Frederic Melton
The Wahlburgers restaurant chain was opened in 2011 by brothers Paul, Mark, and Donnie Wahlberg in Hingham, Massachusetts. The chain has since expanded, and its menu features a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and sides. Notably, the restaurant initially used government cheese on its burgers, a nod to the blocks of cheese given out by the government to those in need. However, as of 2022, Wahlburgers switched to using a premium American cheese while still acknowledging its roots. In addition to American cheese, the chain also uses other varieties such as white cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheese in its dishes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese used | Government cheese, American cheese, white cheddar cheese, provolone cheese |
| Colour | Orange |
| Texture | Edible and in a block |
| Taste | Nostalgic |
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What You'll Learn
Wahlburgers uses 'government cheese'
Government cheese is a term used for pasteurized processed American cheese. It is produced from a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Colby, curd, or granular cheese, and is made meltable using emulsifiers. It is then blended, resulting in a smooth and flavorful cheese.
The term "government cheese" comes from the fact that this type of cheese was controlled and distributed by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1980s. The Agricultural Act of 1949 gave the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned corporation, the authority to purchase dairy products like cheese from farmers to stabilize farm incomes.
During this time, the government supported dairy farmers by purchasing excess milk that couldn't be sold, which was then processed into cheese, butter, and dehydrated milk powder. This resulted in massive stockpiles of dairy products, with over 500 million pounds of cheese stored in warehouses across 35 states.
The cheese was then distributed to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, the elderly receiving Social Security, and food banks. It was also used in military kitchens during World War II and has been a staple in schools since the 1950s.
Wahlburgers, the burger chain owned by brothers Paul, Mark, and Donnie Wahlberg, uses government cheese in many of its menu items. Their menu features Certified Angus Beef® patties layered with government cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Paul’s signature Wahl Sauce®. The combination of the beef patties and government cheese creates a delicious and indulgent burger experience.
The use of government cheese at Wahlburgers adds a unique twist to their dishes and showcases the versatility of this type of cheese. By incorporating government cheese, Wahlburgers not only offers a tasty option for its customers but also pays homage to the history of American cheese production and distribution.
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They also use white cheddar cheese
The Wahlberg brothers' restaurant chain, Wahlburgers, is known for its comfortable, friendly atmosphere and casual comfort food. The menu includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and sides, with a few items marked as the Wahlbergs' "faves".
While the chain initially used government cheese on its burgers, it has since switched to a premium American cheese. However, they also use white cheddar cheese on their burgers. The "Our Burger", a favourite of Paul Wahlberg, features two Certified Angus Beef patties with American "government" cheese, Paul's signature "wahl" sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and housemade pickles. Donnie Wahlberg's favourite, the BBQ Bacon burger, likely also includes cheese, though it is not specified on the menu.
The use of government cheese holds a special significance for the Wahlberg family. Donnie has shared that they grew up on welfare and relied on government food lines for staples like cheese and peanut butter. Despite the challenging associations, the Wahlbergs view government cheese with nostalgia and affection, even giving it a place on their menu.
The switch to premium American cheese reflects the chain's evolution and desire to offer high-quality ingredients. However, the occasional use of government cheese on certain burgers is a nod to the family's humble beginnings and a way to stay connected to their roots.
So, while Wahlburgers has expanded its cheese offerings, the use of white cheddar cheese, along with the occasional appearance of government cheese, showcases the family's influence and adds a unique touch to their dishes.
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Provolone cheese is used in their beef meatball sandwich
Provolone cheese is used in the beef meatball sandwich at Wahlburgers. The sandwich features premium Italian beef meatballs in a savoury arrabbiata sauce, topped with melted provolone cheese and served on a toasted Philly Amoroso roll brushed with housemade garlic butter.
Provolone is a type of Italian cheese that is often used in sandwiches and paninis due to its mild flavour and melting properties. It has a slightly nutty and tangy taste, which pairs well with the savoury meatballs and garlic butter in the Wahlburgers sandwich.
The beef meatball sandwich is one of the "'faves'" on the Wahlburgers menu, showcasing the Wahlbergs' favourite items. The sandwich is likely inspired by the family's Italian-American heritage and their love for comfort food.
In addition to provolone, Wahlburgers also uses other types of cheese in their dishes, such as American "government" cheese and white cheddar cheese. The use of government cheese is notable, as Donnie Wahlberg has shared that he grew up on welfare and has fond memories of the distinctive orange cheese. However, as of 2022, Wahlburgers made a switch to a premium American cheese while still acknowledging their roots.
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They used to use American 'government' cheese
The Wahlburgers menu features family favourites, including the "Our Burger", which is a favourite of Paul, one of the founding brothers. "Our Burger" features two Certified Angus Beef® patties, "government cheese", lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Paul’s signature Wahl Sauce®.
The Wahlburgers chain was founded by brothers Donnie, Mark, and Paul Wahlberg. Donnie has spoken about his family's humble beginnings, growing up with nine children, sometimes on food stamps and welfare. He reminisced about having to "go to the government food line and get free cheese and peanut butter". Donnie insists that "for a hamburger, there’s nothing better" than government cheese.
The chain's website also acknowledges its roots, stating: "Today … we use a premium American cheese to top our burgers, but give a wink and a nod to where we came from. Growing up in a house with nine kids, things were tight".
The US government once bought such vast quantities of cheese that it filled every cold storage facility in the country. The excess cheese was stored in a Kansas cave, rented by the US Department of Agriculture, which was filled floor to ceiling with blocks of cheese.
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Now, they use premium American cheese
The Wahlburgers menu puts a twist on house specials by showcasing the Wahlberg brothers' favourites. These include the Thanksgiving Day Sandwich (Mark's favourite), the BBQ Bacon Burger (Donnie's favourite), Mom's Sloppy Joe (Alma's favourite), and the Our Burger, Paul's favourite. Paul's burger is a 1/3-pound burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, American "government" cheese, Paul's signature "Wahl" sauce, and housemade pickles.
Donnie has previously shared that he and his brothers grew up on welfare and had to rely on government food lines for cheese and peanut butter. He insists that there is “nothing like” government cheese on a hamburger.
However, as of 2022, the chain's website states that they now use a premium American cheese to top their burgers. This change may be due to the fact that government cheese is no longer being produced or distributed. Government cheese was a product of the US government's milk price support program, which ended in the late 1990s.
Wahlburgers is a burger chain founded by brothers Donnie, Mark, and Paul Wahlberg. The restaurant's menu is inspired by Paul's father's barbecue grill and his homemade French fries. The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly, appealing to every generation.
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Frequently asked questions
Wahlburgers uses a premium American cheese to top its burgers. It is also known as "Government Cheese".
During the Depression, when milk supply exceeded demand, the US government bought milk to keep its prices stable and support dairy farmers. The government then started stockpiling cheese, which has a longer shelf life than milk.
Government cheese is made from milk, cream, water, sodium citrate, salt, cheese culture, sorbic acid, citric acid, enzymes, soy lecithin, and colour additives.
Apart from Government Cheese, Wahlburgers also uses white cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheese.
