking.

Today, my Dave's $4 burger was perfectly prepared with a beautiful pinky-red inside, a warm brown exterior and melted cheddar cheese. I took a bite before heading over to the fixin's bar - even without appropriate accoutrements it's delicious. I loaded it up with tomatoes and sliced onion from the bar, which it a small table.

I love cheese­burg­ers. They make me happy. Ok, so all food pretty much excites me but there is some­thing about a per­fectly cooked burger topped with melted cheese on but­tered and grilled bun with just the right top­pings that lit­er­ally makes me giddy.

A Dave's Meat and Produce burger hot off the grill always makes me giddy.

Dave's Meat and Produce

Every Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1312 North I St., Tacoma
253.280.9999