Gracie’s Place – Grandma Famous

Posted on 12/23/2010 by Rev

Gracie’s Place
http://www.graciesplacebistro.com/
151 South Putnam Street
Williamston, MI 48895

THE CONQUEST
Chances are, unless you are from mid-Michigan, you’ve never heard of the town of Williamston. This tiny little town with only one “major” intersection has only two claims to fame; 1. former residence of Chief John Okemos of the Tawas Chippewas, a well document Native American and ally to the British in the War of 1812 and 2. a hokey sign that says “Williamston STOP or smile as you go by,” that unfortunately no longer exists. With a popular of less than 3500 (as of 2000), there really isn’t any reason you would ever have heard of Williamston, MI.

Unless you are The Rev. I’m not from there or even really near there but I generally make one pilgrimage a year to this bedroom community. You see, Williamston is almost equal distance between my Detroit-area hometown of No.VI, MI and the location of my alma matter, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI. I have to drive by it to get from one place to the other but I always stop in. Why? It’s the home of my Grandma Mae.

They broke the mold when they build this one. Grandma Mae is the darn tootenest nicest and most caring person on the entire planet. Her heart is 42 times larger than the Grinch’s after the epiphany and made or more gold than you will ever find in Gold Rush, Alaska. Because Mae lives out in what native Michiganders call the “B.F.E.” my wife and I have to make a special trip to see her at Xmas where we have a little yearly tradition of grabbing lunch with her and my Step-Moms, Liz. On this holiday season Grandma Mae suggested a lunch at a local fave.

Gracie’s Place, a family-friendly bistro, makes EVERYTHING on their menu from scratch. This restaurant located at the only street crossing in the one stop light downtown area of Willliamston, MI prides itself in making all its offering using only the freshest of natural ingredients. It’s a rather large dining room, in a very small town with a warm, welcome environment, Gracie’s Place where locals go for lunch, dinner, romance, meet ups or even just an afternoon coffee. While Williamston is a simple town, the menu here certainly is not. With choices from Cocoa Rubbed Skirt Steak, Kabocha Squash Agnolotti, Rabbit-Guinness Pie, Ginger Ale Pork Tenderloins, Tempura Whitefish Sandwich, Country Pan Fried Chicken in a Prosciutto-sage pan sauce, there is something for all palettes.

They also have a selection of burgers, which brings us to the point of this story.

THE BURGER

I had not intended on a Burger Conquest with the family but after Cara asked me “Did you see the Cider Mill burger on the menu? I’m getting that!” The burger of mention comes with brie, apple, cranberry, horseradish sauce on brioche. I think you all know what happens when you put fruit on a burger correct? It becomes healthy!! So why not, I’ll eat a healthy burger with my Grandma!

I started off with a cup savory split lea soup w chopped ham with vegetables. It was a perfect way to start off a lunch on a cold day. The soup is not thick and it’s wonderful. in it’s lighter density. This is NOT to be passed over.

It was time to visit the Cider Mill. My initial thought was that the cranberry horseradish needs more horseradish. It’s creamy and sweet but not nearly as spicy as I had hoped. The whole wheat brioche is a really nice touch and goes in line with my general thought on wheat always over white. The apples are sliced thinly enough as to remain a subtle taste to the sandwich. When it’s combined with the brie, you get a really tasty flavor mix. As for the patty, the taste was all char and not the juicy beef sensation im used to getting from a hamburger.  The Cider Mill is an interesting attempt at a unique burger combo using a lot of light tasting toppings, none of which dominate or provide a savory taste.

The sweet potatoes, certainly worth your attention, are made like onion rings with a light breading and a juicy center. Best party of the meal were the extremely savory gravy and cheese fries. Also worth order to share with the table, Creamy and crunchy 7 cheese macaroni.

Congrats Grandma Mae, you’re Burger Famous!  Click here to read about eating “hamburgs” with my other Grandma.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
313 Burgers

Posted in Burgers, Hamburgers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rye House – Obsession Rules The World

Posted on 12/20/2010 by Rev

Rye House
http://ryehousenyc.com
Frnt A, 11 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011

THE CONQUEST
Obsession rules the world and if you want to make a dent in it, especially in a city like New York, with so many options, you gotta show passion for something. You see, I am passionate about Burgers and so are you, now we are connected.

I am also passionate about beer, bourbon, rock and roll and having a great time with my friends, hence me opening Idle Hands Bar with my friends Rob and Marc. If we’ve learned anything since opening in September of this year, it’s our passion to run a great bar that has people in it. The more we go out and meet other bar, restaurant and shop owners in this wonderful city, the more we realize there is a lot of support for people with an obsession.

Through the bar we met John Freeman. John is obsessed with beer and works as a brand manager for Innis and Gunn. They are a Scottish brewery who ages all of their AMAZING beers in Oak barrels. We serve their regular and rum casked beers at Idle Hands. Innis and Gunn have a bunch of other oak aged beers in the works but none are available in the states yet. John recently got some samples in and asked us out on a beer tasting bro-date to try them. We are obsessed with them so of course we said “YES!”

So you gotta have some obsession, even if that something is Pittsburgh. Enter Rye House. Located in the Flatiron district, this gastropub-mixology-rustic-eatery is run by a couple of folks who are OBSESSED with Pittsburgh. Whether it’s the Primanti’s inspired “Pittsburgh” with Grilled Andouille Sausage, Provolone, House Slaw sandwich that is topped with Fries or the 25 person picnic table made from Pennsylvanian wood, you’ll know these guys love PA. Good luck picking out a delicious microbrew or an interesting cocktail, the drink menus are literally overflowing with great choices. Planning on getting a bite? Strap in big boy, you’re going to want to eat everything that the Culinary Institute of America trained executive chef Greg Johnson has to offer. It’s a culinary comfort food cornucopia that includes Sloppy Joes, Cubans, Boiled Peanuts, Fried Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Perogies, Truffle Grilled Cheese, Braised Short Ribs & a whole lot more. After tasting some of the bourbons and beers you get the feeling like the food is necessary to keep you from falling off your seat. Thankfully Greg Johnson wants you to love the food and has made it taste amazing. If you need some help deciding know that Greg’s favorite thing on the food menu is the Rye House Burger with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and fries with your choice of Cheddar, Blue or Gruyere Cheese.

THE BURGER
Even with Greg’s suggestion, we all still wanted more. Solution: Burger to split as an appetizer! A picture is worth a thousand words but this burger only needs one word, repeated several times: juicy, Juicy & JUICY! The Gruyere cheese melts down into the fat to create an unbelievable flavor. I had not planned on getting a burger but I sure am glad I did! Big thumbs up on the well done fries, which we discussed with Greg and he agrees, French Fries should ALWAYS come well done.

People are obsessed with Sloppy Joes. Why? I have no idea. I have always hated them and went hungry on days when that’s what the lunch lady made. Rob and Marc on the other hand, they LOVE them and when they saw them listed on the menu, their eyes lit up. At Greg’s urging I tried one. This doesn’t taste like your standard Manwich! It more reminds me of an Ortega made taco served on a sweet brioche. If all Sloppy Joe’s tasted like this, I probably wouldn’t hate them.

Know something before we move forward; I love Cuban sandwiches. Not enough to bother making a whole new website or twitter account but I definitely have a penchant for a taste Cuban sandwich. I don’t eat them all that often but when I get a hankerin’ for one, look out. When I read “Cuban. Slow Roasted Pork, Gruyere, Pickles, Fudge Farms Ham” on the Rye House menu, there was no stopping me. Damn! DAMN DAMN, that is some DAMN crunchy bread on the outside but soft and warm on the inside. I order mine without pickles and I don’t care what you say, they are disgusting and Cuban is better without them. Greg’s whole grain mustard is legit even thought it’s a little dominant in the taste. None the less, it’s still very good. The ham is closer to thick bacon more so than traditional ham. Nothing about this sandwich is traditional and almost makes me wish this was the standard Cuban; crispy pork with melted down fat and bacon inside of a warm crouton. Yay!

Now, let’s talk about some beers that you can’t have yet (na-na-na-na-na-boo-boo.)

INNIS AND GUNN ENGLISH PALE ALE

  • English Strong Ale
  • 6.4% ABV
  • Scotland

THEY SAY: This innovative IPA has been created with an eye to history and tradition. IPA’s originated in the 1800’s during the long sea journeys between Britain and India. Beers were transported in oak barrels containing hops (to preserve freshness) and arrived having absorbed the character of both the oak and the hops.

This is the only IPA that has been matured in oak, like its predecessors, with the addition of hops to individual barrels. Innis & Gunn Indian Pale Ale is available exclusively in Canadian liquor stores and in Waitrose in the UK. We are only producing 64,000 bottles, so don’t miss out!

REV SAYS: The warmest, softest, buttery and coddling hopped based ale you’ll ever have and it’s aged for 55 days! In fact, calling it an IPA is a misnomer along of the lines calling a limousine a taxi.

INNIS AND GUNN WINTER BEER

  • English Strong Ale
  • 8.5% ABV
  • Scotland

THEY SAY: Warming Scottish beer with natural hints of ripe fruit, vanilla, and caramel. Every ingredient we have used to brew this beer has been selected for its intensity of flavour. Large amounts of pale ale and crystal malts impart the caramel fruit character, strength and body. The WGV, Styrian and Goldings hops give the sherry like intensity and ripe fruit aroma. And the heavily toasted boubon-oak mellows the beer and provides a deep, complex, oaky background. It’s the perfect antidote to the cold dark nights of winter, a beer to be sipped, savoured and appreciated.

REV SAYS: Wow. Just wow. This beer spends 61 days aged in an oak barrel and is made with out any traditional winter warmer spices. It’s like watching a stunt man punch someone. It looks like it hurt but no one was actually harmed.


Rye House Burger: 8 out of 10 ounces
Cuban: 9 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
312 Burgers

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Royale – The Glorious Pursuit of Burger Fame

Posted on 12/17/2010 by Rev

Royale
http://royalenyc.com/
157 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009

THE CONQUEST
There’s a lot of great burgers out there and a lot of great people talking about them. One such crew are Brett and Kyle from Burger Bedlam. These guys are out on their own Glorious Pursuit of Delicious Burgers with a mission to find the Best Burgers in NYC. While we have yet to formally have a burger together (WTF GUYS!??!) their journey is one worth watching. In fact, you can now watch it on TV!

The Discovery Channel recently launched a new TV show called “Blais Off.” Top Chef and Host Richard Blais travels the county, attempting to recreate some of the greatest culinary offerings by using his grasp of the scientific universe. The 2nd episode of the series was filmed at the East Village Burger haven known as Royale and features the Burger Bedlammers. Check out this show preview. That’s Kyle in the gray shirt hanging with Richard in the kitchen.


To celebrate the airing of the episode, Burger Bedlam hosted a viewing party right where it was filmed, Royale. It’s only a couple short blocks from my bar, Idle Hands, which made a pop into their party even easier.

THE BURGER
Royale makes a great burger and it just wouldn’t be right if I attended the party and didn’t have one. It’s nice to know that even in a drunken, celebratory haze, my inner-burger pilot still knows when to get a burger. You see, I don’t remember eating the burger I had this night at Royale. In fact, it’s possible I ordered it and didn’t eat it. How do I know this? Because I found the following picture on my iPhone the next morning. I also think I forgot to pay and since I am A. admitting that publicly and B. an owner of a fellow business to Royale, I am offering the following;

The first person to answer the following question correctly by commenting with their answer on the blog post will win a FREE BURGER AND A BEER for you and a friend, with me, at Royale. It’s my treat and let’s make sure Royale charges me for the forgotten burger.

Which band have I taken out to eat at Royale in the past?

If you’re curious for my actual review on the delicious burgers at Royale, click here.


No rating available because I don’t remember eating it!
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
312 Burgers

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Burger and Barrel – A Juicy Welcome To the Top of the List

Posted on 12/16/2010 by Rev

Burger and Barrel
http://www.burgerandbarrel.com
25 W. Houston
New York, NY 10012

THE CONQUEST
Little known fact, my Pops was in the FBI. As a result, I have developed some of his super sleuthing skills and habits. Notice when I sit down at a restaurant, I always try to sit in the seat that does not have my back to the window or worse, a door. All the better to protect myself and my fellow diners.

I also have an inner ability to know when people are talking about or creeping up around me. Such was the case with superstar chef Josh Capon. I recently took my lovely wife Cara out for a meal at Josh’s restaurant, Lure Fishbar. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the entire experience. Once the review went live, I caught Josh sniffing around the Burger Conquest website. I quickly obtained his email address and reached out. I’m pretty sure I caught him off guard but he replied with ” Let me know when you are ready to check out B&B.;” Shortly thereafter I requested a reservation for a double date with our friends Dawn and Paul.

Burger and Barrel is is the creation of Josh Capon, John McDonald & Josh Pickard located at the top end of SoHo in NYC. It’s a relatively small space with a dark and moody wooden interior. Reservations are only made for special occasions and you best be prepared to wait if you walk up. No worries, hang at the bar and sample from the interesting beers, wine and bourbons AKA the “barrel” portion of the restaurant. Once seated peruse the short but interesting and focused menu featuring seafood, burgers, steak, salads, meatballs and chicken lollipops. This touted American pub is great for dates, gathering of friends or just a cool neighborhood hang.

THE BURGER
The best part about sharing a meal with friends, I mean other than spending time with them, is the ability to order a wide variety of foods to share. Burger and Barrel was made for just such an option. The Chicken lollipops have a very spicy yet not to hot sauce to them and if you are hot wing bone sucker, the meat on these slides right off the bone. They’re crunchy on the outside yet juicy in the middle.

Damn, that’s an awesome meatball! They’re served cocktail size, they have just the exact correct amount of spices. I’m pretty sure they found the recipe by unlocking some ancient Italian math equation that unlocked a secret catacomb which held and ancient Roman recipe. The ricotta dipping cheese is a soft cloud of amazing that relies on the subtleties to rule the taste.

With five burger sandwich choices offered, I still had no trouble choosing the Puebla burger made with roasted chili & red onion relish, queso fresco. Let me start of by saying, this might be the juiciest burger I’ve ever had and that’s NOT in anyway to imply it was greasy. This da juice mon!!! Clearly made from a blend of fresh ground beef with a slightly higher fat content than the standard 80/20 mix you’ll find at most places. The green chiles are not as smoky as I’m used too and almost sweet to taste. Damn they are nice. The VERY creamy and mild cheese acts like a scout master calling the troops to the fire, which in this case is the beef! I’m guessing its a Chef Capon specialty to top his burgers with heavily breaded and super rad onion rings. It’s like a deep fried loaf of bread made out of pancake batter surrounding a fresh onion.

This is one of the best burgers I have ever had. Congrats to Josh and all at Burger and Barrel, you’re AMAZING burger has made our TOP IN NYC list. Go eat here and if you’re not blown away, you either did it wrong or have disfunctional taste buds.


9 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



THE BURGERCOUNTQUEST
311 Burgers

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

New York Burger Co – The Blessed Society of Humane Burgers

Posted on 12/13/2010 by Rev

New York Burger Co
http://www.newyorkburgerco.com/
470 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011

THE CONQUEST
Since opening in June of 2004, the New York Burger Co has been serving gourmet style fast food burgers to the great city in which it’s named after. Known for counter service and a whopping array of homemade sauces, purveyors Madeline Poley and Spiros Zisimatos are moving on over. Now, six years since opening, they have broke ground on a third location at the corner of 23rd Street and 10th Ave.

If that location sounds familiar, it’s because popular foodie site Eater.com listed it as #7 on their “New York’s Cursed Restaurant Spaces” top 10 list. Its a gorgeous location in a neighborhood quickly acquiring more and more apartment buildings. I live there myself and refer to it as “No Man’s Kitchen.” Instead of running scared of potential restaurateur curses, the latest New York Burger Co franchisees decided to have the location blessed by men of 3 different religions.

A Jewish Rabbi, a Buddhist Monk, and a Catholic Priest walk into a burger joint. The hostess walks up them and and asks “is this some kind of joke?”

The new location for the New York Burger Co is slicker and more dimly lit giving it more of a lounge vibe than a fast food joint. The menu has been revised and while it’s the same sandwiches, all the burgers have been renamed to pay homage to various Manhattan locations. While everyone thought this to be a simple ribbon cutting ceremony with the reward of tasty foods, it turned out to be a very unique occasion. As we were all snacking on burgers, fries, dogs and such, everyone was asked to gather at the front. A presentation was to be made and the 23rd St & 10th Ave location of the New York Burger Co was awarded as the first restaurant in NY to be certified humane!

Anxious to try the most humane burgers in NYC, Brad, Tina, Bram and I took a seat and waited for the passed silver platters to come by our table.

THE BURGER
As this was my first time at a NYBC, I wanted to try as much as possible, which, thanks to the small sized portions offered, was exactly what I did. Here’s a quick break down on what we sampled.

Beef Chili – Gotta give the team credit here, behind handed a warm cup of chili upon entering the restaurant on what was an extremely cold and windy night, was a genius move. Good and chunky with a nice but not angry kick.

Hot Dog – Served with grilled onions and mustard. Nice sturdy bun, a hearty snap to the wiener and good beef flavors.

Sweet Potato & Regular Fries – Great flavor and size, I just prefer mine much crispier.

Chicken Minis – No weakness to this breading, it has a serious crunch. Be sure to dip into the Chipotle Honey sauce which is tre awesome!

Flatiron Burger – The bun a little on the bland side but holds together well to support the patty and toppings. Really juicy beef, tangy sweet BBQ style sauce and a very nice use of black pepper in the seasoning. Could’ve used more poblanos but then again, this was a mini-burger which doesn’t leave much room for toppings.

7 out of 10 ounces

Tribecca Burger – The fresh avocado tasted great but needs to get room temperature before serving. The blue cheese topping is SO creamy and good. The best part though, Cherry wood smoked bacon! It’s cooked just right up to the point before it would be considered by some to be burnt and it’s is delicious! This is the winner.

8 out of 10 ounces

Chelsea Burger – By my standards, overcooked but then again, we weren’t ordering, just sampling from passed trays. Some people like their burger this way and to them I say, if you want to live your life losing out, that’s your call. But, it’s your life to live. However, the combination of cheddar and bacon can never be denied.

7 out of 10 ounces

Sauce Bar – Dipping fans, your prayers have been answered! The 23rd St & 10th Ave location of the New York Burger Co has their very own Sauce Bar. Be sure to get yourself a little of each for the fries. The basil pesto sauce is like none other. Worth the trip alone. Also good; Chili Ketchup, New York Burger Sauce and the Creamy Horseradish.

Fountain Soda – If you love fountain soda like I do (thank you suburban upbringing local to a 7-11) you’ll be happy to know that they offer server yourself soda which includes, and big kudos for having it, Coke Zero!

Remember when you were 11 years old and when your parents took you to 7-11 you would get a Big Gulp with a little of each soda in one cup? Where I come from, that’s called a “Soda Suicide.” Bring back your teenage curiosity and try a little of each sauce on one burger, I call this “Suicide Sauce.”

Sauces, 8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
310 Burgers

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Wing-Off 15 – An All-In Celebration at Mudville9

Posted on 12/11/2010 by Rev

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. Wing-Off judges solely on quality of the Medium and Hot wings only. Service, ambiance, beverage selection, price and other menus have no factor but they sure do count for a good time! Also, NO WOMEN ALLOWED!!

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.

Our 4 year quest had come to close but we weren’t done eating hot wings, not by a long shot!!! A well deserved celebration was in order and there is only one place in NYC that could help us do it the right way. It was time for a Wing Ding at Mudville9! The NYC Wing-Off crew had been there on Wing-Off 3 and it was there we learned a vital lesson, there is no VS. with Mudville9!

Located in New York City’s somewhat desolate Financial District, this unassuming bar looks the same as any other sports bar. You’ll find large tables, booths, men of all ages cheering on their favorite sports teams on one of 15 flat screen TVs, pounding beers, eating wings and generally having a great time. But this 33 year old bar has a secret weapon called a “Wing Ding.”

What is a Wing Ding? All you can eat wings, fries, unlimited pitchers of beer for 2 hours! It’s only $25 per person! There is a 6 person minimum and for an additional $5 you can upgrade to premium beer selections. Think about the damage you could do in 2 hours? Allow me to confirm, you can do it and more. That is EXACTLY why Mudville9 should not be entered into a VS situation. Don’t misunderstand, the wings are fantastic, really good in fact, but who in their right mind wants more wings than they can possibly eat in 2 hours?!?! (Don’t answer that question.)

Another important thing to remember about the official NYC Wing-Off, only medium and hot flavored hot wings can be considered for as entrants into the decision. With 10 different house made wing sauces, denying 8 of them would be a crime! But enjoying them as a celebration is a victory unto itself!! The excitement was at an all time high. The NYC Wing-Off crew were ravenously waiting for the 2 hour timer to begin.

WING-OFF 15: Saturday, December 11, 2010

THE GATES HAVE OPENED! LET THE HOT WINGS FLOW!

If Bud and Bud Lite is your thing, stick with the $25 special but if you’re a beer nerd like me and the rest of the Wing-Off crew, spending the $5 to upgrade your beer choices is absolutely worth it. The best part, I mean besides the beer itself, is that all the beer comes in pitchers, a rarity in New York bars. As for the fries, go ahead, try a couple, they’re good but go easy! They will fill you up and detract you from the hot wings.

The Wing Ding kicked off with a plate of Jamaican Jerk and the Medium Buffalo. The Jerk are well, SOOOO good. The sauce is both sweet and hot with a nice pepper focus. In an attempt to be poignant, allow me just say “WOW” in describing the Medium Buffalo wings. There’s a nice heat with good flavor. Kyle and I think we placed the mix as Frank’s Red Hot with A LOT of butter and some additional kind of pepper.

I remember the Teriyaki sauced wings being a big hit on our last visit and was anxiously waiting a re-visit. The sauce was good but there needed to be more of it. Most wing sauces are thick and to make up for the thinner nature of this one, I would’ve suggested bathing it a little more bountifully.

The Thai sauce, oooohhhh, the Thai sauce is so creamy and good. It even has a nice little pepper back side to it. I’m pretty sure Adam P was a mere thought turning into an action away from spooning up some sauce into his mouth. Unfortunately, I didn’t think the amazing sauce paired well with the wing. Both elements are good unto themselves but the sauce just didn’t take to the wing.

The Buffalo Mild were OK but only worth getting if you want to try every sauce during a Wing Ding or you are a wing novice. It’s decent but for a seasoned winger, this shouldn’t be your focus.

After discovering the amazing sauce that could be made by combining the jerk and the hot I decided it was time to take this party to another level. Who remembers being a teenager and combining a little of every soda flavor into one cup? Where I am from, that’s called a “suicide” soda and it was the basis of our next move.

I won’t lie, they looked at us a little funny when I practically begged them to combine all 10 sauces on one plate of wings. But Eric Schwimmer and the rest of the fun loving staff at Mudville9 are good sports and were happy to oblige. The name “Suicide” when applied to hot wings more often than not refers to a sauce that is ungodly hot and difficult to eat. We didn’t think that fit the bill here and since we were taking a gamble, we have now named this magical sauce concoction “ALL IN” wings!

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!!

Once all 10 sauces were mixed and applied, a new level of wingitude was achieved. It was unanimous across the table, we all LOVED these. Now the NYC Wing-Off crew can’t promise you that Mudville9 will make these for any buddy but we would definitely suggest you tell them we told you about them!


So now what? It’s been 4 plus years, we’ve crowned a winner and even have a victory celebration at one of NYC’s most unique wing joints. The Mudville9 “ALL IN” Wing Ding inspired an idea. What if the Wing-Off didn’t have to end? What if it just changed? What if we could just restart? Well, we took all of these into consideration and with that, I proudly announce THE RETURN OF WING-OFF!!

The NYC Wing-Off is going to kick off again 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. This ups the competition quite a bit and should make for a lot of fun and well earned tummy aches!

If you have a suggestion for a wing we need to eat or would like to enter into the competition, please send an email to beeftouchdown@burgerconquest.com

WING-OFF HISTORICAL

WING-OFF 1
January 28, 2007
Scruffy Duffy’s vs. Atomic at Down the Hatch
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFY’S

Scruffy Duffy’s
www.scruffyduffys.com
743 Eighth Avenue
(between 46th & 47th)
New York, NY 10036

Atomic at Down the Hatch
http://www.nycbestbar.com/downthehatch/
179 W. 4th St
New York, NY

WING-OFF 2
June 3rd, 2007
Scruffy Duffy’s vs Blondie’s
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFY’S

Scruffy Duffy’s
www.scruffyduffys.com
Scruffy Duffy’s 743 Eighth Avenue
(between 46th & 47th)
New York, NY 10036

Blondies’s
www.blondiessports.com
212 W 79th St
(Between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway)
New York, NY 10024-6225

WING-OFF 3
September 11, 2007
Mudville9
http://www.mudville9.com/
126 Chambers St
(Btwn Church and W.Broadway)
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 964-WING

WING-OFF 4
January 20, 2008
Scruffy Duffy’s at Lansdowne Road vs. Texas Arizona
WINNER by disqualification, SCRUFFY DUFFY’S

Lansdowne Road
www.la
nsdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008

WING-0FF 5
June 27, 2008
Lansdowne Road vs. Croxley Ale House vs. 1-2-3 Burger Shot Beer
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFY’S

Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008

Croxley Ale House
www.croxley.com
28 Avenue B
New York, NY

123 Burger Shot Beer
www.123burgershotbeer.com
738 10th Avenue
New York, NY

WING-OFF 6
October 6th, 2008
Scruffy’s Retirement Party at Lansdowne Road

Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008

WING-OFF 7
TOWN TAVERN vs. WOGIE’S
WINNER; WOGIE’S

Town Tavern
http://www.towntavernnyc.com/
134 West 4th St
(at MacDougal)
New York, NY 10012

Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charles & Perry)
New York, NY 10014

WING-OFF 8
BLIND TIGER ALE HO– USE vs. THUNDER JACKSON’S
WINNER; Both DQ!

Blind Tiger Ale House
http://blindtigeralehouse.com/
281 Bleecker St (@ Jones St)
New York, NY

Thunder Jackson’s
http://www.thunderjackson.com
169 Bleecker St (@ Sullivan St)
New York, NY 10012

WING-OFF 9
Tuesday, August 4th
Johnny Utah’s VS. Point Break (formerly Nation)
WINNER: POINT BREAK
EX-PRESIDENTIAL RUBBER MASKS ENCOURAGED!

Johnny Utah’s
www.johnnyutahs.com
25 W 51st St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10019-6902
(212) 265-8824

Point Break
http://pointbreaknyc.com/
12 W 45th St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10036-4202
(212) 391-8053

WING-OFF 10
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Bar-Coastal vs. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ vs. The Back Page Sports Bar
WINNER: BAR-COASTAL

Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635

Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
www.brotherjimmys.com
1485 2nd Ave (at 77TH St)
New York, NY 10075-2001
(212) 288-0999

The Back Page Sports Bar
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7175125/new_york_ny/the_back_page.htm
1472 3rd Ave (Btwn 83rd and 84th)
New York, NY 10028-1967
(212) 570-5800

WING-OFF 11
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
The Wing Bar vs.Bonnie’s Grill
WINNER: BONNIE’S GRILL

The Wing Bar
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-wing-bar-brooklyn
275 Smith St (between Degraw St & Sackett St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Bonnie’s Grill
http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/7356065/brooklyn_ny/bonnie_s_grill.html
278 5th Ave (1st Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11215

WING-OFF 12
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
The Final 4, Part 1 – Bar-Coastal vs. Croxley Ales
WINNER; BAR-COASTAL

Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635

Croxley Ale House
=”http://www.croxley.com/”>www.croxley.com
28 Avenue B
New York, NY
212-253-6140

WING-OFF 13
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
The Final 4, Part 2 – Wogie’s vs. Lansdowne Road
WINNER; DECLARED A DRAW

Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charles & Perry)
New York, NY 10014

Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008

WING-OFF 14
The Finals – Wogie’s vs. Lansdowne Road vs. Bar-Coastal
WINNER; BAR-COASTAL

Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charle’s & Perry)
New York, NY 10014

Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008

Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355

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Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop – Counter Test Casting

Posted on 12/10/2010 by Rev

Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop
http://www.eisenbergsnyc.com/
174 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010

THE CONQUEST
My buddy Noah makes TV shows with his company, No Regrets Entertainment. Some of which, like “MTV Hired,” I am sure you are familiar with. Noah approached me about making a Burger Conquest TV show and why the hell would I say no?

YES I WANT TO BE ON TV EATING BURGERS!!!

That would be the ultimate in getting Burger Famous! I mean let’s be honest, everyone loves burgers and I am an engaging, witty and slightly (undersell) crazy character and would make for a great non-scripted TV show host. Thankfully, I am, clearly, very humble. Noah wanted to chat about making a show and suggested we talk over breakfast at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop.

In a city like New York, there’s a new business opening every 3 minutes (based on a true statistic that I made up for the sake of this story) and many of them will never succeed as business. So when you find a restaurant that has been open for decades it’s pretty safe to assume it’s due to quality and originality. Such is the case at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shoppe, which has been open since 1929. It’s a classic lunch counter that helped make and keep NYC an on-the-go city. This once popular formerly popular style of eatery could be found all over the city, promising a wide array of simple food items, made with quality and served at an affordable price. There all but gone in the city which is one reason why Eisenber’s 5th Avenue located restaurant is a worthwhile trip down memory lane.

While there’s tables along the wall and in the back, the real experience is a seat at the long counter where workers play double duty of taking orders and cooking or server. Start yourself with a cup of coffee to sip on while you look over the folded pamphlet style menu. Everything is made short order and with a taste for ease. You won’t find a duck confit fritter anywhere on the menu but if you’re yearning for a classic egg cream and a tuna sandwich, Eisenberg’s is your jam.

Eisenberg’s is rich with history and is known as a celebrity stop in spot. There’s pictures all over the walls of famous folks getting their lunch on at the long counter that sits along opposite a long prep wall with mirrors and wood fixture probably older than most patrons of the restaurant. Curious to see if you’re face daytime TV star has had a pastrami and rye here? just go to their website where they have celebrity sightings and news postings happening at the counter.

Noah sat me down over breakfast to talk about making TV shows that further exploited my burger eating exploits. As I perused the menu, Noah placed an order for a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. When the server asked for my order, I knew it was time to unleash my super powers. How to make a breakfast meeting about a Burger Conquest TV show into a Burger Conquest? Order a bacon, egg and cheese … on top of a burger!! Based on the surprise reaction I received and the employee’s exclamation to his co-workers, I might’ve been the first person ever to do this.

THE BURGER
In a matter of moments a heaping plate filled with a full serving of breakfast and also a burger was in front of me. For a counter breakfast, you can’ expect some nice fluffy “scrams” (as my Mom calls the specific preparation of eggs) along side of well done bacon. It should be noted, if you like crispy bacon, this is your spot. Most certainly a nicely done NY counter breakfast. As for the burger, pretty dece. It’s juicy and fresh and about as good of quality as you can expect from a place like this. Gourmet it is not, but if that is what you were looking for, you probably should be across the street at the Shake Shack.

If you want fast, classic, affordable diner type food without any fuss while enjoying a classic New York dining experience that nicely compliments a conversation, git your ass to Eisenberg’s.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
307 Burgers

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Stand – GiddyUp! Bad Ass Rock and Roll Sauces

Posted on 12/07/2010 by Rev

Stand
http://www.standburger.com/
24 E. 12th St
New York, NY 10003

THE CONQUEST
My office is “conveniently” located only a couple blocks from Stand so when people ask me “where can we get a good burger around here?” it’s usually my first suggestion. My good buddy Buckshot, author of “Mosh Potatoes” The Rock and Roll Cookbook, recently came by for a meeting and asked me that exact question.

Moments later we found ourselves at Stand, the brain child of Jonathan Morr, famous for his involvement in Bond St, Union Square’s Republic, APT and more. The spacious location near NYU, serves all kinds of burgers with beef from Pat LaFrieda and bun’s from Amy’s Bread. You can order them delivery, get them to go or, as we did, dine in. Stand offers your choice of beef, turkey, veggie, chicken or salmon burgers. They also have a decent selection of sides, salads, soups and beverages from alcohol to floats to homemade sodas.

But I’ve told you that before, so let’s get to reason for the seasoning…

It’s a crazy world out there folks and when you put yourself in the river, sometimes you catch fish and sometimes you just get wet. I started this whole “food thing” as a creative outlet to write and as a reason to eat with my friends. NEVER was it meant to be some sort of career situation, but you know what, I got in the river and it looks like I am about to catch some fish, which in this case are actually condiments.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly present to you GIDDYUP! SAUCES!

That’s right! Buckshot and I are making condiments and not just your everyday regular table hot sauces and BBQ sauces…we are making condiments with the most BAD ASS names in HARD ROCK and HEAVY METAL! The first 2 sauces will be released in early 2011.

The first of which is a hot sauce that will reach out and slap your Momma in the eye, it’s Chris Caffery from Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Tears of the Sun” hot sauce. This is a perfect sauce that will get your taste buds buzzing. Its a perfect blend of habaneros, peach, apple and mango. “Tears of The Sun” combines the beautiful heat of the habanero pepper and the sweetness of the fruit. Its a great alternative to traditional Hot Sauces.

We’re proud to be working with Chef Ryan Harkins and Matt Chernus from the Grill ‘Em All Truck in bottling their Grandma’s Mosh Pit BBQ Sauce. The BBQ sauce is a concoction that Chef Ryan inherited from his grandmother. Until now you could only enjoy this amazing sauce when visiting the truck itself and now you can have it right at your kitchen table!

You can pre-order a bottle now by becoming a member of the Grill ‘Em All Truck “Ghoul’s School.”

There’s A LOT more to come that we can’t reveal yet but be sure to “Like” GiddyUp! Sauces on Facebook to find out.

And now back to the burgers!!

THE BURGER
I ordered the Ham Burger and yes, there is a space there for a reason. It’s new to the menu and its a hamburger made by combining ground beef and ground ham. Why this hasn’t entered my world before, no idea but it’s a pretty delicious concept.

A little confused on how to order, I asked the waiter for the house suggestion, cooked medium. While I was damn excited to taste the combination of the 2 meats, they are not actually ground together. The ham is A TOP the beef patty. The sandwich was really juicy and had a very distinct peppery approach to the palette. I’m not sure if that is how the regular burger is prepared but it a taste not unlike taco meat, the kind your Mom made from the Ortega box. All of it is served in the sturdy bun from Amy’s Bread.

It’s a pretty good burger but I’ll bet Buckshot and I could find a rocker with the right mustard to make it better!

GIDDYUP!


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
306 Burgers

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Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen – If I Had a Burger For Every Time I Have Seen Ozzy Live…

Posted on 12/03/2010 by Rev

Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen
http://www.schnippers.com
620 8th Ave
New York, NY 10018

THE CONQUEST
Some people use words while others mean them. When Andrew and Jonathan Schnipper added the word “Quality” to the name of their new school version of the luncheonette bearing their family name, they did it with conviction. These 2 smiling busts of energy are the creative food geniuses behind the ever popular Hale and Hearty Soups restaurants. In 2006 they sold off the very lucrative and STILL delicious business and started off on a road trip. The 2 brothers drove around the great states in America eating every burger of lore they could find. Upon their return to the big apple, they launched Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen.

Located at the foot steps of the NY Times Building and across the street from the ridiculously busy Port Authority building, it’s easy to get to and worthy of a breakfast, lunch, dinner or a big old snack. Accompanying one of the best burgers in the city is an array of carefully prepared classic American food like creamy mac and cheese, fantastic tacos, superb grilled cheeses, “hearty” soups and same damn good hot dogs. Their fries are crispy, golden and delicious not unlike the famed fries of a popular burger chain but oh so much better. Be sure to ask for a selection of their house made dips to give you some choices that coincide with your ketchup. I suggest a sampling from each column but be sure you get one of their amazing burgers.

So when my buddy John, who is lucky enough to be employed by the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, came into town, Schnipper’s was an easy choice for a Burger Conquest.

THE BURGER
When I hit up the brothers Schnip’ about coming in, Jonathan let me know they had made some changes to their menu including new green chiles, hot dogs and are now using Pat Lafrieda for their ground beef. “I’m curious to know what you think,” he said which in no way whatsoever, puts ANY pressure on me to properly criticize his dreams! (wink wink).

Damn! The Schnipper burger is softer and juicier than before with even more amazing flavors. If ever a burger has truly melted in my mouth, this is the one! As always it comes on a soft bun and dressed with only the freshest of produce. When placing your order, don’t even weigh out the options, go with the Schnipper’s cheese blend. I’m not sure what the blend is but I might venture its made of equal parts awesome, delicious, fantastic and yummy.

HOLD THE FREAKING BURGER PRESSES Y’ALL!!!

The newly re-birthed Schnipper’s Green Chile Burger (which comes automatically with the special cheese blend!) is WITHOUT QUESTION the best green chile burger I’ve ever had. No idea where they’re getting the chiles from but their smoky pepper flavors are fantastic. It’s so good in fact, you should absolutely consider ordering a Schnipper’s Green Chili Cheese dog. Which is EXACTLY what I did. Why should you? Because it’s the best damn hot dog you’ll ever had. It’s so juicy and beefy and will leave your mouth watering. That’s coming from someone who only ever eats dogs at baseball games or when he is wasted, neither of which applied today.

But then again, I shouldn’t be surprised…everything at Schnipper’s is Quality. The Schnipper brothers do it right and with one of the most friendly restaurant staffs in NYC.


9 out of 10 ounces
-Rev





Being a veggie around me can sometimes be, well let’s just say “intimidating.” John, w
ho happens to be one can tell you, the veggie burger at Schnippper’s matches up along with his favorite part of the meal, the mac and cheese. To show his appreciation, John hooked me up with a ticket and a VIP pass to see Ozzy that night at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. I’ve seen the Ozzman, no joke, probably 40 or 50 times. He’s one of my all time faves and ALWAYS puts on an awesome show. I have to say though, the guys he has playing with him now are AMAZING and play more like a band than a group of superstar players. Ozzy was absolutely crazy on stage and the whole audience got to participate in a very special moment at the show.




After eating lunch here I couldn’t get the burger out of my mind. Two days later, I had to squash the crave and ordered me for delivery.

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
305 Burgers

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Zaitzeff – Yet Another Great Reason To Be on Avenue B

Posted on 11/05/2010 by Rev

Zaitzeff
http://www.zaitzeffnyc.com/
18 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

THE CONQUEST
Since opening up the NYC East Village bars Idle Hands Bar and Billy Hurricane’s with some of my friends, I have been taking the time to sample all the local businesses. It’s a fantastic neighborhood rich with fantastic local businesses. In fact, other than a chain drug store, that is all you will find on Avenue B. While we’re having a great time serving bourbon, beer and rock we are also loving what our neighbors have to offer.

On this week I finally stepped into one of NYC’s most raved about burger joints, Zaitzeff. They have a simple concept; “Our formula for hamburgers is simple. We get the best ingredients and fuss with them the least. Our American style Kobe beef comes straight from a ranch in Nebraska, so you know it’s fresh. Our sirloin, which we grind ourselves every day, is grass-fed. We cook our hand-cut fries in cast iron skillets which enables us to change the oil daily.” Known as a quaint, foodie friendly restaurant that serves all of their burgers on an amazing Portuguese muffin that is their claim to food fame. Their East Village location is still awaiting their liquor license but that shouldn’t stop you in the least to eat in or order out from Zaitzeff.

THE BURGER
Believe it or not, it does happen and some days I just don’t feel like eating a beef burger. I know, I know, don’t worry, we will all be OK and how do I know? The turkey burger at Zaitzeff told me so. It’s fresh and delicious with the slightest of seasonings that remain subtle allowing the delicious meat to be the star of the show. I won’t lie though, the turkey patty is jealous…VERY jealous of the Portuguese muffin. This Portuguese roll has all the taste one would expect of this style but in made into what I could only describe as a sturdy pancake. Add in American cheese and a fried egg and you got yourself one darn tootin‘ turkey burger.

I’m definitely headed back to try their beef or perhaps their heralded Kobe burger. Thankfully, I’m on Avenue B A LOT. So should you be.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
302 burgers

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