Rattle N Hum – VIP In Every Way

Posted on 01/19/2011 by Rev

Rattle N Hum
http://rattlenhumbarnyc.com
14 E. 33rd St
New York, NY 10016

THE CONQUEST
The best thing about what I do is that somehow (I’m still unclear) I’ve figured out how to make a living from music, food and drink. It’s a pretty sweet combo that I am prepared to ride out to the fullest. All 3 things are a part of everything I do and no matter where I go or what I do, I am somehow immersed in one of them.

I am joined in this quest by my food-loving, beer-drinking, rock and roll rebel buddy, Buckshot, author of “Mosh Potatoes” The Rock and Roll Cook Book. He is the mastermind behind GiddyUp! Sauces, the Rock and Roll sauce company. I am assisting him in finding new clients to make sauces and condiments for but I am also helping him with the pre-sale ticketing for his new venture, the Metalliance Tour. It’s a brand new, in-your-face, raging heavy metal tour featuring Helmet, Crowbar, Saint Vitus and more. To give you some more insight on my day job, I helped to set up the pre-sale ticketing which go on sale today via this link: http://tixx1.artistarena.com/metalliancetour2011/

Metalliance VIP Packages are $50 and include:
– A General Admission Ticket
– Access to a Meet & Greet with Metalliance
– A Metalliance hot sauce bottle
– A Commemorative VIP Show Laminate
– An Autographed poster
– 1 Issue of Revolver Magazine

Exclusive Contest for VIP Buyers only!!!
Two winner will be drawn from all of the VIP Ticket buyers.

First Place:
* Have dinner with the bands
* Autograph copy of Mosh Potatoes Heavy Metal Cookbook
* One T-shirt of each band on the tour

Second Place:
* One Random winner will get a guitar lesson with Kirk from Crowbar
* Autograph copy of Mosh Potatoes heavy Metal Cookbook

Pretty cool stuff actually and a really fun part of my “job.”  For Buckshot it’s extra exciting as it’s the exclusive launch for his latest creation, the Metalliance Hot Sauce. So what the hell does this have to do with eating burgers? Buckshot and I needed to go over the final details of the presale as well as taste the sauce. We needed a spot near New York Penn Station that had good food, good beer and a place where we could meet and eat for a couple hours. Enter Rattle N Hum.

In the food and drink desolate wasteland that is midtown Manhattan, there is one island oasis that strives to pour good beer and serve artisan food. Thankfully they do it without lancing your wallet with a locational inflated pike and it’s name is Rattle N Hum. From the outside it looks like any other midtown Irish pub but once you walk in, the rotating 40 taps of beer, the vast library of waiting to be chilled bottled beers and well selected and approved craft brew paraphernalia lets you know that you aren’t in Kansas anymore Toto. Rattle N Hum not only pours what even a native New Yorker would call a “crazy beer selection” but they also have a very well focused and interesting food menu that includes IPA brined French Fries, Coleman’s Mustard Chicken Fingers and a smattering of pub food offerings like Shepard’s pie. Grab a seat at the bar or pull up to any table, most likely supported by a wooden barrel and prepared to be intrigued and quite possibly confused by a specially designed beer and food menu. This is a gastronomical beervana for those who really appreciate an enlightened and far from pretentious dining journey.

THE BURGER
With so many great choices on the menu, Buckshot and I, a few Rye beers in, decided to order a smattering of items just so we could split, divide and conquer. Any culinary nerd like ourselves sees “Hefeweizen Brined Turkey, Bacon and Swiss with Colmans Mustard sauce with herbs, mixed greens and tomato”on a menu and our only response is “YES.” What the menu doesn’t tell you is that it’s served on the tastiest of whole grain breads that are only lightly panini pressed, so as to leave the insides still soft. I couldn’t believe that a sandwich with dark greens and crispy bacon didn’t have a flavor victor. In fact, a place as intense as Rattle N Hum it was fantastic to bite into a sandwich where all the flavors, while subtle, jumped in to create an unreal balance of tastiness. While we were slamming intense beers, crazy hot sauces and savory burgers, it was SO good to have a mild balance of great sandwichness.

Really. I mean REALLY. How the heck could you go wrong with a burger where the meat is ground in house, fresh, daily? The answer to the question actually can’t be made if you’re talking about Rattle N Hum. Why? Because it’s done right, SO RIGHT. Served on a fantastic and sturdy onion roll, this fresh ground beef patty tastes the way a backyard BBQ burger should taste but made in a kitchen. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare that resulted in a slightly smoked tasting fresh piece of juicy ground beef coddled by some fresh dark greens. Clearly, as much thought as was put into the 40 tapped beers served was also expended on the creation of this burger.

What could possibly make it better? The signature Rattle N Hum IPA brined fries. wow Wow and double WOW. I honestly don’t know how they do it but the result is a potato cut fry that is full bodied in flavor and still extremely juicy. Straight quote from my mouth; “those might be the best god damn fries ive ever had!” *Editors note; they are the best fries I have ever had.

While we were enjoying a ton of great food and beverage, Buckshot whipped out with the sauces. We started with the signature “Buckshot BBQ” sauce. Holy sassafras! This varmint will burn ye britches but leave ya asking for another. It is STRAIGHT HEAT but unlike other “hot” sauces, this one is all about letting you taste the actual peppers. It’s the real deal when it comes to flavors and heat. Good luck fighting a battle you won’t be able to walk away from. As I exclaimed my feelings aloud all Buckshot could say was “taste the thunder!!!”

From there we moved onto tasting out THE Metalliance sauce. Intimidation was afloat. I mean, let’s not lie…this is a hot sauce created ONLY for the sake of one of the most exciting metal branded tour packages of the year. I preceded with caution, or so I thought, until I dipped an IPA brined fry into the sauce. HOT SMOKING DADDY OF ALL THAT IS SAVORY AND ANGRY!! The Metalliance Sauce tastes not unlike the hot sauce my local Asian bistro labels “dragon.” The smoky heat is balanced with a vinegary bite of Asian peppers. If you don’t love this sauce, you probably think mint toothpaste is too spicy. Proceed with caution and if that isn’t your deal, just wear padding before you face plant into the delicious heat.

People sometimes ask me why I choose to live in NYC and instead of telling them, I would rather just say “go to Rattle N Hum.”


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!!

This wasn’t my first time at the rodeo. In fact, I had actually been at Rattle N Hum only 12 hours prior to meet some friends for a beer. I admittedly got a little noshy and knew there was only one way to go, Bite-sized Stout Burgers.

These little numbers, served in multiples, the smallest selection of which is 3 are made with real stout beer. I couldn’t wait. Unfortunately the rather large bun, for such a small burger turned the sandwich a little dry. However, the burger had a really unique flavor was  clearly coming from the from the stout. AMEN to the use of rosemary and garlic to give these burgers a real flavor profile. I felt like it gave them a note of a meatloaf like taste. To be sure, I ate the other 2 sans bun.

These burgers are actually the reason why I suggested Buckshot and I meet there. I had to try more!

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
326 Burgers

Jan. 17, 2011 – 12:44 PM

Posted in Bar, Beer, Best Burger in New York, Burgers, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Brain Giorno – The Zombie Tour Guide To Italy

Posted on 01/18/2011 by Rev

A Walking Dead Tour of Italy

Zombies are all the rage. Whether it’s the popularity of movies like “Shaun of the Dead,” or “Zombieland,” the new AMC TV show “The Walking Dead,” or books like “World War Z,” & “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” it really does seem that MFZAR (Mother F@#kin’ Zombies Are Real) and people could not be more excited about them.

Hi. My name is Argento and I’m a Zombi, that’s how they it spell in Italy where my ancestors originated from. One day while I was working in the circus as a clown, I was infected with the zombie virus, sometimes known as Solanum. I’ve been undead ever since and I have made it my personal mission to let the world know that all zombies are not bad. While yes, most of the undead have an blinding rage that can only be satisfied by eating brains, we’re not all bad. The refined and education zombie, like myself, knows that the combination of great food and wine along with keeping one’s mind active, can put those urges at bay.

 

 Through discipline and knowledge, us zombies can walk among the living without posing any harm. For a zombie attending to live like this, there are few places on Earth where a zombie can be surrounded by these items and live a “normal” life. One such bountiful land is Italy. There are few places as rich in history, art, culture, fashion, people, cuisine and wine, as Italy that makes it perfect for zombie survival.

With that, I give you the Zombie Survival Guide – A Compendium For Zombies Trying to Live In The Real World. Yes, I am aware that there is already a “Zombie Survival Guide” written to help the living in case of a zombie virus outbreak. But I am trying to take the phrase back and turn it for the positive. If you are a zombie or know a zombie, the below is a fantastic guide to sight seeing in Italy and finding ways to adapt to your new, lack of life.

ROME, ITALY

Pizzeria Da Baffetto
http://www.pizzeriabaffetto.it/
114, Via del governo vecchio 00186 – Rome

There’s a reason that Da Baffetto is widely regarded as the best pizzeria in Rome.

What to order: House Chianti, Prosciutto e mozzarella di bufala appertivo, pizza with your choice of toppings.




Trevi Fountain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain

As one of the most recognizable fountains in the world it is also the oldest Baroque fountain in Rome. It was built to mark the terminal point of 3 ancient aqueducts. Be sure to see it during the day and at night, when the fountain comes under the night sky.

Piazza Navona
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Navona

This public square is centered around Bernini’s amazing sculpture Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. It’s a busy area and can get a little touristy but it’s more than worth sitting down at a
n outdoor cafe for a drink.

San Crispino
http://www.ilgelatodisancrispino.it/

While the Italians still haven’t been able to successfully create a brain flavored gelato, it’s practically a tradition to get a cup or gone of gelato after dinner. With several locations around the city, San Crispino is celebrated as the best of the best.

What to order: go with your gut but I always suggest two kinds in the same cup or cone. I like tiramisu, chococlate and of course, Brain-nana.

The Vatican City & Museum
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

Located in the Vatican City, with a population of less than 900, it’s not only the home to the Pope but also Christianity and some of the most amazing works of art in the world. A trip to the museum is a must and DO NOT arrive without a tour reservation. The line to get in can get up to 3 hours long and without a guide, you’ll have no idea what you are looking at as you walk around. A booked guided tour will allow you to skip the lines. Use http://www.myvaticantour.com/ and ask for Dara to be your guide. Eat before you arrive as it’s a long tour and the Vatican cafe is expensive.

Question: What is a zombie’s favorite candy to eat at the Vatican?
Answer: Kinder Braino






Trattoria Da Tonino
Via del Governo Vecchio, 1800186 Rome, Italy

No trip to Italy is complete with eating at a traditional trattoria. This neighborhood “secret” is hard to find as there is only a tiny little sign on the window with the restaurant’s name. As you walk down the Via del Governo Vecchio, which is slightly wider than an alley, you’ll see a line of people standing outside of what looks like someone’s house. Once you’re inside, it will still feel like you’re in someone’s house.

What to order: The 2 house pastas, all’Amatriciana & alla carbonara, or al melanzane (with eggplant), ravioli; straccetti con rughetta; arrosto di vitello; involtini; and of course, my favorite, polpette.

The Spanish Steps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps

The 138 steps connecting the Piazza di Spagna at the base and the Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top, are known as The Spanish Steps. Nowadays, its most famous for the hordes of people loitering about.

What to do: Grab a bottle of wine or stop in for cafe at the historical Antico Caffe Greco and sit on the steps for a chat with friends. You can also play a game of Where’s Argento!

Trattoria Da Lucia
Vicolo del Mattonato, 2b00153 Rome, Italy

Although Da Lucia is mentioned in nearly every tour book and is often quite busy, there is a reason. The quality of food is maintained by keeping a simple menu focused on a few key dishes.

What to order: the cheese and honey and or the roasted artichoke appertivos and the star of the show, Spaghetti alla gricia, spaghetti with pecorino cheese, cracked peper and fatty pancetta.

The Roman Forum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Forum

Nearly 2000 years old, the “Forum Magnum” is perhaps one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, along with it’s neigh
bor, the Roman Colosseum.

What to do: Buy a Roma Pass before you arrive as it allows entrance to both locations. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting in a long, long line. If you can’t get a hold of the Roma Pass, see the Forum first as the lines are shorter than for the Colosseum.

Take a walk through what used to be Augustus’ house and imagine you are in the ancient version of MTV’s “Cribs.” “Yo Man. I’m Julius C and dis here is my man palace. After a long day watching slaves defend themselves against wild animals in the Colosseum, I like to chill with my homies at the Temple of Castor and Pollux before we head off for the night’s Bacchus.”


The Colosseum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum

An amazing work of art and architecture, the Roman Colosseum is the largest amphitheater built in the Roman Empire. It was completed in 80 AD and had the capacity to seat 50,000 spectators.

What to do: Give yourself up to 2 hours to stroll around and imagine the sinister and gruesome battles that used to happen here. Most people will tell you to go in the early morn but once you’ve seen the sun set around ancient Rome, you’ll thank me for the idea.


Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè
http://www.santeustachioilcaffe.it/
Piazza Sant’Eustachio 8200186, Rome, Italy

Although you can get coffee from this famous cafe all over the world, there is nothing that can compare to stopping by and have a cafe at the counter.

What to order: if it’s after lunch, get a cafe (an espresso), Italians don’t drink cappuccino past midday. Try a double cafe, the rush you get from the intensely roasted coffee is similar to the rush a zombie gets when he wants brains.

Obika
http://www.obika.it
Via dei Prefetti, 2600186 Rome, Italy

If me telling you that Obika is a mozzarella bar doesn’t already have your mouth watering, know they serve THE BEST mozzarella cheese in the world. This foodie gem worth it’s weight in gold serves an interesting mix of appertivos and wine along side of their delicious cheese.

This cheese will make you forget you ever craved a brain.

Antica Enoteca
http://www.anticaenoteca.com/
Via della Croce, 7600187 Rome, Italy

Antica is the most charming and welcoming wine bar in all of Rome. You can taste from their large list of wines or beers while snacking on a wide array of freshly prepared vegetables, meats and cheeses in the form of appertivos. It’s been around since 1842 and has been a favorite of local artists since.

What to order: try it all! Why the hell not? There’s not a bad offering on the menu.

FYI – zombies prefer darker, spicier reds especially when paired with a fresh slice of Serrano ham.

Il Brillo Parlante
http://www.ilbrilloparlante.com/
Via della Fontanella, 1200187 Roma, Italia

Don’t be fooled by the tiny bar at the entrance of Il Brillo. Walk past it and head down into the stairs to find the gigantic restaurant underneath. Their delicious pizzas and pastas are great for a late night eats and your liable to bump into some of Rome’s more famous actors and actresses of stage and screen.

What to order: ANY of Il Brillo’s handmade pastas and be sure to wash it down with LOTS of wine.

Piazza del Popolo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Popolo

Only a short 2 blocks from Il Brillo Parlante, this “People’s Square” was the original gateway to Rome from the North. Rome’s public executions used to happen here and now the closet you’ll get to that is kicking one of the hundreds of pigeons gathered around the Egyptian obelisk in the center.

FLORENCE, ITALY

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore also known as The Duomo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral

Originally built in the 14th century, this amazing piece of architecture sits directly in the city center and serves one of the most important sites in Florence. The entire project took nearly 170 years to complete. As compared to other Italian cathedrals, the Duomo has less decorations but the ones that haven’t been moved to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo are stunning to behold. Visitors can climb the 463 stairs to the top of the dome if they feel up to it.

Sasso Di Dante

A large white circle behind the Duomo marks the spot where the original copper ball from atop the dome fell and struck the ground after being hit with lightning in 1600. The ball that was made to replace was worked on by none other than Leonardo Dai Vinci. Directly across from the white circle is the Sasso Di Dante, a small stoop where story has it, Dante sat, staring at the Duomo contemplating his book “Dante’s Inferno.” Why no mention of zombies or the undead in his book? Our zombie ancestors were too busy eating bistecca fiorentina and drinking super Tuscans to be included.

Piazza della Signoria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria

This square is one of the most significant public areas in all of Italy. It claims home to the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Firenze as well as many famous sculpture’s such as a replica of Michaelangelo’s “The David,” Fountain of Neptune. It is also the gateway to the Uffizi Gallery.

Be sure to pose with The David, especially if your name is David. That’s so meta.

Ponte Vecchio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio

“Ponte Vecchio,” which loosely translates into “old bridge,” is a Medieval Bridge that connects the two sides of Florence across the Arno river. It was originally built during Roman and stood until it was destroyed by floods in 1117. It had to be rebuilt twice and still stands today as a beautiful center point for sightseeing as well as jewelry shopping.

Piazzale Michelangelo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazzale_Michelangelo

Without a doubt the most stunning view of Florence available. Cross the Ponte Vecchio and walk up the hill at sunset to get the most amazing view. Standing in the middle of it is another replica of “The David.” Walk along the Via dei Bardi after crossing the bridge. Just after you turn onto the street, on the south side there is a tiny little shop called Paino Del Chianti that carries a small selection of wines and a large selection of cured Italian meats. Stop in, grab a bottle of wine and some porchetta to eat once you’re sat a top the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Porchetta, according to Wikipedia, is “The body of the pig is gutted, deboned, arranged carefully with layers of stuffing, meat, fat, and skin, then rolled, spitted, and roasted, traditionally over wood. Porchetta is usually heavily salted in addition to being stuffed with garlic, rosemary, fennel, or other herbs, often wild.” It’s a whirlwind of tastes that will easily cause you to ever forget you craved brains.


Ristorante del Fagiloi
http://steakclub7.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/ristorante-del-fagiloi-solo-mission/
Corso Tintori, 47/r, 50122 Firenze, Italy

When that craving for brains comes a creeping, head right over to Ristorante del Fagioli for the best damn steak the town has to offer. Florentine cuisine isn’t all that complicated which makes perfecting all that more important and that is exactly what you’ll get at this amazing restaurant.

Without asking you will be served the most succulent tasting medium rare steak you’ll ever eat. Be in the know, use the spoon, not a fork to serve yourself. Don’t be taken in by the way steak is serves in the US; beef has fat. It’s what makes the steak taste great. Accept that and then dig into one of the most delicious and perfectly cooked steaks you’ll ever have. Do NOT and I mean don’t, skip out on the white beans. They will be the best god damn beans you ever eat in your life…especially if you let them go for a swim in the steak juices.

Click the link above for a full review.

Osteria del Porcellino
http://www.osteriadelporcellino.it
Via Val di Lamona 7/r, 50123 Firenze

How do you sit down in a restaurant named “Tavern of the Wild Boar” and not order the it from the menu? Well, you don’t but while you are enjoying the wild boar over pasta, BE SURE to get an order of their brie fried in bread crumbs made in part with ground sesame seeds and truffle oil. For one small moment in time, you’ll forget that you ever wanted a brain. The Osteria del Porcellino is only a few blocks away from the Piazza della Signoria and you’ll know you’ve found it when you find the massive statue of a wild boar in the square next to the alley where the tavern is located.

Le Volpi E L’uva
http://www.levolpieluva.com
Piazza de’ Rossi 1, 50125 Firenze, Italy

If you’re a loud, obnoxious, American tourist with a matching shirts, trucker hat or a fanny pack, please move along. This locals only, boutique wine bar is well hidden down an alley and only has a few tables, most of which will probably be booked up when you arrive. The small menu is meant to be paired up with their ever changing wine list.

Feeling a little intimidated, then you’re probably the fox from the story.

Il Latini
http://steakclub7.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/il-latini/
via dei Palchetti 6/r (Palazzo Rucellai) Firenze, Italy 50123

One of Florence’s best food gems is Il Latini. There is nothing that keeps the brain crave at bar like a perfectly cooked medium-rare sirloin coupled with braised pork and all you can drink Toscano Russo. Be sure to make a reservation or you’ll liable to bite into someone’s neck on a long wait out in the alley. Ask for a seat ion Julio’s section and while he helps to choose your meal and if he doesn’t suggest the ribolitta, be sure to ask for it. Little known secret, Black Sambucca is NOT popular in Italy but at Il Latini, you’ll catch a beaming smile if you ask for it.

Click the link above for a full review.

TUSCANY, ITALY

Italy is a big country, rich in history and culture. There’s a lot to see, a lot to do and a lot to eat! Picking your destinations is no easy feat. If you’re going to Florence (and why wouldn’t you?) make sure you take the Best of Tuscany tours with Walkabout Florence.
http://www.walkaboutpass.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_name=bestoftuscanytour_homepage

This tour is the best decision you could make for your trip. Walkabout Florence will take you to the historic town of Siena, followed by lunch on an organic wine farm, then to the gothic town of San Gimignano and of course, Piza (inc the leaning tower). Ask for Claudia as your tour guide and Fabio as your diver. Tell em “the Chan-choes” sent you.

SIENA, ITALY

Siena, declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site, is one of the most famous cities in all of the world. Once it served as the gateway city on the highway from Rome to the rest of Europe and today still sits on top of a hill, completely surrounded by a massive brick wall.

Siena played a major part in establishing the banking business we still use today. The Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena Banca Del 1472 proudly bears it’s founding year in the full title of the bank. It is the oldest surviving bank in the world.

Palio Di Siena
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena

The town is also famous for the twice a year horse race known as the Palio. 10 horses, each with a rider, race around the center of town in front of the Piazza del Campo, representing different contrade (districts) of the city. While the race only lasts a few minutes, the pageant and celebration of the Palio lasts for days. If you’ve seen the James Bond film “Quantum of Solace,” the Palio is featured in the opening scene.

Piazza del Campo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Campo

The Piazza del Campo is the city center and main public square in Siena. Covered in red brick, 11 streets meet in the square drawing all city into it’s medieval design and history. Avoid the chain pizza joint next to the Palazzo Pubblico but do venture back into the city and get a slice from a small vendor, get it how you like, but I suggest a slice with just sauce.

Siena Duomo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena_Cathedral

Italy is known for it’s beautiful cathedrals and Siena’s is perhaps one of the most colorful, ornate and unique duomos in the country. It was built in the early half of the 13th century. While your natural instinct will be to look up, be sure to look down at the amazing mosiac’s preserved in the cathedral floor. Take a walk into the Piccolomini Library, but don’t dilly dally, no one is allowed to be in it more than 2 minutes. The painted fresco’s are perhaps the most beautifully preserved ones of their kind.


Fattoria Poggio Alloro
http://www.fattoriapoggioalloro.com

The 2nd stop on the Best of Tuscany tour is to the Fattoria Poggio Alloro farm. While here you’ll enjoy a completely organic meal, all parts of which (except the cheese) are made on the farm itself. The farm hosts will also walk you through a tasting of their AMAZING Tuscan wines and what I guarantee will be the thickest and freshest extra virgin olive oil you’ll ever taste.

Olive oil is really good for a zombie’s skin and helps to ward of rotting. Dip heartily and if you feel so inclined, pour it all over your body.


SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY

This medieval town is only a few minutes drive from the farm, where you can actually see it’s walls from. The city is most famous for it’s tower houses that were built by the affluent inhabitants of the city as a display of wealthy and power. Take a moment to explore the town and climb up to the top to see a beautiful view of the surrounding farmland. San Gimignano is also widely known for the production of the white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

PISA, ITALY

The Leaning Tower of Pisa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa

The Best of Tuscany tour arrives into the historical town of Pisa just before dusk and if you time it just right, you can climb up to the top to witness one of the most amazing sunsets of your life, over looking the Piazza del Duomo. Be careful climbing up, the stairway is narrow and when you round the side that is leaning, it’s not so easy to maintain balance.

Go ahead, take the picture of you pretending to hold up the tower, EVERYONE does. I did.

Harry’s Bar Firenze
http://www.harrysbarfirenze.it
Lungarno A. Vespucci 22/r, Firenze, Italy

The Best of Tuscany tour will get you back into the city well in time for a great meal on the town. One of the best choices you could make is a meal at Harry’s Bar Firenze. Ask for a table is Georgio’s section and prepare for a truly delicious and fun Tuscan experience.

Click here for a full review of the restaurant on A Hamburger Today.

VENICE

Venice is the capitol of Veneto, a region in Northern Italy and stretches across 117 islands along the Adriatic Sea. It’s picturesque “streets” are actually canals and waterways connecting all of the islands. While it’s certainly a unique place to visit, it’s historical significance can be traced back to the Renaissance Period and the cities musical, artistic and cultural influences. Once you get into town, you’ll need to take a boat around to your destination. The schedule and routes can be a little confusing so just politely ask someone at the docks for help. Please give seats up to elderly folks and children because zombies are undead and have no need to be comfortably seated.

Cavatappi Calle Larga San Marco, 525, 30124 Venice, Italy

Venetians don’t often sit down for long meals and are more likely to eat a serious of smaller dishes across the day. It’s a great city for people who like snacking, appertivos, sandwiches and finger foods. One such great place for gourmet bites and a list of great wine by the glass is Cavatappi. The food is so good that you may find yourself ordering more to eat before moving on about your day.

Licorice Sweets are available all throughout the narrow and winding pathways of Venice and one worth checking out is licorice. Venetian licorice comes in a number of flavors and is much longer and thicker than we are used to in the states. They also stuff it full of sugary marzipan. Go with the sour apple, it’s my fave.

Zombie side note, Venetian licorice has a similar chewy quality not unlike that of a brain stem.

CLONY

I have no idea what this is but I had high hopes that perhaps I
had found more zombie clowns like myself.

Algiubagio
http://steakclub7.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/algiubagio-solo-mission/
Fondamenta Nuove, 5039, 30125 Venice, Italy

Located along the water in the North of the Cannaregio neighborhood, Algiubagio is a must eat in Venice. It’s fantastic food and amazing wines are only matched by their outstanding customer service. Fit for foodies, families and lovers with adventurous palettes, this off the beaten path is a candle lit gem. Click here to read a full review.

Doge’s Palace
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doge%27s_Palace

One of 3 very famous buildings located in St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace is a gothic building where the Dukes used to live. It is now a museum housing not only historical works of art but also weapons and other military used items. The palace at one point was also used a prison and you can still walk through the cells that once held Casanova.

Be warned, in the autumn and through to the spring, Venice and in particular, St. Mark’s Square experiences Acqua Alta. Meaning literally, high water, it’s when the high tide comes in and floods the streets of Venice. Zombies hate water but thankfully rubber wellies and single use high tide boots are available for purchase. If you’re too fashion forward to don a set of rubber boots, the local officials lay out a series of raised planks that allows walking access above the water levels.

St. Mark’s Basilica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark%27s_Basilica

The Basilica is the most famous of the city’s churches and is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. No photos are allowed inside the church but you’ll want to make sure you have yours when you climb to the top and overlook the picturesque San Marco Square. The Greek Horses adorning the patio are replicas of the Horses Of Saint Mark, originally stolen from Constantinople is the 4th Crusade, are now located inside the Basilica’s museum.

St. Mark’s Campanile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mark%27s_Campanile
This massive tower is opposite the Basilica in St. Mark’s Square. It’s one of the most recognized landmarks in Venice and stands 323 feet tall. Hang around long enough and you’ll hear the 5 bells going off at different parts of the day.

Gondolas
Go ahead and do it. You came this far and regardless of how cheesy you may think a gondola ride might be, it isn’t. In fact, it’s an amazing way to see and experience the city. It’s without a doubt expensive but if you hire one in a less trafficked part of the city, you can get a ride for a cheaper price. I.E. getting a gondola in St. Mark’s Square is about the most expensive way to get one. Most of them will take you along the same route regardless and the big win is traveling under the Rialto Bridge. It’s extremely romantic and contradictory to popular belief, zombies need love too.



Osteria Ca’ d’Oro Venice
Cannaregio, 3912, Venice 30121, Venice, Italy

If there is one thing you need to know about this place, it’s get a reservation. Otherwise, you’ll be fighting for counter space where you can stand sipping wine and choosing bites from the various appertivos available. The second thing you need to know about Osteria Ca’ d’Oro is polpette, or in English, “meatball.” The breaded and deep fried meatballs are worth the trip alone. The strange hours, pushy patrons, the small space and a wait staff who seemed more interested in everything else rather than serving people are almost a complete turn off, but trust me when I tell you it’s worth it just to get one of their polpette.

Shopping
Italians love to shop and when in Rome…or Florence or Venice or anywhere else, there are a lot is a great deal of shopping one can do. In particular, wines, spices, olive oil, artwork, clothing, jewelry and when in Venice, blown glass and masks for the Carnival of Venice.

The Simpsons
Everyone in Italy LOVES “The Simpsons” and because someone was smart enough to copyright the Duff Beer trademark in parts of Europe before the owners of the brand could, you can now find it everywhere.

While this is all meant to help zombies to keep from attacking, the Italian edition of my Zombie Survival Guide – A Compendium For Zombies Trying to Live In The Real World, is good for the living as well as the undead. Eat well, drink well, live (undead) well.

Salud!

Argento

Nov. 11-20th, 2010

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DBGB Kitchen & Bar – Double Burger Sausage Party

Posted on 01/17/2011 by Rev

DBGB Kitchen & Bar
http://www.danielnyc.com/dbgb.html
299 Bowery
New York, NY 10003

Dec. 27, 2010 – 10:01 PM

THE CONQUEST
So what does a media mogul such as myself do after staging a successful burger oriented public event like the 2nd Ever Polar Brrrger Club at the Shake Shack? You go have a coolie with your buddy to celebrate. That’s exactly what my friend Paul and I did after eating burgers in The Great Blizzard of 2010. But after pouring a couple cold ones down our throats at Idle Hands bar, we started to get hungry again.

Paul, clearly not being sane of mind, suggested we get another burger. A double Burger Conquest? It does happen and when it does, it’s beyond my control, it’s just meant to be. Our first instinct was a return to Josh Capon’s top 7 Burger Conquest rated Burger and Barrel, but the Snowmageddon had kept their doors closed. We moved onto plan b, or in this case, plan DBGB.

The DBGB Kitchen & Bar is Chef Daniel Boulud’s French brasserie gone sausage filled modern tavern. The restaurant lies just above Houston St off of the Bowery. It’s an area that only less than 10 years ago was still shady, slightly dangerous and filled with squatter punks. It’s now covered in fancy high rise apartment buildings, designer clothiers, massive corporate banks and expensive hipster hotels. In fact, the only remaining element of that era is the dingy dive, Mars Bar (the only bar in NYC that has refused service to this city dweller.) But cry as you may about the ever changing city grid, it’s places like DBGB Kitchen & Bar that makes large scale city growth feel good.

DBGB is an extremely large restaurant, split into two sections, that is so well staffed, it will fee like the action is coming at you from every angle. The decor is best described as a cross between Julia Child’s wet kitchen dream and a mad scientists’ laboratory. Be sure to put on a seat belt before diving into one of the most unique beer lists in NYC. They have all the oddest beers and at very expensive prices but guaranteed you’ll be trying a great beer that you’ve never had before. It’s all balanced out by an impeccable wait service and a primarily French based menu save for an ENTIRE page of sausages with side pairings. The entire experience can be a little overwhelming but no doubt your wait person, much like ours, will almost know what you were gonna order before you do.

THE BURGER
So yes, there is an interesting list of burgers available at DBGB Kitchen & Bar but we’ll get there. We need to talk about these sausages. There is one whole page of the menu dedicated to the 14 different selections. If the beer menu wasn’t a big enough challenge for you, look at choosing sausages being 3 alligator heads to one scorpion jump in a game of Activision’s classic video game, Pitfall. Paul and I were able to narrow it down to 4.

CHIPOLATA – pork sausage link, pommes mousseline, black truffle
THAI – pork, lemongrass and red curry links, green papaya, basil fried rice, chili sauce, quail egg
VERMONT – pork & cheddar link, hash browns, red onion crème frache
TOULO– USE -pork, duck gizzard & garlic link, cassoulet beans

Each one was delicious, amazing and unique in it’s own right. To pick a favorite would honestly be leading you down the wrong path. ALL of them are fantastic, succulent and worth trying. Just pick out the selection(s) that tickle your palette fancies. While you are devouring them, do NOT pass over the pairings which are just as good as the sausage selections.

Damn. I just got a sausages crave writing about them! After our “sausage party,” (go ahead, make the jokes) we moved onto the main event, we split a selection from the burger menu. THE PIGGIE –  beef patty topped with Daisy May’s bbq pulled pork jalapeno mayonnaise & boston lettuce on a cheddar bun with mustard-vinegar slaw with fries. This burger was cooked to a Webster Dictionary defining medium rare and could best be described with one word, repeated 3 times; juicy, Juicy, JUICY! Unfortunately the bun toppled under the weight of this gastronomical challenge. The dominant flavor here is the crispy and well seasoned pulled pork, so if you are craving a straight up burger, choose a different one. If you want something special and different, proceed without caution! Either way, expect a mouth maze made out of taste.

I’m not much for sweets and other than a cookie, I would normally ward someone back towered the saltiness of an extra side or app, but, at DBGBs, I highly suggest saving room for the maple pecan ice cream sandwich! It’s a brownie slice, with pecan pie filling, maple ice cream and topped in a brandy sauce. In fact, filing under the category of “ice cream sandwich” hardly does justice to this amazing after dinner treat.

You could probably get everything at DBGB Kitchen & Bar cheaper elsewhere, but you won’t be getting it with this kind of restaurant experience.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
317 Burgers

I enjoyed it so much that on the way out, I made a reservation to return 2 weeks later to eat more sausages and another burger!

Jan 8, 2011 – 9:21 PM

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
321 Burgers

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Bates Hamburgers – Michigan Makes New Jersey Jealous

Posted on 01/14/2011 by Rev

Bates Hamburgers
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bates-hamburgers-of-livonia-livonia
33406 5 Mile Rd
Livonia, MI 48154

Dec 24, 2010 – 2:35 PM

Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5463

THE CONQUEST
My Mom and I LOVE hamburgers especially sliders. When I was growing we used to go get them on special occasions like birthday’s, mother’s day or when my step-father would go out of town. It was a treat I always looked forward to. Thankfully there was a lot of great places to get burgers and sliders in the Detroit area; Miller’s, Dave’s burgers of Novi, Bray’s, Halo Burger, Loose Meat sandwiches at your choice of Coney Island diners and even White Castle. While most people associate sliders with NJ, us Michiganders have some right to the claim. Google Search it. You will see, grabbin a sack of belly busters, is a Michigan thing.

On Christmas eve, while visiting my hometown, my Mom and I started to reminisce about all the delicious burgers we used to eat. I probably don’t have to tell you what that lead to but I will anyway! A quick phone call to Bates Hamburgers of Livonia, MI let us know that we had 30 minutes to get over there before they closed up shop to enjoy the Christmas holiday. We were dressed and in the car in a matter of moments.

Bates Hamburgers originally opened at the corner of 5 Mile and Farmington Road,where they have been serving up some of the best and most original sliders in all the land. There are a few seats, mostly around the counter.  You can sit and enjoy burgers at this glorified burger stand where the breakfast menu is twice as long as the lunch the menu. Bates’ offers up eggs, toast, biscuits and gravy, cereal, hash browns and a variety of breakfast meats along with hamburgers, french fries and coney dogs. All the burgers are made from fresh 80/20 meat and are hand packed before they are grilled with A TON of onions on a flattop griddle. In fact, if you don’t go home smelling like onions after eating this historical burger, you did it wrong. Do as the locals and order them by the sack, a large brown bag filled with 6 burgers. Be sure you walk in with real green backs because Bates does not take credit cards.

On the way to Bates we passed McDonald’s, Burger King, Red Robin, Big Boy and non-burger chains restaurants. All of which are a reminder of the significance of a restaurant like Bates. It’s important to preserve the history of fresh made hamburgers and local business. As we passed each one, my excitement grew more and more intense. Realizing we would only have a few minutes to enjoy the sliders before they closed, we called in an order for one sack of cheese burgers and an order of fries. We walked in, sat down at the counter and within moments, we were sipping on “pops” while chomping on sliders.

THE BURGER
Now, before I offer up my review of Bates, let’s discuss the topic of sliders for a moment. A slider is a form of burger made from a thin patty that is flat griddle along with onions, whose steam helps to cook the burger. It’s served on a squishy white bun with or without cheese and pickles. Why do I tell you this?? Because nothing and I mean NOTHING gets my burger-goat when people improperly label a mini burger as a slider. A mini burger is just that, a smaller version of a burger. Listen to me now and listen to me good…

A MINI BURGER IS NOT A SLIDER.

Need further proof? Ask the experts at A Hamburger Today.

Not only does Bates Hamburger make a PROPER slider, but they do it well! When you bite into on, you’re not really tasting the beef but moreover, the steam, the cheese, the salt and pepper seasoning, the squishy bun and of course, the best part, the sweet and savory onions. I’m getting one serious crave just thinking about them. Served up hot and fresh with a side of crispy golden delicious crinkle-cut fries, there’s nothing like a tasty trip to bates.

When we got in the car to go back home for Christmas Eve dinner, my Mom said “we really smell like onions.” “That means we did it right Mom, we did it right!”

Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5469
8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5457Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5458Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5459Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5460Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5467Bates-Hamburgers-Livonia-Burger-Conquest-Rev-Ciancio-IMG_5462

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
315 Burgers

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Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck” victors, The Grill ‘Em All Truck launch their “Victory Lap” show.

Posted on 01/13/2011 by Rev

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck” victors, The Grill ‘Em All Truck launch their “Victory Lap” show.

January 13, 2011

Los Angeles, CA – The Grill ‘Em All Truck debut a video documentary in a series of 4 reality style-TV episodes called the “Victory Lap” today at 12 pm PST.  To celebrate their 2010 victory on the first season of the Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race,” the guys from the Los Angeles based Grill ‘Em All Truck made a triumphant return to NYC to serve their burgers. Subsequent episodes will be released the following 3 Thursday’s at 12 pm PST.

The “Victory Lap,” produced by Grill ‘Em All business manager, Reverend David Ciancio from BurgerConquest.com, hosted 8 kitchen takes overs in 4 days, serving 2000 burgers to their hungry fans. No two services were the same as they were in different restaurants and with a constantly changing and limited menu. While the unique events were extremely complicated and difficult to plan, the guys proved they do what they do best, without the truck that gave them notoriety, THE BEAST! The entire exciting and harrowing event was filmed and will now be released as the Grill ‘Em All “Victory Lap.”

Grill ‘Em All “Victory Lap” TV Debut Schedule

Episode 1
Thursday, January 13 at 12 pm PST
Debut on www.metalinsider.net, a leading metal news, analysis and gossip site as well as www.moshpotatoescookbook.com, “Mosh Potatoes – Recipes, Anecdotes & Mayhem From The Heavyweights of Heavy Metal.”

Episode 2
Thursday, January 20 at 12 pm PST
Debut on www.metalsucks.net, a News, Metal and Comedy based website that on a mission to encourage intelligent discussion in and to debunk stereotypes about the music we all love so much.

Episode 3
Thursday, January 27 at 12 pm PST
Debut on www.burgerconquest.com, one mans Glorious Pursuit Of Delicious Burgers.

Episode 4
Thursday, February 3rd at 12 pm EST
Debut on www.gawker.tv, for those with an unhealthy obsession with video, your work can wait.

After each debut, issues can be re-seen and shared on the Grill ‘Em All Truck Youtube.com channel
http://youtube.com/grillemalltv

More information on the NYC “Victory Lap” event and behind the scenes look is available at the following link.
https://burgerconquest.com/grill-em-all-nyc-victory-lap-sells-out

The Grill ‘Em All “Victory Lap” trailer is available at the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIi6elNoMO8

About The Grill ‘Em All Truck
The Grill ‘Em All Truck is owned and operated by Chef Ryan Harkins and Matt Chernus opened on the streets of LA in December 2009. A year later their gourmet burgers such ass the “Molly Hatchet” (burger topped with seared fennel sausages gravy, apple wood smoked bacon and maple drizzle) have gotten much press, including their participation on the Travel Channel’s “Food Wars.” Their biggest look, being crowned the victors of the Food Network’s reality TV competition, “The Great Food Truck Race.”

Chef Ryan and Matt are available for interviews over the phone and in person. Please contact therev@burgerconquest.com to schedule and for all inquiries.
http://grillemalltruck.com
http://twitter.com/GrillEmAllTruck

Put In Mouth PR can be reached for any promotional materials, information or media opportunities.
therev@putinmouth.com
http://putinmouth.com
http://twitter.com/PutInMouth
http://putinmouth.tumbr.com

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Barspyder.com & Burgerconquest.com attempt to break a world record thwarted by a blizzard

Posted on 01/12/2011 by Rev

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Barspyder.com & Burgerconquest.com attempt to break a world record thwarted by a blizzard.

New York, NY – January 12, 2011

Barspyder’s (www.barspyder.com) GM and reality television personality “Crazy” James Zinkand attempted to break a world record for most bars visited by a single man in 24 hours. The pub crawl was called off at 11:00 PM EST, 6 hours and 26 bars into the attempt. After passing the midway point to break the record, the direction of BarSpyder called off the world record attempt due to hazardous walking conditions caused by gail force winds and snow fall of 2-3 inches per hour.

“Crazy” James, The Rev From Burger Conquest (www.burgerconquest.com), and Newcomer “Captain Cook” were averaging just under 5 bars per hour in their attempt to surpass the world record of 50 bars visited by one man in 24 hours. The decision to suspend the attempt came as a disheartening blow to all participants, but their guides, namely BarSpyder employees put safety first. The group will reattempt a record break  with a new group of challengers.

The next  attempt, Date TBA, will commence at 9pm at International Bar and break the current record at 830pm the following day at Idle Hands bar. All challengers are welcome to participate by applying for the challenge at BarSpyder.com, where pictures and videos from the suspended event can be viewed.

Some pictures from the event can be seen on the Burger Conquest Facebook page.

View The World Record Bar Crawl in a full screen map

About BarSpyder
BarSpyder is a private club of bar lovers and pub crawlers who try new bars around NYC with members-only, 2-4-1 drink offers at all of participating venues. BarSpyder aims to give bar goers an accurate theme-appropriate suggestion of carefully vetted bars, which members can explore one at a time or in an organized crawl.  The product was created by New York based software startup klobe.inc and is managed by former Reality Television personality, James M. Zinkand.

###

For more information on BarSpyder contact:
Alexander Bartosch
201-793-7379
press@barspyder.com

For more information on burgerconquest.com contact:
therev@putinmouth.com
http://putinmouth.com
http://twitter.com/PutInMouth
http://putinmouth.tumbr.com

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BarSpyder.com’s GM & Rev from Burger Conquest Attempts to Drink at 99 Bars in 24 hours to Break the Guinness World Record

Posted on 01/06/2011 by Rev

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BarSpyder.com’s GM Attempts to Drink at 99 Bars in 24 hours to Break the Guinness World Record

New York, NY – January 5, 2011

On Tuesday January 11th, 2011 in Manhattan’s East Village and Lower East Side, James Zinkand will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most bars visited by an individual in a 24-hour period.  In order for the record to be valid, James must consume at least half of a pint of beer or a 125 ml (4.39 fl oz) of drink at 51 or more venues. No pub or bar may be visited more than once throughout his crawl, and he must travel either via public transportation or on foot.

The record attempt comes in light of one man’s incredible appreciation for bar culture that inspired the launch of BarSpyder.com, a new bar suggestion, and pub crawl web and mobile application that includes a premium membership with unlimited 2-4-1 drink specials at bars and pubs throughout NYC, http://www.barspyder.com. The current record is listed at 50 bars, which means James will have to consume the equivalent of 44 bottles of beer to edge the current record-holder. The event will be filmed, photographed, and adequately documented according to the Guinness Book of World Records’ standards. James will begin at International Bar, located at 7th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan’s East Village, while continuing to popular venues such as the 9th Ward, Hype Bar, and Library Bar.

James will be joined by Burger Aficionado, Rev. Ciancio from the burger blog, Burger Conquest, https://burgerconquest.com.  Rev is also the proprietor of the bourbon, beer, and rock speakeasy, Idle Hands Bar, one of James’ many destinations on Tuesday, http://idlehandsbar.com. James is uncertain at which bar he will proclaim victory or end his attempt; however, he has mapped out a route of 99 bars.  Up-to-date progress will be available on twitter by following @barspyder.

The map of the route below is also available by visiting this link:

View The World Record Bar Crawl in a full screen map

For additional information regarding BarSpyder and James’ path to break the record please visit http://www.BarSpyder.com/blog.
For additional information regarding the rules and regulations behind a world record attempt, please visit guinnessworldrecords.com.

About BarSpyder
BarSpyder is a private club of bar lovers and pub crawlers who try new bars around NYC with members-only, 2-4-1 drink offers at all of participating venues. BarSpyder aims to give bar goers an accurate theme-appropriate suggestion of carefully vetted bars, which members can explore one at a time or in an organized crawl.  The product was created by New York based software startup klobe.inc and is managed by former Reality Television personality, James M. Zinkand.

For more information on BarSpyder contact:
Alexander Bartosch
201-793-7379
press@barspyder.com

Put In Mouth PR can be reached for any promotional materials, information or media opportunites.
therev@putinmouth.com
http://putinmouth.com
http://twitter.com/PutInMouth
http://putinmouth.tumbr.com 


BarSpyder Shirts soon to be available!

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12 Days of Burgers – The Best Burger Conquests of 2010

Posted on 01/06/2011 by Rev

When I think back of all the amazing things that happened on my Glorious Pursuit of Delicious Burgers, I almost seems like a dream. Of course it’s a juicy, delicious, cheese covered, medium-rare dream served between two pieces of bread that is sometimes topped with bacon. I made a decision at the end of 2009 that I would make this site mean more than just a catalog of burgers It has been an unbelievable 163 hamburger journey that started with Man V. Food’s Adam Richman starting a twitter fight with me over all of you RT my @BurgerConquest twitter requests to get a burger with him and has ended with more promise than I thought possible.

At the end of 2010, THE BURGER COUNTQUEST is at 319 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 2010.

12. What to do when there’s a blizzard in NYC? Eat burgers outside wearing Hawaiian shirts at the Shake Shack.
FIRST POLAR BRRRGER CLUB
SECOND POLAR BRRRGER CLUB

11.  A 260 mile drive in Connecticut, 147 years in the past just to eat a burger, pizza and see some crazy Roadside America and a continuation of road tripping with the sole purpose of eating; Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Shady Glen Dairy Stores & Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – Hot Grub Time Machine.

10. The most stressful and difficult way to throw a birthday party for more than 10,000 people, Warped Tour 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY – Kev and Rev’s Awesome Parking Lot BBQ.

9. I fly to Mexico to marry two of my dearest friends and eat a burger with my wife that is SO DAMN GOOD, A Hamburger Today asks for the review;  Wicky’s – La Hamburguesa de Sus Sueños.

8. My third TV taping in the year 2010 (spoiler alert) this time eating a 50 LB burger with the Food Network’s Tom Pizzica; Clinton Station Diner – Burger Fame of the Ancient Greeks.

7. The day I was limo driven to my “Burger King” crowning ceremony; Burger King – Our Broiler Can Beat Up Your Broiler.

6. Peanut butter guber burgers and bacon cookies for my lovely wife Cara’s birthday, the meal that launched and key relationship with Andrew from RUB BBQ – Birthday Burgers and Bacon Cookies.

5. It’s easier to get the Pope on the phone then get into this event, unless you’re Burger Famous like the Rev; Shake Shack, Bobby Flay and the Hurricane Club Victories at the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats, hosted by Rachael Ray.

4. When Kevin Lyman and John Reese ask you to create a burger, you don’t just slap some cheese on a bun, you go to the Black Shack on Lex with Buckshot from “Mosh Potatoes” and create the burger that becomes a national press story;  THE MAYHEM BURGER! Official burger of the The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

3. At age 16, my Dad convinced me that the coolest thing a man could do was own a bar that served burgers and beer. At age 37, my friend Marc, Rob and I opened that bar in his honor; That Burger Tent at Idle Hands Bar / Billy Hurricane’s.

2. A new burger joint opens up and my #1 burger eatin’ buddy leaves town; brgr Upper East Side Launch – A Bittersweet Bite.

1. January 22nd, 2010 – The day that changed, my life forever. My very first ever burger from the Grill ‘Em All Truck and the day that Chef Ryan Harkins and Matt Chernus came into my life. Grill ‘Em All Truck – Patty In The Parking Lot. Since then we’ve been on TV several times, created the Grill ‘Em All NYC “Victory Lap,” (one of the most exciting food events of 2010) and I now proudly call them not only friends but also clients.

The Travel Channel’s “Food Wars” & the Grill ‘ Em All Truck – Look Ma’, I’m Burger Famous!!

Grill ‘Em All Truck – Revolver Golden Gods.

Grill Em All Truck – The Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race”

Grill ‘Em All NYC Victory Lap Sells Out

Honorable Mention

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. Wing-Off 14 – The Finals – Wogie’s vs. Lansdowne Road vs. Bar-Coastal

A raging burger salute to our readers, my fellow Conquesters and all the fine places that made 2010 a Glorious Pursuit For Delicious Burgers. Here’s to a VERY Burger Famous 2011.

See the 12 Days of Burgers from 2009.

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Shake Shack – The 2nd Ever Polar Brrrger Club

Posted on 12/27/2010 by Rev

Shake Shack
http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010

THE CONQUEST
“Snowpocalypse 2010” hit NYC again and with almost 2 feet of snow, stomachs begin to grumble. While most New Yorkers are content to stay bundled up at home, the brave and hungry reunite for the 2nd ever “Polar Brrrger Club.” It’s an event I host through Burger Conquest, that happens whenever massive snow falls descend upon the Big Apple.

The blizzard-triggered event happened Monday, December 27 at 1:30 p.m. EST. All fun-loving burger fanatics were encouraged to dress up in their best Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses and brave the snow to join together to eat a delicious burger from the Shake Shack. The Shake Shack is located at the corner of 23rd Street and Madison Avenue in New York, NY. It was easy to find me, standing just in front of the Shake Shack in a Louis Lunch baseball hat.

Why a Louis Lunch hat? Not just because I look good in it but also because this morning, the burgerverse suffered a terrible loss. Ken Lassen, son of Louis Lassen, the man who invented the hamburger in 1985, passed away. Louis was the man behind New Haven’s Louis Lunch. More than 100 years later, ketchup is still banned there and the burgers are made on the EXACT SAME GRILLS that the restaurant opened with. Rest In Piece burger brother.

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 lines at the Shake Shack are always ridiculously long but when the weather gets worse, the lines get shorter. I’m from Detroit and was raised in the snow so for me, a blizzard is the best time to get one of those delectable Danny Meyer fresh made burgers from Pat LaFrieda beef!” claims Burger Conquest founder Rev. Ciancio. “I can’t think of a better way to warm up then with a hot juicy hamburger!”

SECOND POLAR BRRRGER CLUB

FIRST POLAR BRRRGER CLUB

THE BURGER
What can I say here that I haven’t said in the 7 other Shake Shack reviews on this site ? Let the fact that the Danny Meyer created, Pat LaFrieda beef supplied stand is listed in our TOP BURGERS NYC list and that we have chosen this burger joint for our very speecial event speak for itself. You could also look below at the burger rating we give or read a quote from something I said that Adam from A Hamburger Today posted on their twitter:””Nobody would do this for a salad.”

By the way, kudos to Adam, who was the only Polar Brrrger Clubber bold enough to order custard on a cold day. I toast you brother, I toast you with my cold glass of Brooklyn Ales Shakemeister.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

Thanks to Gothamist, A Hamburger Today, Channel 7 Eye Witness news, Dan from That Burger Tent and everyone else that came out to enjoying making an ass out of themselves in the cold.



THE JOURNEY
While it looks like running around a park in a Hawaiian shirt while eating burgers is just a party but it’s a lot of freaking work. Forget about the hours spent just making the plans, calling the Shake Shack, sending out a press release, organizing press requests, posting up all over the net, that takes work but the really hard part of an event like this is actually getting to the location. When “Snowpocalypse” hits NYC, NYC stops moving. No trains, no buses and no taxis. If you want to get somewhere, you have to walk there. And even though I live in Manhattan, walking 14 blocks and 5 Avenues in a blizzard is no easy feat. Here’s a photo pictorial of my journey to the Shake Shack.


Abandoned Hot Dog Food Cart on 37th Street at 10th Avenue. Redefines the words “free wieners.”


Corner of 37th St and 10th Ave, where minivans get stuck and bike deliveries are still made.


This billboard at 35th St and 9th Ave says it all.


I’m not at all advocating you go out looting but the cop shop on 35th St between 9th and 8th Avenue is having it’s own snow issues.


8th Avenue and 34th St. The famous New Yorker Hotel is blocked by snow. While normally people might use this as a location to snake cabs from unprepared tourists, the only thing you can catch there today is a cold.


They say violent crimes happend every 38 seconds in urban areas (another fact I made up for the sake of this blog) and the reason criminals don’t get away with anything is smart phones. Remember this when reading the post above about the po-po’s on 35th above.

34th Street betwen 8th Avenue and Park Avenue is arguably the busiest section of streets in NYC and in a snow covered, blizzard torn, NYC Snowpocalypse, its still the busiest section in the city. Lesson learned, it doesn’t matter, New Yorkers are still in a hurry.


Herald Square and Greeley Park are snow covered but not open for outdoor seating.


Broadway was practically a ghost town and unless you had a large shovel or a small elephant, you aren’t going anywhere.


If you can get to the ACE hotel on 23rd St, they are open for business.


Amazing view looking South down Broadway.


It pays to walk in this kind of weather and whichever restaurant ordered supplies from this company, will not be having a full dinner service yet.


You’ll rarely hear me pat myself on the back (I made that up too) but this might be one of the most awesome photos I have ever taken. Looking at the Flatiron Building from the North as the snow is blowing off the buildings around it.


Finally, the burger prize was in sight. As expected, Madison Square Park, the majesty that holds the Shake Shack was in sight.


Yeah that’s right, people were already gathered and excited to be inducted as a member of the Polar Brrrger Club.


Including Channel 7’s Eyewitness News!!

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
316 Burgers

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The Polar Brrrger Club Returns to the Shake Shack

Posted on 12/26/2010 by Rev
THE POLAR BRRRGER CLUB RETURNS!

New York City-based blog Burger Conquest announces the second ever “Polar Brrrger Club” event happening tomorrow at the original Shake Shack, Madison Square Park.

“Snowpocalypse 2010” has hit NYC again and with a possible 2 feet of snow, stomachs begin to grumble. While most New Yorkers are content to stay bundled up at home, the brave and hungry reunite for the 2nd ever “Polar Brrrger Club.” Hosted by The Rev from Burger Conquest (https://burgerconquest.com), this event happens when massive snow falls descend upon the Big Apple.

The blizzard-triggered event is happening Monday, December 27 at 1:30 p.m. EST. All fun-loving burger fanatics are encouraged to dress up in their best Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses and brave the snow to join together to eat a delicious burger from the Shake Shack (http://shakeshack.com). The Shake Shack is located at the corner of 23rd Street and Madison Avenue in New York, NY. You’ll find The Rev standing just in front of the Shake Shack in a white camouflaged sun visor and sun glasses.

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. Story and photos are available at this link:
http://burgerconquest.blogspot.com/2010/02/shake-shack-first-ever-polar-brrrger.html

“The lines at the Shake Shack are always ridiculously long but when the weather gets worse, the lines get shorter. I’m from Detroit and was raised in the snow so for me, a blizzard is the best time to get one of those delectable Danny Meyer fresh made burgers from Pat LaFrieda beef!” claims Burger Conquest founder Rev, Ciancio. “I can’t think of a better way to warm up then with a hot juicy hamburger!”

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. In just over two short years, The Rev and Burger Conquest have logged in more than 300 burgers in places as far as Anchorage, Alaska, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and all over the continental United States. It has 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.

Put In Mouth PR can be reached for any promotional materials, information or media opportunites.
therev@putinmouth.com

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