What does the news about Burger King’s potential acquisition of Tim Hortons really mean? Forget the dollars-and-cents aspects or the cross-cultural implications of an American fast-food giant moving into Canada.

For some crazed gastronomes, it’s about something altogether different. Namely, the potential for the doughnut burger to go mainstream.

Never heard of the doughnut burger? Obviously, you’re not a fan of Luther Vandross. The late R&B singer loved the idea so much it’s often called a “Luther” in his honor.

Nor have you spent any time on the state fair circuit, where the doughnut burger is becoming the new must-have outrageous treat — the 2014 answer to the fried Oreo.

Who came up with the idea for stuffing a burger between two halves of a glazed doughnut in the first place? Well, Vandross is often credited with the concept. But Paula Deen, the controversial kitchen diva, has claimed ownership. Food fanatics also say Mulligan’s, a bar in Decatur, Ga., had a hand in the whole thing, too.

Burger King in talks to buy Tim Hortons

Whatever the case, the doughnut burger is probably not as much of a stretch as it may seem. After all, Americans have increasingly embraced the idea of oddball food combos — so much so that there’s now a whole TV show, “Frankenfood”, devoted to them. And the doughnut burger is nothing more than an affirmation that sweet and salty go together like, well, bread and butter. Think kettle corn, another fair favorite, or sprinkling salt on a melon, a culinary trick that has been proven scientifically to make sense. (Suffice it to say, salt is an easy “get” — we perceive its taste quickly. And thus, it serves as something of a boost for sweet, which is a more complex taste.)

And it’s not as if fast-food chains haven’t already gone down this road, either. Taco Bell YUM, -1.70% has brought us the waffle taco. Dunkin’ Donuts DNKN, -0.71% has given us Sausage Pancake Bites and, more importantly, the doughnut burger-like Glazed Donut Breakfast Sandwich .

For that matter, Burger King US:BKW and Tim Hortons seem to get it. Burger King briefly introduced a Bacon Sundae, billed as “a cool collision of salty and sweet.” Tim Hortons CA:THI has a Maple Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich.

So far, there’s no word from the two companies about whether their possible partnership will result in any new menu items. But that hasn’t stopped the speculation — at least on social media: “If Burger King and Tim Hortons merge, I will gladly eat the resulting donut burger,” tweeted a food-minded writer known as Phronk. (Naturally, he pens a blog called “Putting Weird Things in Coffee”.) Marketing expert Ted Curtin similarly tweeted: “Could a Doughnut Burger be in the works? Burger King in talks for a whopper of a deal.”

But before would-be doughnut burger eaters start salivating, it’s worth keeping in mind the calories associated with such an over-the-top treat — as in at least 1,000 per burger. In contrast, a single fried Oreo has just 156 calories, making it a healthy indulgence by comparison.