Garbage plates: the next trend in hospitality?

Do you know what garbage plates are? Don’t you know about this gastronomic trend yet? If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t miss this post. In these lines you will find out what a rubbish plate is all about.

A garbage plate is an American gastronomic option that, although it is not exactly new, is currently causing a sensation.

What are garbage plates and where did they come from?

Garbage plates, also known as rubbish plates, Trash plates or Rochester plates, are an extreme American dining option. Although the name of this original, attractive and provocative proposal is not particularly appetizing, its taste is really succulent.

This particular dish is the result of a disorganised combination of ingredients, among which the following stand out:

• Burger
• Cheeseburger
• Steak
• One or two sausages
• Italian sausage
• Fish
• Chicken strips
• Fried ham
• Eggs
• Grilled cheese
• Baked or fried potatoes
• Baked beans
• Macaroni salad

It is worth noting that the junk dish usually consists of some of the above-mentioned proteins and the potatoes, beans and pasta salad. The chosen combination is topped with the popular Rochester sauce, which is nothing more than a tasty, rather spicy meat sauce. In addition, mustard, ketchup and onions are often added to this dish and it is served with bread and butter.

Origin of garbage plates

This particular American dish came about almost by accident. The history of this gastronomic alternative begins almost 50 years ago in a small restaurant called Nick Tahou Hots.

Urban legend has it that the owner of the place, Nick Tahou, invented this dish on a night of few options. Apparently some students came to the restaurant pretty tired and hungry and one of them asked for a dish that would bring together “all the rubbish” of the place. That’s how this meal got its peculiar name.

It is worth noting that before it got the name we know it by now, this dish was known as “hot and potatoes”. This dish gained the preference of diners for being a hot, hearty and succulent meal at a very low price.

The audience that helped rubbish plate become such a popular choice was Rochester’s college students. In 1992, “garbage plate” was trademarked by the Nick Tahou Host restaurant.

How to make a garbage plate in a simple way?

To make a simple rubbish plate at home or in a restaurant you can try making two burgers. Then, prepare some fries and a succulent pasta salad. You can use macaroni or any other short pasta of your choice. Finally, make a meat sauce that tastes great. The original recipe calls for a meat sauce that is quite spicy rather than tasty.

When serving the dish, place the pair of burgers on the plate and then fill with the fries and salad. It is worth mentioning that the latter can be placed on one side of the protein, or even on top of it. Then top with the sauce. You can add mustard, caramelised onions and ketchup. As a garnish, you can use buttered bread.