Shane’s serving smash burgers with elote salad inspired by the elote man at Sox Park

Get to know Shane in this Q&A, and get Shane’s 🍔Meat Smash Burger Sunday (8/16) from 2-4PM and Monday (8/17) from 7-9PM!
Q: What can you tell us about the dish you’re making and what inspired it?
Shane: I’ll be launching my Shmeal career with a standard smash burger and elevated elote salad. The burger is inspired by… my love for burgers and DISDAIN for the pub-style variety. Nothing is better than a thin, medium-rare patty with crispy edges. It’ll come with a homemade aioli on the side and any toppings you’d like (use the chat and let me know). The elote salad is inspired by my favorite ballpark dish in the entire world, the elote at Sox Park. The right-centerfield bleachers’ concourse is heaven and St. Peter is the elote man.

Shane’s 🍔Meat Smash Burger!
Q: What’s your favorite food memory?
Shane: There’s no way I can narrow my favorite food memory down to one thing or moment. Every time I see someone enjoy something I made, that’s my new favorite food memory. Gathering with friends in the kitchen or around the grill is all I need. Food is what brings everyone together and in all of my favorite memories, it’s absolutely a centerpiece.
Q: What’s your cooking background?
Shane: I wouldn’t say my cooking background is much different than all other ‘at-home cooks.’ I grew up in a home where both parents cooked, with one absolutely being better than the other (sorry, Dad). Trying new things was encouraged and we loved eating good food, healthy or otherwise. When I moved out on my own, I VERY quickly saw how expensive it was to eat out in the City of Chicago. I ALSO learned just as quick how easy it was to impress girls with a properly utilized cast iron pan and stovetop. From there, I took to YouTube and the Food Network to learn as much as possible. It’s a great escape from the stress of my day job. I love it.
Q: Anything else we should know about you and your cooking?
Shane: I’ve watched enough Guy Fieri-branded television to understand that when it comes to cooking, personality it just as important as the quality of the meal. I hope my personality comes out in the food and I hope it makes you want to keep coming back for more. Find my other meals on Instagram at @ShanesMeat and on Twitter at @Shane_Riordan. Feel free to slide into the DMs with a request and I’ll be more than happy to fulfill.