Springfield’s Student Prince adds Governor Baker’s ‘nothingburger’ to menu
If you’ve ever wondered what a “nothingburger” would actually be made of, a Springfield restaurant has you covered. The downtown institutionThe Student Prince Cafe and The Fort Dining Room is now featuring such a burger, in honor of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. Andy Yee, who is part of the ownership group of the restaurant, described Baker as a “great person and great friend” to Springfield and Western Massachusetts. “More importantly, he’s a great friend to The Student Prince,” he said.Yee said he follows news about the first-term governor, who he said often stops in for “a quick bite or a luncheon” when he’s in town. Yee said the “Governor Baker’s Nothingburger” — an 8-ounce hamburger on a bed of bibb lettuce — was inspired by the politician’s response to criticism of Paul Sagan, the chair of the state’s elementary and secondary education board, for making a donation of $100,000 to a campaign aimed at increasing the number of charter schools in the state. “I think that’s ridiculous,” Baker said when asked about calls for Sagan to resign, according to MassLive. “It’s a nothingburger.”Yee said as soon as he heard the quote, he knew he had to put a “nothingburger” on the menu. The new burger, which costs $9, has been selling well since it was put on the menu a week ago, he said. The description of the dish doesn’t contain an explanation of the name, so he said staff members have been telling the story when people ask. “It’s generating some interest here,” he said.
The restaurateur said he showed Baker the menu and that the governor is “having a good time” with the burger.
“He said he’s coming out here in October and he’s going to have it,” he said.
Baker’s press secretary Billy Pitman did not confirm Tuesday whether Baker planned to visit and try the burger, but said the governor tries to stop in at the eatery whenever he is in the area and his schedule allows.
“While Governor Baker is no fan of a bun-less burger, he is a big fan of the Student Prince and their ingenuity keeping up with the latest news on Beacon Hill,” Pitman said in an email.
If you are planning on ordering the minimalist dish, Yee recommends ordering some sides, which cost extra.
Otherwise, you really will only get the lettuce and hamburger meat.
“That’s it, a lot of nothing burger,” he said.
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