The oven-like heat outside reminds us of summers off from school, which in turn got us into a conversation about the fast food we remember from those days. Maybe it’s a good thing that the D.C. area, and the city in particular, isn’t overrun with these places, but it doesn’t mean we don’t remember them fondly — or, for that matter, dearly wish they had a few outlets closer by at times like these. A…

A recent eGullet exchange notes the sudden ubiquity of the mini-burger at many of the “hip” restaurants in the D.C. area. The smaller-than-average burger, popular as an appetizer at the Chinatown bistro Matchbox, has apparently made appearances on various menus at 15 Ria, Fado, the newly opened Tallula in Clarendon, Silver Spring’s Jackie’s, as “twin burgers” at 701 downtown, and at the Hotel Monaco’s Poste. Although the mini-burger has long been a staple on the…