Belmont Professors Find Community Through Burgers
When Dr. Joel Overall moved to Nashville to teach at Belmont University, he decided to make his new city “home” by mapping out the best food. This quickly led to a department-wide effort to track down the perfect burger. Call it the birth of the “Burgerillas,” the name alone staking claim to the importance of their work. Dr. Natalia Pelaz explained, “I think that I thought of the guerrilla warriors. We were a group of people––”
“covertly,” Dr. Jason Lovvorn added.
“––fighting for something. And that fight was to find the best hamburger,” said Dr. Pelaz.
“So, we’re freedom fighters,” Dr. Lovvorn summed it up with a laugh.
The seven “freedom fighters” who make up the Belmont Burguerillas hail from all different backgrounds, from across the States and even across the globe. They even have one vegetarian member, Dr. Jayme Yeo, whose pitch for Burger Up’s Troyathlon Burger was so convincing it made the top of their list. While her vegetarianism can stand in the way of community (which often centers around food), “the veggie burger reminds us to make a space at the table for our awkwardness so that everyone can sit and eat,” said Dr. Yeo.
Sitting down with them is a sort of immersive learning experience, covering topics such as grilling tips for at-home burgers (indent the top with a thumbprint, top with an ice cube, flip once), the buzz on new burgers around town, debates over the controversial use of French bread on the Rotier’s Signature Burger. Bits of history naturally trickle in, such as who holds the oldest liquor license in Nashville (Brown’s Diner) and the rise and fall of the burger in Sweden (apparently, McDonalds should have served their Big Mac with silverware). Many of the professors lead study abroad trips and have often discussed how burgers from around the world are “similar but not quite home.” They analyze why homesick students on study abroad trips beg to wait in line at 5 Guys for a taste of home as they stand in the center of London, Paris, Madrid. . . the list goes on.
Burguerilla’s Top 5 Burgers in Nashville
- Burger Up’s Troyathlon Burger
- Gabby’s Burgers & Fries’ Gabby Burger
- Brown’s Diner’s Cheeseburger
- Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s The Classic Burger
- Burger Republic’s 96 Burger
For the same reason those students stand in line, Dr. Pelaz’s, who hails from Spain, favorite burger comes from Brown’s Diner. On her first visit, smoking was still allowed inside. “Despite the appearance, the ambience, the clientele, and the waitress having difficulties understanding me, this place reminds me of home back in Spain, where at the time you could smoke in restaurants and in bars. And some of my favorite places smelled just like Brown’s Diner.” It was also the first time she was called “honey” by her waitress.
In light of their findings, founder of the group Dr. Joel Overall concludes that the perfect burger is a bit subjective: “Perfection is not a state of being, but a continuously shifting method influenced by time, space, and community.” While their mission statement may be to find the best burger in Nashville, it doesn’t take much digging to discover their real effort is to build community. In fact, Dr. Robbie Pinter admits she doesn’t really like burgers; she’s there for the company. “I wanted to eat a burger and share some space with friends, because like James Taylor, I believe ‘the secret of life is enjoying the passing of time’ and, I would add, with friends around the table.”
