Happy New Year, Burger Lovers!

Yes, that’s a burger you see staring at you, and it’s just the tip of 2014′s wacky burger iceberg! Gone are the days when THIS is considered exotic:

Because in this new era of monster food, it’s a whole new year, and there is new burger madness to share! Sure, we all love the goodness you see above, but what if a regular, albeit delicious, double cheeseburger just isn’t enough? After all, we are now in an era when you can add THIS to anything:

Now ANYTHING can be bacon flavored! And of course, the world of burgers just keeps getting more and more unique…

“Turning Japanese!”

Because once you’ve had one of my Japanese wasabi avocado sliders – well, let’s just say the world looks different from over there:

So, although New Year’s Eve is barely past us, some of us already need a drink and a bite to eat…or perhaps you just need one of these:

“The Hangover Burger!”

Thanks to Giant Orange in Sacramento, California, you can enjoy their Hangover Burger for $10.99 – you get a big burger patty topped with a farm-fresh fried egg, grilled onions, Cheddar cheese and crisp hardwood-smoked bacon; garnished with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

Three bites and you are no doubt drinking again! But maybe you need more…

Behold The “Burganator!”

Wow, the mad geniuses at Stonefly Brewery in Milwaukee came up a masterpiece: it’s “The Burganator”, where great slabs of bacon are topped first by a burger, then by onion rings, and then drizzled with a beer cheese sauce…wait, I already hear my arteries hardening!

This is just one of twelve unique burger toppings that the great minds at “A Hamburger Today” have to share here:

http://aht.seriouseats.com/

But don’t think the US has a lock on massive:

Behold The “Queensland Burger!”

Well, that’s just a whole lot of stuff piled up and put between two buns…and it sure looks good, doesn’t it?

Thanks to the great website “Thisiswhyyourehuge.com” for sharing this photo. If you don’t go there for all of their shared material, you are missing a lot of great food madness!

After so much big food, let’s check out something a bit healthier, thanks to the Mediterranean diet:

“My Big Fat Greek Burger!”

Well, what can you say about this: it’s a beautiful Lamb burger with grilled red onion, feta, bell pepper yogurt, tomato and greens – delicious looking, and according to a fat dude, it’s good for you, too…

And the fat dude shows you step-by-step how to cook it, too! I saw this on the “thisiswhyyourehuge”, but they shared the link to “the fat dude diet” website….check it out here!

The Fat Dude is really Niyaz Pirani, an Orange County food writer for OC Weekly’s Stick A Fork In It blog and formerly the Orange County Register’s Food Frenzy blog.

Kudos, fat dude!

http://thefatdudediet.com/2010/12/24/week-7-meal-3-my-big-fat-greek-burger/

Look, I’m all for healthy, but when I get an email from the owner of “Martiniburger” in Tokyo, I know I’m not going on a diet anytime soon! Here is their latest masterpiece!

The “Foie Gras!”

Well, doesn’t this look good! It’s a 100% beef burger topped with imported Rougié fois gras, apple, mint and balsamico dressing. Served with endive salad. How much you ask? Just ¥3200, for a limited time only, so let’s get over to Tokyo NOW!

OK, I can’t jump on a plane right this second, but the next time I’m in Tokyo’s legendary Shinjuku entertainment district, I’m checking this place out! Here’s the website!

http://martini-burger.com/en

Nothing could be more satisfying than a foie gras burger, right? Well, there is tasty and then there is BIG…and when it comes to big, what would Australia do about that?

G’Day For Australia’s Biggest Burger!

Behold “The Roadhog!”

Let’s finish this mouthwatering trip into 2014 by going to Queensland, Australia, some 300 miles away from Brisbane…yes, we are talking Australian Outback, folks:

According to a Queensland travel blog, “‘The Roadhog Burger’ weighs in at around 14kg – the same size as an average two-year-old. It feeds up to 15 people and will set you back about 150 bucks!

You’ll need to order this monster a few days in advance though, as the buns are ‘custom made’ by the nearby St George Bakery. And yes, those are raw sausages fashioned as fingers!”

Time To Bite Into 2014!

So there you go, grab a big burger somewhere and bite into 2014 – all around the world – in style!

Time To Bite Down Hard!

The US is justifiably proud of the kinds of burgers we make – they are big, bold, and delicious! But the rest of the world isn’t sitting idly by – they are stepping up as well!

Time to look at some of the greatest burger ideas from around the world – stories I have posted about what the rest of the world has accomplished in the burger world…

It is, without a doubt, a work of art – when a burger is constructed properly, it’s a marvel to look at – and to bite down on…I love to make a great burger, and I love to eat them too…so let’s head around the world to see the best that Earth has to offer!

The Pizza-Shaped Cheeseburger!

Of course, we have Burger King Japan to thank for this: it’s their pizza burger: four whopper patties topped with mozzarella, marinara, and pepperoni, stacked into a 9.5-inch sesame bun and then pre-sliced into six wedges.

Remember, these were the guys who brought you these garlic burgers:

And, in a feat of sheer burger madness, they also offered you THIS:

The Ninja Tongue Burger!

A powerful Ninja burger with black buns made with bamboo charcoal, black-brown garlic soy Chaliapin sauce, and a “tongue” of what BK calls “king’s bacon”, which resembles Irish rashers more than crispy, American-style bacon – and topped with onions, lettuce, mayo, and hash browns. Bite down hard!

Before you judge, remember what the British are up to:

Behold The “Big Manc!”

Let’s stop off in England to check out this masterpiece – it’s the “Big Manc”, created to celebrate Wimbledon’s tennis champ – yes, it was!

You can read all about this masterpiece by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/16/haggis-burgers-the-big-manc-the-wimbledon-connection-match-point/

And yes, the story includes a “haggis burger” too! And England doesn’t have a lock on massive meat – let’s head to Australia to enjoy “The Queensland Burger!”

Hard to imagine they left ANYTHING off of this baby – I am a huge fan of Australia, and I love their burgers – check out more from Down Under by clicking on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/09/the-hangover-burger-the-burganator-the-roadhog-2014s-early-bacon-burger-monsters/

You can also see “The Roadhog”, which is not only delicious looking, but quite attractive as well!

Lotteria Rules!

Time now to head back to Japan, where our friends at the Lotteria restaurant chain in Tokyo love to come up with wacky stuff like, for example, their ramen burger:

They are not alone in making crazy food – for example, another restaurant in Tokyo created THIS:

Yes, it’ is their “tower to heaven” – a burger that goes where no burger has gone before!

You can see one intrepid Reporter’s effort to eat this monster by clicking here:

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

I couldn’t eat it, but I always love to see people who make things that are unique and inventive, which takes me back, once again, to the masterminds at Lotteria:

The wild cooks at Tokyo’s Lotteria restaurant love to make mega stacked cheeseburgers for you…just another reason to head to Japan right now! And while you are Asia-bound, why not drop in on Mike’s Burger House in Cambodia?

If you like the look of that stacked burger, then head over to Cambodia right now to visit Mike!

He makes an amazing burger – the best in all of Cambodia – and you can read all about it by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/10/yes-its-cambodias-best-burger-mikes-burger-house-stacks-them-high/

If that is a bit too far to go for a great burger, what about Brazil?

Bob’s Got An Edible Wrapper In Brazil!

Yep, let’s head to Brazil to marvel at their edible burger wrapper! That’s right, you can enjoy their burger without having to unwrap it!

If you want to see this unique way to serve a meal, click on the link here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

I may have to open a restaurant just to make this edible wrapper a reality here in the US! I love the concept, so let me know if you know of anyone doing something like this!

At the end of the day, the world is serving up a beautiful, delicious and unique burger at all times of the day and night – so enjoy!

Have You Heard Of This Classic Genre Of Exploitation?

I am a big fan of all sorts of exploitation films, and this genre is a great one for me – get ready to go down under for some “Ozploitation!”

“A Time When Admission Was Cheap – And The Thrills Even Cheaper!”

Well, if The Village Voice says it, it must be true! And now, there is a compilation of movie trailers that celebrate Australia’s “anything goes” era of film from Australia!

I can’t wait to watch them all! Check out this trailer for “Dead End Drive-In!”

How can you top that for exploitation fun? It’s got, blood, sex AND Aussie accents, and it’s just one of the many pleasures to be found HERE!

Yes, this is an amazingly fun collection of “65 jaw-dropping vintage coming attractions of sex, action & horror from down under!

The exploitation era in Australia is a fascinating one – weird, offbeat films – and very colorful characters in front of and behind the camera!

“Not Quite Hollywood!”

Dozens of vintage exploitation trailers await you on the trailer collection – and if you need more, check out this documentary all about this era of Australian film making:

This is a great docu, telling the story of a wild era in film…really worth checking out…as is this classic look at 70′s sexy Australia…

You can read my story about some of the wildest 70′s sexcapades ever, including a documentary about sex in Australia….

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/06/how-can-i-offend-you-best-documentaries-pt-2/

And you also need to check out one of the most disturbing Australian films of the early 70′s – a brutal look at the hard drinking Australian outback!

Wake In Fright!

This classic cult film from Australia is included in the “Ozploitaiton Explosion”, but if you want to read more about it, click on here!

http://jrsploitation.com/2014/01/18/alcoholic-aussies-sci-fi-head-trip-obscure-70s-films-saved/

It’s a rough, tough and sometimes shocking look at the outback!

Time to enjoy some “Ozploitation!”

“The sun is spread, hot and arched, above the reef like a woman in abandon, sky shimmering like glistening skin…”

Yes, it is paradise: this picture of a resort in the Solomon Islands…a gorgeous escape, the adventure of a lifetime…but getting to paradise is another matter….

“Only two hours ago I’d been living through some of the worst moments I’d ever experienced, during which an understanding of the precariousness of life had been borne in me with frightening force.”

Time For Another Amazing Island Adventure!

Both of the quotes above are from an amazing book that continues the adventures of one of my favorite Authors!

First of all, what a beautiful cover for a book. Welcome to Pigeon Island, surrounded by many other, smaller islands like the one on the cover. I have posted before about the exotic adventures of Lucy Irvine, who began the adventure of a lifetime when she answered this want ad:

She not only answered the ad, her bestselling book “Castaway” documented her year on a deserted island with the man who placed the want ad, and the book was also made into a film! After all of the acclaim, Irvine returned to a “regular” life, until the Author found herself with a unique opportunity for a sequel!

In 1999, Lucy Irvine took her three children to the farthest corner of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to live for a year on remote Pigeon Island…look at the center of the map above and notice the tiny mark for Pigeon island next to Reef Islands…

Irvine’s invitation to live in this isolated paradise came from an intrepid 80-year-old Pigeon Island resident, Diana Hepworth, who set sail from England years earlier with her family in their own search for a faraway paradise.

“Faraway” is not only Irvine’s story, it is the story of the Hepworth family and their amazing adventure years earlier…the two stories are intertwined, and both are fascinating…

“Faraway” tells the story of Irvine’s latest adventure – and what it was like to take her three boys with her, settling into a completely different life in the middle of the south seas…

“Faraway” also is the story of the Hepworths – an adventurous young couple who raised a family in a faraway land – and “Faraway” beautifully captures what life on a south seas island is like…because few islands are more isolated than this one…

Lucy Irvine is a beautiful writer, expertly capturing life in this secluded paradise, without forgetting all of the hardships and dangers that south seas life entails…

“Only two hours ago I’d been living through some of the worst moments I’d ever experienced, during which an understanding of the precariousness of life had been borne in me with frightening force.”

Irvine is a perceptive writer as well, capturing the joys and hardships of “roughing it” on an isolated island with her three sons, as well as learning the local culture and customs…and this book offers an insider’s look at life in the south pacific…

If you’ve ever wanted to escape to a tropical island, Irvine shows you what it is really like…

And of course, this terrific memoir follows Irvine’s previous masterwork:

The Brilliant “Castaway!”

I first got hooked on Irvine’s writing when I came across her memoir in a used bookstore.

Irvine answered a want ad, and spent a year on a deserted island! To read all about the book, as well as the british film that was made about it, click on the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/04/castaway-amazing-dangerous-real-life-island-escapes/

The Author just recently added a Facebook page in anticipation of her newest work, so go and support her!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucy-Irvine/387523681385725

For those who think I’ve neglected bacon, I have a question:

“Are You Hungry? Then Bite Down Hard On This!”

Yes, I LOVE BACON! Special thanks to @melissacocomias on Twitter for sending me this picture! A bacon taco is just the way to make a day better! And it’s just the beginning of my “bacon love” special!

You Are “Bacon” Me Crazy!

In an online world full of headlines, captions, and just all around “noise”, there is something about the “purity” of bacon love that cuts through it all…I mean, how much happier would we all be going through the day like this:

“Bacon, Do You Say ‘I Do’?”

One couple showed their love of bacon the only way you can – by getting married to it!

Did you hear about the couple who got married at a “Big Bite Bacon Fest?” They walked down a bacon-printed carpet to the altar, the bride carrying a bacon bouquet and the groom wore a bacon boutonniere. And of course, the bridesmaids had bacon roses!

The wedding guests celebrated by tossing bacon bits instead of rice, and they served a bacon-themed wedding cake! Here is the happy couple cutting the cake…

Congrats to this happy couple for coming up with a unique wedding ceremony!

CLEARLY YOU LOVE BACON TOO!

C’mon, admit it, as much as I love bacon, and that couple loves bacon, you love bacon too…so let’s all grab a stack of bacon and bite down hard like this guy!!

Bacon Bacon Bacon!

To honor this iconic taste sensation, let’s look at some of the latest and most unique ways bacon is being “utilized”:

First, an instruction chart on how to use bacon properly:

See, if you follow these instructions you’ll never be unhappy again! FYI, if you google the phrase “bacon products”, you get 1.2 MILLION options.

1.2 MILLION Bacon Options!

That’s A LOT of bacon. Still, most are more traditional uses of bacon, like this bacon cheeseburger:

And some take that idea and, shall we say, “tweak it” a bit – leading to a “Bacon Cube Burger!”

But bacon can do so much more…it can take the ordinary, like meatloaf, and make it EXTRAORDINARY:

Bacon Meatloaf – With Mac’n’Cheese Filling!

It’s surprisingly easy to do: just make two small meatloafs, connect them with a center of mac ‘n’ cheese, wrap them up in bacon and bake! What you see is what you’ll eat, and how can you argue with THAT?!?!

I think I need a cup of coffee to calm myself down…

Bacon Coffee!

What better way to open your eyes in the morning! A hot fresh cup of bacon would certainly open my eyes…and if it was after a night of fun, I might need this instead:

Bacon Drink Tablets! OK, this is the way to combat a hangover – and have instant liquid bacon refreshment! I am sold on this!

But remember that bacon is more than just a meal – it’s a dessert too!

Behold A Bacon Pie!

OK, Bacon pie is not exactly a “pie” – in fact, there is no “pie” involved, only bacon. And cheese. And more bacon. The bacon pie is a giant slab of weaved bacon, a ton of cheese and bacon strips, and another giant slab of weaved bacon.

Wait, that sounds like a great dessert to me! And now, the “bacon” tributes:

The Bacon-Turtle Burger!

Thanks to our friends at GrubGrade.com, I can show you how they spent their Memorial Day – with this bacon-y masterpiece – a “bacon and hot dog” mashup that resembles a turtle!

It’s a full pound of ground beef, stuffed with hot dogs and wrapped in bacon. Yes please!

And of course, if you really want to try a unique bacon recipe:

Make Your Own Bacon Jello!

I shared this before, an incredible method of making bacon jello! I don’t know if I’ll ever try it, but if it appeals to you, then here is the step-by-twisted-step how to do this, just click on the link here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/09/bacon-jello-bacon-cheeseburger-cakes-boozy-bacon-and-egg-jello-darth-vader-shots/

And don’t forget, Bacon isn’t just for consuming….

Hats Off To Bacon!

Yes, I found this picture on the web, and it will always be one of my favorites…I also worked with a creative team once that was using bacon as part of their TV show, and Sara Underwood was brave enough to don a bacon bikini….

Thanks Sara for stepping up for a great cause – bacon! And since I have a mustache, there is even a bacon product for me!

I can at the very least remember these important words:

Let me know if you agree!

Celebrate The 4th With Some Burger Fireworks In Your Mouth!

Yes, those ARE french fries wedged into this wonderful slider – and I will explain later why it was such a GREAT IDEA – because this 4th of July, it’s time to celebrate with the world’s best sliders!

If you have a taste for a “sliderific” holiday weekend, you can bite down hard right here!

Calling All Burger Lovers!

Celebrate this holiday weekend with SLIDERS!

I love holidays! Cooking burgers is one reason, grilling sliders is another. Look at how good this is, a perfectly composed slider getting a big assist from my best friend, BACON:

And this year, you can begin the day with a slider as well – that’s right, I plan to celebrate my 4th of July with sliders morning noon and night!

Sliders For Breakfast Lunch And Dinner!

I will share more of this breakfast magic in a moment, but first, let’s dive right into the delicious world of the “mini-burger” with my personal favorite:

The French Fry Burger!

That’s right, it’s a slider held together with french fries and tartar sauce!

DO NOT JUDGE UNTIL YOU’VE BITTEN DOWN ON THIS MASTERPIECE YOURSELF!

It’s so simple: just make a slider as usual, but put NOTHING on it but fries, cheese and tartar sauce – BOOM! If this is bridge too far for you, here are some of my favorite slider recipes – a classic all-american and some with an international flair!

A Worldwide Slider Celebration!

The key to an international slider is what flavors the basic hamburger patty. Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I mix in raw minced onion and minced garlic, with salt, pepper as well.

That’s it for me – upon this temple of meat flavor, I add unique ingredients that give my sliders an international flavor…here are some of my favorite recipes!

Spanish Sliders – Hamburguesa!

Let’s get started with Spain, since I just got back from Barcelona…this is a great example of taking a regular burger and giving it an international feel…using some of the special spanish flavors to give the burger a catalonian flavor!

Begin by cooking the burger first with Manchego cheese (a sheep’s milk cheese from the La Mancha region in Spain) and Jamón Iberico, (Iberico ham – prosciutto-like ham that comes from Spanish black pigs). Then, top the burger with olive tapenade…you can find recipes for making it, or you can buy it in a jar, but it includes black olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. Take a bite and you will wake up in Barcelona…

Korean Kimchi Barbecue Sliders

When I was in Seoul, we ate every night at a korean BBQ, where you grill your own meat and seafood on the round grill embedded in your table, then wrap the grilled food around lettuce or thinly sliced pickled vegetables. Taking that as an inspiration, Korean sliders are best when you add pickled cucumbers, a splash of rice vinegar and kimchi.

As you can see, it’s all about how you season your burger patty – and there’s a world of great flavor to enjoy!

Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Slider!

I read about this over the holidays and I made one…it was delicious! It is very simple: a slider patty topped 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! One last look….trust me, MAKE THIS ONE!

The Sriracha Burger!

Wasabi not powerful enough for you? Well, THIS will do the trick:

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, combine the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha, and the pepper.

Cook the bacon. While the bacon is cooking, peel and quarter the onions. Once the bacon is cooked through and slightly crispy, remove the slices from the pan, reserving the remaining bacon fat in the pan. Cook the sliced onions in the bacon fat over medium-low heat until they caramelize, 20 to 25 minutes.

Grill the burgers. While the burgers are cooking, in a small bowl, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha. Lightly toast the buns on the grill during the last minute of cooking time.

To assemble, spread the blue cheese mixture on both halves of each hamburger bun. Stack a burger patty, Swiss cheese slice, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato slice, and a small handful of arugula between each hamburger bun.

Bam!

Australian Sliders!

I uncovered these two years ago in Melbourne. They add a slice of beetroot underneath the burger. It adds a great, slightly nutty flavor to the slider. Look at how beautiful that big chunk looks on the burger above…Everything else is the same – add cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce if you like – and if you want to go totally Aussie, add a fried egg on top….the best!

Now, if you REALLY want to get creative, throw the concept of a slider out the window altogether!

THE CHEESEBURGER SUB!

From The White House Sub shop in Atlantic City, I got this delicious cheeseburger sub – it’s a cheeseburger on a sub sandwich roll…easy to do and a fun change of pace!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger Slider!

What can you say? After a trip around the world, it’s nice to come home and have an all-american slider…made vertically like so:

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.

Or, if you are just in the mood for a burger that will drive you NUTS…or perhaps you don’t want a burger at all, well here’s the answer!

The Vegetarian Nut Burger!

The Nut Burger was made famous at Matt’s Place Drive-In in Butte, Montana. Matt’s Place Drive-In was established in 1930.

And, in honor of vegetarians who have chosen to read this post, there is a great “no meat” burger waiting for you!

“No Meat” Nut Burgers!

1 medium onion
1 cup walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews or other nuts, preferably raw
1 cup (raw) rolled oats or cooked short-grain white or brown rice
2 tablespoons ketchup, miso, tomato paste, nut butter or tahini
1 teaspoon chili powder or any spice mix you like
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg

2 tablespoons peanut oil, extra virgin olive oil or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn.

1. Grind onion in food processor. Add nuts and oats, and pulse to chop, but not too finely. Add remaining ingredients except oil. Process briefly; don’t grind too finely. Add a little liquid — water, stock, soy sauce, wine, whatever — if necessary; mixture should be moist but not loose.

2. Let mixture rest a few minutes, then shape it into 4 burgers. (Burger mixture or shaped burgers can be covered tightly and refrigerated for up to a day. Bring back to room temperature before cooking.) Put oil in nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet and turn to medium. When oil is hot, add burgers to skillet. Cook about 5 minutes, undisturbed, until browned, then turn with spatula. Lower heat a bit and cook 3 or 4 minutes more, until firm.

This is good enough to satisfy meat eaters, too!

WHAT THE – ???!!???

What do you think of THIS? My daughter Jessica poses in front of the ad for the “Green Peas Pachislo Burger” in Tokyo…we don’t know what it was, and didn’t bother to find out, but we loved the ad!

Jessica sent me a list of sliders being made by an innovative food truck in Seattle. Look at some of these variations on a slider!

Curb Jumper Classic Cheese Slider

Certified Angus Beef, Melted Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Roma Tomato, Red Onion,
Spring Mix with Roasted Garlic Aioli.

Shrooom Slider

Certified Angus Beef, Melted Provolone Cheese, Sauted Crimini Mushrooms,
Caramelized Sweet Onions, Spring Mix, Roma Tomato and Spicy Mustard Aioli

Southwest Turkey Slider

Handmade and spiced Turkey Patties, Melted Pepper Jack Cheese, Roasted Anaheim Peppers,
Cumin- Cilantro Slaw, Frizzled Onions with a Chipotle Aioli.

Salmon Slider

Handmade Salmon Patties, Frizzled Onions, Spring Mix, Roma Tomato with a Lemon Pepper Aioli

And remember, if all else fails:

White Castle To The Rescue!

And when in doubt, grab a dozen White Castle sliders and dress them up with some of the above flavors – talk about happy holidays!

MAKING THE “WHITE CASTLE BREAKFAST SLIDER!”

And now you can start your day with a great breakfast slider thanks to White Castle!

Look at how delicious this is – and it’s so so easy!

First, take two sliders out of their frozen hell and microwave them for a minute…as far as the White Castle part of this recipe is concerned, this is the toughest part of the preparation….

As your sliders are busy microwaving, put a single egg in a pan, with a bit of olive oil…adding salt and pepper to your personal taste…

Next, take your two White Castle sliders out of the microwave, open them up and lay down a line of Mayonaise…yes, it tastes great and you can buy lowfat or olive oil-based versions – remember mayo and aioli come from condiment heaven…

As the egg cooks, break the yolk and then flip the egg over…let it cook for a minute and then slit it down the middle, separate the two pieces and let both pieces finish cooking…i like mine a bit runny, so I can taste the runny yolk, but do what you need to do – it’s your egg…

CONTINUE CONSTRUCTING YOUR BREAKFAST BITES!

When your egg is finished cooking, slide those two pieces onto the top of your waiting White Castle cheeseburger sliders…breakfast is served!

“WHITE CASTLE BREAKFAST SLIDERS!”

And there you go, a 380-calorie wonder!

Once you take a bite you will understand that THIS is a great way to start the day – and not bad for you, either!

Let me know if you try any of these and how they turn out! Thanks!

In the mood for a film that offers a tasty alternative to big Hollywood blockbusters?

Strap Yourself In For “The Bed That Eats!”

Yes, it is time to discover the wonder of “Death Bed!” First, let’s see a few choice moments thanks to “Saibot216″ on youtube….

It is referred to as the “worst film ever made!” But c’mon, if you’ve see “The Room” or “Birdemic”, you know that’s not possible…and now, thanks to the great home video distributor CultEpics, there is a new blu-ray that gives YOU the chance to decide for yourself!

Let’s look at the extremely intricate plot:

A demonic bed eats anyone who lies in it. Done!

Which leads me to suspect that this young lady has a bad dream ahead…

Yep, I WAS RIGHT!

So, this is a film with a title – and premise – that doesn’t mess around! And thanks to the wonders of blu-ray, you just have to grab onto your remote with both hands and let this film take you on a wild, wild ride!

The Wacky World Of Cult Movies!

One reason movies are so much fun is because you never know when you will run into a film like this: a Director’s unique vision that may remain in obscurity for years before a brave company brings it back for all of us to enjoy! You know, scenes like THIS:

Thanks to the great website IMDB, we have some fun “Death Bed” trivia!

Director George Barry’s inspiration for “Death Bed” came in a dream, which explains the film’s bizarre surreal feel…

A Cult Legend Is Born – Or Bedded!

Until its official DVD release in 2003, “Death Bed” had been circulated via pirated bootlegs, and unbeknown to George Barry, the film had gained an underground fan base. VHS helped keep the mystique alive…

Director Barry said he discovered people discussing it on the internet one evening and decided to put an official video release of the film into works.

Patton Oswalt’s Obsession!

Comedian Patton Oswalt mentions the movie on his 2007 CD “Werewolves and Lollipops”, where he does a stand-up routine on it (mistakenly referring to it as “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats People”). He even specifically tells people to look up the movie on the IMDb to verify that he wasn’t joking about its existence! Here is that rant:

So thanks to Patton Oswalt for keeping the cult alive, and thanks again to Cult Epics for bringing “Death Bed” back to life for future generations to enjoy!

Hungry For A FIVE POUND HAMBURGER?

Of course you are! And thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, you can see how it’s done!

RocketNews24 Bites Down Hard!

Of course, leave it to RocketNews24 to have the entire story, including lots of great pictures like this one!

“RocketNews24″ is one of my favorite websites, and you should bookmark it as well. See their entire story by clicking here!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/04/18/we-take-on-thailands-five-and-a-half-pound-hamburger-and-live-to-tell-the-tale/

And of course, Thailand isn’t the only place for BIG burgers outside the US…

Welcome To Cambodia!

Now THAT is a great looking burger – and it’s from Cambodia, thanks to Mike!

Mike runs a great burger shop in Cambodia, and he likes to pile them high…check out my entire story by clicking on this link:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/10/yes-its-cambodias-best-burger-mikes-burger-house-stacks-them-high/

No matter how much you love Cambodia Mike’s, then wait until you see what’s going on in Brazil!

Brazil Bob’s!

Check this out – Bob’s Burgers in Brazil sells their burgers in an edible wrapper!

Read the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

And England doesn’t want to be left out…

Behold The “Big Manc!”

Let’s stop off in England to check out this masterpiece – it’s the “Big Manc”, created to celebrate Wimbledon’s tennis champ – yes, it was!

You can read all about this masterpiece by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/16/haggis-burgers-the-big-manc-the-wimbledon-connection-match-point/

And yes, the story includes a “haggis burger” too! And England doesn’t have a lock on massive meat – let’s head to Australia to enjoy “The Queensland Burger!”

Hard to imagine they left ANYTHING off of this baby – I am a huge fan of Australia, and I love their burgers – check out more from Down Under by clicking on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/01/09/the-hangover-burger-the-burganator-the-roadhog-2014s-early-bacon-burger-monsters/

You can also see “The Roadhog”, which is not only delicious looking, but quite attractive as well!

So head around the world to eat the best meat you can find…and thanks again to “RocketNews24″ for sharing Thailand’s five pound masterpiece – let me know which is your favorite!

“Can You Add Bacon To My Order”?

If that is the first thing you ask your server when ordering a meal, then I have the place for you!

At this restaurant, you NEVER have to ask!

“Brutus” restaurant is located in Montreal, Canada, and they have a strong “bacon POV”: they use bacon in all their dishes!

Let’s see that in print again:

THE RESTAURANT WILL USE BACON IN ALL ITS DISHES!

What does that mean, you ask? Well first, settle in with a drink:

A Bacon Martini!

Well, what did you expect? Like I said, THEY ARE PUTTING BACON IN EVERYTHING! If you don’t believe me, then stop reading now, because bacon is about to take over your life!

Let’s start with a small snack like this:

A 100% BACON SAUSAGE HOT DOG!

Sure, there are lots of restaurants that make “all bacon” cheeseburgers and hot dogs…it’s not that this is a unique dish, but they sure make it look good!

For those who want a healthier alternative, try a salad!

The Bacon Caesar!

Looks healthy to me! As you can tell, Brutus makes a great plate of food! Oh, and in case you can’t tell, they serve this salad in a “bacon bowl!”

Needless to say, this restaurant looks for EVERY opportunity to add bacon where it doesn’t belong….except we all know that bacon belongs everywhere, including dessert!

The Bacon Caramel Doughnut!

What a great way to end a meal…I’m not sure if Brutus serves “bacon coffee”, but that exists as well…

Go, Gizmodo, Go!

Thanks to my friend Danny Stocker for sending me this link, and of course, thanks to Gizmodo Australia for uncovering the delicious story! Click on their story to see more of the Brutus all-bacon menu!

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/08/new-bacon-in-everything-restaurant-looks-deadly-delicious/

I loved the story as much as I love bacon! It made me hungry for one of these:

More Bacon Greatness!

And if you need more “bacon fulfillment”, check my story out here…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/14/bacon-wedding-love-bacon-tacos-bacon-mustaches-the-latest-bacon-bacon-bacon-greatness/

You are “bacon me crazy!”

Potato Chip Lovers Rejoice!

If this picture of a massive pile of potato chips makes you happy – and hungry, then have I got a story for you! The world has gone to a whole new level of potato chip flavors, and I for one am loving it!

I mean, how can you not love THIS!

That’s right, the incredible flavor of a cheeseburger stuffed into a single chip! I love this concept, because the folks at Lay’s have really gone chip crazy!

You have to give the Lay’s Potato Chip Chefs credit: they have done a great job getting people interested in all of their new, unique potato chip flavors…

Chocolate Covered Bacon!

Yes, Lay’s has even created a “chocolate covered bacon” Cheeto!

And Lays can’t rest on their laurels, so they came back with even more unique flavors for the rest of us to enjoy, like these!

“Cheddar Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese Flavor!”

There is a ton of imagination going into a potato chip these days! Look, I almost don’t even care if they taste good, I just love the creativity of it all! And of course, with every great flavor comes an even greater parody!

The website “mandatory.com” offered up a more unique flavor:

Justin Bieber’s Plummeting Career Chip!

Yes, the time has come for this – the rancid flavor of well-deserved career ruin…long overdue for Bieber!

And that’s not all! Big thanks to the website “my bargain buddy.com” for this hilarious “rejected Lay’s flavors” parody:

Pretty funny, and many more of these parodies exist as well, but it’s tough to parody a product that already does it to itself – I mean, here’s an example:

I’m sure many people thought that was a joke: a “BLT” potato chip? But it turned out to be the first of many cool new flavors, but the US is just about the LAST country to embrace this fad…I mean, I have already shared these incredible Chinese potato chips with you:

That’s right: get ready to bite down on this:

“Hot And Sour Fish Soup Potato Chips!”

It’s clear that the potato chip is now just a conduit for unique flavors, and it has just gotten more out of control!

Feel like a chip? Feel like caviar? FEEL LIKE BOTH?

Yep, in Russia they now offer “caviar potato chips” – I for one would love these….but they are no doubt very salty, so now just add a “champagne flavored potato chip” and you’ve got my attention!

And while we always think of potato chips as just a snack, the masterminds at Lay’s wondered this: what if you add a “main course” flavor to a chip?

Salmon Teriyaki Potato Chips!

Sure, salmon flavored potato chips – why not? In fact, there seems to be a rush to have ALL kinds of salmon flavors…like in Thailand, where they now have “salmon cream cheese” flavored chips…

I’m heading to Thailand right now! Or, if you want to appeal to the Brits, why not make a potato chip – or as they call them, CRISPS – and inject the flavor of one of their mainstays:

I love the idea of a main course potato chip, but not all “protein based” chips are a good idea…to prove my point I offer you this flavor from Walkers:

Folks, this isn’t a parody! And who knows, maybe “cajun squirrel” is a good flavor! Each country has their own unique set of taste buds, and of course, China leads the way in wacky potato chip flavors….

Pepsi Chicken Potato Chips!

That’s right: “pepsi chicken” is a favorite recipe in China, so why not make it a potato chip? I actually think it sounds GOOD!

There are many others as well! See all of China’s wackiest potato chip flavors by clicking on my story:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/11/pepsi-chicken-potato-chips-fish-soup-chips-china-goes-chip-flavor-crazy/

Let me know if you enjoyed this look at chip mania, and to that end:

Chips ahoy!

Happy Holidays!

Yes, September 1 is “National Bacon Day”, and if there ever was a holiday that “bites”, this is it!

Yes, time to put bacon on a burger and bite down hard! The rest of the world is already doing it!

“Baconskivor” Lovers Rejoice!

Yes, the rest of the world has embraced bacon – or as it says above, “baconskivor” – and now it’s up to us to keep up….oh wait, we have:

The “ALL-Bacon Bacon Burger!”

Yes, I found this masterpiece on Facebook…and there are so many pictures of bacon all over the internet, it’s easy to take this great food for granted…but it is a day to celebrate all that bacon is, so feel free to send your loved one a dozen of these:

Or maybe you want to WEAR your love of bacon – in that case, I say it’s time to slip into this outfit…

Or, since it’s summer, you can follow Sara Underwood’s lead and head to the beach:

Wear Your Love Like Bacon!

It’s a great day of celebration ahead, and so many ways to celebrate, because there is so much bacon to enjoy!

The “Bacon Cube” Burger!

Leave it to Japan to celebrate bacon like this! A “bacon cube” burger is exactly what i’d like today, unless it’s a great “bacon-wrapped hot dog” like this one!

Of course,t here are “all bacon” hot dogs, but that seems to defeat the purpose of a hot dog – which I always thought was to take all the “excess, unloved meat” and stuff it in a casing. This hot dog would taste even better if it was slathered with:

Drink Your Bacon!

And if you are thirsty, don’t forget that bacon goes with anything!

The “All-Bacon Restaurant!

Sip on a “Bacon Martini” and read all about this incredible “all-bacon” restaurant, Brutus, in Montreal! Click below to see it!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/22/bacon-bowls-bacon-martinis-an-all-bacon-restaurant-brutus-in-montreal-brings-the-bacon/

Drink up! Oh, and if you don’t just eat and drink bacon but like to make it a more “all encompassing” experience, you can always put on one of these:

See more unique bacon products by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/14/bacon-wedding-love-bacon-tacos-bacon-mustaches-the-latest-bacon-bacon-bacon-greatness/

But we all really just want to bite into some bacon, like this guy does so well:

bacon products

Yes, that’s my kind of dog! I found this pic online, so kudos to whoever came up with “man’s best friend”!

But if you don’t need any more bacon pictures like this one…

Bacon Helmet!

But just want pics like this to bite down on….

Well then, thanks to the Food Network website, here are ten easy bacon recipes to spice up any dish!

Ten Ways To Get Your Bacon!

Let’s get started with a favorite – now with added bacon!

1. Bacon Guacamole! Mash 2 avocados with 1/2 cup each chopped tomato and cilantro, 1/4 cup each chopped onion and crumbled cooked bacon, 1/2 minced jalapeno, some lime juice and salt.

2. Cheesy Bacon Popcorn! Drizzle 4 cups hot popcorn with 1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Toss with 3 tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon and 1/4 cup each grated Parmesan and cheddar.

3. Warm Bacon Slaw! Cook 6 slices thick-cut bacon in 1 tablespoon olive oil; drain and crumble. Add 1/2 sliced red onion, 1/4 cup each cider vinegar and water, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds to the drippings. Toss with 6 cups shredded cabbage and the bacon.

4. Bacon Kraut! Cook 8 ounces diced Canadian bacon and 1 chopped onion in olive oil. Add 3/4 cup each beer and water, and 1 pound rinsed drained sauerkraut. Simmer 20 minutes.

5. Bacon Reuben! Spread Russian dressing on rye toast. Top with Bacon Kraut (No. 4) and Swiss cheese. Broil until melted.

6. Bacon-Apple Sandwiches! Spread a split baguette with honey mustard. Fill with cooked bacon, sliced Brie and apple, and lettuce; add salt and pepper. Slice.

7. Cobb Club! Spread 3 slices toast with soft blue cheese and mayonnaise. Layer with grilled chicken, cooked bacon, avocado, tomato, romaine and hard-boiled egg to make a double-decker sandwich.

8. Bacon Butter! Cook 2 slices bacon in a skillet; drain and chop. Blend 1 stick softened butter with the drippings and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Stir in the chopped bacon.

9. PB&B Sandwich! peanut butter, banana and cooked bacon with white bread. Cook in a buttered skillet.

10. Croque Monsieur! Spread Dijon mustard on sliced challah; sandwich with Canadian bacon and shredded Gruyère. Whisk 1 egg with a bit of milk and nutmeg; dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture and fry in butter.

Thanks to the FoodNetwork website for these ideas…and they have tons more too!

Read more at:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-things-to-make-with-bacon.html?oc=linkback

I admit that I enjoy some macaroni and cheese – especially when it it topped like this:

So enjoy some bacon today!

One of my favorite Authors is back!

From Author Lucy Irvine:

“If anything links the tropical island and Bulgarian stories, it’s the theme of individuals or couples living among, rather than with, those of another culture. People on peripheries or in a state of transition. People not quite belonging or not belonging at all.”

I have posted about Author Lucy Irvine before: her classic non-fiction “Castaway” is a fascinating memoir of a year on a deserted island with a man she just met:

She then wrote an amazing memoir of a year on a different South Seas island with her two sons…telling the story of another family’s life on a tropical island:

“Cherries” Is Here!

And now, Irvine returns with a new work this time fiction!

Pothole Press in the UK has just released Lucy’s new book of short fiction, and it is terrific! As the Author’s quote above states, it’s a series of stories about:

“people not quite belonging or not belonging at all.”

And if you know the real-life story of Lucy Irvine, that is very true! More on that in a moment, but first, here is a recent publicity shot of the Author:

Irvine’s writing style is distinct, emotionally revealing, and illuminating as well. And don’t believe me, hear for yourself! Here is a short youtube clip of the Author reading from the book!

Here’s how Amazon US describes this great collection of short stories:

“It’s a long time since Lucy Irvine’s autobiographical works, “Castaway”, “Runaway”, and “Faraway”, and her novel “One on One” were published. These books were well received and went on to be best sellers. “Castaway” was made into a block buster movie starring Amanda Donohoe and Oliver Reed.

Since those early days Lucy has brought up a family and now lives the single good life in a yurt in a small Balkan village in Bulgaria. And it is here that she has written her collection, Cherries and other stories. Lucy’s stories draw on her experiences in her early life in Scotland, her time in the South Seas, and in her present home in Bulgaria. Her unique eye gives us an insight, through these stories, into the cultures in which she has lived, and is now living.

In the darkly playful tale, “Power Shifts in Paradise”, the trials and tribulations of a remote Solomon Islands Trader suffering from cabin fever, contrasts with “Cherries”, a story about the relationship between an expat woman and a Roma matriarch in a Bulgarian village.

The deeply moving “Elders”, highlights the experience of ageing in a UK Residential Home with that in the Outer Solomon Islands. And the awkward home truths of a single mother raising her children on a remote Scottish Island in “Island Exorcism” when a former lover visits, all bring Lucy’s storytelling skills to the foreword.”

Lucy Irvine Needs Your Support!

Recently, the Author has been living in a Yurt in rural, impoverished Bulgaria, helping villagers deal with the stray dog problem in the area…unfortunately her yurt – and all of the Author’s belongings – were destroyed in a fire…

You can help Lucy out! Of course, buy the new collection of stories on iTunes bookstore or from the publisher’s website. Also, check out the fundraising campaign started by her son by clicking here:

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/4qSQ3

And now, here is a look at Lucy’s fascinating life, which she has documented in her bestselling works of non-fiction!

The Brilliant “Faraway”!

I am a HUGE fan of Lucy Irvine’s work: her most recent book was “Faraway”, an amazing true-life adventure on a south seas island…read all about it by clicking on my original story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/05/faraway-lucy-irvines-castaway-sequel-more-amazing-island-escapes/

And of course, that story will also link you to my original story of Lucy Irvine’s “Castaway”, an equally brilliant piece of non-fiction….support them all and support Lucy, too!

And follow along with all of her good causes by “liking” her Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucy-Irvine/387523681385725

Kudos to Lucy Irvine, and congratulations on the publication of the new book!

Time For A Sasha Grey Halloween!

Sasha Grey has a new film out in time for Halloween 2014 – and Sasha is starring with Elijah Wood! The premiere was just held in Spain, where the cast and crew were ready to share this psychological thriller with the world!

“Open Windows” For Halloween!

Sasha has been focused on making terrific independent cinema – and in this case, she is working with Elijah Wood on a thriller that is perfect for Halloween 2014!

Kudos to the entire cast and crew for this great independent thriller – now on demand! Here’s a look at the film!

Here is the trailer:

Here’s the plot: Sasha Grey stars as an actress named Jill, who refuses to have dinner with Nick, a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. Elijah Wood is the spurned fan…

A guy named Chord, posing as Jill’s campaign manager, helps Nick spy on the actress from his own computer. Nick starts a game in which he realises that is only a puppet into the manic plans devised by Chord…

Elijah Wood has been on a creative tear recently, using his production company to make edgier work, like his remake of “Maniac.”

He also produced a very low-budget horror film called “Toad Road”, which was released by a new company called “Artsploitation Films.”

Kudos, Sasha!

This is the latest in a string of great Sasha movies, such as Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience.”

And of course, as much as it may annoy Sasha, here are some of the great adventures I had with her in Australia!

Sasha’s Travel Adventures!

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I had the chance to travel to Australia with Sasha, exploring one of the greatest countries in the world!

Here she is filming with our crew at Sydney’s convention center…and she also got the chance to take on some much more dangerous sports as well!

Sasha Gets A Shark Photo Bomb!

Those were indeed REAL LIVE SHARKS photo bombing Sasha as she walked among them at Sydney’s Aquarium…and no, there are NO barricades or glass between her and the sharks!

Here’s a short video all about it her adventure – first up, getting instruction from her Shark Master – and asking if she can “walk like a duck underwater!

Then it was time to walk into the tanks and hang out with the sharks…we were all, of course, safely kept behind thick glass!

Sasha Gets “Brushed Back!”

Then it was time to “interact” with the sharks…remember, there is nothing between her and those sharks! Here’s a video in which she discusses the “tail flipping” incident!

You can see all of the pictures – and more video – by clicking on the link below:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Sasha Goes Bats!

Sasha also got to see Australian bats – which just hang out in their parks and look like this:

That story with pictures and video can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

OK, this was Sasha trying out a game where you try and stay on a mechanical surfboard…she did pretty well at it! But we decided to really test her, and took her to the iconic Bondi Beach, where she learned to surf for real!

The entire story, plus lots of fun videos, are located here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

Sasha’s On Top Of The World!

Finally, we had the chance to travel to Melbourne, and while we were there we headed up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere: Eureka Tower…

And yes, Melbourne is as beautiful as it looks – we had a great time, and if you want to see the entire video of Sasha peering out from 88 stories high, and how the cube she is in magically transforms, just click BELOW:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Sasha Outtake!

Finally, I found this hilarious short video of Sasha in a car putting on some makeup – and yes, she realizes she is being filmed:

As you can see, Sasha is great fun to work with, so if you are a fan, go order “The Juliette Society” now!

Congrats to Sasha for the publication of her novel!

More To Come From “The Juliette Society”!

Congratulations to Sasha Grey on the best-selling status of her debut novel, “The Juliette Society”! And just announced: a sequel is on the way!

Sasha Grey’s novel, “The Juliette Society” is a worldwide sensation – the book is a bestseller in a number of countries around the world – and the excitement continues as Sasha is writing a sequel!

Sasha has been promoting the book around the world, including personal appearances and book signings – when I traveled to Australia with her, she had tons of fans meet her at a personal appearance in Melbourne:

Sasha Down Under!

I am a big supporter of Sasha’s work, because I admire how focused and driven she is. I had the chance to film lifestyle segments in Australia with Sasha…and she was terrific to work with…

Eureka!

Melbourne Australia is a gorgeous city, and it is also home to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere:

After going up 88 stories in Eureka Tower, Sasha went into a small room and – well, you can watch what happened for yourself:

The people in Melbourne were terrific, and a huge number of fans came out to meet Sasha when she made a public appearance:

After Melbourne, we headed to Sydney, a much more raucous city, where Sasha let us put her to the test with a variety of extreme sports – and she did them all, including swimming with sharks…

Shark Photo Bomb!

Sasha donned scuba gear for the first time ever and went underwater to walk among sharks in Sydney…absolutely NOTHING between her and the sharks…and two of the more playful sharks decided to photo bomb her!

Here’s a short video of her adventure, including her describing how one of the sharks took a swing at her!

First, here is her instruction before entering the tank:

Once inside, Sasha was literally among the sharks, with NO barrier between her and them…and she describes what happened next:

And of course, our Australia adventure was just beginning…it was time for another “first time” sporting adventure…

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

Even though she had never done it before, Sasha willingly donned a wetsuit and learned to surf at Australia’s legendary Bondi Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world:

That led to my favorite video with her EVER – when she discovered – quite unexpectedly – just how cold the water was at Bondi!

Sasha was an amazingly fast learner: within a half hour she was surfing! I also love this video, which captures the moment Sasha discovers that they spit their gum out on the ground in Australia just like the rest of us:

It was a great trip down under, capturing the lifestyle of the Aussies, and even cooking bugs! Yes, that is what they are called, although they are really just “giant-shrimp-with-squashed-lobster-heads” things:

Still, she cooked them, along with a kangaroo steak – they are raised commercially just for that purpose – and we had a nice taste of Australia:

I posted a number of short videos that captured some of the “behind-the-scenes” moments from the trip – you can find them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Johnrieber/videos

I have thought about these fun shoots as I read all about Sasha’s success with “The Juliette Society” – so if you haven’t purchased the book yet, now is the time!

And, if you are a Sasha Grey completist, here are ALL of the stories I have posted of our Australian adventure…beginning with Sasha’ 88-story Melbourne adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Then, it was off to Sydney:

That’s where Sasha donned a wetsuit and went for a walk among sharks – here is the complete shark dive adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/21/sasha-grey-shark-diving-sydneys-bugs-opera-house-beauty-australia-rules/

I have to reiterate that there was nothing between Sasha and the sharks and stingray except her instructor:

And of course, I was given more pictures by someone on the crew, so I did a shark followup here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Then it was time to head to Australia’s famed Bondi Beach:

Here is the entire surfing adventure, with a number of fun videos of Sasha on a surfboard:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

My first post was all about Sasha’s fan signing in Melbourne…

This is the story of how we got lost inside Melbourne’s massive casino:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/17/melbourne-exploring-australias-exotic-southern-city-with-sasha-grey/

Then, when I previewed the book, I also shared some video of Sasha discovering bats in Sydney:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Luckily, we shots lots of behind-the-scenes pics and video, which is why I am able to share them with fans:

And my most recent story focused on the release of the novel, plus some additional outtakes I found!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

OK, so that’s it – your entire library of Sasha Grey’s Australia adventures! If you made it this far, I remind you to make sure and purchase “The Juliette Society” for yourself and friends!

And don’t forget to download Sasha’s latest film for Halloween!

Looking for a unique way to give a movie gift this holiday season?

Give A Great Movie Night!

I love the idea of a couple of movies wrapped in a popcorn container with specialty salts and some great wine! But it has to be the “right” kind of film. If your cinephile is looking for something more sophisticated than “The Ugley Truth”, then look no further than here:

Weng Weng’s Got You Covered!

Yes, it’s time for giving gifts to those you love – so why not surprise them with one of these five wild wild wild movies?

Let’s get started – first, hands up!

MEET 2 FEET AND 9 INCHES OF PURE MAN!

You are in good hands, because the legendary action hero “Weng Weng” is on the case!

For Your Height Only!

Now here is a classic film to slip under someone’s Christmas tree: a James Bond rip-off starring the legendary “littlest action hero” Weng Weng!

Take a look:

This classic slice of campy action stars Weng Weng, the legendary diminutive action hero…first, the plot:

Mr. Giant has kidnapped the brilliant Dr. Van Kohler and is planning to use the Doctor’s invention, the N-bomb, to hold the world hostage. The only one who can foil Mr. Giant’s evil scheme is Agent 00:

A 3-foot-tall filipino martial arts master, expert marksman, top-class romancer and all-around super spy!

That’s right: SIZE DOESN’T MATTER!

“For Your Height Only” is a play on words on “For Your Eyes Only”, the title of the James Bond film released that same year. I mean, look at this Bond-ish poster!

And of course, just like James Bond, Weng Weng is also a lady-killer…

Every movie lover would embrace Weng Weng! This movie was so successful that a sequel was produced in 1982, titled “The Impossible Kid”. Weng Weng is known as the shortest man to ever be a lead in an action film/martial arts film; he stands at 2’9″ (less than one meter).

The answer to the question you are thinking is “yes, it is as crazy as you imagine” – but isn’t that the point of giving it to a loved one?

From Weng Weng to Lloyd Kaufman!

Yes, it’s the perfect transition, because while Weng Weng is a small slice of heaven, Troma stands tall once again with their latest “Tromasterpiece!”

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1!”

The Maestro of Troma has unveiled his latest classic – check out the trailer!

WARNING! FULL FRONTAL NUDITY IN THIS TEASER – VERY VERY NSFW – ONLY FOR YOUR OWN EYES!

Well, hard to argue about this one…it’s Troma in spirit and execution – and of course green foam and blood….

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High” was ultimately divided into two parts, with “Vol. 1″ arriving this year…you can find it at Amazon as well as the official Troma store…and “Vol. 2″ will be released in 2015…

If you head to Troma.com, you can buy this terrifically fun movie and see the hundreds of films they have in their library –

Support legendary filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman by checking out more of my “Return to Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1″ here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

Now, time to shift from Troma, home of the classic “Surf Nazis Must Die” – yes, another great Troma classic, to a more serious Nazi film…

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

These are wacky cult films that are actually good! And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, here is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

Ok, let’s get away from war films and head to the far east, where there are entirely different kinds of zombies to fight!

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

Did I Say “Bloody?”

Yes, these classic “j-sploitaiton” films – japanese exploitation, a genre that offers garden hoses full of blood – a campy excess that keeps the films firmly in “tongue in cheek” territory – they are well done, and very fast and frenetic….never a dull moment in these movies!

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

It’s what every movie buff would want under their tree!

To read all about “Helldriver”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

From “J-Splo” To “Oz-Splo”!

As much as I love “J-sploitation”, I think “Ozsploitation” may be even better!

Yes, let’s head to Australia for a legendary film that lives up to its hungry name!

Strap Yourself In For “The Bed That Eats!”

Yes, it is time to discover the wonder of “Death Bed!” First, let’s see a few choice moments thanks to “Saibot216″ on youtube….

It is referred to as the “worst film ever made!” But c’mon, if you’ve see “The Room” or “Birdemic”, you know that’s not possible…and now, thanks to the great home video distributor CultEpics, there is a new blu-ray that gives YOU the chance to decide for yourself!

Patton Oswalt’s Favorite Film!

This cult classic was lost to camp movie buffs for years, and comic Patton Oswalt actually went on a riff about the film – and people thought he was making it up!

He wasn’t of course – “Death Bed” is a terrific horror comedy that deserves to be seen by the cinephile in your family!

Read all about this incredible movie AND see Patton Oswalt’s love affair with it by clicking on my whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

So there you have it: five wildly entertaining films that deserve to be on everyone’s holiday gift-giving list!

It’s Anniversary Time! Let’s Celebrate!

Today is the third year anniversary of this blog, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone who visits – and if you don’t want a piece of “bacon cake”, then maybe this will do:

Yes, this is a chicken wing cupcake, and I share this photo for a reason: it was three years ago when I shared the recipe for making them yourself…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/03/buffalo-chicken-wing-cupcakes/

Three years of posting stories about food, travel, movie, music, books, concerts, great adventures both personal and professional…and yes, stuff like this:

The Majesty Of A Cheesesteak Doughnut Burger!

Yes, I post about burgers a lot. Because many of you seem to enjoy these unique foodstuffs. And yes, there is much more to come. But before we devolve into a discussion of “Cheesesteak Doughnut” burgers, let me thank the person behind this story – and behind this blog.

Three years ago, my wife and ongoing inspiration Alex told me to write a blog and have some fun…and that fun included stories about our adventures in Spain, Provence and more, including the Cannes film festival…

That’s my wife Alex and I along with our good friend Michael Castner in a Cannes hotel stairwell waiting to interview a celebrity. I have shared a number of fun stories from the past, including the story behind this photo of Michael interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger, while I watch in the orange shirt:

You can read the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/14/cannes-2014-my-classic-arnold-schwarzenegger-encounter-big-star-planet-hollywood-shenanigans/

Alex has been amazingly supportive of this blog, letting me share some of our adventures with you – but she couldn’t have imagined it would lead to this:

The Tokyo Burger Tower!

Little did Alex know that, as I looked for things that interested me enough to write about, I would find a world full of crazy food – from a “Tokyo Burger Tower” you see above to the best burger currently being made in Cambodia!

Some people love these burger posts – so thank you for your feedback – and one, Jeff Greenfield, HATED a food story I posted: showcasing the spaghetti-stuffed hot dog!

Not sure why, but Jeff said this freaked him out a bit…so now I have to keep looking for more wacky food mashups just to keep him on his toes…you know, like the “bacon cheeseburger-stuffed doughnut!”

Read all about the majesty of this by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/25/bacon-glazed-cheeseburger-doughnut-amazing-burgerbacon-mashup/

Yes, it has been a tasty three years…and I promise moving forward there will be much more of this:

Yes, this bacon cheeseburger has 1,000 slices of bacon, which is appropriate since this is a post all about numbers:

Closing In On One Million Views…

In the three years I have been posting, these stories have collectively generated almost one million views – it is exciting to see the response to new stories as well as stories posted a year ago or longer – and from the comments I have gotten, it’s nice that a wide range of topics are of interest…from amazing travel memoirs like this:

Read about this incredible Author and her year on a south pacific island by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/05/faraway-lucy-irvines-castaway-sequel-more-amazing-island-escapes/

And of course, I have posted many times about my favorite musical group of all time!

The Beatles Are #1!

The greatest musical group in history is also making history for me! Here is the single most viewed post I have ever published:

The Beatles Lost Rooftop Concert Film!

Yes, you can never go wrong when you’ve got The Beatles helping you out! My “Let It Be” post continues to be the most viewed story of all time on my blog, which I love because this Beatles documentary is probably the greatest “lost” film of all time, and you can read my entire post about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

And yes, I own a VHS copy of the movie, which is one reason I love The Beatles so much!

Now, onto a “different” kind of movie…

Three years ago, I discovered that certain stories got a lot of interest, like films from the “grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street: it was almost three years ago when I actually warned people which movies NOT to show at a family holiday gathering!

Which, I will reiterate, is NOT a film to be shared with relatives…although “The Sinful Dwarf” is a classic example of “euro-sleaze”, a rough type of 70’s film…classic cult cinema that lives on thanks to DVD and on demand services – and I do have a fondness for wacky exploitation movies, like this:

Grindhouse Cinema Lives!

Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but I have met a ton of passionate exploitation fans who enjoy stories about his unique time in movie history…and look, not only did I share the plot of “Mantis In Lace”, but I found this picture as well!

The fact that the President and Vice-President would be eating in front of a “Mantis” poster…I love the internet! Ii you want to more, just click on my “grind house gift guide” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/23/sex-violence-grindhouse-have-a-purient-holiday-an-exploitation-gift-guide/

There are a lot of people who enjoy this unique era of film, and I thank all of you who read my posts about this weird and wild world of cult cinema…

But I also love to travel, and Alex and I have been lucky enough to have some great adventures, which I have shared throughout the years:

Here is Alex harvesting a fresh eggplant from the Patricia Wells garden in Provence, where we cooked with this legendary cookbook Author:

We got to cook on Julia Childs’ original provincial stove, and you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/10/tasting-provence-cooking-with-patricia-wells-food-and-travel-unite/

No matter how great cooking with Patricia and her husband was, it pales in comparison to the fun I’ve had with my kids as well…

This is my daughter Jessica, who came along on a work trip to Tokyo and got to see some crazy japanese food…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/06/tokyos-build-a-burger-wacky-japanese-burger-ads-wildest-food-for-sale/

We had a great time eating our way through some of Tokyo’s great food…but it paled in comparison to this hilarious trip, which I call:

The “London Grind!”

My son Jeff went with me on a work trip to London, and got to work with the crew for a few days as well…which led to what we call his “London grind” adventure – a hilarious night out with some very drunken British business people, highlighted here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/18/alison-haislip-the-london-grind-travels-with-alison/

This was a trip to film for G4 with Host Alison Haislip, and thanks to Alison for being such a great talent, and so much fun to work with in London!

And Let’s Never Forget The Bacon!

Yes, I have posted about ALL kinds of bacon as well…that’s because bacon is funny, and you “never cut funny”…so whether it’s a bacon wedding cake…

Or perhaps it is bacon that is utilized in a more “fashionable” manner…yes, bacon has proven to be very very popular, and the stranger the better!

Thanks to Sara Underwood for wearing a bacon bikini – all for the good of television. Of course, bacon fits best right here:

Burgers!

I have also enjoyed posting lots of burger posts…like the Brazil burger sold in an edible wrapper:

I haven’t been to Rio to have this, but cannot wait to get there! Read all about this edible adventure here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

I have also shared my love of music – and of course my admiration for the music and career of Todd Rundgren!

I have been a lifelong fan of this musical Artist, and have posted many stories about his unique career. For example, did you know that he created MTV? Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/02/todd-rundgren-inventor-of-mtv-a-hollywood-square/

And one of my favorite stories about Todd Rundgren was his special musical friendship with the late Singer/Songwriter Laura Nyro…

You can read it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/25/brilliant-laura-nyro-todd-rundgrens-muse-their-beautiful-musical-history-together/

Laura is an under-appreciated Artist, and her body of work is amazing to listen to. Here is a story about a recent tribute CD that is currently nominated for Three Grammy Awards!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/09/re-imagining-laura-nyro-a-brilliant-map-to-the-treasure-laura-nyros-beautiful-tribute/

Congrats to Billy Childs for the success of this project, which highlights great Laura Nyro music!

Todd Rundgren AND Laura Nyro fans have been hugely supportive of the site, and I truly appreciate it. I’ve also met a lot of great people who have great blogs as well, and I appreciate everyone’s support and interest…

Stevie Wonder Live!

I also shared my review of Stevie Wonder’s “Songs In The Key Of Life” concert in Chicago, including this live performance of “Saturn” with India Arie:

And there is so much more to share!

Year Four Sneak Peek!

With more than 700 posts, I just keep finding more stuff of interest to me. So what else can you expect going into 2015? Here are some clues:

Behold “Zolton”!

Yes, I’ve got some classic movie posters to share, thanks to an incredible website that helps to keep these alive…that will be posting soon, and I also have some great stories about classic Hollywood, such as the legendary sex kitten Jayne Mansfield:

I also have a bunch of travel stuff to share, like more of my adventures with Sasha Grey in Australia, where she got photo bombed by a shark!

Thanks to Sasha for always supporting these posts, and allowing me to tell all the fun stories about working with her, like this classic clip of Sasha finding out just how cold the water at Bondi Beach was!

Check out all of her adventures by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

And yes, there are more food adventures to come as well:

One of Barcelona’s most innovative restaurants is coming soon to the blog…as well as a look at some of the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

There are a lot of fun adventures still to come…my goal is to share more stories about interesting people, classic movies, adventurous travel, wacky movies and more bacon!

Thanks again for the million views and I hope you enjoy what is still to come!

Let me know your thoughts!

Happy New Year!

Sydney Minick is celebrating her first new year, and I’m making a special burger in her honor! And why not? 2015 is going to be an exciting and DELICIOUS year – here’s proof!

It’s “SliderFest 2015!

In order to launch the new year on the best tasting note possible, I plan to make five different international sliders, and as always, I have the recipes to share with you!

Study this chart: it’s a beautiful thing. But big massive burgers aren’t he point right now – sliders are three bites – you enjoy one, and then you try another – a different flavor…with sliders you can go around the world in your mouth!

Fry One On!

OK, I admit it: I LOVE a slider with french fries and tartar sauce…I make them all the time and I’m not ashamed. But now I have another reason to try some new sliders – and I want to share all of them with you – thanks to Sydney!

Sydney Had A Little Lamb!

My gorgeous grand-daughter Sydney just turned six months old, and is therefore celebrating her FIRST New Year’s Day! So what better way to celebrate than with a Lamb slider in honor of her!

I made these lamb sliders for the first time at my daughter Jessica’s “BABY Q”, her way of doing a baby shower…they were delicious! And they are easy: for the patty, just mix ground lamb with onion, garlic, mint, parsley and salt and pepper…

Top With Some Tzatziki Sauce!

Yes, a cool yogurt cucumber sauce is all you need to add to this burger to make it great!

1 (16 ounce) container low-fat plain yogurt
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Combine the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, parsley, mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Top the burger with this cool sauce and you are “lamb-tacular”! And I added some avocado to mine and here it is!

There you go, Sydney, your first slider! While Sydney’s not quite ready to join the slider fun yet, this is still a great burger to share with friends! And there is more to share as well: let’s go around the world for some great slider fun – I mean, how can you argue with Marilyn!

The World’s Best International Sliders!

I love to travel. When I do, I always eat local…but I have noticed that many countries around the world are making burgers….and the Japanese have taken it to the max!

While the hilarious Lotteria restaurant chain in Japan loves to offer up burgers like this, a slider ISN’T about the meat.

“It’s All About The Topping!”

The key to an international slider is what goes ON the meat! Whether it’s cheese, spices or sauces, it is all about what adds a unique flavor to the basic hamburger patty. As for the bun, I make sliders by using small dinner rolls, but there are many specialty stores that carry slider buns as well.

Your basic hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I put minced onion in as well, and I use minced garlic as well. I also like to use a fun salt – like pink Hawaiian sea salt, and a fair amount of pepper.

That’s it for me – upon this temple of meat, these international slider recipes add unique ingredients that give them a special flavor…have fun, it’s time to head around the world!

Spice It Up! Indian Sliders

Lots of indian spices make this stand out. As the picture above shows, you can also add some grilled onions to this, but the key is spice, spice baby. Here is a recipe that lays out the unique flavors to add to your slider:

3 lbs ground beef
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1/4 cup minced scallion top
1/2 cup firmly packed chopped cilantro leaf

Grill your burger with all of these spices inside the meat, then top with some scallion and chopped cilantro. No cheese required!

But now here’s a burger that is ALL about the cheese!

Mai Oui? Why Not, It’s Your Burger! The French Slider

The definition of a French slider is blue cheese, and blue cheese ONLY – take your regular hamburger, and fold in crumbled blue cheese into the meat before you grill. What happens is the cheese melts while the meat is cooking, creating a blue creaminess that oozes out of the meat as you bite it…

…and the stuff that oozes out while cooking is even better. Score! If you want to go crazy you can wipe a smear of foie gras on the bun as well, but I don’t add anything else.

Late Night Snack In Barcelona – The Spanish Slider! – Hamburguesa!

Spanish flavors take this slider to a whole new level – as always, start with your traditional hamburger patty. The key here are the condiments.

The topping here is an olive tapenade, that gets spread on top of the cooked slider – you can find recipes for making tapendade, or you can buy it in a jar, but it includes black olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice – cook the burger first, and after you turn it add a slice of Manchego cheese and Jamón – Iberico ham – prosciutto-like ham!

Let the cheese melt as the burger cooks and the ham warms up…Take a bite and you will wake up in Barcelona!

Got Some Seoul? Kimchi Sliders!

When I was in Seoul, we ate every night at a korean BBQ, where you grill your own meats and seafood on the round grill embedded in your table, then wrap the grilled food around lettuce or thinly sliced pickled vegetables.

Taking that as an inspiration, I have a great recipe here for Korean sliders – which can be made with grilled sliced beef, upon which you add pickled cucumbers, a splash of rice vinegar and kimchi. Thanks to the website The Chubby Vegetarian, you can also do a version without meat at all, or just pile it all on!

Korean BBQ Sliders (Makes 6)
Recipe from The Chubby Vegetarian website!

1 tablespoon each of soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil (mixed)
3 green onions (thinly sliced)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large portobello mushroom cap (thinly sliced)
6 slider buns
mayo
Vegetarian Kimchi – you can buy pre-made
half of an English cucumber (sliced longways using a vegetable peeler)

Get a frying pan screaming hot, and add the vegetable oil. Once it starts smoking, add the sliced mushrooms and cook for about a minute or until they start to brown. Turn the mushrooms in the pan and add the soy sauce mixture and the green onions. Continually move the mixture around for a few seconds then remove from heat. Divide mushrooms among the buns, and top with about a tablespoon of kimchi and a few slices of cucumber. I love these with or without meat!

THE WASABI-AVOCADO Japanese Slider!

I read about this over the holidays and I made one…it was delicious! By using wasabi mayonaise, you get the flavor without too much of the heat, but buy some extra and amp it up as you choose!

It is very simple: just cook a slider patty as usual…no cheese needed. After you turn the patty, add some sliced avocado for a moment to warm it up, and once you put it on the bun, wipe a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise on the top bun.

The coolness of the fresh avocado goes perfectly against the spicy wasabi mayo.

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!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger Slider!

What can I say? Here is a burger that never fails to satisfy. Just toast the bun, cook the burger, add the cheese, let it melt, put it on the bun with some or ALL of the added ingredients, and you are set!

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.

G’Day Mate! The Perfect Australian Sliders!

An Aussie slider is just like ours, with two key differences. They add a slice of beetroot – OK, we call it beet, they call it beetroot – underneath the burger. It adds a great, slightly sweet and nutty flavor to the taste.

Everything else is the same – add cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce if you like – and if you want to go totally Aussie, take the second step to complete fulfillment – add a fried egg on top….the best!

And finally…THE BEST SIDE DISHES IN THE WORLD!

When you are enjoying sliders, you can make salads and vegetables, but why not just serve the greatest invention in the world: TATER TOTS! Just buy them frozen and bake them up and you are done!

Or try this: a tater tot casserole, which is basically baked mac-n-cheese with tater tots added!

And if you want 2015 to be full of good things, then here is all you have to do:

Happy New Year And A “Hoppin’ John” To You All!

Of course, you MUST include some “Hoppin’ John” as well…as my friend and terrific Author Michael Ruhlman says, “this ‘Hoppin’ John’ recipe is a dish from the American south featuring black-eyed peas, often included in southern food and soul food recipes, traditionally served on New Year’s Day by those angling for good fortune all year long.”

The beautiful photo is courtesy of his wife Donna, and see his entire recipe on his great website here:

http://ruhlman.com/2010/12/hoppin-john/

Follow Ruhls for ongoing culinary magic! And bite down hard on a slider while you are doing it!

Happy New Year!

Ready To Swing?

The best documentaries open a door to a world you never knew existed – or were afraid to explore for yourself. They also shed light on some of your favorite Artists in candid moments:

At times, they even reveal things an Artist, like Mick Jagger, doesn’t want you to see. And finally, the best documentaries introduce you to fascinating people who live uniquely fascinating lives:

Here are three of my favorite documentaries: one looks back at New York in the “swinging 70’s”, one captures a “very raw” Mick Jagger, and the last is a love letter to the power of creativity, no matter how talented those Creators are….

Let’s get started with a look at one of the most legendary legal sex clubs in New York history!

American Swing!

Well, this is without a doubt one of the craziest, dirtiest chapters in American history – the legendary New York “swinger’s club”, Plato’s Retreat!

This is a fascinating look at “Plato’s Retreat”, a LEGAL Manhattan sex club for straight couples that existed in New York from 1977 until the mid 1980s, and Larry Levenson, the club’s impresario.

This documentary is full of great archival material as well as new interviews with Larry’s, writers, reporters, and even former clients of the club. This legal sex club was a phenomenon in its time, and by the late 70s, the club was in “full swing”!

As always, places like this could never survive, and the documentary looks at all of the factors that led to the club’s demise.

RULES FOR THE “MATTRESS ROOM!”

Look at these rules! “No One Admitted Fully Clothed.” Can you believe this was a legal, legitimate business?

This was a public orgy – and this is a fascinating look inside this business, the owner, and the people who participated – like this couple below, now much older, who willingly discuss what went on inside the club!

Here is an IMDB user review, whcih I think does a terrific job summing up the documentary: “American Swing” refers to the “wife-swapping” phenomenon that swept through middle-class suburbia in the 1970s. And no figure did more to popularize that trend than Larry Levenson – the “King of Swing” as he came to be called – whose “live sex club,” Plato’s Retreat, located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, served as the epicenter for so much of the action.

Let it be stated right up front that this eye-opening documentary is not for the prudish or the easily offended, for its footage is graphic and its language raw, often akin in its look to crude 1970’s porn. Directed by Matthew Kaufman and Jon Hart, the film features interviews with many of the now-aging club regulars who happily regale us with tales of their personal escapades there. A number of celebrities who frequented the club, as well as certain reporters and broadcasters who covered the beat at the time are also interviewed.

“American Swing” is most interesting as a social document, showing how the “free love” ethos espoused by the hippies in the 1960’s expanded into the mainstream a decade later.

This is a really fascinating look at a bygone era – not so long ago, when the “sexual revolution” tuned into a sexual free-for-all!

You can see more of these by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/06/how-can-i-offend-you-best-documentaries-pt-2/

And speaking of orgies, time to go on tour with The Rolling Stones!

The “unofficial” Rolling Stones documentary: “Cocksucker Blues”

“Cocksucker Blues” is the legendary, unreleased documentary film directed by the noted still photographer Robert Frank chronicling The Rolling Stones’ North American tour in 1972 in support of their album “Exile on Main St.” It is notorious for many reasons, which we will get into here…

The cameras follow The Stones from the stage to the tour bus – and as you see here, it goes along with Mick Jagger and his then-girlfriend Bianca, as they take a limo to a show…

After the documentary was finished, The Rolling Stones saw some of the decadence that was captured, and they refused to release the final product. After all of these years, you can see why: there are many shots of the band in the midst of things that – well, show what it like to be on the road with the greatest rock-n-roll band in the world at the time: when the road was filled with sex, drugs, rock-n-roll – and more sex and drugs.

“Cocksucker Blues” is also the commonly recognized name of a Rolling Stones song – which is officially called “Schoolboy Blues” – that was recorded in 1970. Mick Jagger wrote this song to be the Stones’ final single for Decca Records.

The Rolling Stones were upset by the film’s portrayal of them and sued to prevent its release. According to wikipedia, the film is under a court order that only allows it to be shown once a year with the film’s director, Robert Frank present in person.

There are places online that will sell copies – I cannot attest to whether this is a legal practice or not, but when you see the candid, authentic scenes backstage, you can understand why it isn’t on Netflix – most legendary is a scene when Keith Richards is dozing off backstage – and you don’t need to be a great Detective to understand WHY he’s “nodding off” –

Also shown are scenes of the rest of the entourage enjoying the fruits of the band’s success – and there isn’t anything that fun about watching “roadies” hanging out backstage – but this is rock at its rawest…

If you chance upon this documentary in its uncut form, it’s worth a look – it’s not a great movie, but a fascinating one for the decadent world it captures…

The Rolling Stones were a great band of course, and now let’s look at a movie that tells the story of the next generation of “Artist”:

American Movie!

Behold America’s next great Horror film Director, Mark Borchardt!

On the northwest side of Milwaukee, Mark Borchardt dreams the American dream: for him, it’s making movies. Using relatives, local theater talent, slacker friends, his Mastercard, and $3,000 from his Uncle Bill, Mark strives over three years to finish “Covan,” a short horror film.

His own personal demons (alcohol, gambling, a dysfunctional family) plague him, but he desperately wants to overcome self-doubt and avoid failure. In moments of reflection, Mark sees his story as quintessentially American, and its the nature and nuance of his dream that this film explores.

Here he is relaxing with his best friend, Mike Schenk…

Mark: Do you think this is a little bit cathartic for you?
Mike: Uh, very cathartic, Mark.
Mark: Do you know what cathartic means?
Mike: No.

This is the story of a guy with a dream: to make a horror film. The only problem is, he has no money…

Mark Borchardt: [Reacting to an IRS notice threatening a lien on personal property for delinquent funds due] Luckily it’s just $81.00. What are they gonna take, ya know, like my “Night of the Living Dead” book?

Mark Borchardt: “Coven,” man, we gotta get this sucker done, though. Seriously. Last night, man, I was so drunk, I was calling Morocco, man. Calling, trying to get to the Hotel Hilton at Tangiers in Casablanca, man. That’s, I mean, that’s, that’s pathetic, man! Is that what you wanna do with your life? Suck down peppermint schnapps and try to call Morocco at two in the morning? That’s senseless! But that’s what happens, man. ”

I was lucky enough to work with Mike and Mark on a project….G4 showed “Night Of The Living Dead” on Halloween night, and staged the whole thing live from Wisconsin…

The culmination of the live broadcast was Mark directing a 4-minute live horror sequence. It was amazing, he pulled it off, and we all had a great time…and they were terrific to work with!

I wish Mark and Mike the best, and you should check out this documentary to see how the love of film permeates every scene – a real slice of true Americana!

Read about more fascinating documentaries by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/25/killer-fish-kids-who-paint-and-mid-west-horror-best-documentaries-pt-1/

And if you want to see how Australians are “down under”, then check out these documentaries that are more outrageous by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/06/how-can-i-offend-you-best-documentaries-pt-2/

Enjoy some truth in storytelling today!

“He’s dead. They stuffed him with pages torn from his favourite book. Could you cook him?”

Ready for a “tasty” cinematic journey into the delicatessen of CRAZY????

Time for some shocking films revolving around FOOD!

Here are two films that take very provocative looks at the relationship between food, sex and death…let’s begin with experimental Director Peter Greenaway’s greatest achievement, with an eye-opening performance by Helen Mirren:

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover!

This is one of the most shocking films about food ever made, as the wife of a barbaric crime boss takes a secret lover – between meals at her husband’s restaurant!

When the mobster discovers his wife’s secret, things turn VERY NASTY.

“He’s dead. They stuffed him with pages torn from his favorite book. Could you cook him?”

Helen Mirren plays the wife who turns the tables on her husband, and indulges in her own voracious sexual appetite at the same time…

“The Bowel Shot!”

Director Peter Greenaway has made several mesmerizing films, but this is his masterpiece. According to IMDB, the lengthy tracking shot from the restaurant to the toilet is supposed to be symbolic of food passing through the intestinal tract! And the film has an amazing visual style throughout…

What An Ending!

And of course, this movie was rated NC-17 when it was released – for the many scenes of sex and violence throughout…while Helen Mirren won her Oscar by playing The Queen, she is a brave and fearless Actress, as this movie shows:

“Bite Down” On This Ending!

“The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover” is a controversial masterpiece, and nothing tops the “food finale”, which is almost “too much to swallow…”

If you have a fearless appetite for film, check this movie out! And if you aren’t full yet, there’s still time for another bizarre tale of sex and food:

“FEED!”

How can you not be intrigued by a film that begins with this title card:

“Although the events depicted in this film are fictional, they are based on actual behaviours that are happening between consenting adults… right now.”

“Actual behaviors…” between “Consenting adults”…Well then, buckle up, grab a knife and fork and dig into this movie!

“Feed” is a crazy 2005 Australian thriller directed by Brett Leonard. The plot involves a police investigation into the sexual fetish known as “feederism”!

“Feederism!”

Yes, there is a sexual fetish known as “feederism”, where a ‘feeder’ will feed ‘gainers’ – who are woman who get sexual pleasure from eating and fattening up! The film explores this fetish, along with themes of dominance, submission, love, and power.

Here is the very provocative trailer:

“Feed” is very well made, and very disturbing as well. But the plot is interesting and the subject is bizarrely fascinating – yes, this is a very tough movie to watch, but it is extremely well done, and for the adventurous moviegoer, these are two films worth biting down on!

Time To Start Planning Your Memorial Day 2015 Menu!

I love this holiday! Of course, we are honoring our Veterans who have made great sacrifices for this country, and we are proud of them for that service. For an All-American celebration like this – what beats a burger?

This post is going to celebrate burgers of all shapes and sizes, and share some great recipes for your grilling pleasure – with no shortage of BACON!

Yes, it’s one of America’s most popular burgers – the Shake Shack bacon cheeseburger!

Shake Shacks are opening everywhere now it seems, and here is the reason why:

The burgers are big and beautiful – you can ready my entire review right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/04/bite-into-shake-shack-cheese-stuffed-burgers-my-shack-stack-review/

And there’s no better time than to try and replicate America’s greatest burgers!

Time To Be Inspired!

Why are burgers America’s greatest food? Well, a great burger picture answers that question, but also, remember the words of one of our country’s most beloved Chefs:

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”

Julia Child.

That’s right, this is the kind of food that says “I LOVE AMERICA!”

A cheeseburger, when done right, is a thing of beauty. When done with doughnut buns, as you see above, it’s a thing of PERFECT BEAUTY. And what do you do when something is perfect? You double it!

Now THAT is a thing of beauty! And since the Memorial Day weekend is a time for families and friends to gather, I call on all Artists to rise up and create a masterpiece or two – like this!

To begin, here is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE SLIDER!

I am happy to get this celebration started by showing you what, to me, is the greatest taste imaginable…

MY “FRENCH FRY ‘N’ TARTAR” BACON CHEESEBURGER!

I love burgers. And bacon. AND TARTAR. So why not take care of all of my vices in one big bite?

It’s so easy to be so happy: cook up a burger (i add diced onion and garlic to mine) and just before you finish cooking it, lay a few cooked french fries on top, then top with tartar sauce…finally, lay down a piece of cheese….i use both sharp cheddar AND Mozzarella….once it melts you are ready to bite down hard!

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – and you will never knock it again! OK, I understand that some of you don’t want to mix your burgers with spuds, so if that’s the case, here are some other fun recipes to try!

SLIDERS, SLIDERS, SLIDERS!

I like sliders because you can try more variations due to their smaller size. The key to a great slider is what holds it all together. That’s why I use sweet Hawaiian dinner rolls…they are the perfect size AND they add a nice bit of flavor, which you need when you are piling your mini-bun high like this:

The Ingredients For A Perfect Patty!

Now, time to get down to basics. A great hamburger uses good quality ground beef with at least 15% fat content, to ensure lots of juicy flavor. I put minced onion and garlic in mine, to provide a bit of sassy crunch. Other than that, I like to use a fun salt – like pink hawaiian sea salt, and a fair amount of pepper.

Let’s get cooking!

The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger!

What can you say? Here is the all-american classic! Build it this way and you are golden – your ingredients are easy:

Sweet Hawaiian bun, Cheese – melted and dripping
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Hamburger patty
Tomato, Pickle, then Mayonaise, Mayonaise, Mayonaise!
Ketchup and mustard if you MUST

If you do it right, it will look like THIS (you can shift things around in terms of order, but it needs to end up like this):

See that? DO NOT DEVIATE – this is perfection.

But what if you have a “spicy tooth?” Well, we have an answer for you as well:

The Sriracha Burger!

This is a GREAT idea…the recipe is from the terrific “Serious Eats” website, and it takes advantage of one of America’s most popular new condiments!

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

This great looking Sriracha burger pic came from “cookingwithcristen.com” which is also a great site for recipes!

This is easy and fun: just combine the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha, and the pepper – make your patties.

Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium high heat.

Cook your bacon – once the bacon is cooked, remove the slices and drain onto paper towels, reserving the remaining bacon fat in the pan. Cook sliced onions in the bacon fat over medium-low heat until they caramelize, 20 to 25 minutes.

Grill the burgers, turning once, 4 to 41/2 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer registers 130° to 135°F for medium-rare.

While the burgers are cooking, in a small bowl, combine the blue cheese dressing with the remaining 5 tablespoons Sriracha. Lightly toast the buns on the grill during the last minute of cooking time.

To assemble, spread the blue cheese mixture on both halves of each hamburger bun. Stack a burger patty, Swiss cheese slice, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato slice, and a small handful of arugula between each hamburger bun.

Bam! Spicy good times for all!

Our next stop on this burger journey take you to a very unique and gooey place:

The “Bacon Mac’n’ Cheeseburger!”

That’s right, make a bacon cheeseburger and load it up with mac’n’cheese as your topping!

As you can see, simple and so so delicious – especially when serves with tater tots on the side!

And if you want a subtle “international” feel to your slider, this this on for size:

Australian Sliders!

I uncovered these two years ago in Melbourne. They add a slice of beetroot – OK, we call it beet, they call it beetroot – just add a slice underneath the burger. It adds a great, slightly sweet and nutty flavor to the taste. Look at how beautiful that big chunk looks on the burger above…Everything else is the same – but if you want to go totally Aussie, add a fried egg on top….the best!

Finally, if you want to begin your holiday weekend with a slider, do what I do:

The “White Castle Breakfast Slider!”

Here is a recipe for making your own breakfast sliders using frozen White Castles cheeseburgers!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/28/white-castle-breakfast-sliders-behold-the-380-calorie-wonder/

Enjoy your holiday!

Chuck Norris! Charles Bronson! Superman!

I love movie history – and here is one of the most fascinating movie documentaries that celebrates the wacky 80’s movie company known as Cannon films!

Time For Some “Electric Boogaloo!”

The new documentary is called “Electric Boogaloo”, and it’s a terrific in-depth look at Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus – two movie-obsessed cousins who launched a film company in the late 70’s that released some of the best B-movies of all time, such as:

“Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo!”

That’s right, the breakdance sensation of the early 80’s “Breakin'” had a sequel with one of cinema’s most ridiculous titles of all time – and of course, it was a Cannon film! Check out the trailer for this new documentary:

Time For Some Cannon Classics!

Cannon Films was known for such b-movie classics as “Enter the Ninja”, “Death Wish 2″ and the legendary Chuck Norris action film “Invasion USA!”

Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus started Cannon films in 1979, and in the 80’s offered up a never-ending array of low-budget exploitation films and star-studded action movies like Sylvester Stallone’s arm wrestling epic “Over The Top!”

JCVD! JCVD!

The cousins loved action films, which were popular all over the world, so they churned out a lot of them, working with Stallone, Chuck Norris as well as Jean-Claude Van Damme!

The documentary is full of clips from movies such as “Bloodsport” along with interviews with Molly Ringwald, Alex Winter and Dolph Lundgren, who starred in “Masters Of The Universe!”

Golan and Globus were high flyers at the Cannes film festival every year – and legend has it they once signed a deal to do a film on a cocktail napkin at the Carlton Hotel!

Director Mark Hartley has done a great job bringing this story to life…capturing the “anything goes” era of 80’s filmmaking – Cannon never made critically-acclaimed movies, but that wasn’t their goal, and a lot of these movies are still cult hits today!

Probably one of the most fascinating stories about Cannon involves America’s favorite super hero: and how Golan and Globus managed to get the rights to make a fourth “Superman” movie with Christopher Reeve!

There are so many great stories to share and campy movies to celebrate, all thanks to the renegade movie company known as Cannon!

Wait! There Are Even More Great Movie Docs To Share!

I’m now officially a huge fan of Director Hartley, not only for this film but he also made the terrific documentary “Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation”!

This is also a great inside look at the world of Australian exploitation! “Mad Max” got his start down under, and this documentary shows you some of the wildest movies ever to come out of Australia!

Hartley was also the Director of another fun documentary – that takes you inside the world of exploitation film courtesy of The Philippines!

“Machete Maidens Unleashed!”

This is a great look at low budget cinema from around the world…check out the latest and greatest by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/10/ozploitation-lives-explore-a-wild-trailer-explosion-from-down-under/

And get a look at some classic Cannon films now!