We Americans love to hijack foods from other countries and proclaim them native.
The two most common examples of course are the hot dog (technically, frankfurter) and the hamburger (arguably the most versatile item on any menu). The etymology of both comestibles finds their introduction to these shores by less-than-wealthy German immigrants.
This weekend, Warren will celebrate the latter, combining hamburgers as a condiment to the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Betts Park.
The Allegheny Burger Festival is an homage to the versatility to ground meat. Although beef will be the standard canvas on which chefs both professional and amateur will be painting their portraits of gustatory delights, there will also be a competitive category for those patties that have nothing to do with cows.
Of course, for the purists among us, the common incarnation of juicy ground beef, catsup, mustard and perhaps a bit of onion will be available.
The hot dogs will be sweating on the courts, playing 3-on-3 basketball, a game that was invented in neighborhood streets on long summer evenings and brought to a more controlled environment under the auspices of Gus Macker.
It's worth a visit: The appetite stimulating excitement of basketball and the belly-busting excess of ground meat all in one venue.
Go hungry.