I’d first of all like to thank Leslie Jonath for thinking of me for this project and Laurel Mainard for all her support and hard work in helping the book come together. Less critical was the willingness of many friends to sample the burgers as I was testing the recipes (like that really was such a hardship): The Mintz/Stewart clan, the Warner/Kamslers, Susie and Mario, Richard Botwin, Lloyd Lynford, Phil and Sally, and Effie. David Sanfield was his usual indispensable self, and Mario Batali gave me some helpful tips, several of which had to do with food. Of course, I would like to thank my family—Randi, Nate, and Leo—who ate burgers for two months straight without complaining, or at least never within earshot.