Whole Lotta Rosemary Back In Black Angus AC/DC Themed Burger Recipe

Posted on 06/27/2010 by Rev

Metal Hammer Magazine Presents:
THE BURGER CONQUEST WHOLE LOTTA ROSEMARY BACK IN BLACK ANGUS BURGER

THE CONQUEST
Back in March, I was approached by the producers of Bobby Flay’s Grill It! TV show asking me to submit a burger recipe with a coinciding video of me grilling it. I went and created The Bourbon Soaked Bacon Beast! In less than 24 hours my video was already the #1 most viewed video on the site. Check it out for yourself:

For some reason unbeknown to me, I was not selected to be on the show but no worries, that would never stop me. Shortly thereafter the fantastic people behind the UK’s premier Hard Rock and Heavy Metal news outlet, Metal Hammer Magazine, approached me asking if I would create a burger for them. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the release of the “Back In Black” album from AC/DC, they were putting together a tribute album. They wanted to know if I could create an AC/DC themed burger to help pay tribute to the band and their anniversary.

I was tickled pink at the request and could not have been more honored to participate. I’m a huge, Huge, HUGE fan of the band and have even once filmed a personal tour of the famed grave site of lead singer Bon Scott in Fremantle, Australia.

I put together the recipe and called up my burger loving buddy Buckshot, the man behind Mosh Potatoes, the Heavy Metal Cookbook. “Mosh Potatoes” – Recipes, Anecdotes & Mayhem From The Heavyweights of Heavy Metal. 150 recipes from bands like Pantera, Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, Anthrax to Lamb of God, Devildriver, Shadows Fall, Hatebreed to Twisted Sister, Guns & Roses, Motorhead, Zakk Wylde, Dokken, Dream Theater to the new school of metal like Municipal Waste, Skeletonwitch and Moth Eater. These recipes will kick your ass. “Cook Out With Your Book Out” – In Stores on November 30th.

Buckshot was the man behind the camera for the Bourbon Soaked Bacon Beast and I knew that my AC/DC burger video would once again require his needs. He of course said “HELL YEAH BROTHER!” and with that we were off to create (drum roll please)…

THE BURGER CONQUEST WHOLE LOTTA ROSEMARY BACK IN BLACK ANGUS AC/DC THEMED BURGER

THE BURGER
Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 117

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 LB Black Angus ground beef
  • 1/2 tsp of Thyme
  • 1/2 tsp of Garlic
  • 1/2 tsp Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • A Whole Lotta Rosemary!!
  • Slices of Colby and Pepper Jack Cheese
  • 1 package of soft potato rolls
  • 2 TSBP Soft Butter
  • 1/2 tsp Jalapeno Oil
  • 1 half pint of Australian beer for Bon Scott!!

DIRECTIONS

Watch the video!

The cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” performed by Mutiny Within, which is available on the compilation.

  1. Blast AC/DC through out entire cooking and eating experience
  2. Mix meat, spices and beer into a large bowl
  3. Form beef into patties. Sprinkle a little extra Rosemary on top of the patties before setting them aside in refrigerator for at least 60 minutes
  4. Pre-heat grill to medium
  5. Grill burgers about 3-5 minutes a side, keeping lid closed where possible
  6. Combine 2 TBSP of soft butter along with 1 tsp of Jalapeno oil into a microwave safe dish. Microwave just long enough to melt the butter. Stir thoroughly.
  7. Lightly butter each side of potato rolls and place on grill. Cook long enough to just brown the buns. Keep a close eye as you do NOT want them to burn
  8. Place 1 slice of cheese on patty in the last 30-60 seconds of cooking
  9. Remove from grill, place on bun, eat and ROCK! Wash down burger with rest of beer
  10. Order the issue of Metal Hammer containing the AC/DC Tribute
  11. Order a copy of Mutiny Within’s self-titled album on Roadrunner Records

Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 088Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 089Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 109Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 095Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 106Whole_Lotta_Rosie_Back_In_Black_Angus_Burger_Recipe_Conquest_Rev_Ciancio_ACDC_Mosh_Potatoes_Mutiny_Within_Metal_Hammer_Magazine_Tribute 041010 119

Thanks to Metal Hammer, Alex Milas, Buckshot, Mosh Potatoes, our 2 cheese techs; Lisa and Cara, Mutiny Within, Roadrunner Records and the almighty AC/DC.

Posted in BBQ, Burgers, Hamburgers, Recipe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The World’s First Food Truck Drive-In / NYC Food Fim Festival Part 1

Posted on 06/26/2010 by Rev

The World’s First Food Truck Drive-In
http://www.nycfoodfilmfestival.com/
Tobacco Warehouse
20 Water Street
Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201

GO Burger
http://www.goburger.com/

Rickshaw Dumpling Truck
http://www.rickshawdumplings.com/

The Krave
http://www.kravebbq.com/

NYC Food Fim Festival – 4th Annual – Part 1

THE CONQUEST
George Motz, the man behind the burger bible “Hamburger America,” and film of the same name, along with executive chef Harry Hawk, organize and run the NYC Food Film Festival. This 5 day event combines their mutual love of food and film to create a unique twist to the standard film festival. According to them; “The NYC Food Film Festival is a competitive film festival that presents awards in six categories: Best Feature, Best Short, Best Super-Short, Best Film Made In New York, Food Filmmaker of the Year and the Audience Choice Award. The Official Selections of the 2010 NYC Food Film Festival are reviewed by a judging panel comprised of members of New York City’s food and film communities.”

Among the many fantastic gastronomical events was “The World’s First Food Truck Drive-In.” Located underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in the abandoned Tobacco Warehouse, a smattering of NYC Metro area based food trucks parked up and allowed patrons to go from truck to truck, trying delights from each. The trucks formed a semi-circle around the movie screen where various films were screened. There was plenty of food and movies as well as beers and wines to keep appetites whet. I myself took in a quite a few Harpoon IPA’s which helped to make all of the following possible. Joined by my wife Cara and Jackie from Burger Conquest, with a beautiful scenic view of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan, set off on a mission to eat.





THE BURGER
The first target on my consumables list was the GO Burger Truck. A relative newbie on the NYC food scene, this truck serves up old school diner fare ala Burgers, Dogs, Fries and Shakes. They started out as a moving target but have since parked up at the South Street Seaport but still randomly venture out around the island. They’ve been on my hit list so I was excited to finally try their burgers.

The GO Burger truck keeps it simple. When you order a cheeseburger, that is all you get; cheese, bun and patty. If you want condiments, you must order them. I went with the simple cheeseburger while Cara and Jackie opted to split the salmon burger. While we stood outside the truck in anticipation the waft of salmon was easily the strongest smell to be coming out of their mobile kitchen. Finally they were served and we parked up at a table, ready to eat.

GO Burger offers singles or doubles and I opted for the former. In retrospect, I wish I would’ve gotten the double. Why? The tasty yet over-sized bun stole the taste show away from the patty which should be the focus. Unfortunately, my bun was burnt leaving a very distinct taste in my mouth. That aside, the cheese was placed on the burger in just the right amount and had that fast food American cheese flavor that we all grew up on. The patty was cooked medium, which even though I asked for medium-rare, is how GO Burger suggests they’re eaten. The juicy and flavorful burger combined with the savory cheese gave this sandwich a gourmet fast-food style burger appeal. I dug it but will need to revisit and revise my order.


6 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



THE DUMPLINGS
Once there was even a the smallest air bubble of space in my stomach, I ran over to get dumplings from the Riskshaw Dumplings Truck. They serve an abbreviated selection of dumplings and noodle bowls that can be found in their Rikshaw Dumplings Bar. Kenny, Anita and David, the trio behind Rikshaw, were an early adapter of the NYC gourmet food truck and have paved the way for many of the trucks featured in this day’s event.

With all the hype behind the Rikshaw dumplings, I couldn’t wait to try them. Out of the 3 various dumplings offered, I chose the Chicken & Thai Basil with spicy peanut sate dipping sauce. Sounds good doesn’t it? WEL
L IT WAS! Dumplings really are a food item that falls under the dime a dozen category not unlike hot wings. You can get them all over, none are really all that bad but the good ones are hard to find. But, when you find the good ones, they’re REALLY good and worth adding to your regular path of consumption.

These dumplings fall into that last category. The noodle covering was cooked al dente, which is something you never see. The ingredients on the inside were full of flavor and made from fresh, quality ingredients. None of the straight from the freeze jazz with these little bad boys. The sauce had a nice mix of sweet and spicy which only worked to enhance the dumplings. Next time you see this truck driving down the street, you might see me chasing after it with a fork!


8 out 10 ounces
-Rev

THE KRAVERS
Although my stomach was saying “Oh dear God no! No more food!!”My eyes were saying “you might want to eat whatever is coming out of the one truck that has a massive line.” I’m a fan of maximizing opportunity, so even though I was close to bursting, I had to see what the line for this green truck was all about. Turns out everyone was waiting to sample some Korean BBQ from The Krave Truck from Jersey City, NJ.

I approached the truck to see what was on the menu and when I read “Kravers. Choice of two meats served with monterey jack cheese, shredded kimchi, onion-cilantro relish on a toasted brioche bun,” all for the low, low, low price of $5, I ran to the back and got in line. A half an hour later I was holding a beef and a pork Kraver. One thing to know about me, I have been to Korea and had such an amazing and eye-opening experience, that I got Korean lettering as a tattoo on my wrist. The country holds a special place in my heart.

I walked back over to the table where Jackie and Cara both looked at me and said “those look really good but I am SO FULL.” I felt the same way yet we all dug into the sandwiches. The sandwiches were served on white squishy buns, not the brioche buns as advertised. That was a little bit of a let down but in reality, it was all about the meat. I must admit to not being a fan of kimchi so I ate some but worked around it for the most part. The spices and sauce on the meat gave these a sloppy joe like consistency with exotic flavoring. Both were delicious but the beef was slightly better than the pork which I actually thought was a little on the sweet side.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


Full of tasty treats and ready to burst, we said our good byes and thank yous and went home to recuperate as tomorrow would bring the NYC Food and Film Festival Brooklyn Burger n’ Beer Garden.

Posted in Beer, Brooklyn, Burgers, Event, Festival, Food Film Festival, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, New York | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

White Castle / Ghost Busters Ride – Who Ya Gonna Call?

Posted on 06/26/2010 by Rev

White Castle
525 8th Avenue
New York, NY

THE CONQUEST
Leo: “Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?”
Rev: “Ah, if there’s a good burger involved, I’ll believe anything you say.”

Well, that’s not exactly how it went but good enough. New York is a great town with a lot of fun things to do and perhaps our favorite (aside of eating delicious burgers) is riding bicycles around, exploring the city. I’ve been talking about putting together a site seeing bike ride of the city that would take us to a whole bunch of sites where famous movies were shot. Team Burger Leo, took it to another level and created a Ghost Busters Ride; a bicycle tour of Manhattan with 6 stops at Ghost Busters movie locations. Nona, Bram, Leo met up on this morning and headed off to bust some ghosts. Be sure to take notice of the shirts Leo and I are wearing.

There was no stopping our excitement for this bike ride, not even with a positron collider!!

To see a Google Map of the route click here and then switch to bikes.

I’ve also created foursquare venues for each location which you can find in New York City by searching for the tag “Ghostbusters ride.”

Location #1: “Manhattan City Bank -Irving Trust Building” -1 Wall Street. The Ghost Busters are granted a business loan. Foursquare Link.

“Let’s say this bicycle represents all of the psycho kinetic energy in the New York area. According to this morning’s sample it will be a bicycle, 35 feet long and weighing approximately 600 pounds.”

Location #2: “Ghost Busters HQ” – Fire station at 8 Hook and Ladder at 14 North Moore St off W Broadway. Foursquare Link.


“I think this bicycle should be condemned. There’s serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it’s completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.”

Location #3: NY Public Library -5th Ave. between 40th and 42nd. First ghost sighting. Foursquare Link.

Dr Ray Stantz: “Symmetrical bike stacking. Just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.”
Dr. Peter Venkman: “You’re right, no human being would stack bikes like this.”

Location #4: Spook Central -Dana Barret’s place -55 Central Park West at 65th St. Foursquare Link.

Ghostbusters Ride 062610 053

“Hold it! Now, are we actually gonna go before a federal judge, and tell him that some moldy Babylonian god is going to drop in on Central Park West, and start riding bikes around the city? Let’s show this prehistoric bitch how we ride bikes downtown.”

Location #5: Tavern On the Green – Central Park at 67th Street – Rick Moranis is cornered by the Keymaster. Foursquare Link.

“Some moron brought a bicycle to a party and it went berserk. Gozer the Bicycler. He will ride in one of the pre-chosen bikes. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the bicycler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be ridden in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!”

Location #6: “Weaver Hall, Dept. of Parapsychology” – Columbia University, Low Memorial Library –between Amsterdam and Broadway, W 114th and W 120th St. Plan to become Ghost Busters. Foursquare Link.

“All right, I’m gonna turn over the next pedal. Concentrate… I want you to tell me what you think it is.”

As we stood victoriously on the steps to “Weaver Hall,” I announced to the crew that I had 2 additional secret stops on our ride. The first of which had nothing to do with the Ghost Busters theme whatsoever. It just so happened that we were only a couple blocks away and I thought it would be fun.

Bonus Location #7: Tom’s Restaurant, AKA “Monk’s Diner.” The restaurant made famous by the TV show “Seinfeld.” 2880 Broadway at 112th St. It wasn’t necessary but hey, it was fun. Foursquare Link.

Dr. Peter Venkman: “Janine, someone with your qualifications would have no trouble finding a top-flight job in either the food service or housekeeping industries.”
[phone rings]
Dr. Peter Venkman: “You gonna answer that?”

Bonus Location #8: Landmark Tavern, 626 11th Avenue. I figured if we were going to ride around town looking at locations where fake ghosts existed, they only way to do end it right would be to go where ghosts are real; The Landmark Tavern, rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in all of NY, has been around since 1868, when there was no 12th Avenue. At the time it sat on NY’s waterfront surviving prohibition as a speakeasy. A Confederate Civil War veteran was stabbed during a knife fight in the bar and then died in a bathtub on the 2nd floor. That tub is still there and supposedly, so is his ghost. Foursquare Link.

Dr Ray Stantz: We’ve ridden it, you know what that means? A complete particle reversal.
Winston Zeddemore: We have the bikes, and we have the talent.
Dr. Peter Venkman: It’s Burger time

THE BURGER
I planned on having the burger at the Landmark to mark the occasion. Word on the street is that they have a good burger despite potential protoplasmic condiments. Unfortunately for the blog, every one opted out of a heavy meal while biking and headed off home. Not one to be defeated, I instantly made a plan. I really wanted to write about this amazing adventure on Burger Conquest and that means I need to have a burger. Thankfully, there is a White Castle in my neighborhood!

I rode over the WC, locked my bike up front and went in to get one of their amazing steamed sliders. I love White Castle and how could you not? The food tastes great, its fast and they were the very fast food chain ever. After all of these years, very little has changed there. Their’ yummy sliders are still cooked a billion at a time on a flat grill and steamed with onions. The end product is a hot, savory, mushy burger that absolutely melts in your mouth. You can’t beat em when you’re on the run, need to feed 12 people at once, looking for a late night snack or you just need to eat one so you can chat about otherwise on your burger blog!

Click here to read the official Burger Conquest review of White Castle.

Ghostbusters Ride 062610 080
7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


Posted in Burgers, Hamburgers, New York, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Best Hamburger Ever According to Taking Back Sunday

Posted on 06/23/2010 by Rev

Back in March of this year, Long Island rock band Taking Back Sunday announced that after years of separation with original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper, they were going to reunite. For the punk / emo world, this was big Big BIG news. As part of their reunion, the guys planned a 6 date US tour to kick the rust off their gear.

As part of the tour, the band offered a limited amount of fans the ability to purchase an enhanced ticket that not only got them a ticket to these very small concerts, but also a signed set list from the show and access to a pre-show meet and greet, fan-only press conference. While there, the fans were allowed to ask any question they wanted, no holds barred. These types of events are normally held for the press but the guys in Taking Back Sunday wanted to let their nearest and dearest fans have first crack.

So, what does this have to do with burgers!?!?!?

As part of my “day job” at Artist Arena, we provide these types of ticketing services to bands and fans. I was able to oversee the and help facilitate the enhanced tickets and awesome fan experience. With the tour playing Irving Plaza, which is mere blocks from my office, I was able to attend today’s fan-only press conference.

I thought long and hard about what to ask the band and in the end went with “Where’s the best hamburger you’ve ever had?” With no hesitation at all, Eddie from the band answered “Dumont” of course referring to Dumont of Brooklyn, NY. (Click to read my review.)

Mark, the band’s drummer, a noted veggie, had a different answer. Here is video of the whole conversation.

There you have it! If you ever wanted to know where rock bands go to get their burgers, now you know!

Thanks to TBS and Jillian for letting us be a part of this and thanks even more to all of the band’s fans for making this event really fun. In return, I grant you burger fame. CONGRATS!


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Mode Bistro – Burgercon 4 Frenchy’s Fry

Posted on 06/22/2010 by Rev

Mode Bistro
http://www.modebistro.com
116 N. 5th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211

THE CONQUEST
Most of my friends would probably categorize me as a social networking junkie. I do spend a lot of time on facebook, Twitter & Foursquare. Whether it’s for my job(s) at Yeah! Management / Artist Arena, working for Idle Hands, the bar 2 of my friends and I are opening or just talking about food via SteakClub7 or this site, I find social networking to be a very valuable tool. As a result of my recent obsession with foursquare, I met Ryan from Blue Fountain Media. He is a web designer and the Foursquare Ninja behind http://foursquarebadg.es/.

If that wasn’t enough, he is also the man behind Table Share. The idea behind Table Share is to get a great deal on food at a restaurant by dining with a bunch of people you’ve never met. It’s real world social networking around food. Sounds like half my life! The inaugural Table Share event took place at Mode Bistro in Brooklyn. Ryan told me “it’s one of my favorite burgers in town. Their blue cheese burger with truffle fries are AMAZING!” Ryan asked me if he could bring some of the Table Share folks out for a Burger Conquest at Mode and I of course said yes. That got me thinking that it’s been way too long since the last Burgercon and this was a perfect excuse for another!

The Burgecon, now in it’s 4 occurrence, was finally going out of the Manhattan borough. Burgercon 1 took place at the Shake Shack. Burgercon 2 went down at the Trailer Park. Burgercon 3 went down at RUB B.B.Q. and Burgercon 4 was happening at Mode Bistro in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This neighborhood eatery and lounge is a perfect example of a business that “gets” and understands its client and surrounding neighborhood. Williamsburg, as you probably know is filled with a lot of artists, musicians, students and yes, hipsters. Mode offers a 2 level dining experience with a lounge upstairs and an oak bar downstairs. They have live music on Thursday and have art supplied by lesser known artists. Their menu is a mix of traditional American fare made with French preparations.

Unfortunately due to busy schedules and a huge rain storm, some of our fellow bloggers ended up not making the event. However, we were joined by Jackie from Burger Conquest, Dmanburger JD from 101wich and Mike from Green Arm Management. After a few get to know you, how have you been, what have you eaten recently type conversation over drinks, we made a move on the food.

THE BURGER
The Mode Bistro burger or as they call it “Burger Aux Fromages,” comes with either blue cheese or Swiss cheese and a choice to add sauteed mushrooms. I ordered mine medium-rare on a grilled English muffin. Sounds good right?!? When the sever gave us the additional option of goat cheese, I jumped at the chance. Goat cheese is a dense and creamy cheese that has a distinct sharp and bitter flavor and I thought it might add a really unique flavor to the sandwich. We of course request a couple bowls of the truffle fries to accompany the burgers.

Although there were only 7 of us and the restaurant was only moderately busy, it took a good 45 minutes before we were served. I pounded back several beers during the wait but I was getting really antsy and hungry and we all know, an antsy Rev is a bad Rev. Finally the burgers arrived and I couldn’t wait to eat mine. As we all started in, person after person realized their burger was over cooked. Mine in fact, was well done.

The table chatter began and as if on cue, the restaurant’s owner,Olivier Morange, came over and in a joking manner, in his best French accented English, scolded us for all ordering burgers at the same time. He may have thought he was being funny but it honestly just came off as rude. It wasn’t like the night was a surprise and neither was the order. Ryan had coordinated with the restaurant to let them know about our excursion. He took this approach in all his communication with us. I really didn’t appreciate it to be honest and if you know me, there isn’t much that offends me while joking around is my general state of being.

Attitudes aside, let’s talk about the burger. The grilled English muffin was great and the photos just don’t do it any justice whatsoever. The melty and warm goat cheese added a unique flavor that I really was into especially when pressed up against the bitter greens. Nice touch. The restaurant used good, quality and well packed meat. It had good flavor, was juicy and good in all the right ways. Overall I enjoyed the burger but the owner’s approach really brought the evening down for me.

Having said that, Ryan was right … the truffle fries were definitely the star of the meal.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


Big thanks to everyone who attended and to Ryan for organizing the meal. Looking forward to a Table Share soon!

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New York Brewfest / HB Burger – Beer Island

Posted on 06/19/2010 by Rev

New York Brewfest – 4th Annual
http://www.nybrewfest.com/
Governors Island, NYC

THE CONQUEST
The New York Brewfest is a yearly event that takes place on Governors Island just off the Southern tip of Manhattan. The event is presented by Heartland Brewery and is a showcase of beers from around the world with a distinct focus on NY state. All proceeds from the New York Brewfest go to the New York State Brewers Association, “a strong proponent for breweries, microbreweries, brewpubs and brewing affiliated businesses. Our mission is to protect, promote, represent and educate its members and customers.” In other words its a celebration of beer by people who make beer and want to help more beer to be made. Even shorter; hell yeah, gimme a beer!!

Tickets to the event included a free ferry ride to and fro from Pier 11 at the South Street Seaport. There, beer drinkers loaded up a boat and took a short ride out to the tiny little island. Tickets were only $55 and included a free commemorative glass, coupons and ALL THE BEER YOU COULD DRINK!! For an additional $20, one had the ability to purchase one of a limited amount of Connoisseur ticket which allowed them one hour early access to the festival.


Rob, Marc and I, the collective owners of Idle Hands Bar, thankfully each had one of the Connoisseur tickets. That allowed us a full hour of next to no lines and the ability to meet brewers and their brand managers. In that time we had more than enough beers to catch a nice buzz, allowing us to meander a bit once the the event opened up, allowing a 10,000 person sold out crowd to enter. Once joined by the masses, getting a glass of beer was a 30-40 person wait per glass. I highly recommend spending the extra $20 to get the Connoisseur pass if you can. Although, it could be argued that in the time it takes to get a beer, you could drink a beer and pace yourself appropriately.

Due to inebriation and wait times, we were only able to sample some of the beers but were treated like liquid gold by the following breweries.

Peak Organic
Troegs
Defiant
Middle Ages
Victory
River Horse
Shmaltz
Arcadia
Rodenbach
Poperings Hommelbier
Captain Lawrence
Fire Island
Peekskill
Innis and Gunn
Southern Tier
Speakeasy
Sam Adams





Now that I’ve typed all those out, I’m realizing just how much beer we actually drank! Good gosh almighty, we’re lucky to have survived!!! There wasn’t a bad beer in the bunch, in fact picking out even a few favorites would be doing a disservice to the microbrew industry and the New York Brewfest. Instead, take a note from the above, head out to your local microbrew bar (if you’re in NYC come visit us at Idle Hands Bar when we open mid-July) and try some for yourself!

THE BURGER
Oh yeah! I almost forgot. This site is not a beer review site or even an advertisement for Idle Hands Bar (who has time for subtlety?). It’s about BURGERS! As the Heartland Brewery was presenting the event, they of course set up a stand to server their signature HB Burger. Their beef comes from the rockstar of the beef community, Pat La Frieda guaranteeing that no matter how it’s served, the beef is of the highest quality available, at least in NYC!

Much like my last review of the HB Burger, I will once again have to take a mulligan. Sure, it was good but it was overcooked and hardly fair to judge the merits of a burger best intended to be made to order. So while I will say it was quite good, I can’t say it would make for a fair review of the burger. I will say though it soaked up some much needed beer allowing for further drinkage and better to have been offered an HB Burger over some festival oriented frozen hockey puck burger.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

I will say the opportunistic move of the day goes to the hot dog vendor parked just beyond the fence at the South end of the event. While lines for food were up to 50 people deep at one time, this smart, hustling, entrepreneur pulled his hot dog cart up to the fence and served the hungry masses with the help of his 2 kids. I wish I had a picture from his perspective as those of us that found him must’ve looked like inmates as we screamed and begged for food through the wire fence.

Special thanks to Peak Organic, Manhattan and SKI for making sure we had a super-fantastic-expi-ALE-idocious experience.

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Brooklyn Diner – Be Like Conan O’Brian, Not Robert Plant

Posted on 06/18/2010 by Rev

Brooklyn Diner
http://www.brooklyndiner.com
212 W 57th St
New York, NY 10019

THE CONQUEST
When it comes to favorite burgers, Everybody Gots One. If you don’t, please check out any of the selections in our “Burger Rank” to the right of this post –> For my business colleague and friend Mark, it’s The Brooklyn Diner. While working in the building next door for years, Mark developed a love for their burger. Since relocating his business practices to NJ, Mark has been craving their cheeseburger and constantly trying to take me there to join him. Finally a date popped up where our scheduling planets aligned and we were off for a lunch with my co-workers, Adam and Jackie.

Located in Midtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Diner, also known as The Finer Diner, strives to serve a mix of classic American ethnics foods found throughout Brooklyn. The menu is a celebration of foods that have helped to shape it’s rich history and cultural diversity. They take the diner concept, a collection of food, styles and cuisines and step it up a notch with a “best of” filter. I.E, they don’t just serve a hot dog, they serve a hot dog, at the Brooklyn Diner it’s a “15 Bite Brooklyn Diner ‘All Beef’ Hot Dog.” Some may call it extremely but I think the Brooklyn Diner sees it more as “quality.” Another example; their market salad. It’s not just any old bowl of lettuce, this literal cornucopia has 18 different Vegetables!! The Brooklyn Diner strives to sever every day diner items but done better than the rest.

While your seated at your table, be sure to check out the array of gold name plates nailed up around the place. Your bound to see a list of past and present NY who’s who’s. Our booth in particular had been marked with Nathan Lane, Conan O’Brian and Sydney Pollack. Chances are good, you’ll catch someone famous diner there. I once relieved myself in the bathroom while standing next to Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant while dining there. (Note to readers: Robert Plant does not wash his hands after taking a wee.)

THE BURGER
The Brooklyn Diner Cheeseburger, which only comes deluxe, is made from prime ground beef and topped with Vermont cheddar cheese, hickory smoked bacon, frizzled onion rings & french fried potatoes on the side. They set the bar pretty high by plainly stating right on the menu -“Best Burger in New York – NY Magazine.” Mark is no stranger to the Burger Conquest so if he said this is his favorite burger, I have to trust he is aware of the scrutiny he and it will be under.

All 4 of us ordered the cheeseburger with only Adam wavering on the possibility of the hot dog but burger curiosity got the best of him. Without much waiting time, the sandwiches arrived with a large pickle and a pile of shoe string fries. The Brooklyn Diner cheeseburger, much like the island of Manhattan, is bigger than you think. It’s a thick-patty pub-style burger served on a soft sesame seed roll. The bacon, cheese and onions are piled on top to create one heaping sandwich. Cooked to a perfect medium-rare, it was juicy, loosely packed and with great flavor. Without a doubt, this is not your average diner burger. In fact, I would say it’s far above average! Kudos to Mark, this is the kind of burger that helps to define the city, much like the diner itself!

While you here, I highly suggest a side of the Shelly’s Baked Macaroni & Cheese. It too is listed as the “Best of New York – NY Magazine.” It’s made from fresh tagliolini pasta, Parmigiano Reggiano & ham and it is quite simply, special. This thick taste sensation has great flavor without being bland or runny, the 2 biggest pitfalls of the dish. The ham adds a nice little taste to cut the difference from all the cheeses.

When you’re done with the burger and mac, be sure to try one of The Brooklyn Diner’s DELICIOUS Rugelach cookies. If you’re really nice, like me, you’ll buy a bunch and bring them back to your office to share with your co-workers!


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


In honor of your favorite burger, I give you this remake of Van Halen’s “Everybody Want’s One”

But everybody gots one!
I got one too
Everybody gots one!
Baby, how ’bout you?

Oh! Oh yeah!

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Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen – New Kids On The Itis

Posted on 06/18/2010 by Rev
Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen

http://www.schnippers.com
620 8th Ave
New York, NY 10018

THE CONQUEST
You know who likes burgers? EVERYONE! And if they say they don’t, either they’re lying or they’ve never had one. However this time, I am asking about a specific group of people. Answer? The New Kids On The Block! Or even more specifically, the man on their wheels of steel; DJ Cheapshot.

When I got an email from him that simply read “Are you free to show me NYC’s best burger or at least meet for a sec? Would love to meet the myth!” I thought how could I possibly deny the request? I might be a myth but the New Kids are legendary. Say what you want, being successful at an early age and staying successful for many decades is practically an anomaly these days.

So kudos to them and especially to any who loves burgers as much as DJ Cheapshot. I’m guessing most of you know him from being the New Kids On the Block DJ or maybe as a member of Linkin Park side project, Fort Minor. Me, I know him as a member of the Beef Eaters United, an elite team of burger bandits based in Los Angeles. Although the one time I had the chance to dine with the B.E.U., Cheapshot was not able to make it so I was very excited to finally burger up to the man behind the turntable.

The pressure was on to perform. CJ Cheapshot only had 1 hour of time and needed to stay near the venue for then night’s show. What to do, what to do?!? Then it hit me! Where to go in Midtown if you want a tasty burger, quality service and to be treated like you are a myth or legend of the burgerverse!?!? SCHNIPPER’S QUALITY KITCHEN!!! I knew that a visit to the souped up burger counter that Jonathan and Andrew Schnipper run together would satisfy on all levels. Serving a quality burger is the #1 priority for these two brother’s and after only one conversation, you’ll understand just how important that is to the Schnipper’s. You can read more about them by clicking here while the rest of us continue on to …

THE BURGERS
We asked our two fantastic hosts to hit us with their best burger shot sans tomatoes. The 2 brothers looked at each other, put ear to ear wide grins and asked us to grab a table. While Jackie, Cheapshot and I sat in the sun on the Schnipper’s sidewalk seating area playing the “get to know me game,” the two burger geniuses scurried around the kitchen.

Up first, the Hickory Bacon Blue Burger. It comes with comes with bacon, blue cheese, crispy onions, hickory BBQ sauce, lettuce, Schnipper sauce and a tomato, however, ours did not have those on them! The Schnipper’s use an 80/20 blend of freshly ground beef that has all the flavors that quality beef should have and even when surrounded by all kinds of toppings, the fine beef taste still comes shining through. But the greatness doesn’t end there as everything from the salty bacon to the smoky BBQ sauce is made from the best of ingredients.


8 out of 10 ounces

Before we could catch our breaths by “catch our breaths” I mean “finish our first burger,” Andrew and Jonathan were back with the Green Chile Cheeseburger. This is the Schnipper’s tribute to the Bobcat Bite, home to the original green chile burger which comes covered in green hatch chiles. As Jonathan explained to us, getting actual fresh green chiles at an affordable price in New York City is next to impossible, the Schnipper version substitutes using roasted poblanos with their special cheese blend and Schnipper sauce. I didn’t think they would be able to top the Hickory Bacon Blue but this burger most certainly did (albeit by a very small margin!)

Again, great beef tasty, fresh cheese, tangy sauce and then adding in fresh roasted peppers?!?! HELL YEAH! This burger has a really nice smokey-pepper taste that really stands above the competition. We were all nearly the fill point in our bellies but pushed through to finish this amazing burger.


8 out of 10 ounces

As if the 2 burgers, the creamy and thick bacon and macaroni and cheese, the crispy breaded onion rings with spicy chipotle-ranch dipping sauce, the sweet and savory sweet potato fries with candy-like maple dipping sauce, intense chocolate, black and white and cookies and cream shakes and fish tacos were not enough…the Schnipper’s brought out another pile of burgers! Were they trying to kill us with food? Quite possibly!

With tears of joy welling up from the lack of space in my belly, I pealed back the bun to reveal their special cheese blend, carmelized onions, bacon, arugula and Schnipper sauce which all together creates the Schnipper’s Classic burger. It’s not like we needed more food and I couldn’t fathom anything better than the green chile burger but leave it to the Schnipper’s to once again take it up a notch. This was easily the best burger of the day!!

With a MASSIVE case of the ITIS we profusely thanks the Schnipper’s for an above Quality meal and a fantastic hang. Jackie and I had to head back to the office to lie down under our desks and DJ Cheapshot was going to cry in his hotel room. I didn’t see his show that night (I went to get stung by the Scorpions) but my wife told me his set was amazing. DJ Cheapshot’s cuts – fueled by Schnipper’s burgers.

Congrats to Schnipper’s, you’ve made our TOP BURGERS IN NYC list!!!!!


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



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Guess the ‘Gliph

Posted on 06/17/2010 by Rev

In honor of the National Geographic King Tut Exhibition at the Discovery Times Square Exposition, let’s have some fun.

Translate these Egyptian hieroglyphics into English and you’ll win all of the following:

– A picture of you eating a burger posted on the Burger Conquest Website
– A mention with a link to your Twitter, Facebook, Website and FourSquare page on Burger Conquest
– A $10 gift certificate to your burger restaurant of choice
– An official Burger Conquest skin for your ipod or blackberry bold, storm or curve.

Once you’ve cracked the code, head over to Times Square in NYC and see the exhibit. They have some pretty amazing artifacts including a mummy and a 3-D movie.

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ESPN Match Truck – Burger Gooooooooaaaallllllll!

Posted on 06/13/2010 by Rev

ESPN Match Truck
http://espnwctrucks.com
New York, NY

THE CONQUEST
As the cold winds of winter give way to the sunshine of the spring, I hop up on my bicycle and ride like crazy. I call it “revrides” and keep a running tab of miles ridden as well as photos taken while site seeing in the amazing city that is New York, NY. On the weekends me and a couple of my bike riding pals go on little bike adventures around the 5 boroughs and our favorite one is the yearly ride to Coney Island. It’s the home to NYC’s most famous beach as well as freaks, carnival rides, hot dogs and so much more. Dozens and dozens of films like Requiem For A Dream, Cloverfield, Uptown Girls, The Pick-Up Artist, Angel Heart, Remo Williams, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Wiz and many, many more have all been filmed there.

Coney Island also houses one of the world’s most famous amusement parks, Luna Park. Alongside of this famous park that has just gone through a rebuild, you’ll find the famous Deno’s Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone. The former, built in 1920 was officially declared as a landmark in 1989. 7 years after the birth of the Wonder Wheel, The Cyclone joined it on June 26, 1927 and was declared a landmark in 1988. Both rides have defied the test of time and stand as an amazing piece of not only amusement park history but also that of Brooklyn and New York.

What better to do once you have ridden your bike all the way out to the South end of Brooklyn than refuel. There are lots of food choices in Coney Island but none more famous than Nathan’s. In fact, they’re SO well known that they are actually named Nathan’s Famous. Originally constructed in 1916 by a Polish immigrant using his wife’s hot dog recipe, Nathan’s quickly boomed in popularity. Over the years Nathan’s has been the proud hot dog of choice by Al Capone, President Roosevelt, Barbara Streisand, Rudy Giuliani, Jerry Seinfeld and more. It’s also the home to the International Hot Dog Eating Contest, happening every July 4th.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BURGERS?!???

For those bike inclined and looking for the route, once in Brooklyn, we ride Union East until it lands right into the entrance of Prospect Park at Grand Army Plaza. Its a great park and an even more spectacular entrance. The Plaza serves as a traffic circle where 8 major roads connect. In the plaza itself, sits the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch, Brooklyn’s version of the Arc de Triomphe. Across from it, on the South side of the plaza, you’ll find the entrance to Prospect Park and on this day in particular, we found something very interesting.

Everyone has FIFA World Cup fever. It only happens every 4 years and consequently the only time Americans really care about the sport. Truth be told, we just want an excuse to drink beer at 7:30 AM EST!!! Nearly every bar in NYC is airing all games and you can see people at any given hour wearing the jersey, hat and or flag of their team. Even CNN and BING are in on the action creating World Cup badges on Foursquare. Everyone has World Cup Fever, even ESPN.

While Nona and I sat in Grand Army Plaza while Bram and Leo ran to the bike shop, we saw what appeared to be a Food Truck with a large TV a top. Upon closer inspection we found it to be the ESPN World Cup Match Truck. The truck was set up by ESPN and parks at a different location each day in NYC, showing the games live on an HD screen and serving up a “menu of authentic street food inspired by the countries playing in the World Cup.” Among the selections I found Sliders “Mini Hamburgers with Kogi Ketchup.” Of course I couldn’t resist, especially since the truck smelled so good and placed an order. A few minutes later, Nona and I were sitting on the park’s wall about to dig in.

THE BURGER
The burgers came out quick and looked pretty good. The buns were glistening and toasted, the cheese was melted and a very distinct smell was coming off the the ketchup and whatever the hell else was on the burger. At first I assumed the mystery topping to be chopped onions but after my first bite, I realized otherwise. It turns out that “Kogi Ketchup” is ketchup made with sriracha hot sauce and kimchee (pickled, spicy bamboo shoots.) It had one hell of a kick that left a slight burning sensation on our lips for a good 1o minutes. The beef was cooked nearly well done, which with a slider is almost inevitable, but was clearly taken for a decent cut. The patties had a really nice beef flavor. The kimchee and sriracha became a little too much and I eventually scraped some of it off. Ahhh! Much better! It was a nice, spicy little world cup oriented treat and I would definitely suggest you try it.

Check their calendar for New York City area appearances.
Follow them on Twitter for updates.
If you live in Los Angeles, they have an ESPN Match Truck as well.

BUT if you REALLY like food and want to try the ESPN Match Truck, I heavily suggest you get a ticket to the NYC Food and Film Festival. Among many fantastic events, on Saturday, June 26th, 2010 the ESPN Match Truck will be featured in The World’s First Food Truck Drive-In Movie. The event runs from Noon until 1o pm in Dumbo, under the Brooklyn Bridge. The entire event is put on by the Master of Burgermonies, George Motz from Hamburger America.

I will be in attendance myself and I look forward to eating and meeting with all of you! Let me know if your attending and be sure to follow me on Twitter and Foursquare. Until then, see you on the bike paths!


As for the ride, it was a blast. Here are some of the pictures. If you ride out there yourself, be warned, bicycles are NOT allowed in Luna Park and the securities guards working the guide are rude, unhelpful and lazy. Expect nothing more. After 2 extremely frustrating attempts to check out the new park, we threw our hands up and walked out. Thank goodness for the delicious Hot Dog and Cheese Fries (a must!) at Nathan’s!




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