Cheese

Chef Art Smith of Art and Soul Restaurant in Washington D.C., gives chicken a southern twist: First he smokes it, then he shreds it and coats it in a brown sugar and coffee barbecue sauce. And he serves this chicken over hoecakes, which, as the menu puts it, are sweet cornmeal griddle cakes "traditionally cooked after a hard day's work on the farm."

Italians do it best: This orecchiette recipe with mozzarella is proof.

Attention all you dieters: If you lose the bun, I've found you a delicious Memorial Day meal!

If you don't believe me, ask all the little neighborhood stands (not to mention a few hulking multinational corporations) that have steadily traded on the classic for years. They'll tell you not to go sticking pesto on a perfectly good hamburger.