4th Of July – Burger Fireworks Galore!

Everyone loves the 4th of July! Celebrating our independence from “bangers and mash” is one reason – grilling burgers of all shapes and size is another – like this “double decker!”

Yes, we can “live free and eat hard” this holiday season – for me, I plan to have a more “subtle” cheeseburger…like this one:

Talk About A “Sloppy Joe!”

Ok, that may be just a bit more than I need this weekend, but how can I stop piling on the goodness when it can lead to one of these:

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure as well!

WHAT THE PACHISLO???!!???

I love this picture. My daughter Jessica posed in front of an ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” when we were in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, but in hindsight we should have walked in and ordered one, just to get a real picture of it!

First, a big shout out to “Taylor’s Refresher” in St. Helena, California for their great bacon cheeseburger…you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/15/napas-burger-battle-taylors-gotts-great-burgers-a-mondo-burger-fight/

I am going to profile a few of America’s best burger joints as I showcase some great burger recipes….

Building A Better Burger!

Look at this picture above. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I add minced onion and garlic, pink hawaiian sea salt, pepper, and a bit of Worcestershire sauce….boom, you are ready to grill!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Build your better burger this way and you are golden:

Top Bun
Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Slider Patty
Tomato
Pickle
Mayonaise, mayonaise, mayonaise!
Bottom Bun

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

OK, you can deviate a little…since my daughter and I were in Tokyo earlier, let me share this japanese burger!

The Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Burger!

Make your patty as usual, but this time top it with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo!

Lotteria’s “Bacon Cube” Burger!

If you are inspired by a Japanese take to your cheeseburger, check out these unique burgers from Tokyo, thanks to the unique restaurant “Lotteria”…read all about them right here….

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

If you head to Seattle, you can find one of America’s best burgers…

Bite Into The Dork!

Here’s an incredible burger being made by Seattle’s “Lunchbox Laboratory”! Check out the recipe by clicking on my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/classic-burger-joints-dicks-drive-in-lunchbox-laboratory-seattles-burger-magic/

I am also a fan of bending the “burger rules” as necessary to offer up a unique taste sensation…and what better sensation to celebrate than “Sriracha!”

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

In a large mixing bowl, make your burger patties with the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha and pepper.

Cue The Bacon!

Cook your bacon, then use the bacon fat to cook your onions into a cartelized taste treat!

Grill the burgers, and while they are cooking, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha to use as a topping!

There you go: a cheesy, oniony, spicy, bacon-y thing of greatness!

And speaking of “GREATNESS”, how about a bacon-covered macaroni-and-cheeseburger!

A Bacon Macaroni-and-Cheeseburger With Tater Tots!

Once you’ve tried this, you will never go back to a plain old cheeseburger again!

It’s easy! Instead of cheese, cover your burger with mac’n’cheese! Throw some bacon in there and make sure your tater tots get under the bun as well!

And if you really want to get weird, try my favorite burger of all:

Behold The French Fry Burger!

And of course, my favorite burger of all is this: just add french fries to the top of the burger, then a bit of tartar sauce, and top it off with cheddar cheese – a burger and fries all in one!

No matter which recipe you try, spend this fourth of July doing what all Americans should be doing: eating meat and waiting for the fireworks! Happy July 4th!

“Smile! You’ve Got Bacon!”

Here are more ways you can get the most out of bacon this holiday weekend – we begin with a monstrous bacon cheeseburger that is a work of art:

No, not THAT work of art. I mean bacon that is used as it should be used: to smother a cheeseburger!

Shake Shack does a great job with their bacon-drenched double cheeseburger, but imagine if you added just ONE MORE THING:

Behold The Mac’n’Cheese Burger!

That’s right, it’s burger that is topped with mac ‘n’ cheese…and yes, it’s good! It’s just one unique item topping off a burger…how about this one?

Japan’s Burger King Goes Pumpkin Crazy!

Burger King Japan’s BK Pumpkin, and its bigger, pumpkinier sibling, the Pumpkin Bomb. Via a Google translated press release: both burgers come with beef patties, fried kabocha pumpkin slices, bacon, and lettuce. They’re also topped with a nut sauce made from sesame seeds, peanuts, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts. The difference between the two? Pumpkin Bomb has a whole bunch more pumpkin on it, ten slices in total. A Pumpkin burger? I don’t think America is ready for this yet….

5 Guys!

So I had my first 5 Guys burger, and yes, it lives up to the hype…this is one juicy, cheesy, tasting burger – and it’s BIG!

I also mentioned that it’s “cheesy”, right? This baby was “all in” – everything they wanted to put on it, they put on it – and it oozed real good…

Your Bacon Org Chart!

However you want to utilize bacon, just follow these simple rules of social media:

And here are some other examples of burgers taken to the extreme…like my favorite from Big ‘n’ Little’s in Chicago – their homage to the Big Mac called the:

“Big Mack Daddy!”

Big ‘n’ Little’s is also famous for their “pork belly po’boy” which you can bite into right here:

Big ‘n’ Little’s really knows how to take bacon and turn it into something special! Of course you need to read more about this amazingly good restaurant, and you can by clicking on my review here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/27/behold-the-pork-belly-poboy-big-littles-bites-down-hard-deep-fried-cheeseburger/

Burger In A Box?!?!?

Oops! A cheeseburger in a box? Who else has ever bought a frozen, pre-made cheeseburger in a box and taken it home to the microwave…..

And sometimes you just want a burger that is SO juicy, you might have to eat it with a spoon?

And of course, you can always just have your bacon ON A STICK!

Read all about the “bacon explosion” being sold at this summer’s Iowa State Fair by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/06/25/bacon-explosion-pbnj-on-a-stick-deep-fried-beer-iowa-state-fairs-latest-food-mashups/

And don’t forget your bacon social media – smile, you’ve got bacon!

“Well, it sounds like you’ve gone through a whirlwind of emotions for a Sunday morning!”

What can make someone so emotional on a Sunday?

Yes, We Are Talking Bacon!

So much bacon goodness to share – from controversy to celebration, and seaweed too!

And so begins the story of bacon, three ways:

1. A bacon complaint gone viral

2. an amazing study on the health benefits of bacon

3. bacon-flavored seaweed!

Let’s get started!

Tesco’s Back Bacon Rashers!

It all began in England, when a dissatisfied customer went viral against Tesco food store for “shorting” him one rasher of bacon!

A “rasher” of bacon in England is a strip, so this guy got crazy for missing out on one of his bacon strips!

As you can see, “back bacon” aka a bacon rasher, has a different shape than traditional American bacon, but it no doubt is just as delicious, so of COURSE he would be angry!

You must click on the story to see how this incredible bacon controversy played out, beginning with Tesco’s initial response back to him via twitter:

“Well, it sounds like you’ve gone through a whirlwind of emotions for a Sunday morning!”

Read the hilarious story that of course has a happy ending here:

http://socialnewsdaily.com/55633/mans-hilarious-bacon-complaint-goes-viral/

I for one will never look at a “rasher” the same way again!

Now, onto a more serious, life-affirming discussion of our favorite meat:

Live Forever! Eat Bacon!

Yes, biting down on THIS will help you live forever!

OK, I have had a number of friends send me this study – knowing that I would appreciate bacon’s many health benefits…I mean, this chart says it all:

Here are some of the highlights:

Bacon contains thiamin, vitamin B12, zinc and selenium, which are all vital nutrients the body does not naturally produce.

B vitamins fight anemia and help you with high energy levels throughout the day. Bacon’s got lots of them!

Zinc and selenium are vital antioxidants, necessary for immune health. Bacon is full of them!

Bacon has less fat than you think, and NO trans fat!

Bacon is a natural mood enhancer!

Bacon contains omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish! Omega fatty acids reduce cholesterol!

The website “Bacon Today” actually has a “Top 10″ list of bacon’s health benefits – read them all here!

http://bacontoday.com/top-10-reasons-bacon-is-actually-healthy-for-you/

And finally, I got a ton of notes pointing this out:

Seaweed Bacon!

Thanks to Julie Sisk and others who shared this great report – Scientists have developed a seaweed that looks like this:

And it tastes like bacon! Read all about this amazing new invention right here:

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/engineered-nutricious-and-delicious-algae-tastes-bacon

Once again, bacon saves the day! In fact, bacon is so important that it now has its own social media guidelines:

Read all about these by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/07/03/bacon-head-bacons-social-media-guidelines-you-are-bacon-me-crazy/

OK, now get healthy – get to your bacon!

Time To Bite Into Some Beautiful Burgers – And Donald Trump, Too!

The great website “BurgerBusiness.com” just announced a big day of burgers in England. It’s the third annual celebration of the UK’s “Nation Burger Day” on Aug. 27, and includes 20% discounts on burgers at hundreds of UK restaurants!

There is also a “Street Feast” Thursday evening at Dalston Yard in northeast London! Kudos to “BurgerBusiness” for the story, and for giving us the inside bite on Donald Trump as well!

That’s right, according to the website: “National Burger Day may be a UK event, but Donald Trump is there, too, if only in name.”

Here is how “BurgerBusiness” describes their mouthful of Trump:

“The Donald Trump Burger is the National Burger Day entry from London’s Lucky Chip Burgers (which features Kevin Bacon, John Belushi and vegan Woody Harrelson burgers on its regular menu). The Trump Burger is cooked medium, with the restaurant warning that “there might be some blood coming out of it,” according to the Evening Standard. The topping include applewood-smoked bacon, American cheese and a “really, really rich” bourbon-vanilla barbecue sauce. Grilled onions will be neatly arranged on top a la The Donald’s hair, and it has pickles that “will leave a sour taste in your mouth.”

Well, I love their attitude! Although there is no way Donald Trump will be there to enjoy it, we can all imagine that he would look a bit like this if he were:

And Trump isn’t the only American at the festival – Philadelphia’s amazing PYT Burger will be there too!

The burger Maestros at PYT are going across the pond to serve their PYT Burger called The Pickleback Slider: Custom beef patty, applewood bacon, fried pickle chips and Jameson glaze.

I need to go to PYT and embrace all of their amazing creations, and one day, I will take part in the UK’s “National Burger Day” as well! Check out all of the great stories about burgers by going to:

http://burgerbusiness.com

And remember, PYT makes some wild wild stuff!

That’s right, PYT was behind the deep-fried Twinkie burger, and you can see more wacky and delicious creations by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/29/americas-craaaziest-burgers-adultshakes-sexy-food-madness-of-pyt-burgers/

As much as we think the US makes the best burgers, there are many who will argue that point…and we certainly don’t make the hottest!

This is the world’s hottest burger, and it comes from England…read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/12/the-worlds-hottest-burger-xxx-hot-chilli-burger-madness-fire-up-your-meat/

England also makes some of the most unusual burgers as well…OK, make that Scotland:

Would you bite down on a “Haggis Burger?” Do you even know what “haggis” is? Well, find out by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/16/haggis-burgers-the-big-manc-the-wimbledon-connection-match-point/

And Great Britain also lays claim to one of the “biggest” bites in the world – behold the “Gigantwich!”

Yes, the “Gigantwich” is larger than a small child, and you can see what goes into this mound of madness by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/17/bite-down-on-the-gigantwich-behold-englands-biggest-burgers/

Cheers to all of my UK friends for their deliciously inventive food, and let’s not forget to salute the Trump burger as well!

Who’s Hungry? Well, Dig Into THIS!

Yes, it’s a pizza covered in bacon and ramen noodles!

Time to celebrate some great new food products, created to blow your culinary mind!

Get Your “Okonomiyaki” On!

First, look at this massive pie! It’s a pizza loaded up with “Okonomiyaki”, which is a Japanese pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning “what you like” or “what you want”, and yaki meaning “grilled” or “cooked” – and they’ve taken it to the extreme!

And if you love “Okonomiyaki”, then try this burger with okonomiyaki buns!

Yes, this burger is surrounded by okonomiyaki buns! See the recipe here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/22/osaka-burgers-lotteria-okonomiyaki-burger-more-japan-burger-madness/

And now, back to our favorite new taste treat:

Bacon Ramen Pizza!

I would dive into this head first! Look at the beauty of this ramen pizza, with the boiled noodles layered over the pizza, then covered with bacon, prawns and mozzarella cheese. To top it off, customers will receive a soy sauce powdered soup packet to add to the pizza!

Kudos to the Japanese for their ongoing fascination with food!

Thanks as always to “RocketNews24” for this story, which you can see here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/09/10/ramen-noodle-pizza-and-natto-okonomiyaki-pizza-now-finally-a-reality/

And of course, the inquisitive minds at “RocketNews24” also shared another amazing japanese pizza:

The “Mega Burger Pizza!”

Yes, a pizza comprised entirely of burgers! It’s almost a pizza with the bottom doubled up on top, with lots of meat stuffed in between!

Dig in! And since we are taking burgers, how about this!

Now On Sale: The “Wet Burger!”

Yes, this is an ad for a new “wet burger” that MOS burger in Japan is selling! And you get what you order: a burger served soaked in tomato sauce!

That’s right, it’s a burger that is served after being submerged in tomato sauce! Of course “RocketNews24” had to taste test it, and you can find their video test here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/08/03/mos-burgers-sauce-soaked-wet-burger-sure-is-wet-but-is-it-worth-your-burger-bucks-【taste-test】/

These are just the latest examples of the hilariously over the top fast foods offered in Japan…one of my favorites is this:

It’s an “everything” burger – you decide what goes in it, including everything!

See how it stacks up here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/06/tokyos-build-a-burger-wacky-japanese-burger-ads-wildest-food-for-sale/

And before I forget, let’s remember this pizza:

The “Kit Kat” Pizza!

Remember this? A pizza covered in Kit Kats! See the recipe here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/19/kit-kat-dessert-pizza-japans-kit-kat-taste-mania-continues/

There you have it, the latest fast food that is satisfying the tastebuds of our Japanese friends!

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested.”

Time For Some “Bacon Orgazmia”!

Author Thomas F. Shubnell Ph.D has given you this:

“every thing you ever wanted to know about pigs, pork, bacon, and more. A bacon foodie’s bible of the ambrosian porcine meat manna of the gods. It contains history, humor, definitions, over 150 recipes, bacon drinks, uses for bacon, bacon paraphernalia, bacon celebrations and bacchanal, restaurants and fast food bacon items!”

Shubnell wrote the book as “my humble homage to the goodness and gallimaufry of all the savory succulence of bacon.”

The book has the history of bacon, a ton of great bacon trivia, and lots of terrific bacon recipes, all written in a light, fun style!

For The Love Of Bacon!

We ALL eat bacon – or at least enjoy what makes bacon so special – and a single book that encapsulates all of our bacon-flavored love is a great thing! Thanks to the Author for such great work!

The Author shares one of the most accurate quotes of all time:

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested.” ~Sir Francis Bacon

Among my favorite items is the “bacon weave”, which turns bacon into a vessel for goodness:

The “Bacon Weave Cheeseburger Burrito!”

This is one of my favorite foods of all, and you can see the recipe right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/07/the-bacon-weave-cheeseburger-burrito-recipe-is-here/

In the book, Shubnell also takes us to England for the world’s most expensive bacon sandwich…time to share the “Bacon Bling!”

Here is how the Author describe it:

“The Bacon Bling sandwich, named by the World Record Academy
as the world’s most expensive bacon sandwich, costs $237 (£150).
It can be found at the Tangberry coffee house in Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire and contains an impressive list of ingredients.
Some of the ingredients included are 7 rashers of rare breed pig
bacon, sliced truffles, saffron, a free range egg, and edible gold
dust!”

You can buy “Bacon Orgazmia” at Amazon, and see more of the Author’s work by checking out his website here:

http://shubsthoughts.blogspot.com

And since we are on the subject, how about this:

Bacon Sushi!

A friend shared this video, which shows you how to make your own bacon sushi!

I can’t wait to try this, and you can see more of it by going to the “Cook With Meat” Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/cookwithmeat

Of course, those who read this blog regularly know that I recently shared my own version of unique sushi:

“Big Mac Sushi!”

Yes, you can make sushi using Big Mac ingredients! See the whole process here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/17/delicious-big-mac-sushi-incredible-real-footage-of-a-sushi-mac/

And remember, bacon is designed to make you do one thing and one thing only:

Read all about bacon’s greatest social media guidelines here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/07/03/bacon-head-bacons-social-media-guidelines-you-are-bacon-me-crazy/

And don’t forget to buy this as a holiday gift for your favorite bacon fan!

Meet Your NEW Miracle Hangover Cure!

Well, this is for all of my fellow lovers of all things alcoholic – a new miracle hangover cure!

It is, as usual, thanks to the masterminds at the “RocketNews24” website, where they have the news on a new miracle cure for hangovers, thanks to the always intelligent Japanese – and CLAMS!

Here is what RocketNews24 is reporting about a new canned miso soup from Japan. ”

Filled with the power of ornithine, an amino acid abundant in clams, this is a traditional hangover remedy from Japan, now packed in a can!”

According to the article, the “Power of 70 Clams” instant miso soup series from Nagatanien has been around for years and is easily found…but now it’s being touted as a miracle hangover cure!

“People in Japan know the easiest way to get a good dose of ornithine is with a serving of instant miso soup from Nagatanien. Ornithine has been known to reduce stress level, prevent fatigue and help improve the quality of sleep. Its biggest selling point, however, is the fact that it enhances liver function and helps to detoxify harmful substances—a fact that’s long been known in Japan, where they’ve been eating clams, one of nature’s most abundant sources of the amino acid, to help ease the severity of hangovers for centuries!”

“At the top right of their soup-in-a-can is the company’s endorsement of their product as a hangover helper; a cute cartoon image of a person with a beer glass that says, “For the alcohol-loving you”. For best results, our “alcohol-loving” selves should have one of these before bed after a night of drinking to help improve and lengthen the quality of sleep while our livers do the heavy work of detoxification.”

As always, the brilliant minds at “RocketNews24” have the story, and you can read more – and see so many other great stories – by clicking on the website here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/10/16/the-ultimate-hangover-cure-hot-canned-miso-soup-packed-with-the-power-of-70-clams/

I love checking out RocketNews24 several times a day, because you never know when you will be delighted to find something like this:

The Incredible Coin Toss Music Video!

Yes, it’s a music video powered by the synchronized tossing of coins into glassware! See it here and be ready to be amazed:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/07/incredible-coin-toss-music-video-amazing-japanese-energy-drink-orchestra/

It’s just one of the amazing things being done in Japan – and if you want more news on that, well they have a robot just for you:

Japanese News Robots!

“Just the facts, Ma’am!”

You never have to worry about opinion sneaking into this newscast – it’s put on by Robots! Yes, Japanese “Anchor-bots” are here, check it out here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/25/news-robots-are-here-amazing-video-japans-news-anchors-are-plugged-in/

And if reading this has made you hungry – and of course it has, then why not have some cup o’ noodles – from the source!

“Cup O’ Noodles” Museum!

Yes, there is a museum dedicated to all that is the “cup ‘o noodles” phenomenon…in Japan of course, and you can see the whole thing right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/08/19/cup-of-noodles-ice-cream-cup-noodles-museum-japans-wackiest-museums/

Leave me a message and let me know if you’ve tried this “clam hangover cure!”

Time To Bite Down On Halloween 2015!

Yes, it just wouldn’t be Halloween with a “Monster Burger” to share with you – and this is one massive mound of Halloween heaven!

The massive “Monster Burger” is being offered in, of all places, the AS Classics Diner in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills entertainment center!

Yes, Japan found a way to top THIS!

You remember the “Tokyo Burger Tower” – a multi-storied taste of greatness from Japan…well, they’ve outdone themselves again!

This is just the beginning of a mile-high bite of Monster goodness, and of course, the wacky minds at RocketNews24 rushed down to try it!

You can read the entire recipe, with layer upon layer of goodness, by reading the past on their website:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/10/23/tokyos-massive-monster-burger-is-the-combining-robot-of-hamburgers/

Once again, Japan towers above all others….or do they? I think our friends a Mangetout in England will disagree, because they posted this:

“A customer in today that couldn’t decide between the Manwich or a burger – so they combined them!”

Behold The “Manwich!”

Yes, it’s a burger and a sandwich combined, and not only is it massive, but a guy decided to eat it! Here is his video!

I love the food that Mangetout Grill puts out – and they share great pictures of all of it on their Facebook page!

Mangetout Grill is located in England at Southend-on-Sea, but they love America, as evidenced by their latest burger:

“The Texican!”

Yep, Magetout proudly unveiled this homage to Texas: an 8oz Steak Burger topped with our Chilli Mac n Cheese, Smoked Streaky Bacon, Onion Rings, BBQ Sauce, finished with melted Mexican & American Cheese. Served with Sweet Potato Fries & Coleslaw.

Yes! See more at:

http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk

And if you need a unique burger experience this Halloween season, how about this?

Now On Sale: The “Wet Burger!”

Yes, this is an ad for a new “wet burger” that MOS burger in Japan is selling! And you get what you order: a burger served soaked in tomato sauce!

That’s right, it’s a burger that is served after being submerged in tomato sauce! See RocketNews24 and their amazing video of this “wet” masterpiece by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/10/wild-bacon-ramen-okonomiyaki-pizzas-hot-and-wet-burgers-japanese-fast-food-madness/

If you’re in a bit of a “randy” mood, then how about a “XXX-Rated” Burger?

Beautiful, right? So what’s better than a great looking burger? How about one that can KILL YOU DEAD!

Behold a burger that is so hot – SO VERY VERY HOT – that it not only nourishes, it kills!

You are looking at the “XXX Hot Chilli Burger” – a burger so hot it is actually dangerous! Once again, the fiery Chefs from across the pond have taken burger madness up another flaming notch! You can find this burger madness for sale at the “Burger Off” restaurant in Hove, Sussex…

Want A Burger? Sign Here Please!

“Burger Off” owner Nick Gambardella restricts the burger for sale only to those 18 years and older, and forces customers to sign a legal release! Nick says the waiver is a protection against lawsuits – and he admits that his fiery “XXX Hot Chilli Burger” has put five people in the hospital!

Read more details on the waiver you need to sign in order to even pick the burger up!

Click here for more XXX-rated Burger madness:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/12/the-worlds-hottest-burger-xxx-hot-chilli-burger-madness-fire-up-your-meat/

And let me know if you are up for a Monster Burger challenge!

Hungry?

I MEAN, ARE YOU HUNGRY?

Well, if you happen to be near Southend-on-Sea in England, then you have an opportunity to bite down on greatness – because there is a restaurant that wants to satisfy you in a BIG WAY!

“Mangetout” Stands Tall For BIG BIG FOOD!

I love any restaurant that proudly shows off this sandwich:

Yes, it’s larger than a small child! For Mangetout restaurant in England, big food is more than delicious, it’s a challenge! So my question to you is this: would you take this on?

Bite Down On “The Manwich!”

The “Manwich” is a massive sandwich stuffed with beef, ham, turkey, bacon, egg mayo, cheddar, hash browns, bbq sauce AND a salad!

Here is a clip of someone foolish enough to attempt a mouthful!

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/25/halloween-monster-burgers-super-stacked-xxx-manwiches-that-can-kill/

And of course, if the “Manwich” isn’t big enough, then you can move on to this!

Take A Bite Out Of A “Gigantwich!”

Yes, Mangetout also offers their “Gigantiwich”, which consists of the following:

7 layer deli sandwich loaded with meats and toppings

– Chicken parmesan, turkey, roast beef, and ham are included

– An 8 egg omelette, sausages, hash browns, & bacon are included

– Pulled pork and cheese are also between the 9 slices of bread

– There are sides of chips, onion rings, and coleslaw included

– There is a 45 minute time limit to finish everything

Yes, you can win a T-shirt and the never-ending admiration of the restaurant staff if you can keep this baby down…here is a closer look at the competition:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/17/bite-down-on-the-gigantwich-behold-englands-biggest-burgers/

I want to go to Mangetout just to see one of these, because I’d never be able to eat it…what about you? Here is their website for more info:

http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk

Hungry?

Thanks to Antonio Ruiz and several others for sending me this picture…they naturally assumed it was EXACTLY the kind of burger I would like – and you know what? It IS!

And so is this!

Time For A Cheeseburger!

As we near the end of 2015, I got to thinking about something I love: burgers! And when I think about them – well, I think about this:

People share all sorts of wild burgers with me, and I eat some of them as well – as you are about to see!

I have chosen some of of my favorite burgers to share with you today – to honor those restaurants who have made 2015 a towering burger success!

One of Chicago’s best burgers was recently called America’s too – I will introduce you to this burger of beauty, as well as some of America’s other best burgers as well.

First however, I would like to honor myself with a burger I created many years ago…

Behold The French Fry Burger!

My favorite burger of all time – I created it in high school, when I worked at Herfy’s drive-in in Seattle. It combines all the things I love: it’s a cheeseburger burger topped with fries, then melted cheddar cheese and a dollop of tartar sauce!

When it comes to burgers, all taste combination bets are off!

And Elvis agrees!

So does Jimmy Page!

Elvis wasn’t the only superstar who liked to bite into a big burger…

Well, the Led Zeppelin Guitarist seems a bit “cautious” when it comes to his burgers, but with this kind of musical muscle behind it, the cheeseburger is the clearly the “food of the gods”!

And That Means Dick’s!

Growing up in Seattle, THIS was my favorite taste sensation:

Talk about all-american burgers! The GREAT Seattle burger stand known as Dick’s Drive-In serves up a burger that is simple – and delicious!

Dick’s Drive-In is fast, friendly, and a great Seattle institution – so the next time you are in the Emerald City, this is the place for you!

And if you need a BIGGER BURGER, but still want to honor Dick’s Drive-In, then try this!

Welcome To The Lunchbox Laboratory!

Seattle’s terrific burger bar “The Lunchbox Laboratory” serves up a “super-sized” homage to Dick’s “Deluxe” burger…

Read all about the Lab AND Dick’s by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/classic-burger-joints-dicks-drive-in-lunchbox-laboratory-seattles-burger-magic/

I go to Dick’s every single time I go to Seattle…and when I’m in Chicago, I head to a place with their own unique homage:

The “Big Mack Daddy”!

Big ‘n’ Little’s serves up a huge homage to the Big Mac, and as you can see, they tower over the original! This relaxed eatery was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”, and they are always packed with fans of stuff like their deep-fried cheeseburger:

Big ‘n’ Little’s also makes an homage to the “Big Mac” that puts McDonald’s to shame – it’s a giant burger that packs a ton of flavor – fresh ingredients, secret sauce and delicious double patties:

They also offer great tacos, shrimp and chips, and so much more! Read more about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/22/big-n-littles-rocks-the-big-mack-daddy-chicagos-best-burger-bite-on/

And finally, time to get your “Slayer” on at Kuma’s!

My friend Chris is staring into the face of “The Slayer”, a monstrous plate of burger madness…Kuma’s in Chicago serves it up!

Kuma’s was just voted one of America’s best burgers! They all have a heavy metal theme, which is why I love them so much – because that attitude infuses everything at the restaurant!

Their burgers have aggressive, loud flavors and signs warn you NOT to ask for a change in music – it’s their choice!

As I said, a new national poll placed Kuma’s near the top of America’s best burgers…

Read all about how Kuma’s takes a burger to a whole new level by clicking on here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/17/chicagos-burger-wars-heavy-metal-vs-mad-max-big-against-bag/

Let me know your favorite burger of the year!

Behold The Majesty Of Ramen – In A Burger!

Time to share my amazing “Ramen Burger” adventure in Los Angeles – a culinary journey that began in Japan!

Meet The Ramen Burger Master!

First, meet Chef Keizo Shimamoto – who runs “Ramen Burger” – a great restaurant with locations all over the world!

Chef Shimamoto loves to make – and serve – THIS:

Here is the way the Ramen Burger website describes the inspiration for Ramen Burger: “As a Japanese kid growing up in California, Keizo Shimamoto developed a love for both parts of his culture: L.A. and Tokyo, ramen and burgers.

While studying ramen in Japan, he encountered pork sandwiches with ramen buns, and a light bulb went off. Inspired by the burgers back home, he merged the best of both and reinvented two iconic dishes.

The Original Ramen Burger™ was born, as was an unpredictable, unprecedented, unrestrained demand from the public.

The result is iconoclastic and exciting, and he’s just getting started.”

Well Then, Start On Me!

I was invited by my friend Cary Greene to join him at the Ramen Burger restaurant in Los Angeles…how could I refuse?

The adventure begins in Koreatown – located west of downtown LA and east of Hollywood…and as you can see, you can actually order your food through a window and eat outside!

As you can see, it’s a diverse menu, and we dove in head first! You have four different burgers, with three different topping options…plus specials as well – and yes, those are “Seaweed Fries” you see listed! I will show you those, but first we had to try these:

Takoyaki! Octopus Balls!

Yes, these deep fried Octopus balls came in a delicious mayo with green onions – they were moist, full of great chunks of Octopus, and very filling for an appetizer!

Bring On The Ramen!

Now, time for the main course: time to dive into a Ramen Burger! First, you are served a burger wrapped in a very unique manner:

Then its time to dig in – first, the beef patty is large, the meat is succulent, the arugula a nice spicy taste that pushes back against the tangy sweet secret shoe glaze…and of course, some bacon!

The “bun” itself is slightly crunchy on the top, but soft and spongy – in a very good way! It has the flavor of a great ramen noodle, the firmness needed to handle the burger, and is a unique flavor contrast to a regular bun!

Pass Me The Seaweed Fries!

This was the greatest surprise of all: you can order fries, with cheese – or you can order them with seaweed!

If you eat sushi you know what seaweed tastes like: now imagine that flavor sprinkled over some fries – with a nice touch of salt – and you know what is in store – and they are delicious!

Ramen Burger was terrific – very reasonable, delicious food, and unique! If you ant to know more about Ramen Burger, you can see more here:

http://www.ramenburger.com

And you can see more ramen magic as well:

The “Taishoken Ganso Tsukemen Ramen Burger”!

Yes, the Lotteria restaurant chain in Japan has a special ramen burger as well!

Yes, the “ramen burger” craze began in Japan! And that’s not all! Remember this burger masterpiece?

Yes, Japan has led the way in making the world’s most unique burgers!

See some of the wackiest burgers Japan has ever come up with here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

And if you are still thinking about ramen, how about his:

Yes, it’s a ramen noodle pizza! And of course, it came from Japan! See where – and what else they are topping their pizzas with, by clicking here:

Wild “Bacon Ramen” Okonomiyaki Pizzas! Hot And “Wet” Burgers! Japanese Fast Food Madness!

And finally, you may want to try ONE more ramen noodle dish – in a museum!

Yes, Japan has a “Cup O’ Noodles” museum! See it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/08/19/cup-of-noodles-ice-cream-cup-noodles-museum-japans-wackiest-museums/

Let me know if you’ve had a ramen burger and what you thought of it!

Tokyo’s Lotteria Stacks Back!

I love Lotteria and I love Japan! Tokyo’s amazing burger chain Lotteria has just up’d the “Tokyo Tower Burger” by offering up this giant!

Meet The “Burger With Everything On It!”

Inventive Japanese burger chain Lotteria is now offering up their “Burger with Everything On It” – or called the “Zenbu Nose Burger” in Japanese!

As RocketNews24 reports:

“The Burger with Everything on It has four patties: regular hamburger, cheeseburger, fried shrimp, and rib. More hearty deliciousness come from bacon, sliced cheese, and a soft-boiled egg. The towering burger also checks off the food pyramid’s vegetable section with lettuce, cabbage, tomato and onion. Finally, in keeping with the burger’s magnanimously inclusive attitude, the sauce is a mix of teriyaki, regular mayonnaise, spicy mayonnaise, tartar sauce, meat sauce, and ketchup!”

Read that again as you look at this towering stack of burger!

Bravo to our friends at the terrific website “RocketNews24” for telling this story, read it all here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/04/25/lotterias-massive-burger-with-everything-on-it-challenges-japan-to-ignorefinish-it/

Of course, Lotteria isn’t new to this “towering burger stack game”:

Yes, Lotteria loves to stack a burger, and they love to let someone else do it as well…here are more of their amazing Tokyo towers….

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/11/tokyo-burger-towers-led-zeppelin-burgers-wild-wild-meat-the-worlds-most-creative-burgers/

I also love that they sell their burger towers as USB plug-ins as well…

They love their “build a burger” ads as well…these allow you to create a massive burger tower in any way that suits you…

See more of these ads here:

Tokyo’s “Build-A-Burger!” Wacky Japanese Burger Ads! Wildest Food For Sale!

And finally, there is the Tokyo “Tower To Heaven” that you have to see to believe:

See it in all of its glory here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/12/behold-tokyos-tower-burger-a-mega-tower-to-heaven/

Let me know if you’d bite down on this Lotteria burger!

Time To Celebrate All That Is Delicious Between Two Buns!

Did you happen to forget that May is “National Burger Month?” Well, I sure didn’t! And to show you how much I love this national month of celebration, here are five of my favorite burgers of all time!

First, let’s take a moment to respect the mighty burger…sure, you can stack it to the moon and back again, but at the end of the day, a perfect burger looks like this:

I have eaten many burgers like this one – and perfection between two buns always begin with ingredients that are fresh, perfectly balanced, and just a bit – let’s say “messy”:

To celebrate “National Burger Month”, I wanted to showcase five examples of ingenuity, imagination and great taste in the preparation of a delicious burger – and I will begin with a new, imaginative way to look at what a burger is:

Behold The “Ramen Burger!”

Yes, I ate this thing of beauty in LA’s Koreatown district…a beautiful “ramen burger”, where the bun is ramen noodles! You see, the bun is always an afterthought – but this burger takes that bun to a whole new level!

Of course, an incredible burger like this must have amazing side dishes – like “seaweed fries!” You heard right – these fries are seasoned with salty seaweed!

It’s a unique way to say “thank you” to the burger gods…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/19/l-a-s-ramen-burger-seaweed-fries-octopus-balls-ramen-burgers-galore/

Because we are celebrating creativity, here is another burger that I love – a burger that comes in an edible wrapper!

With the summer Olympics almost here, why not head to Brazil for a burger that comes wrapped in a wrapper – that you eat! Imagine having a burger that offers a crunchy shell – an edible wrapper that makes the burger inside a thing of beauty!

I would give anything to be able to bite down on this – and you can as well, right here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

While we are overseas, let’s take a look at a burger that will never be “dry” – how can it be when it’s a “Wet Burger!”

Yes, in Japan they offer a “wet” burger – the bun is soaked in sauce – it’s anyone’s guess why they do this, but I would try it! See how it is prepared here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/10/wild-bacon-ramen-okonomiyaki-pizzas-hot-and-wet-burgers-japanese-fast-food-madness/

One of my favorite burgers pays homage to one of America’s most taken for granted buyers…the Big Mac:

Yes, the “Big Mac” is “two all beef patties, special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun” – we all know the chant…but in Chicago, they pay homage to the Big Mac in a very unique way:

Behold The “Big Mack Daddy!”

Big & Little’s came up with their “homage” to the Big Mac – with the “Big Mack Daddy!” This baby offers up all of the ingredients, but they do it in a super-sized way!

My friend Chris bit down on a “Big Mack Daddy” and didn’t complain at all – see the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/22/big-n-littles-rocks-the-big-mack-daddy-chicagos-best-burger-bite-on/

Finally, a burger is a burger, but THIS is a masterpiece:

The “Mac’n’Cheeseburger”!

Yes, it’s a burger topped with bacon – and mac’n’cheese! See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/23/bacon-mac-n-cheese-corn-dogs-wild-macncheese-bacon-burgers-mac-up/

There are many more burgers to enjoy, if you want to see more, just search “burgers” on my front page and behold some of this!

Let me know where you get your favorite burger!

Wrap Your Mouth Around This!

I love burgers. EVERYBODY LOVES BURGERS.

So, when I see a story from my favorite website, “RocketNews24” – showing how one of their intrepid reporters bit down on a 5-1/2 pound burger, I grabbed my passport!

Welcome To Thailand!

Yes, this massive burger – which is stuffed with whole onion rings, comes to us from Bangkok’s 25 Degrees restaurant. Needless to say, if you can eat the entire thing in a half hour it’s free – otherwise you pony up $39 for the treat!

It’s an international “Man V. Food” episode in the making, and if you want to see how this Reporter did, check out the story at “RocketNews24”:

We take on Thailand’s five-and-a-half-pound hamburger, and live to tell the tale

As always, I appreciate this culinary trip around the burger world…

I already showed you Cambodia’s best burger:

Mike Serves Cambodia Up Right!

I have always wanted to travel to Cambodia, and now, I have a good excuse…Mike’s Burgers serves up a massive tower of fun!

Check out Mike’s Burger House here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/10/yes-its-cambodias-best-burger-mikes-burger-house-stacks-them-high/

And in honor of the Olympics, don’t forget the Rio’s unique burgers – where you eat the wrapper!

That’s right – the burger is wrapped up, but that is part of your meal! Check it out here:

Have You Seen Brazil’s Edible Burger Wrappers? Check Out The Future Of Burgers!

Finally, don’t forget Tokyo, where they now serve a “wet burger”:

I will need to go there right now to see what all the fuss is about – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/10/wild-bacon-ramen-okonomiyaki-pizzas-hot-and-wet-burgers-japanese-fast-food-madness/

Leave me a comment with your favorite international burger destination!

If you have a taste for a “sliderific” holiday weekend, you can bite down hard right here!

Calling All Burger Lovers!

Time to start planning your upcoming holiday weekend menu – for SLIDERS!

I love holidays! Cooking burgers is one reason, grilling sliders is another. Look at how good this is, a perfectly composed slider getting a big assist from my best friend, BACON:

Here are some of my favorite slider recipes – all with an international flair!

A Worldwide Slider Celebration!

The key to an international slider is what flavors the basic hamburger patty. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I mix in raw minced onion and minced garlic, with salt, pepper as well.

That’s it for me – upon this temple of meat flavor, I add unique ingredients that give my sliders an international flavor…here are some of my favorite recipes!

Spanish Sliders – Hamburguesa!

Let’s get started with Spain, since I just got back from Barcelona…this is a great example of taking a regular burger and giving it an international feel…using some of the special spanish flavors to give the burger a catalonian flavor!

Begin by cooking the burger first with Manchego cheese (a sheep’s milk cheese from the La Mancha region in Spain) and Jamón Iberico, (Iberico ham – prosciutto-like ham that comes from Spanish black pigs). Then, top the burger with olive tapenade…you can find recipes for making it, or you can buy it in a jar, but it includes black olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. Take a bite and you will wake up in Barcelona…

Or, if you are just in the mood for a burger that will drive you NUTS…or perhaps you don’t want a burger at all, well here’s the answer!

The Nut Burger!

The Nut Burger was made famous at Matt’s Place Drive-In in Butte, Montana. Matt’s Place Drive-In was established in 1930.

And, in honor of vegetarians who have chosen to read this post, there is a great “no meat” burger waiting for you!

“No Meat” Nut Burgers!

1 medium onion
1 cup walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews or other nuts, preferably raw
1 cup (raw) rolled oats or cooked short-grain white or brown rice
2 tablespoons ketchup, miso, tomato paste, nut butter or tahini
1 teaspoon chili powder or any spice mix you like
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg

2 tablespoons peanut oil, extra virgin olive oil or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn.

1. Grind onion in food processor. Add nuts and oats, and pulse to chop, but not too finely. Add remaining ingredients except oil. Process briefly; don’t grind too finely. Add a little liquid — water, stock, soy sauce, wine, whatever — if necessary; mixture should be moist but not loose.

2. Let mixture rest a few minutes, then shape it into 4 burgers. (Burger mixture or shaped burgers can be covered tightly and refrigerated for up to a day. Bring back to room temperature before cooking.) Put oil in nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet and turn to medium. When oil is hot, add burgers to skillet. Cook about 5 minutes, undisturbed, until browned, then turn with spatula. Lower heat a bit and cook 3 or 4 minutes more, until firm.

This is good enough to satisfy meat eaters, too!

Korean Kimchi Barbecue Sliders

When I was in Seoul, we ate every night at a korean BBQ, where you grill your own meat and seafood on the round grill embedded in your table, then wrap the grilled food around lettuce or thinly sliced pickled vegetables. Taking that as an inspiration, Korean sliders are best when you add pickled cucumbers, a splash of rice vinegar and kimchi.

As you can see, it’s all about how you season your burger patty – and there’s a world of great flavor to enjoy!

Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Slider!

I read about this over the holidays and I made one…it was delicious! It is very simple: a slider patty topped with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo! One last look….trust me, MAKE THIS ONE!

The Sriracha Burger!

Wasabi not powerful enough for you? Well, THIS will do the trick:

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha, and the pepper.

Cook the bacon. While the bacon is cooking, peel and quarter the onions. Once the bacon is cooked through and slightly crispy, remove the slices from the pan, reserving the remaining bacon fat in the pan. Cook the sliced onions in the bacon fat over medium-low heat until they caramelize, 20 to 25 minutes.

Grill the burgers. While the burgers are cooking, in a small bowl, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha. Lightly toast the buns on the grill during the last minute of cooking time.

To assemble, spread the blue cheese mixture on both halves of each hamburger bun. Stack a burger patty, Swiss cheese slice, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato slice, and a small handful of arugula between each hamburger bun.

Bam!

Australian Sliders!

I uncovered these two years ago in Melbourne. They add a slice of beetroot underneath the burger. It adds a great, slightly nutty flavor to the slider. Look at how beautiful that big chunk looks on the burger above…Everything else is the same – add cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce if you like – and if you want to go totally Aussie, add a fried egg on top….the best!

Now, if you REALLY want to get creative, throw the concept of a slider out the window altogether!

THE CHEESEBURGER SUB!

From The White House Sub shop in Atlantic City, I got this delicious cheeseburger sub – it’s a cheeseburger on a sub sandwich roll…easy to do and a fun change of pace!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger Slider!

What can you say? After a trip around the world, it’s nice to come home and have an all-american slider…made vertically like so:

Top Bun
Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Slider Patty
Tomato
Pickle
Mayonaise, mayonaise, mayonaise!
Bottom Bun

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

However, if you want to deviate, then do what I think is my all-time favorite burger:

WITH FRENCH FRIES!

WHAT THE – ???!!???

What do you think of THIS? My daughter Jessica poses in front of the ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, and didn’t bother to find out, but we loved the ad!

Jessica sent me a list of sliders being made by an innovative food truck in Seattle. Look at some of these variations on a slider!

Curb Jumper Classic Cheese Slider

Certified Angus Beef, Melted Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Roma Tomato, Red Onion,
Spring Mix with Roasted Garlic Aioli.

Shrooom Slider

Certified Angus Beef, Melted Provolone Cheese, Sauted Crimini Mushrooms,
Caramelized Sweet Onions, Spring Mix, Roma Tomato and Spicy Mustard Aioli

Southwest Turkey Slider

Handmade and spiced Turkey Patties, Melted Pepper Jack Cheese, Roasted Anaheim Peppers,
Cumin- Cilantro Slaw, Frizzled Onions with a Chipotle Aioli.

Salmon Slider

Handmade Salmon Patties, Frizzled Onions, Spring Mix, Roma Tomato with a Lemon Pepper Aioli

Paulie’s Pulled Pork Sliders

Rubbed and Slow Roasted Pork in a Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce topped with a fresh
Cumin- Cilantro Slaw

Don’t Be Intimidated!

And remember, if all else fails:

White Castle To The Rescue!

And when in doubt, grab a dozen White Castle sliders and dress them up with some of the above flavors – or make them for breakfast!

The “White Castle” Breakfast Slider!

You can begin your slider-fest first thing in the morning – just click here for an easy and delicious breakfast slider!

My Homemade White Castle “Breakfast Sliders!” Behold the 380 Calorie Wonder!

Leave me a message and let me know if you try any of these and how they turn out! Thanks!

Time To Bite Into Four Pounds Of Fun!

When you think of Tokyo, sushi comes to mind – and light, lots and lots of lights:

However, some of the wildest posts from Japan are about their burgers! Yes, Tokyo is in love with the hamburger, and they love to stack them as tall as their neon!

Meet the Giga Monster!

Teddy’s is a classic Hawaiian burger chain that has opened in Japan, and they announced their arrival with the “Giga Monster Burger”, which – as RocketNews24 points out – “combines their Classic, Original, Western, Avocado, and C.C. Rider burgers into a giant, towering monster that should please even the pickiest burger afficianado, weighing in at 1.8 kilograms (four pounds)!”

With so much burger comes a very big price: 6,800 yen/US$64 – yes, $64 for a burger, but I say that a 4-lb. masterpiece like this can be split at least five ways, so grab some friends and go to town!

Of course, the wacky minds at “RocketNews24” have the whole story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/06/10/hawaiian-burger-restaurant-in-japan-offers-up-a-5-in-1-monster-burger/

If this makes you hungry for Tokyo’s best burgers, why not go straight to the top of the “tower!”

The “Tokyo Burger Tower”!

Tokyo’s skyline just got tastier with a burger that celebrates height! See more of this culinary marvel here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/11/tokyo-burger-towers-led-zeppelin-burgers-wild-wild-meat-the-worlds-most-creative-burgers/

Or maybe you need something with less meat…but lots and lots of noodles!

The Towering “Noodle Burger!”

Tokyo’s wacky Lotteria restaurant offers this up, and incredible burger tower with noodles! Check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/05/16/japans-massive-noodle-burgers-green-gum-shakes-more-amazing-lotteria-madness/

Finally, I have shared this unique burger with you before:

Yes, it’s a “foie gras” burger, and Wendy’s sells it in Japan…yes, WENDY’S!

See more of Japan’s most unusual burgers here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/07/lobster-burgers-foie-gras-burgers-tokyo-gets-burgered-mcdonads-goes-for-olympics-gold/

And let me know if you are ready to say “Aloha!”

4th Of July – Burger Fireworks Galore!

Time to bite down on Independence Day!

I love celebrating our independence from “bangers and mash” – and what better way than by grilling burgers of all shapes and sizes – like this “double decker!”

Yes, we can “live free and eat hard” this holiday season – for me, I plan to have a more “subtle” cheeseburger…like this one:

Talk About A “Sloppy Joe!”

Ok, that may be just a bit more than I need this weekend, but how can I stop piling on the goodness when it can lead to one of these:

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure as well!

WHAT THE PACHISLO???!!???

I love this picture. My daughter Jessica posed in front of an ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” when we were in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, but in hindsight we should have walked in and ordered one, just to get a real picture of it!

First, a big shout out to “Taylor’s Refresher” in St. Helena, California for their great bacon cheeseburger…you can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/15/napas-burger-battle-taylors-gotts-great-burgers-a-mondo-burger-fight/

I am going to profile a few of America’s best burger joints as I showcase some great burger recipes….

Building A Better Burger!

Look at this picture above. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I add minced onion and garlic, pink hawaiian sea salt, pepper, and a bit of Worcestershire sauce….boom, you are ready to grill!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Build your better burger this way and you are golden:

Top Bun
Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Slider Patty
Tomato
Pickle
Mayonaise, mayonaise, mayonaise!
Bottom Bun

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

OK, you can deviate a little…since my daughter and I were in Tokyo earlier, let me share this japanese burger!

The Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Burger!

Make your patty as usual, but this time top it with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo!

Lotteria’s “Bacon Cube” Burger!

If you are inspired by a Japanese take to your cheeseburger, check out these unique burgers from Tokyo, thanks to the unique restaurant “Lotteria”…read all about them right here….

https://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

If you head to Seattle, you can find one of America’s best burgers…

Bite Into The Dork!

Here’s an incredible burger being made by Seattle’s “Lunchbox Laboratory”! Check out the recipe by clicking on my review here:

Classic Burger Joints! Dick’s Drive-In! Lunchbox Laboratory ! Seattle’s Burger Magic!

I am also a fan of bending the “burger rules” as necessary to offer up a unique taste sensation…and what better sensation to celebrate than “Sriracha!”

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

In a large mixing bowl, make your burger patties with the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha and pepper.

Cue The Bacon!

Cook your bacon, then use the bacon fat to cook your onions into a cartelized taste treat!

Grill the burgers, and while they are cooking, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha to use as a topping!

There you go: a cheesy, oniony, spicy, bacon-y thing of greatness! Speaking of greatness, if you are in New York City, check this out!

The “Five Napkin” Burger in New York is terrific – check out my review here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/04/30/my-five-napkin-burger-review-plus-white-castle-rules-yes-it-does/

And speaking of “GREATNESS”, how about a bacon-covered macaroni-and-cheeseburger!

A Bacon Macaroni-and-Cheeseburger With Tater Tots!

Once you’ve tried this, you will never go back to a plain old cheeseburger again!

It’s easy! Instead of cheese, cover your burger with mac’n’cheese! Throw some bacon in there and make sure your tater tots get under the bun as well!

Or, just pile on the mac’n’cheese everywhere you can!

Here are some of the best way to “mac up” your burger:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/23/bacon-mac-n-cheese-corn-dogs-wild-macncheese-bacon-burgers-mac-up/

And if you really want to get weird, try my favorite burger of all:

Behold The French Fry Burger!

And of course, my favorite burger of all is this: just add french fries to the top of the burger, then a bit of tartar sauce, and top it off with cheddar cheese – a burger and fries all in one!

No matter which recipe you try, spend this fourth of July doing what all Americans should be doing: eating meat and waiting for the fireworks! Happy July 4th!

Time To Get “Wrapped Up” In Tokyo!

Yes, this is a triple cheeseburger wrapped in plastic! When I posted Tokyo food pics recently, I received a few comments asking “where’s the beef?”

Well, here it is!

I knew I was in for a “burger-ific” time in Tokyo – after all, I’ve posted many times about the unique burger for sale here – and when I arrived in town, I saw this in front of me on my first day out in the crowded streets:

Yes, it’s a “burger” shirt! With that in mind, I forced my wife Alex to search the crowded street of Kabuki-cho and Shinjuku for just one thing: a burger!

This was Alex’s first time to Tokyo, so we hit a bunch of different neighborhoods – all packed with people – with a singular goal in mind. I knew I had to try a burger while I was here, and one day as we rounded a corner, look what we found:

Yes, it was a bit rainy outside, but Lotteria burger was exactly what I wanted to find. I have posted about them many times, and I had to see it for myself. Once inside, the burger chain was already showing me signs of greatness:

The “special” burger was a $10 Wagyu beef burger – served simply with a big round wagyu patty, some lettuce and mayonnaise…

At first glance, the burger isn’t impressive: not that big, daily plain in appearance – but take a bite and what you get is a huge mouthful of wagyu flavor!

The flavor was terrific, and the crunchy lettuce and mayo were a great accompaniment…in fact, the only issue was that patty: it was so huge and round like a tennis ball that the patty and lettuce kept sliding out of the bun!

Alex had a bite and agreed that it had a very strong beef flavor – and it was a nice way to bite down on some unique Tokyo wagyu!

Lotteria offers tiny little cubicle seating, and inspirational signs all around you…it was a fun place to go for a quick bite!

However, I wasn’t able to sample my favorite Lotteria burger, which is this:

The “Burger With Everything On It!”

I could have had a shrimp burger, a burger with an egg on it, and other varieties as well. They were out of the special edition “burger with everything on it”, but don’t worry, you can see the entire recipe for it here:

A “Towering Tokyo Burger!” Lotteria’s Amazing Burger “With Everything On It!”

I also decided to make my food wearable, so I located this T-Shirt:

How could I resist buying this? Alex did ask me – over and over again – if I was seriously going to wear it, but I shrugged and said “who knows?

Now, time for some plastic food!

Meet Chef Kappabashi!

Well, that’s not his name, but it is IS the name of Tokyo’s “kitchen town”, a series of streets full of kitchen supplies – and plastic food! It sits alongside a small road that is very colorful:

In Japan, every restaurant shows you the kind of food they serve by lining up “plastic” samples in the window – so you know exactly what kind of menu they offer…so we went to the source to buy our own…

Maiduru’s Legendary “Fake Food!”

The best-known store for plastic food is Maiduru, so we went into to see all of the greatest plastic food they had to offer:

My son Jeff joined Alex in a search for a new iPhone cover for me – you know, to replace this one:

Unfortunately, there were no good replacements, and the iPhone6 offered this crazy option:

Yes, it’s an oyster shell stuffed with what looks like a yellow oyster! And it was HUGE! No such luck with that, so I did the next best thing.

I bought this plasticized triple cheeseburger!

What will I do with it? You are asking the wrong question! The real question is: “how cool are you?” And the answer is: “very.”

I think I will use it as a paperweight – or just a triple cheeseburger always in the office to remind me of lunch.

If you want to see more Tokyo burger magic, take a look at this “Stairway To Heaven”:

This “Tokyo Burger Tower” was dubbed a “stairway to heaven”…here is the entire recipe:

“Tokyo Burger Towers”! “Led Zeppelin Burgers!” Wild Wild Meat! The World’s Most Creative Burgers!

Of course, we’ve been enjoying a lot of different food in Tokyo – beginning with the food that Japan is perhaps best known for:

“Breakfast Sushi!”

As one of my Japanese friends told me the other day: “even WE don’t do that!” That is “breakfast sushi”, because it is served that Tokyo’s legendary fish market beginning at 7a!

We ate it, and we loved it, and you can see more pictures of our sushi breakfast AND a tour of the legendary Tsukiji fish market here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/06/tokyos-legendary-fish-market-sushi-for-breakfast-an-iconic-japanese-landmark-closes/

We also ate one of our favorite meals – a bento box of eel!

Even better was the “eel waiting room” we endured – which you can see more of here:

The Magic Of Tokyo 2016! Eel Waiting Rooms! Golden Gai Drinking! Cat Ads!

Finally, we ate another classic Japanese food: Tempura!

Check out that tasty adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/07/tokyo-food-musical-bento-boxes-sea-urchin-tempura-biting-down-hard-in-japan/

Let me know what you’d bite down on in Tokyo!

The 31st “Godzilla” Is Here!

Yes, the world’s greatest movie monster is back! For the 31st time, Japan cinemas has fans roaring in delight at the latest “Godzilla” film – first, check out the trailer!

“Godzilla” is an icon in Japan – so much so that one of the hotels actually put the beast on its roof – the hotel where my son Jeff stayed!

The Hotel Gracery, located in Shinjuku’s Kabuki-Cho district, put the monster on top of the Hotel’s reception floor, and inside, you could get a closeup look at the beast, which Alex and I jumped at the chance to do:

A Wall Of Godzilla!

Also inside the lobby was an exhibit that had T-shirts, DVD of earlier films, and a wall that had posters of all 31 films, classic movie posters like these:

The latest Godzilla looks muscular and brawn, with just enough “retro” look to pay homage to what makes these films so iconic: wild plots with a mix of great action and campy special effects…

This fun “Godzilla” exhibit had me interested in seeing the new film, which opens July 25th in Japan…

I also had some other fun in Tokyo as well…

I Got Plasticized!

We checked out Tokyo’s famous Kappabashi district, with the realistic plastic food! See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/09/tokyos-got-my-wagyu-beef-burger-amazing-kappabashi-plastic-food-burger-shirts-tokyo-rules/

I also had a memorable meal at a restaurant that added a special treat: a live performance!

Check out my musical bento box adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/07/tokyo-food-musical-bento-boxes-sea-urchin-tempura-biting-down-hard-in-japan/

In addition to bento boxes, I also had the chance to have “sushi for breakfast!”

Alex, Jeff and I ate sushi for breakfast at Tokyo’s legendary fish market – here are some great behind-the-scenes videos:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/06/tokyos-legendary-fish-market-sushi-for-breakfast-an-iconic-japanese-landmark-closes/

Finally, I came to Tokyo four times with G4, and one memorable visit saw our Host Alex Sim-Wise become an Astronaut’s wife:

Check out her wild experience as a Tokyo Bar Hostess here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/17/suave-sexy-hilarious-japanese-hostess-bar-secrets-and-lies-alex-sim-wise-plays-tokyo-hostess/

Let me know if you have seen any of Japan’s legendary Godzilla films!