{"id":270641,"date":"2025-06-03T14:15:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T14:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/burger\/the-ultimate-patty-melt-guide-history-recipe-south-floridas-best-burger-beast\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T14:15:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T14:15:45","slug":"the-ultimate-patty-melt-guide-history-recipe-south-floridas-best-burger-beast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=270641","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Patty Melt Guide: History, Recipe & South Florida’s Best \u2022 Burger Beast"},"content":{"rendered":"


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I discuss burger history and classification a bunch. One topic that comes up rather often is whether or not a Patty Melt<\/strong> is classified as a burger. I\u2019ve always felt that a Patty Melt<\/strong> was a burger. I also think that it\u2019s almost impossible to mess one up.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between a Patty Melt and a Cheeseburger?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The OFFICIAL<\/strong><\/em> ingredients for a Patty Melt<\/strong> are relatively simple: Burger patty, rye bread, Swiss cheese & grilled onions. Patty melts are not just limited to these ingredients, though.<\/p>\n

Below are two variations of Patty Melts<\/strong>, one being the traditional version and a non-traditional take on the famous sandwich.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t say I ever remember eating a bad one anywhere, and I\u2019ve had them in many cities and states. However, I do encounter variations in the cheeses (American cheese, cheddar cheese<\/em>), the protein (ground turkey<\/em>), the bread (Sourdough<\/em>), and even some cheese-encrusted bread<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Another thing is that most purists say that the rye bread is only griddled on the flat top, not toasted. The Patty Melt<\/strong> should taste like the child of a great burger & grilled cheese sandwich. <\/p>\n

Hey, I\u2019m all about that thought!<\/p>\n

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History of the Patty Melt<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Who invented the Patty Melt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"The\"The
The History of the Patty Melt PLUS a Patty Melt Recipe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Unlike the burger or cheeseburger, where you\u2019ve got many folks claiming to be the creators, the Patty Melt<\/a><\/strong> is a product of California. Tiny Naylor owned a chain of Biff\u2019s Drive-Ins<\/strong> and Tiny Naylor Coffee Shop<\/a><\/strong> restaurants from the late 1930s through 1957. <\/p>\n

It was there that the Patty Melt <\/strong>made its debut.<\/p>\n

Naylor put the beef patties between slices of rye bread as a Patty Melt<\/strong>. Although, the credit for this concoction belongs directly to Tiny Naylor\u2019s<\/strong> restaurants in California during the 1950s.<\/p>\n

The Tiny Naylor passed away in 1959,\u00a0but his son Biff (the inspiration for the restaurant name<\/em>) now owns the Du-Par\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> chain (with a pretty mean Patty Melt <\/strong>on the menu<\/em>). His granddaughter Jennifer was a former Executive Chef for Wolfgang Puck.<\/p>\n

While I haven\u2019t come across the recipe for Tiny Naylor\u2019s original Patty Melt<\/strong>, I did find one for Grampa Tiny\u2019s Patty Melt<\/strong><\/em>, which Jennifer served at Wolfgang Puck\u2019s.\u00a0But, remember,\u00a0beggars can\u2019t be choosers<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Cool Patty Melt Associated Fact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Beastie Boys<\/strong>\u2018 1994 album Ill Communication\u2019s cover<\/strong> <\/a>was from Bruce Davison\u2019s 1964 picture of Tiny Naylor\u2019s<\/strong> for Esquire<\/strong> magazine.<\/p>\n

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\"Bruce\"Bruce
Bruce Davidson\u2019s picture of Tiny Naylor\u2019s Drive-In<\/strong> from 1964<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Beastie\"Beastie
Beastie Boys<\/strong>\u2018 Ill Communication on vinyl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Jennifer Naylor\u2019s Patty Melt Recipe<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Patty\"Patty
The Patty Melt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Patty Melt Ingredients<\/strong><\/h3>\n