Celebrate National Hamburger Day on May 28th with Burger Conquest

Posted on 05/18/2010 by Rev

Celebrate National Hamburger Day on May 28th with Burger Conquest

Experience the Burger That Began It All – the Original “Louis’ Lunch” Burger, with Fries and a Beer for $20.10 at Rare Bar & Grill at the Fashion 26 Hotel

Get Your Photo and Review on BurgerConquest.com

This year, National Hamburger Day lands on May 28th — and what better way to celebrate a staple of traditional American cuisine than with Rare Bar & Grill (Fashion 26 Hotel, 152 W. 26 St. 212.807.7273), and one of their delicious burgers! The restaurant is offering burger lovers the choice of the “Original Louis’ Lunch” burger or their Signature Cheese burger, a side of fries and a beer for only $20.10. The restaurant will also offer their regular menu.

Happy to offer burger lovers a taste of history, Rare is the only area restaurant currently offering the Louis Lunch burger. The burger that started it all contains six ounces of secret house blend beef patty, topped with a grilled onion and served on white toast with a shmear of sharp cheddar. Don’t even think of asking for ketchup – that’s NOT how Louis intended it to be eaten!

Join BURGER CONQUEST as we celebrate this most glorious of holidays. There will be one seating at 8 p.m. EST on Friday, May 28th. Anyone who loves burgers is welcome and will have their picture taken for the website. You must RSVP by Wednesday, May 26th at 4 p.m. EST.

RSVP INSTRUCTIONS
Send an email to rarebarandgrill@burgerconquest.com
Subject: NHD
Include:

  • Last and first name
  • Your phone number
  • Your email address
  • Number of people in your party

Each party may submit 1 photo and a 1-paragraph review/story about the evening for a guest blog on Burger Conquest. Photos and reviews will also be posted on the Burger Conquest Faceboook page. Please make sure to have your photo and text submitted no later than Monday, My 31st at 1 pm EST.

SEE YOU ON MAY 28TH AT 8 PM!

Click here for the official Burger Conquest review of Rare Bar and Grill.

Click here to download a reminder to your Outlook or iCal.



Posted in Bar, Burgers, Event, Gourmet Burgers, Hamburgers, National Hamburger Month, New York | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The 37th Annual 9th Avenue Food Festival / Chelsea Grill / Lucky’s Famous –

Posted on 05/15/2010 by Rev

37th Annual – 9th Avenue International Festival
http://ninthavenuefoodfestival.com/
9th Avenue from 42nd St – 57th St
Hell’s Kitchen
New York, NY

Chelsea Grill of Hell’s Kitchen
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/44527807/new_york_ny/chelsea_grill_of_hells_kitchen.html
675 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036

Lucky’s Famous
http://www.luckysfamousburgers.com/
370 West 52nd St
New York, NY

THE CONQUEST

CHELSEA GRILL OF HELL’S KITCHEN
Every 3rd weekend of May, 9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, is shut down to vehicle traffic and for a mile and a half of food and drinks. It beckons the start of summer as the first real outdoor weekend event of the year. American, Moroccan, Greek, Spanish, Cuban, Japanese, Thai, Italian, German, Argentina and all kinds of other international cuisines are present. It is a veritable cornucopia of self-indulgent gluttony. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year and a privilege of being a New Yorker. Strap on your feedbags and get ready for some food porn.

If you read my post from last year, there are a lot of repeats but realize that’s because they are must eats! Let’s kick it off with the on-topic food du jour…

THE BURGERS
The Chelsea Grill of Hell’s Kitchen is located in the”HK” as we locals like to call it, which is right next to the Theater District. As it’s on 9th Avenue, we have the ability to classify it as one or the other and if it was bad, we would say it’s a theater crowd restaurant. Fortunately, it’s not! The Chelsea Grill is very popular for brunch and or happy hour offering a bistro style menu with many options. We passed by it shortly after our 9th Avenue Festival began and noticed they were serving grilled foot long hot dogs and sliders. Most places just offer food but the Chelsea Grill also had outdoor seating, table service and beer / alcohol. That’s a winning combo in my book.

Upon instant inspection I determined these not to be sliders. Technically they were mini-burgers, but no mater, I wanted to eat them. They were served on a small potato roll with a slice of cheddar. Ketchup, mustard, relish and chopped onions were offered by I chose none of the above. (The one picture with ketchup was for my wife.) Knowing that these suckers are massed produced to appease a massive festival crowd, I didn’t have high expectations. I’m glad to say they were pretty good! Cooked to a nice pink-in-the-middle medium and still pretty damn juicy, the Chelsea Grill mini-burgers did not disappoint! The meet was fresh and of good quality which is not at all what I thought I was about to dig into. I definitely need to go back and try the regular menu burger. The Mitchell-London tent was right next to the Chelsea Grill and while seated there, we took the liberty of exploring several food items, but more on that after the burgers.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


LUCKY’S FAMOUS
Burger #2 was had on Sunday, the 2nd day of the festival at the request of my best bud, The Logg. We had passed the Lucky’s Famous booth several times and the hankering for a Burger Conquest was feeding into his curiosity. I’ve tried their burgers at the restaurant itself and was not impressed, but then later gave their showing at the 36th Annual festival a higher rating. Now trying them for a 3rd, I’m convinced, Lucky’s makes a better burger outside on backyard grill than they do on an inside restaurant grill. The Logg got several items on this but I kept it simple with lettuce, cheese, bacon and the very tasty Lucky Sauce. The bacon was really crispy and tasty along with I think may have been Velveeta cheese. I must say, I didn’t remember them being this good but it’s totally possible that Lucky’s has upgraded. Much like the Chelsea Grill, I need to go back and try them in-store.


7 out of 10 oun
ces
-Rev


OTHER DIGESTIONS

  • MOZZAREPAS – The STAR of the 9th Avenue International Food Festival – 9 out of 10
  • BUTTERMILK BISCUIT HAM SLIDER’S from MITCHELL LONDON FOODS – 9 out of 10
  • QUICHE from MITCHELL LONDON FOODS – 7 out of 10
  • BAKED CHICKEN FINGERS and Honey Mustard from MITCHELL LONDON FOODS – 8 out of 10
  • CARROT CAKE from MITCHELL LONDON FOODS – 8 out of 10
  • CHEESE AND POTATO PIEROGIES from MILLIE’S – 8 out of 10
  • GRILLED CORN ON THE COB – 8 out of 10 (my fave item at the fest!!)
  • GRILLED ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS, ONIONS and CHEESE WHIZ – 7 out of 10
  • LAMB GYRO – 7 out of 10
  • CHEESE AND MANGO + CHEESESTEAK EMPANADA from EMPANADA MAMA – 8 out of 10
  • Vegetable Corn Fritters – 6 out of 10
  • KATAIF from POSEIDON BAKERY – 8 out of 10
  • SMOKED FLANK STEAK, FRIED PLANTAIN and FRIED RED SKIN POTATO from MATEO’S GRILL – 8 out of 10













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Tri-Tip Grill – The Best Steak Sandwich in New York City

Posted on 05/13/2010 by Rev

Tri Tip Grill
http://www.tritipgrill.com
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10012

Tri_Tip_Grill_NYC_Review_Steak_Sandwich_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Best_Lunch_Midtown_ 051310_014 (5)

THE CONQUEST
I am about to ramble on in my normal way about fun stories, back ground information, taste description and food porn. While my ego appreciates your full attention to everything you are about to read, honestly all you need to know is that you need to run, not walk, to Tri-Tip right this very moment and sink your teeth into the best steak sandwich in NYC. Please feel free to return to this after doing so and continue reading.

How was it? You agree?

Located in the building made famous by the TV show with the abbreviated name, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Tri-Tip Grill, promises “The Best Meat of Your Life.” If you listened to the above, you know now for yourself. If you just kept reading, you should know that the mean it! “This sandwich will change your life,” is a bold statement but clearly they knew it. The Tri-Tip Grill was started by Californian’s John Pickerel and Jim Apple. They became famous purveyors of meat at the San Francisco based chain, the Buckhorn Grill. In March of 2010, the 2 brought their meat secrets to the big Apple where you can know partake in their delicious char grilled steak sandwiches (have you gone yet? SERIOUSLY!)

For those not familiar with the common types of beef, just settle in and let me clue you in. Tri tip is a very lean part of the sirloin. Some say it’s the tastiest, most flavorful part cut possible. At the Tri-Tip Grill they dry age their meat 21 days before it’s covered in rubbed marinade and charred over fire. At the Tri-Tip Grill it’s then moved to a wood smoker to give it even more taste sensation. Get yourself in line and get ready for some good eatin. Your sandwich is only 5 minutes away.

joeC from Steak Club 7 happened on this place across the street from his office and has been raving about it since. The man knows his meat so I trust his word. When he messaged me today and said “Doug, Chris and I going to Tri-Tip Grill in 30. Can you get here?”you can bet your ass I dropped what I was doing and headed to Rockefeller Center. After getting loss in the concourse of 30 Rock, I finally found, located in the basement level, on the North side of the building. On his last visit, joeC did see Bill Hader, so the eyes were open for cast sightings.

THE SANDWICH
The Tri-Tip offers a long list of steak sandwiches, burgers, steak, salads and more but if it’s your first time, stick with one of the Buck tri tip sandwiches. I got the “Big Buck,” – 6 ounces of sliced tri tip served with au jus dipping sauce and caramelized onions. My excitement was growing like a kid in a candy store, that is if it was a steak store! The smell coming off the sandwich was heavenly and I could not wait to bite in.

I went in for the kill, opting not to dip the first bite. Wow. WOW! WOWWW!!! Was I really tasting what I was tasting? Could this possibly be the most delicious steak sandwich in all of New York? Only another bite could confirm. Second bite, no dip. Then on the third bite, I took the diver. It was confirmed, this is the best beef sandwich. Each savory and juicy bite has flavors of salt, pepper, smoke and other spices that I really couldn’t pin point as they did the happy dance in my mouth. I started to cry and my tears started to tear it was so beautiful.

If you still are reading and have not bolted off to get one, pay mind to the following. Practice caution while dipping! Truth be told, the salty meat, sweet onions and fresh white bread do not really need any additional flavor. In fact, adding juice is like washing down a sip of coffee with a sip of Red Bull, pure unnecessary dancing with danger. I’m not telling you NOT to dip but dip lightly. Too much au jus becomes over powering and really, really salty. Think of it this way, you aren’t trying to drown the sandwich, just baptize…take it from a Reverend.

If there was an appearance of Jack Donaghy or Vinny Vedicci, I wouldn’t have noticed as I was completely enraptured in the Tri-Tip Grilll Big Buck sandwich.

Feel free to save this photo to your smart phone or print out and use as your dipping guide.Tri_Tip_Grill_NYC_Review_Steak_Sandwich_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Best_Lunch_Midtown_ 051310_014 (10)
Tri_Tip_Grill_NYC_Review_Steak_Sandwich_Burger_Conquest_Rev_Best_Lunch_Midtown_ 051310_014 (8)
9 out of 10 ounces
-Rev

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Yankee Stadium – The International Language of Hungry

Posted on 05/10/2010 by Rev

Yankee Stadium
http://www.yankees.com/

44 E 161st St
Bronx, NY 10451

THE CONQUEST
In 2009, I went on a mission, a “Glorious Pursuit,” if you will, to try every burger at Yankee Stadium. While I didn’t find a lot of amazing burgers, I have found quite a lot of delicious treats. In 2010, that pursuit has turned into a desire to try every single food item the stadium has to offer. You see, long gone are the days where baseball stadiums only offer, hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks, opting more to appease the foodie in the fan. No stadium I’ve seen offers a wider array of foods than the home to the 27 times World Series winning New York Yankees. Take my love for eating, my love for baseball and more importantly, my love of drinking beer outside and you will see me at game nearly every time someone asks.

Enter my friends Dirk and Yvette. They’re from Dortmund, Germany, home to the Dortmunder Brewery. Much like me, they work in the music business and are 2 fantastic people. Dirk calls me up on a Monday “Hey dude, I’m in NYC with Yvette and her parents. They’ve never been to a baseball game and I’ve never been to Yankees Stadium (he’s a Dodgers fan). Would you be able to help us get some tickets and do you want to go?” Shortly thereafter, I had 6 tickets in hand and plans to meet them at the game with my wife Cara.

Yvette’s Mom and Dad, Maria and Hans, were very sweet and nice. They were also very German, in that they barely spoke any English. However it wasn’t much of a barrier for fun as we all spoke the international language of hungry! While Dirk spent the game explaining, in German, to Yvette’s parents, what was happening on the field, I organized our food consumption.

As it was their first US baseball game, I felt they should sit through the National Anthem and first pitch. As soon as the teams took the field, Hans turned to me and said “I’m hungry!” I knew exactly what had to be done.

THE DIGESTIONS
There are a lot of great, tasty and diverse food choices available at Yankees stadium but my new favorite is the NYY Steak Express sandwich. It’s sliced NY strip steak, served on a Kummelweck bun with optional Dijon horseradish on the side. It’s absolutely wonderful and where I wanted to start the eating. For my full review, click here. Everybody got one and everybody loved it, especially Dirk and Hans. Although they changed the bun, it’s still damn good.


8 out of 10

Once I had a chance to digest a bit of my sandwich (note: burping) I wandered back into the stands to get something else. That’s when I walked by a stand I had never seen before. Located behind section 208, there is a little booth that simply labeled “LATIN FOOD.” My curiosity piqued, I approached ready to eat. Other than beverages, they only offer 1 item, Spanish Chicken and Rice so there was no choice to be made. The dish was piping hot and easily one of the biggest food items in the stadium. I took back to my seat and dug in. Wow! I couldn’t believe not only how good it was but also how authentic. The chicken, which I believe was stewed, was covered in Sofrito spices and cooked with tomatoes, peppers and onions. The rice was a little bland but that’s to counteract the spicy heat and intense flavors of the chicken. Cara tried a bite, thinking it would just be OK and she found herself helping me to polish it off. Dirk tried a little and liked it while Yvette’s father just seemed confused but in approval. It’s a special treat and I definitely recommend trying this on your next visit, especially if you have already eaten everything else in the stadium.


8 out of 10
-Rev


BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!!

I’m sitting at my computer the next day when my AOL instant messenger begins to flash in orange, signaling that I have a message. I flip over to find my good buddy Rich Hall has reached out to me. “Want to go to the Yankees’ game today?” I type back “what section are the tickets and how much?” Rich responds “108. Free. They’re Mike’s corporate tickets.” With no delay, I message back “I’ll be 20 minutes late. Call you when I’m at the gate.”

Free tickets to hang out at my favorite bar in NYC and eat awesome food?!??! HELL YEAH BABY!! Normally I would grab a bite before checking into my seat but seeing as though I was late for the game, I opted for just a Schlitz from the Retro Beer stand. Once in the seats, following a big thank you to Mike, I realized that our seats were in the in-seat service section. If you’re seated in that area, know that you don’t have to go get food and drinks if you want as a server will bring them to you. The menu is limited but still pretty good. Mike suggested we just order from the menu so we could sit and watch the game uninterrupted.

Our seats were literally in front of 3 of my favorite stands, Carl’s Cheesesteaks, Garlic Fries and the NYY Steak Sandwich express. My plan was to take advantage of the proximity to ensure the freshest and hottest experience from each. But Mike’s suggestion to order from the in seat menu was throwing me off. Then I saw it. The realization hit me that not only could stay put and watch the game but also try something I haven’t prior…THE NYY PASTRAMI sandwich! Order placed pastrami en route, stomach ready.

THE DIGESTIONS

As we sat watching Nick Swisher make play after play from the field, we anxiously anticipated the arrival of food. Thankfully four our hunger pains, a server quickly returned with our orders. I unwrapped the sandwich from the signature Yankee’s box and noticed it was still hot. After tossing out the pickle (YUCK!) I began my taste journey. I was expecting dry and stale due to this being mass produced but I am happy to state, the rye bread was fresh and soft in the middle yet with harder, chewy crust. My expectations for the meat itself were also pretty low but once again, I was proven wrong. Pastrami is supposed to be server hot, juicy, moist and pink. This pastrami was definitely hot and a little juicy but it was cooked well done. Normally I would be let down but the half crispy / half-moist meat was smoky and delicious. The pastrami meat had a bacon like consistency which gave it a lot of salty and peppered flavor. I really, really enjoyed it.


7 out of 10

The sandwich left me pretty full and it wasn’t until both Mike and Rich demanded more food that I was prepared to eat again. We originally wandered over to the Arthur Avenue Deli stand for chicken parm sandwiches. I am sad to report that the stand has been replaced with a “pizza fritta”stand. That was a bum out for sure. With my hunger between my legs, we opted for Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and cheese fries, some of the best in the world.


8 out of 10
-Rev


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Rare Bar & Grill – NYC Ballet, the NYC MoMA and now the NY Strip Burger

Posted on 05/08/2010 by Rev

Rare Bar & Grill
http://www.rarebarandgrill.com/
152 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10001
(Inside Fashion 26, a Wyndham Hotel)

THE CONQUEST
While apartment searching in Manhattan, my wife Cara and I happened upon the brand new location of Rare Bar and Grill in the Fashion 26 hotel in Chelsea. Exciting memories from my first visit to Rare Bar and Grill (click link to learn more about the restaurant and read the review.) popped into my head. Although we didn’t immediately pay them a visit, the idea became lodged in the back of my head. 3 weeks later we were in the area furniture shopping and the idea became a reality. Cara and I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and took a seat at the bar.

THE BURGER
With a list or burger choices nearly a mile long, I had a real difficult time wrestling with a choice. I finally zoned in a New York Strip burger from the Steakhouse Burger list. The patty, just as it’s named, is made from a cut of Strip steak. It’s topped with Roquefort cheese, double smoked slab bacon and grilled red onions and it’s a work of art deserving of an exhibit in the MoMA. If burgers were measured by size, this would not be small, medium or large, this would classified under “monster sized.” I could barely wrap my burger mits around the sandwich. The salty thick cut bacon mixed with creamy Roquefort and sweet onions perform their own version of the New York City Ballet a top the patty. The freshly ground beef is cut from a fresh, high quality cut of a New York Strip steak and it is absolutely fantastic. This juicy, stack of taste bud happiness is one pub style burger not to be reckoned with. Be sure to order the French Fry Tasting Basket along with your burgers. The fries are good but it’s all about the four sauces that are served along with it!


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



Check out Cara’s food porn pictures. She’s a big fan of the digital macro setting on the camera.

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White Castle / Five Boro Bike Tour – Turning A Ride Into A Slide(r)

Posted on 05/02/2010 by Rev

White Castle
http://www.whitecastle.com
2101 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11106-4532

THE CONQUEST
There are 365 days in a year but one of my favorites is the first Sunday in May. Here in New York, for some that means attending The Bamboozle. For me and my friends, it’s the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour presented by Bike New York. Now in it’s 33rd year, it’s a whopping 42 mile bicycle ride that takes registrants through all 5 New York City Boroughs.

The ride begins in the Financial District where it heads North on 6th Avenue passing through Central Park into Harlem. The path then heads East in The Bronx and back into the city for a unique moment that allows riders to cruise down the FDR highway with no vehicular traffic. From there it crossed into Queens via the Queensboro bridge, looping through Astoria Park before heading South into Brooklyn. Once riders pass over the Pulaski Bridge, they move along the waterfront passing under all 3 bridges that connect Manhattan to the borough. After cruising by the Brooklyn Bridge, the path leads onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (the “BQE”) which is closed to non-cycling traffic on the day of the ride. That’s probably the least fun part of the ride due to the hills and hot pavement but the pay off is incredible! From there riders hop onto the Belt Parkway, riding along the water with amazing views of the river. This leads into the crown jewel of the ride, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, or as my friend Bram calls it “the final boss.” The ride “ends” in Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island with a huge festival. I put ends in quotes because unless you have a car in the parking lot, you have to ride another 4 miles to get the Staten Island Ferry back to NYC. For more info on the route click here.

It seems pretty daunting if you’ve never done it and the first time is always very tiring. No one I know, including myself, isn’t excited, honored and ready to it again once they finish the ride. People of all (or no) athletic ability can participate in the rate and in fact it’s pretty common to see entire families riding it out. It’s the only day of the year where bikers own the city and the only time that the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge can be crossed via bicycle. Several sponsors help to make it a pleasant, easy and fun ride with several rest stops where riders are given food, water and sometimes energy beverages. It is a rain or shine event so you best be prepared for whatever the weather condition may be. Heavy rains do not stop the ride, but they can definitely ruin it! Here is a picture of our defeated crew from the 2009 ride.

Regardless, it’s a terrific way to spend a Sunday and see parts of New York you would never see otherwise and certainly not in this fashion. I could not endorse this wonderful event more!

You’re probably wondering “Rev! What the hell does this have to do with burgers!??!” Not one to pass up an opportunity for shameless self promotion, I saw the ride as an opportunity to promote the site. Using a dowel rod, zip ties, duct tape, a folder and a marker, I fashioned together a Burger Conquest flag and fixed it to the back of the bike. The flag had by Twitter screen name, the blog’s URL and my chosen ride hash tag of choice “#5Boro.” At the rest stop in The Bronx I met Noel “noneck” who applauded the hash tag. Several riders along the route asked me about the site but more importantly, asked me if I had eaten any burgers yet that day. The answer was “no” until about the 17 mile mark when the ride passed by a White Castle in Astoria, Queens…

THE BURGER
For slower riders, the Five Boro has a cut off / short cut that happens as soon as you cross the Queensboro bridge. The route skips the Astoria Park section of the ride to help things move along. Even though we were in jeopardy of being removed from the ride due to the route closing, Rob, Bram and I decided to stop off for 1 slider each. While Nona and Janet watched the bikes, we ran inside to place our orders. Of course the place was packed with other riders relishing in the same idea and or taking a potty break. With only moments to spare we slid the sliders down our throats and hopped back on the bikes to rejoin the ride.

The burger was hot, juicy and fresh off, coming right off the steamer only moments before I ate it. While most people might think that kind of ingestion in the middle of demanding physical event would prove debilitating, I proudly admit that I had my best performance of the ride in the following 8 miles! It was a delicious source of energy and fuel for the rest of the ride!

Click here for the official Burger Conquest White Castle Review.


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


THE RIDE



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White Manna – A Hand to Hannd Burger Battle

Posted on 05/01/2010 by Rev

White Manna
http://www.myspace.com/white_manna
358 River Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601

THE CONQUEST
Thank god for VIP passes, seriously. This past Saturday I was standing back stage at The Bamboozle, a massive concert thrown in the parking lot of Giants Stadium and a rumbling began in my tummy. The gates were about to be open and soon 30,000 some crazed music fans would be jamming out to 2 fulls day of music, comedy and other amusements on 8 different stages. The band given the honor of kicking off the event on the main stage was an act we work with named VersaEmerge. The band hails from Florida and is getting ready to release their debut full length record on Fueled By Ramen Records. I’m not just saying this because we work with them but the new songs are beautifully constructed pieces of rock and roll magic. This was going to be the first time a lot of people, including myself and most of their label would see them play some of the new material live. Check out their cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black” on the band’s MySpace page.

Getting to the point, I didn’t want to miss the band and I knew the minute the gates were opened, every single line for food would be at least 30 minutes. Be it burritos, hot dogs, cookies or sodas, there are just too many people with too few booths to rapidly accommodate the consumption.

While pondering the perplexing situation my friend’s Scott and Joe, the band’s business manager and record label executive respectively, both asked if I wanted to get something to eat after the band was over. I expressed my lack of excitement for crappy mass produced parking lot festival food, to which both of them agreed. That’s when Scott made the best suggestion of the day – “let’s watch the band and then we can jump in my car and go get food! I’m parked right behind the stage!”

That’s when the gears began to spin and I am not talking about Scott’s car! Giant’s Stadium is located in East Rutherford, NJ. That puts it dead center in the middle of NJ’s biggest burger rivalry…6 miles to the North, the White Manna of Hackensack, NJ and 6 miles to the East, the White Mana of Jersey City.


View Larger Map
**
The story goes like this; Louis Bridges opened a burger stand at the 1939 NYC World’s Fair. It was called the “Diner of the Future.” It was a huge hit and after the fair, it was moved to it’s current location on a trucking route on the backside of Jersey City, NJ. It was then renamed “White Mana.” In 1946 Louis opened another location on the river in Hackensack, NJ. This one was also called by the same name but the company who created the sign spelled it with a 2nd “n” thus creating the “White Manna.” Since then 3 more locations have been opened and also closed with only the JC and Hackensack locations remaining.

In 1979, Mario Costa Jr. bought the Jersey City location from Bridges’ brother. He then turned and sold the business off in 1996. When Mario found out that the new owners had planned to tear it down and replace it with a popular doughnut chain, he begged them to sell it back. They refused and Mario, so convicted, filed a lawsuit which he unfortunately lost. Eventually the new owners gave in and sold the Mana back to Mario…with a much inflated price tag. In 1997 the restaurant the Jersey City Historic Preservation Committee declared restaurant a local landmark. Mario still owns the spot.

Not only is it an amazing piece of history, they make absolutely delicious smashed style sliders and are one of my personal faves. It’s open 24 hours a day and draws quite a unique mix of people throughout the day. You can take a seat at the U-shaped counter, placed around the grill where the chef will take your orders, or you can sit in the adjacent dining room. The vibe is incredible, the story is amazing and most importantly, the burgers are delicious. You can read my full review here.

The JC Mana used to have a webcam known as the “dinercam” that snapped live photos every few seconds and posted them http://www.nj.com. Unfortunately it doesn’t exist any more but it was definitely a highlight back in the day. But I have dozens upon dozens of photos I’ve downloaded of me eating there to keep the memory alive.

But I digress..

I instantly recognized Scott’s suggestion as an opportunity to try the “other” Manna and it was something I was not going to pass up! After VersaEmerge’s BLAZING performance, the 3 of us, along with Matt, the band’s manager a
nd my business partner Adam, piled into Scott’s SUV and pointed ourselves towards Hackensack, NJ.

Both restaurants are small, short order diners that served smashed style sliders on simple white paper plates but that is where the similarities end. The Hackensack location is much, much smaller with seating for less than 20. Due to it’s small size, it’s not uncommon for the line for burgers to reach out into the parking lot. Compared to the Hackensack Manna’s menu of burgers, fries, grilled cheese and steak sandwiches, the Jersey City Mana’s menu feels like an encyclopedia. Let’s line the 2 of ’em up slide to slide.

JC MANA
Thinner smashed patties
Bigger Menu
Chopped onions
Regular white buns
Open 24 Hours
1 “N”

HACKENSACK MANNA
Thicker smashed patties
Very limited menu
Sliced onions
Potato Rolls
Mon.-Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
2 “N’s”

THE BURGER
Even though the place was packed and the line was out the door, we somehow managed to get 5 seats together at the counter. Knowing we had to get back to the concert and seeing how busy the place was, we decided to simplify our order – 2 fries, 5 drinks and 20 cheese burgers (4 each.) As we sat in our stools watching the grill man flip burger after burger in 3 stages, I could hardly keep myself from drooling. It was clear that I was going to spend the rest of the day, happily, wreaking of cheese burgers. In fact, if you leave the White Manna and you don’t carry the scent with you, start over because you did it wrong.

The fries came up first and the mounting hunger in our bellies had us devouring them in a matter of seconds. They were crispy, hot and delicious but nothing really special. Finally the burger moment of truth arrived. The grill man served us each one at a time. I opted to go last and let the others start consuming upon being served. The burgers were hot, steamy and bellowing with an amazing aroma. I couldn’t have been more hungry or anxious by the time I was handed mine.

The first one went down in the blink of an eye. I promised myself I would breathe between bites of the rest. Each burger was just large enough for 1 slice of American cheese folded in half. This made for a much larger cheese to beef ratio than on a normal burger. The cooking process steams the cheese and bun leaving a piping hot, squishy, melty, aromatic bite sized burger. They were damn good but I must admit they did need a little spicing up. I added some salt and pepper to my last two and it was the perfect move. The onions were sweet and delicious although I will admit, they could use just a little less of them to achieve the perfect beef to onion ratio. The fresh groudn beef made for a taste sensation that satisfied the whole group.

While the sliders were delicious and hit the spot but I must admit, I prefer the Jersey City White Mana!


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



Burger craving and rival curiosity squelched, we made a speedy return to the Bamboozle. Here are some photographic highlights of of the band’s I enjoyed the most.

VERSAEMERGE

The Aquabats. You may be more familiar with them as Yo Gabba Gabba!.

Escape the Fate

One of the band’s listed on the bill was “Gegen Mich” who turned out to be the surprise guest of the day – Against Me!

We Came As Romans

Winners of my personal mosh-tastic award of the day, Asking Alexandria.

And the band that sold more records this week than Justin Bieber…Bullet For My Valentine! That is just amazing and they definitely deserve it.

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230 Fifth – Malaysian Monster Madness!!!!

Posted on 04/29/2010 by Rev

230 Fifth
http://www.230-fifth.com
230 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10001

THE CONQUEST
I’m sitting at my desk the other day putting together VIP ticketing proposals when I get an email, sent to everyone in our office from my co-worker, Mike Smith.

**
Subject: Suit Up, Fine Humans

To Those Concerned (that’s all of you):

On this Thursday, April 29th, I intend to institute the inaugural Artist Arena Suit It or Lose it Dress Up Day. While I love the casual dress code we’ve got around here, every once in awhile I like to pretend I’m all growns up by putting on nice clothes. On Thursday, I will be in full regalia, suit and tie and all. I invite all of you to join me. Anyone who does not will be required to work downstairs with Jimmy at his desk. Good luck getting anything done with him shouting in your ear about Mark Teixeira’s batting average all day.

Everyone who dresses up will be invited to join me at 230 Fifth. It’s an upscale bar on 5th ave with a dress code (collared shirts, no sneakers, no shorts, etc). So if you do not dress up, you won’t be able to join the rest of your cohorts at Happy Hour. See how that works?

It’s fun to look classy for a day. It’s bad to do it for more than that, so take this chance. If you feel too dressed up on Thursday, you can always come to work on Friday unshowered in sweatpants and a frayed O-Town t-shirt to balance it out.
**

This is an odd request coming from Mike. When not riding around on a Voltron Lion wearing a jockey outfit, Mike is normally sporting jeans and a Phillies t-shirt. What makes it even more strange is that Mike is really internetally challenged. He has no Myspace, Facebook or Twitter account. You won’t find him any where in the www.world. In fact, I didn’t even know that he knew how to use email! I assumed the message was merely spam and I went back about my day.

Then comes Thursday, April 29th and more than half of my co-workers at Artist Arena are walking around suits and various forms of dress clothing. Me, I was rocking my standard outfit: a polo shirt, jeans and Vans sneakers (FYI – I ONLY wear Vans) so there was no way for me to join in the after work fun. I popped onto the 230 Fifth website only to discover Mike’s translation of the dress code was grossly misrepresented. In fact, right there in plain English are the words “Nice dress jeans, sneakers and a collared polo shirt are fine.” As I sat cursing Mike’s name for duping me, I saw the following menu item:

Romli (“Hamburger”) Sliders – Kuala Lumpur’s famous spiced beef sliders, chili sauce, aioli, pickled cucumbers.

I knew what had to be done. Calling Bull Shit, I left the office on my lunch break and bought a very smart, stylish and handsome looking tie. With all the sophistication and class in the world, I put it on over my polo. At the end of the day I joined the rest of my well dress co-workers and Mike for an event I am now calling the…

“Artist Arena roof-top black tie party to benefit Mike Smith’s Internet Profile.com”

230 Fifth is a Penthouse lounge and bar with a roof top garden plunk down right in NYC’s Flatiron district. Enter into the office building and the line forms to the right. Open from 4 pm to 4 am, 230 Fifth is known as one of NYC’ premier roof top bars open 365 days a year. In the winter the garden is kept warm with heat lamps. They even offer patrons use of their signature red fleeces. I didn’t know this before I arrived and definitely asked out loud “why are all these people wearing red snuggies? Is this some cult I wasn’t warned about?”

The views from atop the building are stunning. The garden spans the entire north side of the building. You can see the Hudson river from the West, midtown to the North and Flatiron / Grammercy to the East. It’s dead center on the lower half of Manhattan and definitely worth a visit and a cocktail. The crowd is a mixture but mostly young professionals and executives. 230 Fifth is a popular place for private parties, especially in the entertainment business. You can see a list of them on the website. We were lucky enough to attend a gathering of New York’s movie baddies. Celebrity sightings included King Kong, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the Cloverfield Monster.

THE BURGER
Once our prom party was show to our tables, I ordered a glass of Scotch to start the festivities. As soon as we were settled in, I ordered the Romli (“Hamburger”) Sliders. They arrived so quickly that I am wondering if they are pre-made or they knew they were in the midst of someone as Burger Famous as I am. I actually never found out, so we’ll stick with the latter. Before we get into what my taste buds will tell you, let’s discuss “Romli.” Methinks this is a misspelling but it’s based on a Ramly Burger, a popular met burger served in Singapore. But here is the crazy part…they’re illegal there so they are smuggled in!

Onto the review. First off all, these are not “sliders” and in fact they fall under the category of mini-burgers. (For an education on burger types, please read this in depth explanation from A Hamburger Today.) The patty, although small, was still quite thick, which automatically removes it from the slider category.

They came on small potato rolls, which gets 230 Fifth a point because potato rolls are AWESOME. I pulled off the cucumbers (YUCK!) and bit in. Whoa! Not what I was expecting AT ALL. The chili sauce and aioli took a surprisingly back seat to the flavor of the meat. While it was not juicy or greasy, it was a carnival of flavors. It had a really distinct spicy taste coming from the curry powder and pepper mixed into the meat. It took me back and I had to go into a 2nd bite with a clear mind. The best I can describe the flavor would be to compare to that of peppered lamb meat more commonly used in gyros. It was quite good and the fact that it didn’t have cheese didn’t even occur to me until right now. Unfortunately they were cooked a little more than I would have liked and due to the windy and crowded rooftop, a little cold.

Does anyone else know where there might be a place in or near NYC that serves Ramly style burgers? I totally understand the Singaporean obsession and now know why NYC’s finest baddies are clamoring to get into 230 Fifth!


7 out of 10 ounces
-Rev


Looking good!

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Angel’s Stadium – Twitter Rally

Posted on 04/24/2010 by Rev

Angel Stadium Of Anaheim
http://angels.mlb.com
2000 E Gene Autry Way
Anaheim, CA 92806

THE CONQUEST
The full potential of the internet has still yet to be reached, however, I may have achieved a new level of dynamic capabilities with the Burger Conquest twitter account. One tweet I recently posted has lead me to belief that Twitter is more powerful than money. Follow me. On April 5th I posted the following in a tweet: “Looking to burger conquest Anaheim @Angels stadium this week. Anyone have a ticketing hook up? Will trade for burgers!” Within a few moments Josh from Old Shoe Records hit me back with a 4 ticket hook up! See the logic? Twitter is free, I posted a request, I got tickets that people would normally pay for, for free! Therefore making Twitter more powerful than money.

Having said that, I treated Josh and some pals to a Burger Conquest party at In-N-Out Burger as a token of my appreciation.

My anticipation for baseball season to begin was at an all time career high. Last season, I chowed down at 7 different stadiums including 5 trips to Yankee’s stadium. Baseball gets it. Foodies like the sport too and are willing to drop coin on tasty treats while enjoying America’s favorite past time. Baseball stadiums, more than any other sport, have really made an effort to offer a wide array of food options for people like me. Do I care about the game? Yeah. Would I care as much if they served the same boring old stadium eats? NOPE…FEED ME. It’s been a long winter and this Yankees fan was anxious to come out of Burger hibernation. When I found out I was heading to Los Angeles for the Revolver Golden Gods awards, I immediately search the Anaheim Angels home schedule. Yes! They were playing the Minnesota Twins the night before the awards show.

Tom, Zach and I, met Josh in the parking lot of the Carls Jr across the street from the stadium, grabbed the tickets and made our way into the stadium. Our buddy Kurt showed up a little later and got me all excited as he instantly demanded churros.

THE DIGESTIONS
After entering and receiving our promotional wool caps, we made a quick b-line to the nearest beer stand. Tom got the first round and also picked up a bag of peanuts. I mean seriously, is there anything more definably baseball then shelling open several handfuls of roasted peanuts while sipping a beer in your seats?!??!?

Roasted peanuts
-7 out of 10

I couldn’t take it anymore and ran out to the front of the stadium and got in line for Clyde Wright’s bar-B-Que. A former left-handed pitcher for the Angels, retired and returned but not to play, he came back to serve Tennessee (his home state) style BBQ to Angel’s fans. While waiting in line I became mesmerized by the man whose sole job it was to stand in a Pope protective style booth and slice meat!! It made me want more than one sandwich. Both ended up being pretty tasty but the brisket was better. Be sure to put some BBQ sauce on the sandwiches as the meat is a little more dry than I prefer.

Pulled Pork Sandwich
-7 out of 10
Brisket Sandwich
-8 out of 10

Yeah baby…CHURROS!! If you’ve never had one, you are missing out. Churros are a Spanish pastry made from fried dough. They’re crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and covered in sugar and cinnamon. Thumbs up to Kurt for ordering them and thumbs up on the taste!

Churro
-8 out of 10

As I was putting the final move on my churro, I looked at the guys and said “I know where I am getting a burger at this game. I pointed to the section of the stadium behind the field and above the waterfall. Located there was a Ruby’s Diner. I would normally save my Ruby’s burger experience for my pre-Continental flight tradition, but this was a special occasion.

As I was getting ready to walk over for a burger, I was distracted by a loud voice. It was yelling “Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs!!” The power of suggestion was too difficult to ignore and I ordered 2.

Angel’s Stadium Hot Dog
-7 out of 10

While I fully intended to get a Ruby’s burger, I became even more distracted by something more compelling than beef shaving and hot dog caterwauling…the Anaheim Angel’s Rally Monkey. The Rally Monkey first “jumped” onto the scene in June of 2000 when video crew members were trying to amp the crowd. They showed a clip of a jumping monkey from “Ace Ventura, Pet Detective” and the crowd went crazy. So
on after the Angels hired “Katie” a capuchin monkey from the TV show “Friends” and the Rally Monkey has been a baseball sensation since. We got so engrossed with the Rally Monkey that by the time I realized I forgot to get my Ruby’s burger, the game was over. On the way out of the stadium I bought the Rally Monkey obsessed Zach, his very own souvenir version of Katie.

Need an awesome, complete waste of time? Watch these Rally Monkey videos.
Rally Monkey on Gilligan’s Island
Rally Monkey in Psycho
Rally Monkey in Jaws
Rally Monkey in Borat
Rally Monkey in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Rally Monkey in Austin Powers
Rally Monkey in Space Balls

Now all we need is to get the Rally Monkey to go on a Burger Conquest!!!!


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Boo-kies – A Wacko Circus Bachelor Party

Posted on 04/23/2010 by Rev

Boo-Kies
http://www.facebook.com/bookies?ref=fs#!/pages/Burlington-VT/BooKies-Burgers-and-More/177804825297?ref=search&sid;=502857812.1739102076..1
Church Street Market Place
http://www.churchstmarketplace.com
Burlington, VT, 05401

THE CONQUEST
The Church Street Market Place – Home to Burlington, VT’s most popular shopping district, my friend Kyle’s bachelor party and the famous Boo-Kies. I had heard some pretty amazing things about the burger served from this one man sized stand located in the middle of the street and had filed under “to do.” While recently in Burlington, VT for said stag event, I took the 3 hours I had in town before the rest of the man crew arrived to sample.

The story goes like this. Kyle sends out an email invite to his bachelor party. The plan is to meet in midtown Manhattan and jump in a rental van. From there the fun began and so did the 6 to 8 hour drive North. 2 days before the trip was to begin I received a casting call from Twins Talent. They wanted me and joeC from Steak Club 7 to audition for a TV show about food and travel. I knew I couldn’t pass the opportunity so I not only said yes but also had to book a flight to Burlington. joeC and I nailed the casting and are waiting for the phone call to let us know when filming begins.

After the taping, I hopped in a car and sped off to LaGuardia airport where my “Burger Conquest Private Jet” was waiting. A mere 75 minutes later, I arrived, Burger Stylin’ out, in what Kyle affectionately refers to as “Beerlington.” Kyle’s brother Jacob picked me up at the airport and we headed straight for Boo-Kies.

Open from April 1st through New Year’s Eve, Boo-Kies has been in business for 7 years, sitting daily (rain permitting), at the intersection of Church and Bank Streets. Owner Dave Stoll opens up every morning at 8 am with 30 farm fresh eggs and bucket of his freshly ground beef from Macauley Wholesale Meats. Using a #8 ice cream scooper, Dave Stoll, spoons out a ball of meat and whacks it onto the 30-year seasoned griddle . A few minutes later and you’re sinking your teeth into an American Classic. Dave Stoll works until he runs out of beef (or until about 5pm, whichever comes first) and then closes shop. Breakfast sandwiches, are somewhat of a sensation in Burlington (See: Kountry Kart Deli Rise and Shiner), so the eggs go fast. Dave would carry more but that’s all he has room for in the little fridge. Along with Brats, Sausages, Dogs, Sauerkraut and French Fries and more, Boo-Kies also serves the famous “Boo-Kie Bowl.” This home grown creation features fries topped with a grilled burger patty and brown gravy. It’s combination Atkins sandwich meets Canadian Poutine. With only one shot at Boo-Kies before the Douche Patrol showed up, I opted to just get a plain old cheese burger.

THE BURGER
The pleasant and welcoming John Smith greeted me with a smile and the kind of energy that only someone who loves what they do can emanate. I ordered by cheese burger and began snapping pictures. John Smith began to tell me about the cart, the food and the process. He also invited me to take as many pictures as I liked. Gotta love a blogger friendly restaurateur!

A few moments later and I was handed the prized Boo-Kie burger. On the front of the cart there is a bowl for relish, onions and pickles as well as ketchup, hot sauce and mustard. Other than that, there are no other condiments available. I added a small spoonful of onions as well a small dollop of mustard. With no delay, I peeled back the tin foil and sunk my chompers right in. The burger was hot, juicy and delicious. The fresh meat had a great natural beef taste and the grinding process used at Boo-Kies gives the patty a grainy texture. In between a fresh roll, this little diddy from the North is pleasing to the taste.

Jacob, who was forgoing his diet for the bachelor weekend, went off the deep end, kicking in his weekend with a Boo-Kie bowl. I almost didn’t know what to do. It’s such a simple creation and yet still spectacular. The sliced potatoes are fried right in the cart, salted and placed in the basket. Once topped with a beef patty and gravy, it’s in your hands from the griddle in less than 5 seconds. Thankfully Jacob let me try a bite (or two or three). It was just fantastic. The beef was great, the fries were crispy and the gravy was savory yet slightly smoky. It’s a truly winning combination.


8 out of 10 ounces
-Rev



From parking the car, to ordering, to eating, the total time spent was less than 20 minutes. That left us 2.5 hours to kill until the van from NYC was set to arrive. Jacob asked me what I wanted to do and with no hesitation whatsoever, I answered “Let’s take the Magic Hat Brewery tour!” Jacob nodded in consent and we were on our way.

Magic Hat Brewery
http://www.magichat.net
5 Bartlett Bay Road
South Burlington, VT 05403-7727

I am weeks away from opening a bar in NYC’s East Village along with Kyle and some other friends, called “Idle Hands Bar.” It’s a rock and roll speakeasy that we’ve tagged “Bourbon.Beer.Rock.” We’re going to serve the best in all 3 with a focus on craft brews, bourbons and great rock music. I’m In charge of the beer menu which I plan on rotating often while featuring microbrews from around the world. In my beer travels, I’ve found The Magic Hat Brewery to be one of America’s most unique. Something something something Magic Hat…

Unfortunately Jacob and I missed the last guided tour of the day. However, at the Magic Hat Brewery, that’s not an issue. The brewery itself allows visitors to walk through of their own accord. Once your finished meandering about the strangely decorated plant, stop back into the store and try some beer. Why not? IT’S FREE AND YOU CAN HAVE AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE…which is exactly what we did!! While all the Magic Hat brews are special and great in their own way, here is a brief review of my 2 favorites:

THE BREWS

WACKO
http://www.magichat.net/wacko
– Summer Seasonal
– 4.50% ABV
– Brewed w/ beet sugar, pale malts, Columbus hops, fermented with an English Ale strain.

REV SAYS -It’s a little sweet with an odd smattering of spicy flavors that you can’t quite put your finger on. Can’t say I could drink this for an entire day but if you want a sixer of something unique, try this beer.

CIRCUS BOY
http://www.magichat.net/elixirs/circus_boy
– American Hefeweizen
– 4.50% ABV

REV SAYS – This is Magic Hat’s Hefeweizen. also known as an American Pale Wheat Ale. Its crisp, bold and smells of delicious fruits and malts. The Magic Hat Brewery, never to have a boring brew, makes sure that the Circus Boy is just a little more freaky than everyone else. But they say that’s all in the name.


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