RAMEN.Co – New Ramen Shop by Keizo Shimamoto in NYC Now In Soft Launch

RAMEN.Co
http://ramen.co/
100 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038

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THE CONQUEST
Restaurants, Chefs and trends come and go just like the tide but good Food stays a shore. What a crazy ride it’s been for Keizo Shimamoto. He’s gone from Ramen blogger to Chef of a Japanese Ramen shop Bassanova, to having a documentary made about him, to a US debut at The Food Film Festival, to creating an international food sensation with the Ramen Burger, to a 2nd documentary about it, to now opening his very own Ramen shop here in NYC named RAMEN.Co. That’s not a trend, that’s a full force Food tidal wave!

The fast casual Noodle shop is now in a soft opening located at 100 Maiden Lane in New York City’s Financial District. Despite the covered windows, the restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11am – 2pm for lunch. Your best bet is to get there early. Not only do they have a limited amount of Food but don’t forget that going into a 2nd season outdoors at Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg, the Ramen Burger lines still stretch the length of the park. While currently looks can be deceiving, so is the address. RAMEN.Co is actually just south of Maiden Lane on Pearl Street. Just look for the sign.

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Once inside, you’ll Keizo and his team, hard at work creating some of the most delicious and unique offerings in NYC in a pristine and modern dining room. The menu is small, offering Ramen with a couple of signature Ramen Soups, Bento Boxes and of course the Ramen Burger. Other than the expanded menu, the one difference to getting a Ramen Burger here as opposed to Smorgasburg is that you can add either Bacon and or Cheese to your Sandwich, as seen in the lickable looking photo at the top of this post. (Note, please do not lick your screen.)

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THE BURGER
I ordered a bowl of Ramen, made with fresh Ramen Noodles from Sun Noodle in “Brooklyn Blend” broth. It’s a dark and savory soup that’s pretty heavy on Garlic. This is a good thing. Not able to decide, Keizo topped mine with the Chashu Pork, the Chicken and the soft boiled Eggs. I could not tear myself away from this. If the multiple stains found later on my shirt were any indication of my experience, I clearly ate a lot and fast. This was one of the best bowls of Ramen I have ever had. In fact, I’d have gotten another had I not been staring in the face of a Ramen Burger. The words “Umami Bomb” come to mind.

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Ok. Mind = blown.I’ve eaten dozens of Ramen Burger’s and they’re always amazing but this one, this one has taken the cake. At Keizo’s new RAMEN.Co you can order the Ramen Burger topped with Bacon and Cheese. I would never claim that this Sandwich needs those toppings because it’s pretty unreal on it’s own. However, make no mistake, this ups the game. I’m impressed and excited once again by the magic of Keizo. The Beef in this incredible sandwich is made using a Certified Angus Beef Steakburger patty from Burger Maker. It’s an all Chuck patty which is the perfect type of grind for making a classic Burger. As a note, less than 8% of beef is considered CAB worthy.

Every food fanatic in the world needs to get to RAMEN.Co and eat this … as well as the unbelievable ramen. Wow. Just raging wow.

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Now, I do not try to hide the fact that I work for Burger Maker nor that I helped Keizo find his way to them when he was creating the Ramen Burger. But know that regardless of either of these facts, I like Food and I like Food A LOT. If I said it in the past or I say it again in the future on this blog, it represents my true feelings.

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That being said, I am honored and excited to be working with Keizo for the kick off of the 3rd Annual NY Burger Week on May 1, 2014.  Keizo will be re-imagining the Western Burger on the menu at The Black Shack, created by Chef Jeffrey Maslanka. Keizo will be giving the Burger an Eastern spin. Likewise, Jeff will re-interpret Keizo’s Ramen Burger in a way it’s never been served before. Both Chefs will be on hand to serve the Food and answer any questions. The dinner happens at The Black Shack (320 Lexington) and seats are incredibly limited.

Click here to buy tickets now or to read more about The Burger Week, follow this link.

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Posted in Burgers, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, New York, NY Burger Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on RAMEN.Co – New Ramen Shop by Keizo Shimamoto in NYC Now In Soft Launch

Burger Lift – Defend Your Burger’s Bun Integrity

Burger Lift
http://burgerlift.com

You know what’s awesome?
THIS:IMG_4983

You know what else is awesome?
THIS:
IMG_4985Until THIS happens:
Pauls Burgers 010209 012_greasy_soggy_bun_integrity_burger_conquest_burger_liftCorner Bistro121908 008_burger_conquest_nyc

We’ve all had it happen and when it does, it makes us Burger fanatics  sad, oh so very sad. It’s called Bun integrity and when it becomes compromised it takes away from the Burger experience. Hamburgers are not a Food we eat because it’s good for us or because we’re on a diet or counting calories, it’s a reward. Eating a Burger is a magical experience, one that even the most nonchalant person has the highest expectations for taste and quality. When that’s negatively affected it brings about an air of depression.

You don’t want a sad Burger do you?

There’s a solution!!!
THIS:
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It’s called a “Burger Lift.” It’s a device that’s meant to protect Bun integrity when you’re Burger is extra juicy.

You simply place it underneath your Burger to elevate it off the plate. Then as the delicious Juices drip from it, collecting on the plate, you don’t need to set it back down into the pool.

I recently got to meet up with Matt and Jasmine, creators of said magical Burger defense mechanism and try it out for myself. Observe …

Delicious looking, juicy Burger:The_Smith_Upper_West_Side_Burger_Lift_NYC_Review_032414__2659

Burger carefully placed on Burger Lift:The_Smith_Upper_West_Side_Burger_Lift_NYC_Review_032414__2667

Yummy. Yummy. Tasty. Tasty. (Note, always use the Left Hand Grab when eating Burgers.)
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Juiciness collects on plate underneath the Burger Lift:
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No compromise in Bun integrity:The_Smith_Upper_West_Side_Burger_Lift_NYC_Review_032414__2678

The Burger Lift is also reusable, washable and stacks easily for storage. So at the time of publishing this blog where can you get this Burger defense system? You can’t. But you can help. The team behind Burger Lift currently have a Kickstarter running to fund this extremely important device. Watch the video below for more and be sure to donate so that you don’t have to face this fear again:

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Kickstarter video:

Back Burger Lift on Kickstarter and not only can you pre-order one but you can purchase a Burger sampling party at Idle Hands Bar, hosted by yours truly.

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Posted in Burgers, Hamburgers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Burger Lift – Defend Your Burger’s Bun Integrity

3rd Annual NY Burger Week, May 1-7, 2014 – Details Announced

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BURGER CONQUEST TO HOST 3RD ANNUAL NY BURGER WEEK 
MAY 1-7, 2014

To celebrate National Hamburger Month, Burger Conquest, Burger Maker & The Food Film Festival proudly bring you the 3rd Annual NY Burger Week, May 1-7, 2014.

The Burger Week is a 7-day celebration of trendsetting chefs and unique burgers with a series of daily events.

Burger Conquest announces the 3rd annual NY Burger Week from May 1-7, 2014. Offering gourmet blends, off-menu specialities, drink pairings – and the return of the Burger Crawl! – NY Burger Week will pay tribute to the world’s greatest sandwich, the Hamburger. Each restaurateur and Chef will be preparing a unique event that pays tribute to the Burger in their own way.

NY_The_Burger_Week_NYC_2014_Black_Shack_Eastern_Meets_Western_Event_Layered_FinalThe Burger Week in New York kicks off May 1 at Black Shack (320 Lexington Ave) with a unique burger collaboration. Chef Jeffrey Maslanka brings off-menu burgers to the Burger Week, this time with Ramen Burger creator Keizo Shimamoto. Chef Jeff was the creative force behind the 2013 NY Burger Week off-menu Burger brunch at 67 Burger. For 2014, he and Shimamoto will work together to re-imagine each other’s Burger. Keizo has re-designed Jeff’s Western Burger – and it will be served along with Jeff’s take on the Ramen Burger. The dinner, limited to only 40 seats, will also feature a Black Shack off-menu Asian-themed side and a beer milk shake.

More details and tickets are available here: http://theburgerweek.com/tickets/

NY_The_Burger_Week_NYC_2014_The_Bar_Room_Mexican_Burger_Most_Interesting_Man_In_the_World_EventTo celebrate Cinco De Mayo, The Burger Week has teamed up with The Bar Room (117 E. 60th St) for a Mexican-themed Burger feast. On May 5, you’ll be treated to a special pre-fixe dinner designed by The Bar Room Chef Kenny Brand. The event includes a 5-course Mexican themed dinner with 3 dishes and 2 cocktails, including a beer cocktail made with Dos Equis. The star of the show will be a Mexican-spiced Burger patty topped with aged cheddar, grilled tomato, fresh-made pico de gallo and a side of nachos (replacing the standard French Fries). The burger will be made with Burger Maker’s fresh “Certified Angus Beef Steakburger” which includes only fresh Certified Angus Beef trimming that are upper two-thirds USDA Choice.

More details and tickets are available here: http://theburgerweek.com/tickets/

NY_The_Burger_Week_NYC_2014_Idle_Hands_Bar_ACDC_Back_In_Black_Angus_Event_Beer_Layered_Final.jpgThe 2014 Burger Week in NY returns to Idle Hands Bar (25 Avenue B) on May 6th with another installment of their rock ‘n’ roll burger and beer pairing dinners. The event is called the “AC/DC Back In Black Angus Burger and Beer Pairing.” The menu will feature Burgers and beers “expertly paired” with each track on AC/DC’s Back in Black album by The Burger Week founder, Rev Ciancio. The album, originally released in 1980, has gone on to become the 4th highest selling album of all time. On the anniversary of its recording in New York at Electric Lady Studios, attendees will enjoy a selection of off-menu mini-burgers created by Chef Dennis Hatzinger using Burger Maker’s Custom Blend Certified Angus Beef Burgers, each themed with a different song on the album. Burgers will be served with a series of craft beers from Bell’s Brewery, Two Brothers, 21st Amendment and Singlecut Beersmiths. The dinner will also include an order of tater tots & a shot of whiskey.

More details and tickets are available here: http://theburgerweek.com/tickets/

Must be 21+ to consume alcohol.

Four more events will be announced shortly as well as a week-long off-menu burger promotion with delivery.com that involves some of the best Burger restaurants in NYC. Restaurants, Chefs and sponsors interested in participating in NY Burger Week can find out how to get involved here.

About NY Burger Week
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NY Burger Week is an annual delicious celebration of all things Burger in New York. It is an extension of the burger blog, BurgerConquest.com written by sales marketing strategist, David “Rev” Ciancio. Rev has written about more than 600 Burgers, been featured on numerous different TV shows and named an “Expert Burger Taster” by The Learning Channel.

About Burger Maker
Burger_Maker_Logo_NY_Burger_Week_Conquest_small
Burger Maker was established in 1978 in New York City’s meatpacking district by David Schweid, a 2nd generation meat man. The company is now wholly owned and operated by David and his two sons Jamie & Brad in Carlstadt, NJ. Burger Maker specializes in making fresh patties in all shapes, sizes, and blends as well as bulk ground beef. Custom blends include everything from chuck to hanger to short rib to brisket. Burger Maker also makes Grass Fed ground beef and actively participates and adheres to Certified Humane certifications. The company has been awarded with the highest standards of SQF certification in both food safety and food quality. Burger Maker uses a delicate process to create ground beef that has a soft bite that maintains all natural beef flavors.

About The Food Film Festival
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The Food Film Festival, created and hosted by Travel Channel’s George Motz, is the only festival in the world where guests get to Taste What They See on the Screen. Now in New York City, Chicago and Charleston, SC, The Food Film Festival shows films about food, then serves the food from the films…right in your seat!


Posted in Best Burger in New York, Burger Week, Burgers, East Village, Event, Festival, Food Film Festival, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, Holiday, National Hamburger Month, New York, NY Burger Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HitTail – How To Install HitTail and Use Organic Keywords to Target Burger Fans To Your Blog

How To Install HitTail and Use Organic Keywords to Target Burger Fans To Your Blog

In-N-Out Review BurgerFi Philadelphia TGI Friday’s Burger Breakfast Sausage Meatballs Brother Jimmy’s NYC Taylor Pork Roll Best Burgers NJ Gourmet Burger Bar Ideas Jake’s Wayback Burgers Peter Luger Porterhouse Best Burger NYC Keizo Shimamoto Venison Hamburger Recipe Peter Luger Steak Sauce

To you, that probably reads like a bunch of nonsense. A string of words that neither forms a sentence that makes sense or a complete thought in paragraph form. That’s because it isn’t meant to be. Those are keywords, organic keywords that has lead people to this blog. In fact, it might be how you ended up reading this very blog post.

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I got them from HitTail. It’s a service that helps to quickly deliver important organic keywords that are driving traffic to your website. Google Analytics is a great and free service that helps you understand the traffic on your website. It’s incredibly complex and delivers a lot of data. Anyone who is versed in it’s abilities has seen the words “not provided” underneath their key words section. These words are some of the most powerful search terms that are leading people to your site.

For me, words like “burger,” “nyc,” “cheese,” “review,” or “hamburgers” would seem like obvious keywords, and they are. But they aren’t driving traffic for someone who wants to find the best Burger in NYC or more specific information like a review for In-N-Out or a recipe for Breakfast Sausage Meatballs. Those are very specific searches that are indeed on my blog and it’s a utility that I can provide. Had I not used HitTail, I would’ve not uncovered the importance of some of these precise keywords that generate traffic to Burger Conquest and The Burger Week.

How to Quickly Install HitTail On Your Blog

If you write a blog, go to their website and sign up for a free 21 day trial. It’s very easy to use and you’ll be impressed with the results.

1. Go to HitTail.com and click on “Sign up for a free trial.”
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2. Create your HitTail Account by enter in your email address, choose a password and enter your website.
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3. Enter your billing info. You will need to do this to get your 21 day free trial.
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4. Once you entered your billing info, the site will prompt you to “Activate Google Keywords.” Click it.
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5. In a new tab or browser, go to Google Webmaster Tools. If you aren’t logged into your gmail account, you will need to. If you don’t have a gmail account, you will need one.
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6. Click on “ADD A SITE.” A pop up will come up on screen. Enter the URL of the site you would like to manage. Click “Continue.”
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7. Webmaster Tools will prompt you to verify that you have control of the domain. I use GoDaddy so it prompted me to verify through their system. When the pop up shows, click “VERIFY.”
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8. You will need to log in to your GoDaddy.com account.
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9. Once you’ve logged in, Google Webmaster Tools will ask you to verify that you would like to give permission to manage the domain. Click “Accept.”

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10. It will then ask you to confirm the verification. Click “Yes” to confirm it.
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11. While it’s being confirmed, don’t click on anything and just wait for it to finish.
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12. Once the process is completed, your URL will be verified. Click “Continue.”
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13. Back on you Google Webmaster Tools dashboard, you will need to select the URL you want to use with HitTail. Select it by using the drop down menu on the top right.
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14. Click on the gear and a drop down menu will appear. Click on “Users & Site Owners.”
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15. When the screen loads, click “ADD A NEW — USER.”
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16. In the pop up window, enter “gwt@hittail.com” into the box and select “Restricted” in the drop down box under “Permission.” Click “Add” to move forward.
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17. This will give HitTail the access the program needs to research your organic keywords. This is the magic sauce in what makes it so easy to work with HitTail.
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18. Go back to HitTail.com and click the “Activate!” button. If you cannot find it, check your email for a link from HitTail. Click that and you will be prompted again to “Activate Google Keywords.” (<– Or click that link)
hittail_organic_keyword_sign_up_free_how_to_install_best_burger_nyc_conquest_ 8.06.38 AM
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19. BOOM! Your keywords are importing…
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20. Once HitTail has imported your organic keywords, click the “Keywords” tab to view.
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21. Once they’ve had a chance to collect data, you’ll be able to sort by Score. This is one of the best parts because it ranks your keywords by their ability to drive you traffic. The higher the score (more stars), the more value the keyword will bring to you.
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22. Export your keywords and data to an excel sheet by clicking “Export to Excel.” A pop up window will show. Click “Export” to finalize.
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22 Steps might seem like a lot but you should be able get this done in 10 minutes or less. Then you are on your way to using some of the most important and specific organic keywords to drive more traffic to your blog.

Send me a tweet @BurgerConquest and tell me what you think about it.

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So with that, here’s a play to get some web traffic using my top HitTail keywords. Below are some titles with links to reviews based on those words along with some delicious images of Burgers and other food.

In-N-Out Review
in_n_out_burger_coming_to_nyc_college_humor_burger_conquest_reviewin_n_out_burger_food_porn_burger_conquest_review

BurgerFi – A Review in NYC, not Philadelphia
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TGI Fridays at Cedar Point
Cedar_Point_TGI_Fridays_review_burger_conquest_cedar_pointCedar_Point_TGI_Fridays_review_burger_conquest_cedar_point_jack_daniels_burger

Recipe; How To Male Breakfast Sausage Meatballs
breakfast_sausage_meatballs_recipe_burger_conquest_maple_drizzle_IMG_5984breakfast_sausage_meatballs_recipe_burger_conquest_maple_drizzle_IMG_5994

Brother Jimmy’s in NYC: Loud, Proud and Tasty
Brother_Jimmys_Burger_Shack_review_nyc_pitcher_of_beer_071210_0211_cheeseburgerBrother_Jimmys_Burger_Shack_review_nyc_pitcher_of_beer_071210_cheeseburger

Get Taylor Ham / Pork Roll On a Burger at The White Rose System
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Some of the Best Burgers in NJ
Rossi’s Tavern in Trenton, NJ
Rossis_Tavern_best_burger_nj_conquest_010809 005Rossis_Tavern_best_burger_nj_conquest_010809 012
The Windmill in Redbank, NJ
The_WindMill_Red_Bank_NJ_082013_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_1846_best_burger_njThe_WindMill_Red_Bank_NJ_082013_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_1850_best_burger_nj
White Mana in Jersey City, NJ
White_Mana_Jersey_City_Best_burger_NJ_conquest_092410 058White_Mana_Jersey_City_Best_burger_NJ_conquest_092410 063
Shop Rite Village Food Garden in Livingston, NJ
Shoprite_Village_Food_Garden_Burger_Livingston_NJ_100113_6142Shoprite_Village_Food_Garden_Burger_Livingston_NJ_100113_6124
Arthur’s Steakhouse in Hoboken, NJ
Arthurs_Steak_House_Hoboken_best_burger_nj_conquest_061309 022Arthurs_Steak_House_Hoboken_best_burger_nj_conquest_061309 027

Jake’s Wayback Burgers
Jakes_Wayback_Burgers_Canarsie_Brooklyn_071013_6029Jakes_Wayback_Burgers_Canarsie_Brooklyn_071013_6037

Peter Luger Steakhouse – Have a Burger With Your Porterhouse and Don’t Forget the Peter Luger Steak Sauce
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Keizo Shimamoto and the Ramen Burger
ramen_burger_smorgasburg_keizo_shimamoto_nyc_kris_brearton_brooklyn_burger_conquest_rev_ciancio_national_bacon_day_IMG_1983Ramen_Burger_Smorgasburg_081713_Keizo_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_Brooklyn_NYC_1803

Venison Bacon Hamburger Recipe
Venison_Hamburger_Bacon_Recipe_Burger_Conquest_IMG_2483Venison_Hamburger_Bacon_Recipe_Burger_Conquest_IMG_2500

 

Posted in Best Burger in New York, Brooklyn, Burgers, California, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Recipe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HitTail – How To Install HitTail and Use Organic Keywords to Target Burger Fans To Your Blog

Wing-Off 23 The Blue Room vs. Bar-Coastal

From the same people that bring you Burger Conquest, we bring you the New York City Wing-Off. A crew of men on a search for the best wing in NYC. In round 2 of the NYC Wing-Off, any Wing goes regardless of sauce, style & size. Service, ambiance, beverage selection, price and other menus have no factor but they sure do count for a good time! Also, NO WOMEN ALLOWED!!

THE CONQUEST
In January of 2007, 2 men had an argument over where to get the best hot wings in New York City. The debate grew intense and while an audience watched, they agreed to battle it out, wing vs. wing, to see who was right. Some rules were established, some friends were invited and some wings were eaten. In the end, everyone had so much fun that we decided to do it again, and again and again. Thus, the NYC Wing-Off was born.

It’s been years in the making with only one goal in mind, find the best medium and hot wings in NYC. Along the way we have had some fantastic wings, we’ve seen amazing wings be defeated by slightly more amazing wings and we were even invited into a kitchen to design our own wing recipe; “Don’t Stop Believin” sauce, we’ve donated to cancer research and now we can say, we have found the best hot wings in New York City.

The bracket challenge to crown a champion for the best medium and hot wings in New York city came to a close on Saturday, September 25, 2010. On that day, Bar Coastal was crowned the winner and awarded the Burger Conquest Hot Golden Cock Trophy. The NYC Wing-Off has been reborn in 2011 but with a new twist. In the past we only judged on medium and hot wings but now, we re-start and ALL flavors are eligible for judging.

WING-OFF 23: Saturday, February 8, 2014
 – Atomic Wings vs. Atomic Wings

The Blue Room
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blue-room-new-york
1140 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10021

Bar-Coastal
http://barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave
New York, NY 10075-1355

The Wing-Off crew is no stranger to rivals. I mean really, how many “best Wings” can there really be out there? Not that many to tell you the truth. The problem with Hot Wings is that any restaurant or bar can serve them but very few of them do this coveted Food item justice. Because you have a frier and a bottle of Frank’s Red Hot, does not make you a Hot Wing wizard. It takes the right Chicken, the appropriate cooking temperature, exact crisp to juiciness ratio, a finely curated, multi-dimensional Sauce, clean cooking Oil and even when you have that, you still have to master consistency which is the hardest part of it all. So when we are set out to find the best Wings, we take all of this into consideration.

That’s why when I recently met Adam Lippin, I knew exactly what the next Wing-Off would be. Adam is the founder of Atomic Wings. If you’re a Wing fan in NYC, you’re familiar with Atomic. Atomic Wings has been on the scene since 1981. His mission was simple, to bring the great flavors of Hot Wings that are found in upstate NY, back down into the NYC area. Since then, they’ve expanded into all 5 boroughs, Long Island, CT, NJ & PA. In Manhattan, you can find them at places like Down The Hatch, Westside Brewhouse, Matt’s BBQ and their own stand alone locations. You can also take them on head to head at 2 of the oldest bars to carry Atomic Wings; The Blue Room and Bar-Coastal. After a long talk about Hot Wings with Adam, that’s exactly what we set out to do.

THE BLUE ROOM
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The Blue Room is a classic NYC dive bar with mismatched seats, uneven tables, cheap beers, friendly staff and a complete lack of pretension. If you’re going to The Blue Room it’s because you either want some cheap Drinks along with great tasting Hot Wings or you want cheap Drinks while watching sports and then eventually probably ordering Hot Wings. If serves the purpose of fulling your need to unwind at the end of the day with some Beers and Hot Wings.  The menu at The Blue Room is 100% Atomic Wings because it’s actually a separate business. This means at the end of your meal, expect 2 checks.

We decided to try our taste buds at a couple different flavors since the Atomic menu is robust with so many choices. We nailed it down to Lemon Pepper, Thai Chili and regular old Medium Hot Wings. It was only a matter of minutes before our table was filled with fried-Chickeny goodness (note, we were the only table ordering Food at the time.) Sauces aside, all the Wings were hot, crispy, a little juicy and more the most part, pretty good.

No rookie Wing action here. In terms of the sauce, the Medium, as per it’s name, was right down the middle. The Lemon Pepper really struck a chord. It’s such a simple concept but done the right way it has a little sweet, a little sour & a little bitter. The Thai Chili were good too with a decent tang. They were definitely the messiest of the 3. The winning moment might of been the crispy Waffle Fries dipped into a concoction of all 3 sauces mixed with Blue Cheese. Try it.

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BAR-COASTAL
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Jason Catlin is the freaking man. If you have ever been to Bar Coastal and met Jason, you’ll agree. It takes a special kind of person to not only run a bar in NYC but one that also has great food, great atmosphere, drinks for almost all crowds and also be successful. Jason is that man and most of the time, he’s in the bar, greeting people, saying hello, testing Wing sauce recipes or standing behind the bar serving drinks. The guy has stories for days and is a true, true, true fan of bar Food and culture. So much so, that we’ve even invited him out to join the Wing-Off crew.

He’s also the only person ever to win a “best Wing in NYC” trophy from the Wing-Off crew.

Bar-Coastal has all the standard Wing sauces but also a number of their own that Jason created himself after years of working with Atomic Wings. You can order them as traditional Chicken Wings, Boneless or as Pork Wings which are more affectionately called “Porkers.” Every Wing that comes out of the Bar Coastal kitchen is damn near perfect. After just one bite through the crunchy skin and into the juicy meat of a hearty Wing, you’ll know right away that Bar Coastal does not skimp when it comes to their Wings. Be sure to order the off-menu “Kerry’s Way” sauce on your Wings for an extra sweet and savory experience.

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WING-OFF 23 OFFICIAL WINNER – BAR-COASTAL!
You probably didn’t have to read past the Bar Coastal review to know who won this one. The Blue Room makes some excellent Wings and in general, you can trust the Atomic Wings name to deliver true Buffalo style Wings. As proof, check out the Wing-Off Historical and you’ll see that Atomic Wings at Down The Hatch is in part responsible for this club. You won’t be let down at any of their locations, especially The Blue Room. As for Bar Coastal’s Wings, plain and simple, they are some of the best in NYC. You don’t have to take our words for them but if you’re reading this, why wouldn’t you?

Click here for the Wing-Off Historical.

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Burger Burger – The 4th Ever Polar Brrrger Club

Burger Burger
http://www.burgerburgerny.com/
77 Pearl St
New York, NY 10004

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THE CONQUEST
“I’m a little confused as to what happens once people meet at the spot. Can you tell me how this event works?” I received this communication via email from a representative at a news agency. “Do all participants eat outside in the snow?” continued the email.

Once a year, when and IF there is a massive blizzard, snowpocalypse, polar vortex, snowmageddon (or whatever you checked into on foursquare) I organize an event called the “Polar Brrrger Club.” It’s a play on the name of the Long Island based group of people who bathe in freezing cold waters, AKA The Polar Bear Club. Whereas they strip down to their skivvies and dive into the icy cold Atlantic Ocean, we gather outside in wintry conditions and eat Hamburgers. The wearing of Hawaiian shirts at the gathering is encouraged but not enforced.

As the reported “thundersnow” piled down upon New York City, I was quickly putting together plans to host the 4th ever Polar Brrrger Club. This time it was to happen at Burger Burger in the Financial District. The restaurant’s only dining area, other than a small counter inside where you order, is a patio out in front, right off stone street. Perfect..or is that brrrfect?

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HISTORY

THE BURGER
Burger Burger is a long standing customer of Burger Maker and use our 6 oz Certified Angus Beef patty to make all of their Burgers. The Burgers at Burger Burger (that’s fun to say) are fresh, never frozen and cooked on a char grill to the temperature of your choice. You can order just a plain Cheeseburger or choose from the long list of unique specialty Burgers on the menu. I opted for the “Bill Burger” with American Cheese, Sauteed Onions, and Horseradish Cream Sauce on an English Muffin. Once everyone who showed up to participate got their Burgers, we headed out and diner al fresco while freezing our bums off in 16 degree weather.

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Fun fact: Burger Burger was the site of the 3rd ever Burger Conquest!

For more about the Burger itself and some other photos, check out Brad Garoon’s review on Burger Weekly.

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BURGER FAMOUS
When I moved to NYC in 1996 it was because I wanted to live in a city that no matter how hard I tried, I could never beat it. 18 years later and the challenge is still never ending. However this little event helped me to climb the ladder a little. After eating the Burger, I checked my email and found one from 1010 Wins / CBS requesting for an interview.  I was flattered and honored. Not only did they post a story online but it also made the radio broadcast. Listen:

Dear Bucket list

We’re one step closer to being done. We can now add “be the subject of an evening news as fluff piece” to the list.

First NY1 and now 1010Wins / CBS. Good Morning New York – you’re next.

Rev

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Thanks to Burger Burger for hosting the event and being great sports about the whole thing.

Thank you to the Clubbers willing to forgo warmth in exchange for tasty burger fun: Fletcher, Dana & George Motz from The Food Film Fest, Squigs of The Happy Hour Guys, Marc “the Bacon Jew,” Adam Poch from Big Brother 13, John & Kelly from Burger Maker, Brad from Burger Weekly and Pauly 3k Beers.

Thank you to the bro’s at Gothamist who always take the time to promote the event and find a new way to poke fun at our fun. I sincerely appreciate it.

Thank you to Burger Maker for not only supporting my Burger lifestyle but for treating all the Polar Brrrger Clubbers to lunch at Burger Burger. I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t firmly believe you make the best beef in the business with intense attention to quality and consistency.

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The 4th Ever Polar Brrrger Club To Happen at Burger Burger NY

THE POLAR BRRRGER CLUB RETURNS!

New York City-based blog Burger Conquest announces the fourth ever Polar Brrrger Club.

January 22, 2014
1:00 pm

Location: Burger Burger, NY
77 Pearl St, NYC

Rev Ciancio Burger Conquest Polar Brrrger Club

As the 2nd invading polar blast of 2014 is set to take NYC again, the scared and weak will flock to grocery stores and bodegas to stock their refrigerators. For the rest of us, the hungry and courageous, we will gather once again for the 4th ever “Polar Brrrger Club.” Hosted by David “Rev” Ciancio, the Director of Marketing from Burger Maker and founder of the Burger Conquest blog, this event happens when a significant snowstorm descends upon the Big Apple.

Fueled by a potential 8-12 inches of “thundersnow“, the event is happening Wednesday, January 22 at 1:00 p.m. EST. All fearless burger junkies are encouraged to dress up in their best Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses (not a requirement) and battle the blizzard to enjoy a fresh Certified Angus Beef burger from Burger Maker at Burger Burger. Burger Burger is located at 77 Pearl Street in New York City’s Financial District. The Rev will be standing just inside the restaurant in a black jacket, Hawaiian shirt, gray hat and sunglasses.

The first 10 people in line will receive free Burgers courtesy of Burger Maker. Anyone who shows up and participates in the 4th ever Polar Brrrger Club by eating a burger at Burger Burger will receive a free can of soda from the restaurant

The first ever gathering of the Polar Brrrger Club took place on Friday, February 26, 2010 drawing quite a crowd of burger fanatics ready to brave the elements just to get their burger fix. Several of New York’s most important eaters joined in the freezing cold burger fun. 

The 2nd ever Polar Brrrger Club  happened on December 27, 2010 attaching the attention of Gothamist, and Channel 7 WABC New York as well as Nearsay.com.

The 3rd ever Polar Brrrger Club went down on February 9, 2013 with spotlights from from Eater and Gothamist.

“New Yorkers are a tough bunch and we aren’t going to let a couple of snowflakes get in the way of our need for Burgers,” declares Rev Ciancio. “Have fun waiting in line at your local grocery store so you can stockpile water and bread, the rest of us will be crushing life by eating a fresh Certified Angus Beef burger downtown at Burger Burger.”

#Hashtag for this event will be #PolarBrrrger

Burger Conquest, the Glorious Pursuit of Delicious Burgers was started by The Rev as an attempt to find the best burgers in the world, while enjoying adventures with his friends and colleagues. As of January 21, 2014, Rev has eaten and written about 665 Burgers as well as started the NYC Wing-Off, a battle to find the best Hot Wings in NYC. Rev and the Burger Conquest have been featured on The Travel Channel, Food Network, NY1, Fox News, Thrillist, Grubstreet, Serious Eats, A Hamburger Today, Metalsucks, Alternative Press, Metal Hammer, SiriusXM, The Mayhem Festival, The Warped Tour and many other media outlets.

Contact: Rev Ciancio rciancio@burgermaker.com

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12 Days of Burgers – The Best Burger Conquests of 2013

Wow. Seriously, I am blown away. While this blog was really just the story of my life as told through the eating of Hamburgers, it’s turned into way more than I could’ve ever expected. With each year of writing Burger Conquest, I’ve always set a new goal. I wanted to keep the site fresh, interesting, fun and on some level, useful. 2013 proved to be the colossal year of the blog yet. It saw my biggest TV appearance, the largest Burger event I’ve ever thrown, the introduction of The Cattle Call, an interview series where I got to interview some of my biggest heroes in the Burger business, my first Burger review ever in Ireland and in the biggest of news, a job working in the Burger business.

Every moment of this blog and especially this year was a Burgery dream come true.

76 Burgers reviewed in 2013

At the end of 2013, THE BURGER COUNTQUEST is at 665 Burgers.

So, in the tradition of “12 Days of Christmas” I give you the final tally in my “12 Days of Burgers,” the 12 best Burger Conquests of 2013.

12. Step by step ordering instructions on how to have an absolutely grandiose and delicious brunch in Portland, OR. This was really just the kick off to my friend Nick’s bachelor party where I had an awesome timeTasty n Sons – Epic Level Brunch
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11. There’s a lot of great reasons to take a road trip to New England and we experienced most of them in a 24 hour jaunt themed around locations that inspired the TV show “Family Guy.” Combine that with a Burger 70 years in the making and you have:  The Brohd Trip 5 – A Family Guy Themed Road Trip to New EnglandThe_Brohdtrip_New_England_Providence_Portsmouth_Gloucester_Burger_Conquest_062913_5979The_Brohdtrip_New_England_Providence_Portsmouth_Gloucester_Burger_Conquest_062913_6017

10. There are a lot of things I can call myself that others said first, and thanks to Friendly’s, I can add “local celebrity” to that list. All jokes aside, it was a pleasure and an honor to be a judge for their annual contest. Friendly’s – Build Your Own Burger Finals
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9. Many people have promised to take me to eat the Burger, but only George, Seth, Nicole and Artie from The Food Film Festival delivered. AKA; the only time I’ve ever interviewed myself. Minetta Tavern – This Is One of the Best Burgers EverMinetta_Tavern_Burger_Conquest_George_Motz_051813_5725Minetta_Tavern_Burger_Conquest_George_Motz_051813_5726

8. Only 2 Burgers I ate all year made it into my “best of” list and this one in particular is the best one I’ve ever had in Brooklyn. The meal embodied every reason this blog exists: to eat delicious Burgers with people I love. Two 8 Two Bar and Burger – One Of The Best Burgers Ever
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7. Some might say battling a massive snowstorm just to eat Burgers and Hot Wings as well as drink Beers all over the state of NY is a foolish thing to do. To the 13 of us that did it, we would disagree. It was one of the most fun road trips of all times, including seeing Niagara Falls and Rick James’ grave. The Brohd Trip 4 / Wing-Off 20 – 881 Miles Just To Eat Hot Wings
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6. The 3rd iteration of Burgers at the bar I co-own with Rob Morton and Marc Schapiro, Idle Hands Bar, came to us from Chef Dennis Hatzinger. The Chuck, Brisket and Hangar blend patty is totally upping our Burger game and I urge you to try it for yourself. Idle Hands Bar – Welcome Chef Dennis and a House Ground BurgerIMG_0158Chef_Dennis_Hatzinger_Burger_Conquest_Idle_Hands_Bar_NYC

5. It was one of the biggest Food sensations of the year and I can proudly say I was able to help it happen. Keizo Shimamoto’s Ramen Burger, featuring Beef from Burger Maker, exploded onto the scene delivering a unique experience that tastes as good as they say it does. Ramen Burger – How To Skip The Ramen Burger Line
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4. I got a little more Burger Famous in 2013 thanks to George Motz. I beat his  nearly impossible challenge of finding a great Burger in NYC that he had not eaten prior, so that he could do it for an episode of Travel Channel’s Burger Land; Korzo Haus. Then I threw my own viewing party. Burger Land Viewing Party with Burgers and $10 Weyebacher Tasting
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3. There is nobody I enjoy traveling and eating with more than my wife (and accomplished novelist), Cara Lynn Shultz. I’m honored that the last Burger to be reviewed on this site was not only amazing but with her in Dublin while celebrating our anniversary. Bonus, our guide of what to do with 3 days in Dublin. Bobo’s Gourmet Irish Burgers – Best Irish Food and Dublin To Do List
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2. What was once a funny idea became a reality in 2012. In 2013 it became a tradition; NY Burger Week. 7 days of awesome Hamburger events turned into 2,549 Burgers served at 8 different events with the help of a whole heck of a lot of awesome Burger friends. 2nd Annual NY Burger Week By the Numbers
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1. 1,909 days and 665 Burgers reviewed later and I still haven’t given a 10 out of 10 rating on this blog. My glorious pursuit of delicious Burgers will continue on but no longer as a Burger blogger as I am now the director of marketing. Burger Maker – The Next Conquest
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If I could conceive the type of high-five that turned instantly into a fireworks show, I would extend it to everyone who has ever laid eyes on this website or supported my Burger madness. Since I haven’t figured out how to do that yet, please accept this legen- wait for it…-dary virtual version of the fireworks-five as a sign my extreme gratitude. Expect a whole lot more Burger insanity from me in 2014.

Posted in Beer, Best Burger in New York, Best Of, Brohd Trip, Brooklyn, Burger Famous, Burgers, East Village, Event, Festival, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, Ireland, New York, NY Burger Week, Queens, Road Trip, TV, Wing-Off | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 12 Days of Burgers – The Best Burger Conquests of 2013

Burger Maker – The Next Conquest

Confession time: My favorite food in the whole world is Venison.

This blog may cause you to think otherwise, but when I started it, I knew that “eating Bambi” wouldn’t be the most appealing of subjects. So instead, I decided to write about my favorite food to eat with others, Hamburgers.

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It goes back to July 20, 2008 when I asked a large group of friends to join me for Burgers and Beers at PJ Clarke’s. Every year on July 20th, I follow a similar ritual. It’s a tribute to my late Father who absolutely adored Eating with friends. The date is his birthday. It was at the aforementioned dinner when I suggested to my friends that we start a Burger club with a corresponding blog. The intention would be to use the blog as an excuse to Eat and Drink together. I like to refer to this as my Flux Capacitor moment, a nod to the instant Doctor Emmet Brown thought up the idea that eventually lead to a Delorean that could travel through time.

But it wasn’t until October 16th of that same year when my glorious pursuit of delicious Burgers took the form of a blog called Burger Conquest. On that date, a bunch of friend’s and I gathered together at Arthur’s Steakhouse in Hoboken, NJ to share a Burger meal. The Burger at Arthur’s was so darn tasty that I had to tell the world all about and on October 17, 2008, BurgerConquest.com went online.

Since then it’s been a wild, wild ride that’s taken me all over the world where I’ve eaten what feels like every imaginable Burger possible while meeting some of the greatest people on Earth. Burger Conquest has not just been a blog, it’s been a conduit to meeting other Burger fanatics. Through it I became a part of the Food Film Fest, attended many popular Burger events, hosted Burgercons, created off-menu Burgers, helped build businesses like That Burger & Grill ‘Em All, made several television appearances, raised money for charity, and even launched NY Burger Week; a week long celebration of Hamburgers in New York City. That’s pretty amazing to me, considering all I ever intended it be was a reason to eat Burgers with friends.

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BURGER CONQUEST – THE STATS

So what’s the point I am trying to make here? Good question.

I’m announcing my retirement from writing reviews on Burger Conquest.

Yes you read that correctly.

On June 27, 2009 I was attending the Brooklyn Burger n’ Beer Garden at the NYC Food Film Festival when I ate a Burger that blew me away. In fact, the quote I used was “If I could present to you exactly how I think a great burger patty would taste, it would be this burger.” That’s the Burger that caused me to meet Jamie Schweid, SVP of Burger Maker. In case you aren’t familiar, Burger Maker, Inc. is a privately held hamburger and ground beef processor located in Carlstadt, N.J., supplying the highest quality of product and customer service in the food service industry. Burger Maker offers a range of quality products including Certified Angus Beef, Angus Chuck, Prime and Ground Chuck patties and ground beef in vacuum bags. The company is run by Jamie, his brother Brad and their father David, 3 of the 4 generations of Schweids to be in the business.

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Whether it was enjoying their product, eating a Burger together, talking business or working with them as sponsors to both the Food Film Festival and NY Burger Week, I’ve developed a great relationship with Jamie, Burger Maker and their Meat. I even had the chance to tour the Burger Maker manufacturing facilities and watch their entire process from receiving to production to testing to shipping happen. I was able to witness first hand just how high of standards of quality, control, cleanliness and professionalism they maintain to run their business. I admire any person or company who does what they do because they love and believe in it. I’ve learned this is most certainly the case at Burger Maker.

That’s why when they offered me a position at the company in late 2013 as the director of marketing, I had to accept.

With almost 20 years background in marketing, branding and sales along with 5+ years of Burger appreciation logged on Burger Conquest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, the position is a perfect mix of things I’m incredibly passionate about. My role there will be to provide marketing support to our customers and help build the Burger Maker name as a producer of the highest quality Hamburger Meat.

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So while this may be the end of reviewing Burgers on the blog, at least for the time being, it’s certainly not the end of my glorious pursuit of delicious burgers. In fact, this is a gift. I am being given an opportunity to take my love of both marketing and Hamburgers and be a part of the industry that’s inspired some of the greatest moments and relationships in my life. Through that, I can help elevate the industry and the Food that I love to eat with others. Now I’ll have the greatest opportunity ever to appreciate eating Burgers with others. I’m honored to become a part of a great family business that has been built on a history of high-quality product and best in class customer service.

My only hope is that I can man the position with justice.

So here it is, time for what would be Burger review #666, which unto itself is a number that has its own implications. But there is some crazy fate happening here that I’d like to run through.

  • This blog was inspired by my late father and was conceived on his birth date.
  • The blog was born on October 16th, a date that often falls during the NYC Food Film Festival.
  • The blog is how I met George Motz and Seth Unger who later asked me to become a part of the Food Film Festival.
  • I met Jamie from Burger Maker through the Food Film Festival….on my Mom’s birthday.
  • I got offered the job at Burger Maker after I had reviewed 665 Burgers on the website.
  • Burger Maker is located at 666 16th Street in Carlstadt, NJ
  • January 6th, 1969, was my father’s first official day on the job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the company that he worked for until he retired in November of 1992.
  • I am posting my retirement of this blog on January 6th, 2014 with a final review that happened in November of 2013.

Coincidence? Karma? Destiny? Couldn’t say for certainly but I am sure it does mean my Dad will continue to be constant influence in my life.

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Thank you to every single person that has ever read, shared or influenced this blog in any way, shape or form. There are way, way, way too many to list and they’ve all been thanked many times in the course of this site already. A few special mentions do need to be made here though: I would like to thank my family for all the support and foundation they helped to give me. There is no possible way I could ever put into words the intensity and amount of appreciation I have for the support my wife Cara gives me. She is the most magical, hilarious, fun and heart-filled person I have ever met. I’m really glad she loves Burgers. I send massive amounts of gratitude and love to my family in The Food Film Festival. You are among my favorite people to eat with and without you, this opportunity would’ve never happened. To the Schweids and everyone else at Burger Maker, I could not be more excited to join you on this tasty, delicious glorious pursuit of delicious Burgers.

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TL;DR – This blog is changing direction because I am going to work for a company that makes Burgers.

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The Cattle Call – Stefanie Parks from 24 Dollar Burger

The Cattle Call – Stefanie Parks from 24 Dollar Burger

The Cattle Call – All the beef that’s behind the people who make & connect us to the Burgerverse.

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I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Not exactly what you would call a “foodie” town. I’ve always loved food and been very adventurous when it comes to trying new dishes, but it wasn’t until I moved to Chicago after college that my passion for food and restaurants really began to evolve. I started 24 Dollar Burger because my friends and family were always asking me where and what to eat. Currently, I’m traveling the world (my other passion in life) searching for some awesome adventures and the best food out there. So far, the parilla in Buenos Aires and pretty much all of the street food in SE Asia have taken the cake.

Name: Stefanie Parks

Website: www.24dollarburger.com 

Where do you live: Currently, in Bangkok, Thailand. I’m from Columbus, Ohio but before moving to Asia, I lived in New York and Chicago.

Favorite style of Burger: Big beef burgers with lots of delicious toppings, medium. And, I always love a good pretzel bun.

Favorite Childhood Burger: I remember eating a lot of 99 cent Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers from Wendy’s. I grew up in a kosher household (believe it or not) and I was always sneaking those babies (don’t tell my mom!).

Burger that haunts your dreams at night:I literally dream about the burgers from Kuma’s Corner in Chicago. No matter what combination you get from there, every one I’ve tried has pretty much been the best burger I’ve ever had. And their bun… to die for!

What is the one Burger you’ve always wanted to try but still have not:  The Luger Burger at Peter Luger Steak House.

The secret to making a great Burger: AI have never claimed to know any secrets about how to cook a great burger – just how to eat them!

Under no circumstances whatsoever, what should NEVER be put on a Burger: It’s hard to imagine anything that I would NEVER want to see on a burger, but the one and only thing I cannot stand is cilantro so I would definitely keep that away from any burger that I’m putting in my mouth. Other than that, I say sky’s the limit. Never say never.

If you could eat any Mythical Creature which would it be: Dragon sounds like it might be pretty good. Maybe also a Chimaera from Harry Potter. It’s a creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon. Lots of options (and yes, I looked this up).

Name one Burger in LA that for once, people should get off a plane and go eat instead of In-N-Out: Haven’t spend much time in LA so can’t speak to any great burgers there. In fact, the only time I’ve had In-n-Out was actually in Phoenix. It was awesome though.

Please use this space to talk about or plug anything else you want:
24 Dollar Burger is a community of people who love food and want to share their search for the best restaurants and best meals across the country and around the world. 24DB is always looking for new writers. Visit our website at www.24dollarburger.com for more information or just to learn about some really awesome restaurants.

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