Hungry?

I MEAN, ARE YOU HUNGRY?

Well, if you happen to be near Southend-on-Sea in England, then you have an opportunity to bite down on greatness – because there is a restaurant that wants to satisfy you in a BIG WAY!

“Mangetout” Stands Tall For BIG BIG FOOD!

I love any restaurant that proudly shows off this sandwich:

Yes, it’s larger than a small child! For Mangetout restaurant in England, big food is more than delicious, it’s a challenge! So my question to you is this: would you take this on?

Bite Down On “The Manwich!”

The “Manwich” is a massive sandwich stuffed with beef, ham, turkey, bacon, egg mayo, cheddar, hash browns, bbq sauce AND a salad!

Here is a clip of someone foolish enough to attempt a mouthful!

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/25/halloween-monster-burgers-super-stacked-xxx-manwiches-that-can-kill/

And of course, if the “Manwich” isn’t big enough, then you can move on to this!

Take A Bite Out Of A “Gigantwich!”

Yes, Mangetout also offers their “Gigantiwich”, which consists of the following:

7 layer deli sandwich loaded with meats and toppings

– Chicken parmesan, turkey, roast beef, and ham are included

– An 8 egg omelette, sausages, hash browns, & bacon are included

– Pulled pork and cheese are also between the 9 slices of bread

– There are sides of chips, onion rings, and coleslaw included

– There is a 45 minute time limit to finish everything

Yes, you can win a T-shirt and the never-ending admiration of the restaurant staff if you can keep this baby down…here is a closer look at the competition:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/17/bite-down-on-the-gigantwich-behold-englands-biggest-burgers/

I want to go to Mangetout just to see one of these, because I’d never be able to eat it…what about you? Here is their website for more info:

http://www.mangetoutgrill.co.uk

Hungry?

Thanks to Antonio Ruiz and several others for sending me this picture…they naturally assumed it was EXACTLY the kind of burger I would like – and you know what? It IS!

And so is this!

Time For A Cheeseburger!

As we near the end of 2015, I got to thinking about something I love: burgers! And when I think about them – well, I think about this:

People share all sorts of wild burgers with me, and I eat some of them as well – as you are about to see!

I have chosen some of of my favorite burgers to share with you today – to honor those restaurants who have made 2015 a towering burger success!

One of Chicago’s best burgers was recently called America’s too – I will introduce you to this burger of beauty, as well as some of America’s other best burgers as well.

First however, I would like to honor myself with a burger I created many years ago…

Behold The French Fry Burger!

My favorite burger of all time – I created it in high school, when I worked at Herfy’s drive-in in Seattle. It combines all the things I love: it’s a cheeseburger burger topped with fries, then melted cheddar cheese and a dollop of tartar sauce!

When it comes to burgers, all taste combination bets are off!

And Elvis agrees!

So does Jimmy Page!

Elvis wasn’t the only superstar who liked to bite into a big burger…

Well, the Led Zeppelin Guitarist seems a bit “cautious” when it comes to his burgers, but with this kind of musical muscle behind it, the cheeseburger is the clearly the “food of the gods”!

And That Means Dick’s!

Growing up in Seattle, THIS was my favorite taste sensation:

Talk about all-american burgers! The GREAT Seattle burger stand known as Dick’s Drive-In serves up a burger that is simple – and delicious!

Dick’s Drive-In is fast, friendly, and a great Seattle institution – so the next time you are in the Emerald City, this is the place for you!

And if you need a BIGGER BURGER, but still want to honor Dick’s Drive-In, then try this!

Welcome To The Lunchbox Laboratory!

Seattle’s terrific burger bar “The Lunchbox Laboratory” serves up a “super-sized” homage to Dick’s “Deluxe” burger…

Read all about the Lab AND Dick’s by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/12/classic-burger-joints-dicks-drive-in-lunchbox-laboratory-seattles-burger-magic/

I go to Dick’s every single time I go to Seattle…and when I’m in Chicago, I head to a place with their own unique homage:

The “Big Mack Daddy”!

Big ‘n’ Little’s serves up a huge homage to the Big Mac, and as you can see, they tower over the original! This relaxed eatery was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”, and they are always packed with fans of stuff like their deep-fried cheeseburger:

Big ‘n’ Little’s also makes an homage to the “Big Mac” that puts McDonald’s to shame – it’s a giant burger that packs a ton of flavor – fresh ingredients, secret sauce and delicious double patties:

They also offer great tacos, shrimp and chips, and so much more! Read more about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/22/big-n-littles-rocks-the-big-mack-daddy-chicagos-best-burger-bite-on/

And finally, time to get your “Slayer” on at Kuma’s!

My friend Chris is staring into the face of “The Slayer”, a monstrous plate of burger madness…Kuma’s in Chicago serves it up!

Kuma’s was just voted one of America’s best burgers! They all have a heavy metal theme, which is why I love them so much – because that attitude infuses everything at the restaurant!

Their burgers have aggressive, loud flavors and signs warn you NOT to ask for a change in music – it’s their choice!

As I said, a new national poll placed Kuma’s near the top of America’s best burgers…

Read all about how Kuma’s takes a burger to a whole new level by clicking on here!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/17/chicagos-burger-wars-heavy-metal-vs-mad-max-big-against-bag/

Let me know your favorite burger of the year!

Hungry? Wrapped Your Mouth Around This!

A bacon-wrapped hot dog simmering in sweet-and-sour sauce. It’s just one of my favorite “street” foods – whether you buy it on the street or pop into a shop and walk away with it – “street food” is one of my passions, and I want to share my favorites with you!

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs! Octopus Balls! Canneswiches! My Five Favorite Street Meals!

I am happier than I look, I promise! I am in Cannes, France enjoying one of my favorite meals of all: a sandwich from one of the local kiosks.

Cannewiches!

The south of France is lined with food kiosks, where you can grab a sandwich and eat it while the world drifts by on the French Riviera.

A “Pan Bagnat” is one of my favorites: flaky tuna with sliced egg, vinaigrette and lettuce on a soft french roll…yes indeed!

You can see more of the great tasting food available in Cannes kiosks by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/29/cannes-french-riviera-charm-soup-de-poisson-cannes-sandwiches/

Another great place to wander the streets and eat off of food carts is Seoul, South Korea…

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs in Seoul!

I took a team from G4 to Seoul to film stories about their technology and gaming cultures, but we found plenty of time to enjoy the food as well!

These hot dogs are wrapped in raw bacon and then left to simmer for hours in a sweet and spicy korean sauce…just one of the things I loved about Seoul!

Seoul, South Korea is an amazing city with a vibrant street culture – here’s a look at the street food carts:

You can wander through their street markets and find dried fish strung up for sale to take home and season your meals – here’s a video of some of those food stalls at a street market I found:

The street venders were everywhere, and this caught my eye: a hot dog stand where the dogs were bacon-wrapped and simmering in a sweet and sour sauce…

In addition, you could also buy a super-sized hot dog with a very unique distinction: it’s been battered and fried with crinkle-cut fries!

I will remember this food adventure forever: the people I encountered spoke no english but were helpful, friendly and fun!

You can see more of this adventure here:

Seoul Food! Bacon Hot Dogs! Hanging Fish! A Delicious Korean Adventure!

Another city with a great “street food” culture was Amsterdam, where they serve one of my favorite foods of all:

Frites w/ Mayonnaise in Amsterdam!

Yes, a good old-fashioned bag full of fries! They are sold at this spot I found in Amsterdam:

Hard to miss the shop with the large “cone of fries” outside, and a huge vat of oil fries up potato wedges all day long…and then they squirt a large dollop of any sauce you want right on top…my favorite is mayonnaise!

The best part of Amsterdam french fries is that they are served in a rolled up newspaper with a big squirt of mayo right on top!

You can see more of my Amsterdam adventure, including a tour of the “red light” district – where cameras aren’t allowed…click here for more:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/13/amsterdam-windmills-mayonaise-fries-red-lights-and-baked-goods/

I loved my food adventure in Amsterdam, but you don’t have to go around the world for worldly flavors…here’s an example:

Pork Belly Tacos In Chicago!

There’s a new taco stand in Chicago with some amazing flavors! Velvet Taco is located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.

Velvet Taco serves up soft tacos that you can walk away with – like this “Crisp Pork Belly” taco, which has house pickles, grain mustard, tomato, red onion, minor celery, celery salt and of course delicious pork belly!

The flavor is intense, the soft taco firm enough to hold all of the extra toppings…and I also enjoyed this taco:

A “Shrimp And Grits” Taco!

Blackened shrimp are topped with crispy pepper jack cheese grits, charred tomato poblano and a spicy remoulade! It was as good as it looks!

And this may be a more straightforward taco, but a fried fish taco with remoulade is amazing as well!

Chicago has many “pop in” food joints, and Velvet Taco is one of the best!

Finally, I want to share one of the most unique food stands I have ever come across!

Octopus Balls in Tokyo!

I wandered through Tokyo’s Asakusa district and came across this incredible food stand: serving up Octopus is many unqiue styles: on a stick and of course, “Octopus Balls!”

I ate the Octopus on a stick, and of course a platter of fried Octopus Balls: topped with a creamy asian sauce and deliciously deep-fried, I could eat these balls forever!

Of course, not ALL food in Tokyo is for everyone:

Yes, these are “Almond Fish!” It’s a popular snack in Tokyo, just one of the many unique items I sampled there. You can see more here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/23/crazy-tokyo-food-coffee-jelly-meat-fish-mix-octopus-bar-almond-fish/

Let me know what your favorite “street food” is, what what you think of a “Shrimp and Grits” taco!

Time To Say “I Love You” With Bacon!

Yes, these “bacon roses” are the best way to tell someone you care! And if you need more, then try this:

THE LOVEBURGER!

In the mood for love? I thought so…and what better way to show it than this perfectly shaped Valentine’s Day burger, just one of many crazy things happening between buns today!

Behold The “LOVEBURGER!”

It sure is, a nicely formed patty and bun that says “I love you!” And if you really want to impress someone this Valentine’s Day, then give them this gift:

The World’s MOST EXPENSIVE Bacon Sandwich!

Yes, this is the “Bacon Bling” sandwich at Tangberry’s cafe in Cheltenham, England!

Two years ago, they set a new record for the world’s most expensive bacon sandwich!

This incredibly expensive burger was invented by Tangberry’s owner Paul Philips – and it sells for £150, almost two hundred dollars!

This Burger Sets A NEW “GOLD STANDARD!”

The burger is stuffed to the gills with ground beef, eggs and what the restaurant calls “rare breed bacon” – then they add black truffles, truffle oil, gold leaf, gold dust and saffron!

Now, back to a gift you can make yourself that says “I love you” in the most unique way!

Bacon Roses!

If you aren’t up for a trip to England, you still have time to get these in the oven:

Click here to see the entire recipe!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/10/valentines-day-bacon-roses-more-bacon-love-jerseylicious-olivias-cheeseburger-hat/

And when in doubt, there is always THIS solution! As always, our friends at White Castle are ready to roll out the red carpet for you this Valentine’s Day!

Yes, an annual tradition continues at White Castle restaurants – a social Valentine’s day menu…let me know how you plan to bite into Valentine’s Day!

Another Intrepid RocketNews24 Reporter Tackles The Tough Questions!

I love the stories posted on RocketNews 24 – look at the picture above for a moment, because here is how they set up their latest hilarious food story:

“We’re slowly coming to the realization that P.K. Sanjun, one of RocketNews24’s Japanese-language reporters, doesn’t understand the concept of change. No, we don’t mean that he doesn’t realize that things don’t stay the same forever. We mean that he seems a little fuzzy on the idea that if you walk into a restaurant with 10,000 yen (US$90), you don’t have to spend all of it.”

10,000 Yen Worth Of Fried Shrimp!

So spend it he did – on fried shrimp!

You see, at a number of convenience stores and take out restaurants in Tokyo, you can order a “tendon” bowl, which is a mixed protein and vegetable rice dish…a tasty lunch that NORMALLY looks like this:

Of course, we all love fried food, which usually tops the rice and vegetables – and if you like, you can order some extra fried items to add to your bowl…like all of this fried shrimp!

Yes, that’s 10,000 yen worth of fried goodness! Of course, P.K. wanted to see it all stacked up, which leads us to this majestic bowl of fried shrimp!

Kudos to this intrepid investigative Reporter for sharing his work of culinary art!

Read the entire story with lots of great pics by going to the story on RocketNews24 here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/03/10/heres-what-happens-when-you-order-us80-worth-of-extra-shrimp-for-your-tempura-bowl-in-tokyo/

As you know, this isn’t the first time that RocketNews24 has gone on a “food-stacking” binge:

Yes, they ordered some “extra” grilled onion for their Burger King burger once as well – and you can see the results here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/14/the-1000-grilled-onion-cheeseburger-burger-king-japans-stacked-again/

For bacon lovers….well, you were covered as well:

Yes, 1,000 strips of bacon made this a mouthful! You can see how they managed this amazing creation by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/26/get-stacked-1050-slices-of-bacon-grilled-onion-cheese-the-worlds-tallest-burgers/

Of course, I have shared some Japan’s mega-towered burgers before, like this one:

Yes, it’s a “shrimp tower” burger…and I bet it tastes as delicious as it looks! See more mega burgers from Japan by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

Make sure you click to see the majesty of this:

Now THAT’S A CHEESEBURGER!

And for the Vegetarians reading this, don’t worry, we have you covered as well:

Yes, in China they love to take over a Burger King salad bar and make magic! It is just another reason why I love the internet:

See more of this vegetable art here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/29/chinas-skyscraper-salad-bars-salad-bars-as-art/

And enjoy your fried shrimp!

Tokyo’s Lotteria Stacks Back!

I love Lotteria and I love Japan! Tokyo’s amazing burger chain Lotteria has just up’d the “Tokyo Tower Burger” by offering up this giant!

Meet The “Burger With Everything On It!”

Inventive Japanese burger chain Lotteria is now offering up their “Burger with Everything On It” – or called the “Zenbu Nose Burger” in Japanese!

As RocketNews24 reports:

“The Burger with Everything on It has four patties: regular hamburger, cheeseburger, fried shrimp, and rib. More hearty deliciousness come from bacon, sliced cheese, and a soft-boiled egg. The towering burger also checks off the food pyramid’s vegetable section with lettuce, cabbage, tomato and onion. Finally, in keeping with the burger’s magnanimously inclusive attitude, the sauce is a mix of teriyaki, regular mayonnaise, spicy mayonnaise, tartar sauce, meat sauce, and ketchup!”

Read that again as you look at this towering stack of burger!

Bravo to our friends at the terrific website “RocketNews24” for telling this story, read it all here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/04/25/lotterias-massive-burger-with-everything-on-it-challenges-japan-to-ignorefinish-it/

Of course, Lotteria isn’t new to this “towering burger stack game”:

Yes, Lotteria loves to stack a burger, and they love to let someone else do it as well…here are more of their amazing Tokyo towers….

https://johnrieber.com/2014/11/11/tokyo-burger-towers-led-zeppelin-burgers-wild-wild-meat-the-worlds-most-creative-burgers/

I also love that they sell their burger towers as USB plug-ins as well…

They love their “build a burger” ads as well…these allow you to create a massive burger tower in any way that suits you…

See more of these ads here:

Tokyo’s “Build-A-Burger!” Wacky Japanese Burger Ads! Wildest Food For Sale!

And finally, there is the Tokyo “Tower To Heaven” that you have to see to believe:

See it in all of its glory here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/12/behold-tokyos-tower-burger-a-mega-tower-to-heaven/

Let me know if you’d bite down on this Lotteria burger!

4th Of July – Burger Fireworks Galore!

Time to bite down on Independence Day!

I love celebrating our independence from “bangers and mash” – and what better way than by grilling burgers of all shapes and sizes – like this “double decker!”

Yes, we can “live free and eat hard” this holiday season – for me, I plan to have a more “subtle” cheeseburger…like this one:

Talk About A “Sloppy Joe!”

Ok, that may be just a bit more than I need this weekend, but how can I stop piling on the goodness when it can lead to one of these:

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure as well!

WHAT THE PACHISLO???!!???

I love this picture. My daughter Jessica posed in front of an ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” when we were in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, but in hindsight we should have walked in and ordered one, just to get a real picture of it!

First, a big shout out to “Taylor’s Refresher” in St. Helena, California for their great bacon cheeseburger…you can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/15/napas-burger-battle-taylors-gotts-great-burgers-a-mondo-burger-fight/

I am going to profile a few of America’s best burger joints as I showcase some great burger recipes….

Building A Better Burger!

Look at this picture above. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I add minced onion and garlic, pink hawaiian sea salt, pepper, and a bit of Worcestershire sauce….boom, you are ready to grill!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Build your better burger this way and you are golden:

Top Bun
Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Slider Patty
Tomato
Pickle
Mayonaise, mayonaise, mayonaise!
Bottom Bun

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

OK, you can deviate a little…since my daughter and I were in Tokyo earlier, let me share this japanese burger!

The Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Burger!

Make your patty as usual, but this time top it with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo!

Lotteria’s “Bacon Cube” Burger!

If you are inspired by a Japanese take to your cheeseburger, check out these unique burgers from Tokyo, thanks to the unique restaurant “Lotteria”…read all about them right here….

https://johnrieber.com/2015/01/29/vote-for-japans-wildest-burger-shrimp-stack-ramen-burgers-everything-burgers-lotteria-wants-you/

If you head to Seattle, you can find one of America’s best burgers…

Bite Into The Dork!

Here’s an incredible burger being made by Seattle’s “Lunchbox Laboratory”! Check out the recipe by clicking on my review here:

Classic Burger Joints! Dick’s Drive-In! Lunchbox Laboratory ! Seattle’s Burger Magic!

I am also a fan of bending the “burger rules” as necessary to offer up a unique taste sensation…and what better sensation to celebrate than “Sriracha!”

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website!

3 pounds ground beef (preferably chuck, 80/20)
1/4 cup soy sauce
10 tablespoons Sriracha
4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon
2 large sweet onions
3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
8 sesame seed buns
8 thick slices Swiss cheese
1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced
Arugula or romaine lettuce

In a large mixing bowl, make your burger patties with the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha and pepper.

Cue The Bacon!

Cook your bacon, then use the bacon fat to cook your onions into a cartelized taste treat!

Grill the burgers, and while they are cooking, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha to use as a topping!

There you go: a cheesy, oniony, spicy, bacon-y thing of greatness! Speaking of greatness, if you are in New York City, check this out!

The “Five Napkin” Burger in New York is terrific – check out my review here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/04/30/my-five-napkin-burger-review-plus-white-castle-rules-yes-it-does/

And speaking of “GREATNESS”, how about a bacon-covered macaroni-and-cheeseburger!

A Bacon Macaroni-and-Cheeseburger With Tater Tots!

Once you’ve tried this, you will never go back to a plain old cheeseburger again!

It’s easy! Instead of cheese, cover your burger with mac’n’cheese! Throw some bacon in there and make sure your tater tots get under the bun as well!

Or, just pile on the mac’n’cheese everywhere you can!

Here are some of the best way to “mac up” your burger:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/23/bacon-mac-n-cheese-corn-dogs-wild-macncheese-bacon-burgers-mac-up/

And if you really want to get weird, try my favorite burger of all:

Behold The French Fry Burger!

And of course, my favorite burger of all is this: just add french fries to the top of the burger, then a bit of tartar sauce, and top it off with cheddar cheese – a burger and fries all in one!

No matter which recipe you try, spend this fourth of July doing what all Americans should be doing: eating meat and waiting for the fireworks! Happy July 4th!

Time To Get “Wrapped Up” In Tokyo!

Yes, this is a triple cheeseburger wrapped in plastic! When I posted Tokyo food pics recently, I received a few comments asking “where’s the beef?”

Well, here it is!

I knew I was in for a “burger-ific” time in Tokyo – after all, I’ve posted many times about the unique burger for sale here – and when I arrived in town, I saw this in front of me on my first day out in the crowded streets:

Yes, it’s a “burger” shirt! With that in mind, I forced my wife Alex to search the crowded street of Kabuki-cho and Shinjuku for just one thing: a burger!

This was Alex’s first time to Tokyo, so we hit a bunch of different neighborhoods – all packed with people – with a singular goal in mind. I knew I had to try a burger while I was here, and one day as we rounded a corner, look what we found:

Yes, it was a bit rainy outside, but Lotteria burger was exactly what I wanted to find. I have posted about them many times, and I had to see it for myself. Once inside, the burger chain was already showing me signs of greatness:

The “special” burger was a $10 Wagyu beef burger – served simply with a big round wagyu patty, some lettuce and mayonnaise…

At first glance, the burger isn’t impressive: not that big, daily plain in appearance – but take a bite and what you get is a huge mouthful of wagyu flavor!

The flavor was terrific, and the crunchy lettuce and mayo were a great accompaniment…in fact, the only issue was that patty: it was so huge and round like a tennis ball that the patty and lettuce kept sliding out of the bun!

Alex had a bite and agreed that it had a very strong beef flavor – and it was a nice way to bite down on some unique Tokyo wagyu!

Lotteria offers tiny little cubicle seating, and inspirational signs all around you…it was a fun place to go for a quick bite!

However, I wasn’t able to sample my favorite Lotteria burger, which is this:

The “Burger With Everything On It!”

I could have had a shrimp burger, a burger with an egg on it, and other varieties as well. They were out of the special edition “burger with everything on it”, but don’t worry, you can see the entire recipe for it here:

A “Towering Tokyo Burger!” Lotteria’s Amazing Burger “With Everything On It!”

I also decided to make my food wearable, so I located this T-Shirt:

How could I resist buying this? Alex did ask me – over and over again – if I was seriously going to wear it, but I shrugged and said “who knows?

Now, time for some plastic food!

Meet Chef Kappabashi!

Well, that’s not his name, but it is IS the name of Tokyo’s “kitchen town”, a series of streets full of kitchen supplies – and plastic food! It sits alongside a small road that is very colorful:

In Japan, every restaurant shows you the kind of food they serve by lining up “plastic” samples in the window – so you know exactly what kind of menu they offer…so we went to the source to buy our own…

Maiduru’s Legendary “Fake Food!”

The best-known store for plastic food is Maiduru, so we went into to see all of the greatest plastic food they had to offer:

My son Jeff joined Alex in a search for a new iPhone cover for me – you know, to replace this one:

Unfortunately, there were no good replacements, and the iPhone6 offered this crazy option:

Yes, it’s an oyster shell stuffed with what looks like a yellow oyster! And it was HUGE! No such luck with that, so I did the next best thing.

I bought this plasticized triple cheeseburger!

What will I do with it? You are asking the wrong question! The real question is: “how cool are you?” And the answer is: “very.”

I think I will use it as a paperweight – or just a triple cheeseburger always in the office to remind me of lunch.

If you want to see more Tokyo burger magic, take a look at this “Stairway To Heaven”:

This “Tokyo Burger Tower” was dubbed a “stairway to heaven”…here is the entire recipe:

“Tokyo Burger Towers”! “Led Zeppelin Burgers!” Wild Wild Meat! The World’s Most Creative Burgers!

Of course, we’ve been enjoying a lot of different food in Tokyo – beginning with the food that Japan is perhaps best known for:

“Breakfast Sushi!”

As one of my Japanese friends told me the other day: “even WE don’t do that!” That is “breakfast sushi”, because it is served that Tokyo’s legendary fish market beginning at 7a!

We ate it, and we loved it, and you can see more pictures of our sushi breakfast AND a tour of the legendary Tsukiji fish market here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/06/tokyos-legendary-fish-market-sushi-for-breakfast-an-iconic-japanese-landmark-closes/

We also ate one of our favorite meals – a bento box of eel!

Even better was the “eel waiting room” we endured – which you can see more of here:

The Magic Of Tokyo 2016! Eel Waiting Rooms! Golden Gai Drinking! Cat Ads!

Finally, we ate another classic Japanese food: Tempura!

Check out that tasty adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/07/tokyo-food-musical-bento-boxes-sea-urchin-tempura-biting-down-hard-in-japan/

Let me know what you’d bite down on in Tokyo!

The 31st “Godzilla” Is Here!

Yes, the world’s greatest movie monster is back! For the 31st time, Japan cinemas has fans roaring in delight at the latest “Godzilla” film – first, check out the trailer!

“Godzilla” is an icon in Japan – so much so that one of the hotels actually put the beast on its roof – the hotel where my son Jeff stayed!

The Hotel Gracery, located in Shinjuku’s Kabuki-Cho district, put the monster on top of the Hotel’s reception floor, and inside, you could get a closeup look at the beast, which Alex and I jumped at the chance to do:

A Wall Of Godzilla!

Also inside the lobby was an exhibit that had T-shirts, DVD of earlier films, and a wall that had posters of all 31 films, classic movie posters like these:

The latest Godzilla looks muscular and brawn, with just enough “retro” look to pay homage to what makes these films so iconic: wild plots with a mix of great action and campy special effects…

This fun “Godzilla” exhibit had me interested in seeing the new film, which opens July 25th in Japan…

I also had some other fun in Tokyo as well…

I Got Plasticized!

We checked out Tokyo’s famous Kappabashi district, with the realistic plastic food! See more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/09/tokyos-got-my-wagyu-beef-burger-amazing-kappabashi-plastic-food-burger-shirts-tokyo-rules/

I also had a memorable meal at a restaurant that added a special treat: a live performance!

Check out my musical bento box adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/07/tokyo-food-musical-bento-boxes-sea-urchin-tempura-biting-down-hard-in-japan/

In addition to bento boxes, I also had the chance to have “sushi for breakfast!”

Alex, Jeff and I ate sushi for breakfast at Tokyo’s legendary fish market – here are some great behind-the-scenes videos:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/06/tokyos-legendary-fish-market-sushi-for-breakfast-an-iconic-japanese-landmark-closes/

Finally, I came to Tokyo four times with G4, and one memorable visit saw our Host Alex Sim-Wise become an Astronaut’s wife:

Check out her wild experience as a Tokyo Bar Hostess here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/17/suave-sexy-hilarious-japanese-hostess-bar-secrets-and-lies-alex-sim-wise-plays-tokyo-hostess/

Let me know if you have seen any of Japan’s legendary Godzilla films!

Pass The Bourbon – I’m HUNGRY!

Yes, many of America’s great bars serve up great drinks and terrific food – but usually not on the same plate! Well, that has changed!

Take a look at this: it’s a “bagel burger” stuffed with a shot of bourbon – and piled high with bacon to boot!

Take A Bite Down Under!

I was sent this story by my friend Antonio Ruiz, who sent me a link from the website “First We Feast.” They tell the story of a restaurant in Sydney, Australia called “Chicken & Sons”, who has created the “Bourbon Bagel!”

What’s inside? Well, they use Angus beef, American cheese, jalapeño peppers, pickles, bourbon barbecue sauce, and bourbon-glazed bacon on a sesame seed bagel.

Yes, BOURBON-GLAZED BACON!

I am ready to buy a ticket to Australia just to bite down on this – and if you want to see more, here is the original story:

http://firstwefeast.com/eat/2016/07/bourbon-bagel-burger-has-whiskey-crammed-inside

Of course, I have done my best to keep you updated on all alcohol-related food, like this:

Yes, a roasted Chicken Bloody Mary is exactly what you need to start a day – see more of the wildest Bloody Mary recipes of all time here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/08/a-fried-chicken-bloody-mary-the-worlds-wildest-bloody-marys/

It’s also a fun way to get your alcohol…have you ever tried a vodka bone luge?

I’ve got the recipe for this newest alcohol consumption system here, along with recipes for Watermelon Mojito Popsicles!

https://johnrieber.com/2015/04/10/mojito-popsicles-vodka-bone-luges-wildest-drink-recipes/

If all this great food and drink gives you a hangover, I’ve got your cure:

In case you don’t read Japanese, this is a new “miracle hangover cure” – using clam juice! See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/18/japans-new-miracle-hangover-cure-70-clams-wildest-new-products-from-tokyo/

Leave me a message and let me know if you would bite down on a bourbon bagel burger!

The Crunchwrap Double Cheeseburger! The Vulgar Chef Strikes Again!

First of all, LOOK AT THIS BURGER! Double meat, double cheese – and wrapped up in a “Crunchwrap!” WOW! Just one question:

What Is A “Crunchwrap?”

The genius behind “The Vulgar Chef” has taken a food item called a “Crunchwrap” and done amazing things with it…and of course, I had to find out what a “crunch wrap” was – because I’ve never had one of these new Taco Bell products.

Here is how the restaurant chain describes their “Crunchwrap:”

Crunchwrap Supreme® A warm, soft, flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, warm nacho cheese sauce, a crunchy tostada shell, reduced-fat sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes and then wrapped up and grilled for maximum portability.

OK, got it. Now, let’s see what “The Vulgar Chef” did to it:

Crunchwrap Buns!

Wow. Just WOW. The Vulgar Chef took two crunch wraps and made them a bun for a double cheeseburger….and then he posted a video showing you exactly how he did it, in his own unique style:

Bravo to The Vulgar Chef for this culinary monster…you can read more about it at the Chef’s website here:

http://thevulgarchef.com/2016/08/28/crunchwrap-double-cheeseburger/

I love going to “The Vulgar Chef” website, as he continues to post hilariously over-the-top food, like his “inside out” take on an Italian classic:

That’s right, he made meatballs that are hollowed out in order to hold spaghetti – his “inside out spaghetti and meatballs!” See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/04/22/spaghetti-stuffed-meatballs-wacky-recipes-from-the-vulgar-chef/

The Vulgar Chef also uses snack food in very unique ways as well:

Cheetos-Crusted Pulled Pork Pie!

Yes, a pulled pork pie that has been “Cheetos-crusted” – and why not? See that recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/06/15/cheetos-crusted-macncheese-pulled-pork-cake-the-vulgar-chef-scores-again/

Let me know how many of the Chef’s wild food you would try!

Jennifer Aniston’s Chronic Dry Eye Problem!

I’m not making fun of her at all, but the “dry eye” ad hosted by Jennifer Aniston is SO serious, SO reflective, that I honestly wondered if she was part-owner of the company. WHY would she do a “dry eye” ad, no matter how much it was a problem of her?

The I remembered: MONEY!

“The Soul Is In The Bowl!”

Thanks for that Smokey Robinson, this just proved my point – celebrities have always been willing to endorse products – and since Smokey is a legendary singer, I look to him to guide my packaged food choices as well…especially when it comes to “down home pot roast” – and for a good night’s sleep, look no further than Raquel Welch:

Wacky Celebrity Endorsements!

Well, a Raquel Welch full body pillow that is! I don’t know who comes up with this stuff, but it must work!

Full disclosure: I am doing almost no research here: these are just pictures, found online, of wacky products that have been advertised by celebrities…why they did it is not my concern – it is only the inanity of the promotion itself thats worth sharing…so share I will.

As you can see, this isn’t anything new: even legendary Humphrey Bogart shilled – in this case, for a nice box of chocolates.

And her’s another one of America’s greatest Actors – well, at least when it comes to staying in shape:

It makes sense that Stallone would promote a fitness product – you know, like PUDDING, but another healthy guy, Hulk Hogan, seems to have gone in a different direction altogether:

The Wacky World Of Celebrity Endorsements!

I guess The Hulk needs to do some carbo-loading, so why shouldn’t you?

As you can see, celebrities have endorsed all kinds of things, and you can draw your own conclusions as to their motivation:

This seems to have been the inspiration behind “Lost In Translation”, the brilliant film where Bill Murray is an action star who travels to Japan to do a whiskey ad…nothing wrong with making a few bucks, and there are a lot of celebrities doing just that:

Wait, wait, wait, WHAT? Can that be real? Apparently so, but again, who knows what motivates a celebrity like Ozzy Osborne to stand behind the wonders of fake butter.

Speaking of food, there is also a subset of people online who seem to find celebrities EATING to be a fascinating image to share:

Don’t ask. SERIOUSLY, DON’T ASK. I have no idea why there is a photo of Robert Plant eating messy ice cream cone. but it exists, along with many, many others…

Click here to see more of those wacky photos!

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/18/hilarious-internet-trend-celebrities-play-with-their-food-sex-bacon-bikinis-elvis-tasty-pics-of-the-stars/

Let me know which of these is your favorite!

Great Looking Burger – NOT! Impossible? Yes, It Is!

Everyone is sending me this story: the new “meatless” burger that oozes “blood” and tastes like a burger – but it’s all from plants!

Here is the story from ABC7 Los Angeles:

“It’s a very hard thing to do, but it’s doable,” said Patrick Brown of Impossible Foods.

The burger is the brainchild of former Stanford professor Patrick Brown. He created Impossible Foods, which recently showed off the fruits of their labor.

“We didn’t just slap together a bunch of bits and pieces from plants and call it a burger. We did the deep research to understand what makes a burger so delicious,” said Brown.

Inside Impossible Foods’ test kitchen, they mix together carefully chosen ingredients to make the “meat” patty. They picked apart a beef burger, studying everything from the texture, to the smell, even how it cooks, to get it just right.

So How Do they Make It “Bloody?”

According to ABC7, the secret ingredient to making it red is heme. The blood-like liquid made from a soybean gene injected into yeast. That yeast is fermented into heme, allowing the patty to look, and cook, like a beef burger.

You can see the rest of the story here:

http://abc7.com/food/meatless-burger-grown-in-silicon-valley-lab-bleeds-like-a-real-burger/1553644/

If this makes you hungry – and thirsty as well, I have just the thing for you:

Yes, a burger that comes filled with a shot of bourbon! See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/27/unbelievable-bourbon-bacon-bagel-burgers-alcohol-and-wacky-food-drink-up-and-bite-down/

I can’t wait to try my “Impossible” burger!

Time To Wear Your Favorite Food!

It’s nearing the end of a BIG FOOD WEEKEND. As you all know, I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT JAPAN. I love their energetic embracing of all aspects of life – and I love that they love plastic food:

When we were in Tokyo in July, we stopped by one of the more famous “plastic food” stores, where you can shop for all sorts of great plastic food – and guess what? There’s now a new trend where girls are taking the food and turning it into fashion headwear – like this:

Behold The “Bacon Bow!”

You read it right:

BEHOLD THE BACON BOW!

It’s a plasticized piece of bacon turned into a hairpiece!

Yes, enterprising young women in Japan are taking this plastic food and turning it into fashionable head gear!

Bravo, RocketNews24.com!

Once again, the most unique stories of Asia come from this terrific website, a never-ending source of entertaining stories like this! Check the entire story out there:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/10/11/love-japans-realistic-fake-food-now-you-can-wear-it-on-your-head-as-an-accessory-【pics】/

You all know that I personally LOVE plastic food:

Welcome To Kappabashi Street!

Yes, “Kappabashi” is a district in Tokyo that sells all the plasticized food you need – whether a triple cheeseburger or a whole bunch of sushi!

If you click here, you can see more examples of the greatest plasticized food of all time, and who doesn’t want THAT?

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/09/tokyos-got-my-wagyu-beef-burger-amazing-kappabashi-plastic-food-burger-shirts-tokyo-rules/

My fascination carries over to my iPhone cover:

Yes, my iPhone cover is bacon and eggs – you can see more wacky iPhone food covers here – and my wacky, I mean it!

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/30/sushi-iphone-bacon-iphone-worlds-most-unique-iphone-covers-tokyos-new-kit-kat-store-tokyos-wacky-shopping/

Let me know if this new fashion headpiece is for you!

Frankfurters For The Holidays!

I love the internet. It gave me this classic ad, for a holiday Frankfurter dish courtesy of “Mrs. Damon Runyon!”

Note the “Creamed diced carrots in onion cups” that go along with it…and after a fine meal like that on Christmas day, you need a smoke!

Classic Celebrity Holiday Smoking Ads!

As you can see, everything we love is on the internet – like these holiday cigarette ads with celebrities shilling cartons of smokes as a holiday gift!

Can you imagine that today? Still, really funny to see these classic ads pop up – and there are tons of ads showing celebs shilling smokes all year long as well, like this one with John Wayne:

After all that food and smoking, you may need an Alka-Seltzer – don’t worry, Sammy Davis Jr. has you covered:

I love that all of this vintage Hollywood stuff is on the internet – for example, do you want to see pictures of Celebrities playing with their food?

Yes, now you can own a picture of Robert Plant eating an ice cream cone – rather sloppily I might add…check out tons of celebrities playing with their food here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/18/hilarious-internet-trend-celebrities-play-with-their-food-sex-bacon-bikinis-elvis-tasty-pics-of-the-stars/

Speaking of celebrities and food, did you know that legendary Actor Humphrey Bogart used to sell chocolates?

How could you NOT buy these treats knowing that Bogie approved of them? See a lot of funny celebrity ads here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/26/hilarious-celebrity-product-endorsements-stallone-humphrey-bogart-wacky-ads-galore/

There you go, more celebrity fun courtesy of the internet!

Nothing Says Merry Christmas Like a Hot Dog Holiday Tree!

I love the internet, for this holiday season it has bestowed the hallowed “hot dog holiday tree”! And that’s not all, how about a Christmas tree fashioned out of TUNA FISH!?!?!?

OK, I know you think that is a joke, but it’s not – I mean, I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET SO IT MUST BE TRUE….LIKE THIS:

A PICKLE TREE!

I did an investigative search online and found so many wacky food ideas from the past – yes a multi-colored pickle tree, so how about this helpful recipe for green olives to cover a “cheese and pimento porcupine?”

You see, there are so many unique ways to feed your family this holiday season – how about greens beans and a meatloaf bundt?

Yes, that looks disgusting, but it was a real, honest effort for a company to encourage you to use their canned products for a festive meal – this product is for those who just don’t want to be bothered:

A Christmas “Dinner!”

I think this is close to brilliant perfection, but what if it gave you a toothache? Well, in the past there was a simple, easy answer to your pain:

COCAINE!

Well, that was clearly a “simpler time”, wasn’t it? I want to thank The Huffington Post for their great story of retro holiday foods – see more classic pics here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/retro-holiday-foods_us_58580910e4b0b3ddfd8d9d11?section=us_taste

And don’t forget, celebrities love holiday food as well!

Yes, Mrs. Damon Runyon was shilling a hot dog dinner, and lots of celebrities extolled the virtues of cigarettes as a holiday gift as well!

See more of this wackiness here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/12/classic-celebrity-holiday-ads-frankfurters-cigarettes-vintage-stars-selling-smokes/

Of course, you may want to serve good food this holiday season, and I have you covered for that as well:

Here is a “Gigot D’Agneau” – a Provencal leg of lamb recipe! Check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/12/22/holiday-feast-2016-gigot-of-lamb-from-patricia-wells-ratatouille-from-thomas-keller-recipe/

So you can eat Provencal – or you can have a hot dog tree!

Let me know if you serve that, or perhaps a “tuna tree” this Christmas!

2017 Is The Year Of “Bacon Man!”

First of all, thanks to Alex Sim-Wise for sending me my own Superhero for my birthday! Yes, thanks to Sim-Wise, in 2017 I will take on a new persona:

Sim-Wise sent me this on my birthday, and I plan to take advantage of any an all super powers I choose to give it to make this year the best ever…I will say that this outfit is much better than the alternative:

Bacon products

Bacon Helmet!

“Bacon Man!”

Um, I don’t think you’ll see me outfitted like that, but I do plan to share the powers of bacon liberally during the upcoming year.

I’m not sure yet EXACTLY what these “Bacon Man” powers will be, but I promise they will include a lot of this:

Bacon Is “Man’s Best Friend!”

Let’s face it: we all love bacon. It’s all over the internet. We all know that bacon is used in so many creative ways: it can turn a burrito in so much more:

I think my “Bacon Man” Superhero will help those “dishes in distress” that need help becoming something GREAT…you know, the way that bacon can turn macaroni-and-cheese into something special like this:

As you can see, bacon makes everything better, like these amazing deep-fried bacon wrapped Oreos! See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/04/12/bacon-wrapped-fried-oreos-amazing-recipes-incredible-pictures-bacon-madness/

Remember that “Bacon Man” will only do good, as opposed to this guy, the “Bacon Demon”:

The “Bacon Demon” is known to do more abusive things to bacon, like forcing it to stack up in 1,000 pile increments:

Of course this happened in Japan, where they love to take their food and turn it into something completely different – see how they do it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/12/26/get-stacked-1050-slices-of-bacon-grilled-onion-cheese-the-worlds-tallest-burgers/

Of course, bacon is for more than eating, just ask my friend Sara Underwood:

Sara was willing to don a “bacon bikini” for a shoot once, just one of many celebrities willing to play with their food…see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/18/hilarious-internet-trend-celebrities-play-with-their-food-sex-bacon-bikinis-elvis-tasty-pics-of-the-stars/

In Japan, I found that bacon was more than just a bikini – it was also a hairpin!

See all of Tokyo’s “wearable food” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/11/26/wearable-bacon-for-your-head-japans-newest-plastic-wearable-food-fad/

Finally, the fifth best way to utilize bacon is on your phone:

I own a bacon iPhone, which I continue to upgrade – so the bacon gets bigger and bigger along with my phone…see some more unique iPhones food covers here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/30/sushi-iphone-bacon-iphone-worlds-most-unique-iphone-covers-tokyos-new-kit-kat-store-tokyos-wacky-shopping/

Thanks so much to Alex Sim-Wise for making me a “Bacon Man!”

Sim-Wise was great to film with, like this shoot with Producer Corrado in Tokyo – she was a Cosplayer in a “Maid Cafe” for us – and here are some more of her more adventurous shoots with G4:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/26/alex-sim-wise-her-london-shenanigans-tokyos-greatest-hits/

More to come from “Bacon Man” in 2017!

Because today is a day to escape the headlines and bite down hard on something good…

Behold The “Potatorrito Burrito!”

Bravo once again to the food genius known as “The Vulgar Chef!” I follow his website, and was so happy to have this picture show up on my computer – a burrito wrapped in bacon and stuffed with multi-layers of goodness!

The Vulgar Chef is hilarious – not only in the imagination behind the food, but in the “who gives a &%@*&” attitude to it!

I have shared some of his majesty before, remember?

The “Crunchwrap Double Cheeseburger”!

The Vulgar Chef was behind this amazing food mashup: Taco Bell Crunchwraps turned into buns for a double cheeseburger! Check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/09/a-vulgar-crunchwrap-supreme-double-cheeseburger-the-vulgar-chef-strikes-again/

And of course, who can forget when the Vulgar Chef did THIS:

Yes, this is a “Cheetos-crusted Mac’n’Cheese Pulled Pork Pie!”

See the recipe here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/06/15/cheetos-crusted-macncheese-pulled-pork-cake-the-vulgar-chef-scores-again/

And now our friend is back with a unique Burrito that has a “bacon shell!”

I love how imaginative The Vulgar Chef is, so please head to his website – there is a whole of of creativity going on there!

Check out his recipe for the Potatorrito – and his “making of” video that shows the amazingness of it at his website here:

http://thevulgarchef.com/2017/01/18/the-potatorrito-burrito-in-a-potato/#respond

Bravo once again, Vulgar Chef!

Yes, A “Watery” Roller Coaster!

Oh, how I love all things Japan. Here is the latest example: a water park that includes a “hot springs roller coaster!”

As the intrepid Reporters at RocketNews24 report:

“The city of Beppu, located in Oita Prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, uploaded to YouTube a video of people enjoying a day at an amusement park. Two things, though, made the proceedings very different from a day at Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan.”

“Beppu is one of Japan’s premiere hot spring (or onsen, in Japanese) resorts. Because of that, every park-goer in the video was dressed in a towel, and the rides and attractions were filled with hot spring water.”

Yes, a roller coaster filled with water! Of course, you don’t have to take my word for it.

Check out the promotional video:

RocketNews24 as always has the best stories from all over Asia, and they have the entire story, with information on how you can be part of the crowdfunding, in their story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/01/26/japans-hot-spring-amusement-park-has-opening-date-wants-100-million-yen-in-crowdfunding-money/

Of course, I have shared great RocketNews24 stories before, like the Taiwanese Politician who wanted a unique funeral:

Yes, he asked his Brother to have a funeral procession led by pole-dancing strippers!

See the whole story, with videos, here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/09/taiwans-wacky-pole-dancing-funeral-the-internet-wins-again/

RocketNews24 is also the best source for all things culinary in Japan as well, like this mega-burger tower:

See the “Tokyo Tower burger” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/26/a-towering-tokyo-burger-lotterias-amazing-burger-with-everything-on-it/

So, who wants to go on this roller coaster with me?