It’s “Match Point” For “The Murray Burger”!

I love how innovative restaurants find a way to celebrate a sports victory…I already showed you how a great place in Chicago made the Stanley Cup out of meat:

Check out that story HERE:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/09/all-meat-stanley-cup-chicagos-manbque-meats-hockeys-champs/

And now, it’s “Match Point” for Tennis Champ Andy Murray!

The Solita Bar & Grill in Manchester, England, is celebrating Andy Murray’s triumph at Wimbledon with a Scottish-themed burger called “The Murray”, the Daily Star reports.

According to the BurgerBusiness website, “it wouldn’t be Scottish without a bit of deep-fried haggis (traditionally assorted sheep offal cooked in a sheep’s stomach) but there’s more, of course.

Yes, There Will Be Haggis On This Burger!

So, they’ve already acknowledged that there WILL be haggis involved. But beyond that, “The Murray” will have a 6 oz. beef patty of Aberdeen Angus. On top there’s Ayrshire bacon, Monterey Jack cheese and a barbecue sauce made with Scottish whiskey and Irn Bru, a bright-orange Scottish soft drink. It weighs in at 1,100 calories.”

That’s right, you are looking at “Irn Bru” Sauce!

I love that they have added a local SODA to the recipe to create a thick, syrupy sauce – I’d bite into this! And, if that’s not enough, how about this?

Don’t Forget “The Big Manc”!

Said Solita Owner Franco Sotgiu, “The Big Manc is usually our biggest selling burger, but the Murray even outsold that on its first day. People are caught up in all the euphoria so we might keep it on for another week before we change.”

The Murray may be outselling the “Big Manc” because “The Big Manc” is priced at a whopping £15.90 ($24.90) That gets you two 6-oz. beef chuck patties with iceberg lettuce, house-made pickles, Monterey Jack and Big Manc sauce – a secret sauce created by the kitchen.

Solita’s sounds like a GREAT place to visit – and I’ve always wanted to visit Manchester anyway, so maybe this is my tasty excuse!

Nice job by BurgerBusiness.com for covering the world of burgers so well – check them out!

The Big Manc Vs. The Big Mac!

And if you were wondering – and I certainly was – here is how a “Big Manc” looks sitting next to a regular “Big Mac”:

I will leave it up to you to determine which is which!

Time to get your “horror milkshake”!

Yes, only in Japan can you find THIS:

“The Ring” Horror Milkshake!

Starting July 27, Japanese burger chain Lotteria will once again go crazy with their food – this time offering a limited-time lemonade!

Here’s the story from Rocketnews24: “The bizarre concoction is themed after classic Japanese horror icon Sadako – the unmistakable and absolutely horrifying long-haired ghost girl from The Ring.

The cool blue color of the lemonade (actually a slightly different Japanese variation called ramune) invokes Sadako’s ghostly blue dress, while a squiggly topping of chocolate sauce and a black straw are meant to conjure the ghost girl’s signature jet-black hair.”

As always, the RocketNews24 people have a way with words!

Behold The “Milkshake Ring!”

Be aware that this tasty “Ring Milkshake” is different than a “Milkshake Ring”, which looks like this, and is also available in Japan:

God bless the Japanese for once again offering the most innovative food-based products, and thanks to our friends at Rocket24 news for their constant vigil on all cool things Japan…check out their website for the whole story and more!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/19/lotteria-to-offer-bizarre-the-ring-themed-milkshake-flavor/

More Lotteria Madness!

Don’t forget that our Lotteria friends in Tokyo love to SUPERSIZE their food! Click HERE to see the entire story of their “Monster Burger!”

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/25/bacon-bazookas-monster-burgers-massive-slabs-of-meat/

Ramen Burgers!

And don’t forget, it was Lotteria who came up with the Ramen burger as well – click HERE for that story!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

All I can say is this: “keep it up Lotteria! Keep it up!”

Time to head back to Asia to see how our fast food has been, once again, “MONSTERIZED!”

And what do I mean by this? How about THIS!

Yes, Burger King Japan is back with a new “Monster Burger!”

Here’s the story, thanks to the website “BurgerBusiness.”

Time For A “Garlic Meat Beast” – It’s The New “Meat Monster!”

Burger King Japan has a history of offering up limited time, CRAZY burgers to their japanese clients – and once again they have decided to take a burger and SUPERSIZE it – with meat AND unique flavors – like GARLIC!

Remember The “Meat Monster?”

Last year, Burger King in Japan created the “Meat Monster Whopper” with extra cheese, bacon and beef plus a chicken patty. Remember it?

As always, these sort of “Monster” food always shows up in Japan. After this effort, the pressure was on for Japan’s Burger King: How to top that?

Meet “The Garlic Meat Beast!”

Here’s how BurgerBusiness describes it: “There’s just one beef patty, but it’s a quarter pounder. And instead of bacon there’s a ground-pork patty to go with the chicken breast fillet.”

That’s right, that is a “ground-pork patty” you are looking at in there!

Cue The Garlic!

And, in a purely asian touch, the burger is topped with fried garlic slices with red miso, green-onion and teriyaki sauces, lettuce, mayo and tomato. That’s right – fried garlic!

The Price? ¥650!- Or $6.62!

The Double Garlic Cheeseburger!

Can’t handle the Beast? Then try THIS: the Double Garlic Cheeseburger!

Here’s what you get: two beef patties with fried garlic, Cheddar and spicy Caesar sauce. According to NeoGAF, this burger is priced at ¥200 ($2.04) for the first four days, then it jumps to ¥350 ($3.56).

Imagine a burger with fried garlic and spicy Caesar sauce! But that’s not all!

Behold The Mini-Dog Pizzas!

Japan’s desire to up the ante for fast food goes beyond burgers!

Yes, our friends in Japan have decided that the way we stuff our pizza crusts just isn’t wacky enough – they stuff their with mini-corn dogs! Every bite of cheesy pizza goodness is now topped by a spicy bite of mini-dogs too!

You can argue that this is just more meat added to the pizza in a place where the meat normally doesn’t reside…giving the pizza a unique look for sure! And if you just want a nice slice of pizza – with some REALLY unique flavors, get ready for THIS!

A Potato Mayonaise Gratin Mini-Hot Dog Pizza!

You read that right – this pizza is topped with a potato mayonaise gratin!

The “Potato Mayonnaise Gratin” Pizza is basically a pizza topped with potato salad that is served warm with bacon.

Talk about your unique pizza toppings! I would try this in a heartbeat – but since I’m not in Japan right now, I guess I will miss out….unless I just want to make it on my own – but I’m afraid it will turn out like THIS!

I think all bets are now off in the pizza topping challenge, and I think we will all eat better because of it! Thanks again to Japan for taking fast food to a whole new level. So bite down hard NOW!

And if you just need a bacon cheeseburger – say with 1,000 slices of cheese, I’ve got that story for you too!

Click here for the whole story!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/14/the-1050-slice-bacon-whopper-a-thousand-slices-of-cheese-wrap-me-in-bacon-bacon-excess/

First of all, I want to thank everyone who reads this blog on a regular basis – or anyone who has even read it once…for that, I offer you THIS:

Well, perhaps not, but I do appreciate the interest in the stories: whether they are about food, travel, movies, music, or even stuff like THIS:

Yes, if you saw my story, you know that Chinese Burger King customers have started to “super size” their meals at the salad bar…and if you’ve ever read a blog post of mine, then I can guarantee you’ve seen one of these:

Of course I LOVE burgers – and bacon too! I especially love bacon when someone has done something REALLY WRONG to it – like creating a bacon sandwich with ten pounds of bacon – like this one!

A Bacon Mona Lisa!

And I love when people use bacon for “non-food” things like making a portrait of the Mona Lisa – all out of bacon!

All The Stories Will STILL Be On Johnrieber.com FIRST!

As always, EVERY story is posted on this site first and foremost…but I wanted to also offer a place to go for a “best of” look at some of the topics I’ve posted about A LOT…like the wackiest place in the world: TOKYO!

Because I’ve posted so many food stories, I’ve set up a website that will showcase all of my food posts, like the one that focused on the “bread-cheese-bacon-bread-cheese-bacon-bread” cheeseburger!

If you want to see ALL of my food posts in one place, please check out my new site!

http://biteeatswallow.com/

But, to reiterate, all of these stories will be posted primarily here, on my main site…that goes for all of the following “best of” sites….like the collection of travel stories I’ve done….because sometimes I just want to get away, like here to Cannes…

So, if you like to travel as much as I do, then maybe you want to catch up on some of the older travel stories!

I have also put my favorite travel stories on one site as well…along with this main site, all of my stories about Japan, Seoul, Australia etc will live on a travel site as well – and of course Cannes, where I love to go to relax:

Sign up if you want to see all of my travel stories by going HERE!

http://spinningorbit.com/

And, if your musical tastes “go to eleven”, then I’ve got all of my favorite music stories on a special blog for you too!

I love posting stories about my favorite music – sometimes The Beatles, always Todd Rundgren, and even “Spinal Tap”!

Check all of those stories HERE!

http://musicplatter.com/

And finally, there is a special place in my heart for a certain type of movie:

That’s right – classic exploitation is a lost art form that needs to be embraced and celebrated – and it’s not all old stuff, either – let’s not forget “J-sploitation!”

You will still find ALL of these stories posted here first, but if you need some ideas for weekend viewing – yes, it’s the crazy world of exploitation HERE!

http://jrsploitation.com/

Of course, if you are reading this, you’ve come across my main site, and to reiterate, ALL stories are posted here. This is where I cover such breaking news as these “sushi poppers!”

Or, you can find out about the world’s skinniest buildings!

And don’t forget, I broke the story of “Ramen burgers” first!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

Or, you can read about Jo Nesbo, the best fiction writer in the world right now!

“Making You An Offer You Can’t Refuse…”

Finally, I will continue to share my favorite films, along with many inside stories like this picture from the filming of “The Godfather” – Robert Duvall wearing Marlon Brando’s lines!

I mean – I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

No matter what you come for, I hope you enjoy the posts – and please sign up for the specific sites as well to see those specific subjects that interest you…please let me know what you think, and thanks for your support!

Nothing Like The Great Taste Of Food!

OK, perhaps in this case, this person isn’t enjoying their meal – but isn’t that why it’s so much fun to try new things: you never know what kind of taste sensation you may get…isn’t that really the whole idea behind deep fried bacon?

Well, it’s with that in mind – oh, and perhaps my favorite: the “Cheeseburger in a can”…

Behold The Burger Majesty Of MOS!

But it’s not all canned – check this out!

MOS Burger, the Japanese fast food chain famous for being a fresher, slightly healthier alternative to other hamburger joints, has unveiled a new hamburger – loaded with French demi-glace sauce and aligot, a sumptuous mix of potato and cheese…

The “No Bun” Burger!

And MOS hasn’t stopped there: they also released an Mos “Green Burger” nestled in the leafy green goodness of lettuce.

It’s called the Mos Vegetable with Sauce Aurore for 320 yen (US$3). It’s a beef patty topped with tomato and aurora sauce, which is a very creamy French sauce reddened to a nice pink with tomato.

Whatever happened to one of THESE?!?

It seems that anything worth doing is worth overdoing: click here to see the pandemonium underway right now for a “Ramen Burger!”

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

It is with that in mind that I want to discuss what I think are the ten wildest things being eaten in the world today…

Ready To Begin A “Food Fight?”

Of course there will be disagreements – there are WAY more than ten strange food items in the world, but we had to start somewhere! I say anytime someone – like my beautiful daughter Jessica, for example – sees a food item and makes a face like THIS:

That look means the item – in this case a “Green Peas Pachisio Burger” deserves to be discussed! And no, we didn’t buy it – but we should have – because it was being offered in Tokyo, and that means it would have been memorable – like this food stall that serves Octopus On A Stick!

As you can see, it’s a colorful world of food out there to explore, so let’s go!

One caveat: this list will NOT include anything like THIS:

A Ban On Fried Bugs!

NO fried bugs, roasted spiders, larvae of any kind, etc. That kind of food is disgusting on purpose – and usually eaten on a dare – no, the wildest food on the planet made this list because it is a unique delicacy of a region that eats it for one of two reasons:

Yes, this is an internet image of a woman eating cake. It is meant to symbolize people eating food for one of two reasons: first, you eat for survival – if you don’t eat the strange food item you will die, so you eat it for survival – the second reason is because it is a cultural delicacy specific to that country or region. Got it? You decide which category pertains to the cake.

Cue The Potato Party!

So, when you read a story about how Asian fast food restaurants are throwing “potato parties” like the one you see above – when entire tables are covered in french fries – you can discount the cultural influence, it’s just wacky! Kind of like the “Bacon Oreo”:

That’s right, it’s a “bacon Oreo”. There is nothing cultural about this dish, and no one would eat it for survival. It’s just food being abused for the sake of entertainment.

And while some of this food may sound strange to you, imagine what most of the world thinks of THIS!

With that in mind, I give you the ten strangest food items currently being eaten around the world – and I bet some of them are actually GOOD! Then again….

10 – A “Fish” Hot Dog!

Imagine going to a hot dog stand, ordering “the usual”, and being served this! Well, they are serving them up in China, so head on over and bite down hard! This is, in fact, the tip of the strange chinese food iceberg – more to come!

But first, since we are talking icebergs, let’s head to Iceland for some fish!

9 – Hakarl – Fermented Basking Shark

Typically eaten in Iceland, Harkarl is “fermented basking shark” – and is, naturally, an acquired taste. Chef Anthony Bourdain described it as “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” he had ever eaten.

Let’s head to Japan for a snack instead…

8 – Almond Fish

I have shared these with you before – I purchased them in a store in Tokyo. They love dried fish in Tokyo, and they love almonds as well – and here you can love both AT ONCE.

OK, rather just have a sandwich?

7 – Fried Brain Sandwiches

Virtually every country in world does SOMETHING with brains – whether it’s used in cheese, pates, or some other manner – it’s a part of the animal that gets used for many reasons – but this is the most basic: deep fry a patty of it and stick it between two buns. Done. Close your eyes and you don’t have to see it…and speaking of eyes…

6 – Tuna Eyeball

Talk about using all parts of the fish! These can be found in most Japanese grocery stores for about a dollar. According to the website I found this at, “it tastes something like squid and should be boiled prior to consumption.”

Boiled Tuna Eyeball? No thanks, I’ll stick to sweets!

5 – Pork And Seaweed Doughnut

Then again, IS THIS CONSIDERED A SWEET? Dunkin’ Donuts is expanding their menu offerings in China, and they have created a savory doughnut stuffed with shredded pork and seaweed.

I would definitely try this! Talk about your sweet and savory! Now let’s head to Sweden to see what they have going on…

4 – Surstromming!

Help yourself to some “Surstromming”, a northern Swedish dish – it’s fermented baltic herring – usually sold in cans. And, from the story I found, “while they are being shipped the cans sometimes bulge due to the ongoing fermentation. Recently, a study in Japan found that “surstromming” releases the most putrid odor of any food in the world.”

The most putrid odor in the world? I can only imagine how it tastes…I need a drink to wash this down…

3- Caterpillar Fungus Beverage

Well, that sounds refreshing!

The caterpillar fungus is actually a traditional medicine that is widely used as a tonic or medicine by the Chinese. And it’s a lucrative market!

In China’s Yunnan Province, caterpillar fungus sales account for 60 to 80 percent of annual household cash income! Imagine making your living selling caterpillar juice! I wonder what else the chinese are up to:

2- Hot & Sour Fish Soup Potato Chips!

I’ve written about this before as well – a perfect example of western food being adapted to a new market. The chinese love potato chips, so Lay’s decided to go after that market by offering uniquely chinese flavors like “hot and our fish soup” potato chips!

You can read the entire story of crazy potato chip flavors in china by clicking on the link below:

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

Finally, I had to leave you with what could be the most extreme – yet real – food item available today:

1 – Yak Penis – Yes, YAK PENIS

I found this on a website that pointed out “The Chinese eat anything with four legs, except tables. And everything that flies, except airplanes”.

This dish might just prove that true. It’s known as “Dragon in the Flame of Desire” – famously served in the Guolizhuang Restaurant of Beijing.

It is known to have medicinal value…as to how it tastes….

Let me know what you think of the list!

Talk About A BIG MAC!

Yes, I know what you are thinking: where can I get one of these? As always, in Japan! But if you aren’t in the mood for a 50-patty cheeseburger, then try this instead!

Introducing “The Osaka Burger”!

Yes, the latest food craze from Japan uses one of their most iconic foods and gives it an American twist!

Here’s what “The Osaka Burger” is: it all starts when they use the famous Osaka specialty, okonomiyaki, for buns, and then they ——–

WAIT WAIT WAIT! WHAT’S A “OKONOMIYAKI”??????

OK, time to take a moment and explain what an “Okonomiyaki” is!

“Okonomiyaki” is, for the most part, a japanese pancake! The batter is made of flour, grated nagaimo (a type of yam), water or dashi, eggs and shredded cabbage, and usually contains other ingredients such as green onion, thin pork belly, octopus, squid, shrimp, vegetables, kimchi, mochi or cheese!

So they cook their “okonomiyaki” and form it into a bun! As for the burger, it’s a chicken patty, plus a fried egg with shiso leaf – and the whole thing topped with a VERY PINK plum sauce, which they call bainiku sauce.

How can anyone top this?

LOTTERIA TO THE RESCUE!

Of course, my favorite Japanese restaurant chain, Lotteria, comes to the rescue again with another of their wacky burger creations!

Lotteria has launched their own “okonomiyaki” burgers! As always, you have a choice of how you want to experience this unique fast food!

There are two different versions of Lotteria’s okonomiyaki burger that went on sale in Japan on August 19. The “hanjuku tamago” on the left includes a soft-boiled egg, while the “modern style” on the right comes with stir-fried noodles and a fried egg!

That’s right, they sure seem to love their stir-fried noodle burgers at Lotteria!

Lotteria’s Ramen Burger!

And of course, Lotteria is the originator of the ramen burger!

Read all about this amazing food item by clicking here!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

And our friends at RocketNews actually went to Lotteria and tried their new “okonomiyaki” burgers! Here is the entire review at RocketNews24!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/08/20/lotteria-craziness-continues-with-the-okonomiyaki-burger/

As always, a great site!

Elvis Is Hungry!

Elvis loved a good meal, we all know that. He would have loved this one: imagine how the King would have felt to see all of his favorite things on one plate! Yes, it tops the list for the world’s ten most creative sandwiches!

SANDWICH #10 – THE “PEANUT BUTTER – BANANA ON BACON BREAD-WICH!”

Yes, it’s a “peanut butter – bacon – banana” sandwich, but in this case, the bacon is the bread! Weaves together, the bacon hold a thick slab of banana and creamy peanut butter – all of your important food groups on one plate!

Here are NINE MORE wacky sandwiches from the world of food:

#9 – THE CHICK-FIL-E!

Badhappy Poutine in Chicago offers this doozy: it’s a cheeseburger mashup – a unique burger than also has all of the elements of a great sandwich – but SO MUCH MORE!

What I’m holding is a cheeseburger that is topped with FRIED CHICKEN - and then topped again with Gorgonzola, Chili Pepper-Maple Glaze, Sunny egg, Creole Mayo, House Pickles, HappySauce, and finally:

FROSTED FLAKES!

So next time you can’t decide whether to have a burger or a chicken sandwich, just head to Badhappy and have both!

Now, to get an early start on Father’s Day:

#8 – THE DAD-WICH!

OK, this one is really creative: someone wanted to honor their dad, so they created a tie-shaped torpedo sandwich! Stuffed with grilled steak, Swiss, cheddar and fried onions, you can eat it or wear it – or both!

#7 – THE QUADZILLA!

Time to head to Nathan’s Real Barbecue, located in Safford, Ariz. in order to try their “Quadzilla Sandwich!”

Consisting of “a quarter-pound rib sandwich on top, four third-pound burger patties, eight strips of thick bacon, four slices of extra thick Pepper Jack cheese, pickles, onions and a TON of barbecue sauce,” this is what The Who once called “Meaty beaty big and bouncy!”

Too much? Sometimes the most unique is also the simplest!

#6 – ENGLAND’S “CHIP BUTTY!”

The English have a reputation for restraint. Well, they’ve proved it here: the “Chip Butty” is just that!

Just steak fries on bread, with either ketchup or brown sauce. This is for those of you who REALLY want to carbo-load….and if it’s a bit unwieldy, try this on for size:

#5 – THE HANDWICH!

Yes, you can bite your own thumb off first, or go right for the pinky. Either way, you’ve got a “handful” of great taste! Put whatever you want between those mitts…like perhaps 7-8 pounds of meat like this one?

#4 – The MELO!

Time to head to the world famous Carnegie Deli, New York City!

Carnegie Deli pays homage to NY Knicks basketball player Carmelo Anthony, with the towering meat orgy aptly named “The Melo”.

Pile It ON, Anthony!

How much is too much? Well, the $22 sandwich features pastrami, corned beef, salami, bacon, lettuce, tomato and Russian dressing, all on several slices of rye. The weight? More than three pounds and counting!

Now, what if you want to engage your mind as well as your palate?

#3 – THE RUBIK’S CUBEWICH!

This is easy to explain: it’s meat and cheese. Arrange them all the same way, or just eat it and let your stomach work out the rest! A brain and palate teaser in one!

Of course, sometimes a sandwich just isn’t a meal unless it includes something that will offend most people – with that in mind, time to head to China!

#2 – THE DONKEY SANDWICH!

china donkey burger

Yes, there is a popular street cart food in Beijing consisting of donkey meat, often with some lettuce or peppers on crispy bread called Huoshao. In Hebei province, they sometimes say,

“In Heaven there is dragon meat, on Earth there is donkey meat.”

I can only imagine…and finally, here’s one in which you HAVE to imagine, since it’s a:

#1 – THE SURPRISE-WICH!

OK, let’s get started! A nice loaf of bread – I am already getting hungry just thinking about what to do with it…oh wait, someone beat me to it!

Surprise!

OK, you got me – I don’t have to do a thing! You see, the bread has been baked AROUND the sandwich, so just cut into it to find out exactly what you will be eating – which, in this case, is apparently a TON of meat and cheese!

I love getting a surprise, but I’m not alone…

HONORABLE MENTION – BECAUSE IT’ NOT A SANDWICH – IT’S A TURTLE!

OK, the idea of a unique sandwich has gone too far! A man tried to smuggle his pet turtle through security in China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport by hiding it in a KFC hamburger!

The incident occurred when a man was about to board China Southern Airlines flight 345 to Beijing, Guangzhou Daily reported. X-ray screening machines detected a few “odd protrusions” sticking out of a KFC burger that the man had packed in his bag.

Airport staff determined that the protrusions looked suspiciously like turtle limbs, and asked to inspect the passenger’s luggage.

“There’s no turtle in there, just a hamburger,” he reportedly insisted. “There’s nothing special to see inside.”

Well, airport staff uncovered the pet turtle hidden inside the burger. When asked why he had devised this strange idea, the suspect said that he had only wanted to travel together with his “beloved” turtle!

How can you argue with that? Well, argue away by leaving a comment below!

Behold The Mega Cheeseburger Pizza!

More wild pizza news coming from Japan!

Never one to be shy about topping a pizza, Japanese pizza chain “Pizza Little Party” will debut the “Megaburger Pizza” this weekend!

Weighing in at 2.65 pounds, the kooky creation features two 11-inch pizzas serving as buns, with burger patties topped with cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickle slices. The best, as always, is the colorful japanese ad for the monstrosity…

According to A Hamburger Today, “the combined weight of the beef patties is 400 grams, or 0.88 lbs, so it’s about the same as topping a small pizza with four McDonald’s cheeseburgers (minus the buns), then slapping another small pizza, face down, on top of it.”

The Megaburger pizza will cost you ¥2,580 – that’s about $26 – and is a limited-time item, available only until November 22nd. Here is a quick glance at some of their other pizzas for sale…

Yum!

I particularly love the one topped with a strange curly red line…since the entire menu is in japanese, I can only guess what is on these…but who cares? Let’s dig in!

Kudos To A Hamburger Today!

Thanks to the great reporters at the Serious Eats website, which houses “A Hamburger Today”…their whole story about this OTT Pizza exists here:

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2013/08/so-this-is-a-thing-megaburgerpizza.html?ref=excerpt_readmore

And if you REALLY want to get disgusting, how about THIS:

Creamed Corn Pizza!

the creamed corn and potato pizza, or the Taramayo,with Tarako (salted cod roe) sauce, squid, asparagus, potatoes, rice cake, and mayo.

Wait, MAYO on a pizza? Um, YES indeed!

What you are looking at is a hot dog pizza, topped with mayonaise and corn…it seems corn is a very popular ingredient for pizzas in Japan…

Smoosh!

Thanks to a great website called “Smoosh”, I found a few other unique pizzas from Japan to share with you…like the hot dog pizza above, covered in japan’s favorite mayonaise…

Cue The Seaweed!

Yep, if creamed corn, hot dogs and mayonaise doesn’t quite give you the pizza of your dreams, then I recommend you fly to Jpan right now and grab this one…the seaweed pizza!

See the entire smoosh article by clicking here, but leave a comment and let me know which of these you’d eat – maybe all of them!
!

http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/weird-world-japanese-pizza

It’s National Cheeseburger Day!

Talk about a national holiday! September 18th is national cheeseburger day, and there is no better time to celebrate a national treasure!

I have chosen some of of my favorite burgers to share with you today – to honor those restaurants that have chosen to honor this terrific food!

Behold The French Fry Burger!

Forget Burger King! I shared this with everyone last year – something I began making late at night when working at Herfy’s in Seattle…it’s a burger topped with fries, then cheese and tartar sauce!

In other words, there are NO limits to what you can do to a burger – a fact I am about to prove to you!

And Elvis agrees!

So does Jimmy Page!

With this kind of musical muscle behind it, the cheeseburger is the food of the gods! Let’s start with some fun cheeseburger facts:

That’s right – there are NO limits to how tall you can stack a cheeseburger. There is only a limit to how much you can stuff into your mouth at one time!

Here are some more fun facts, courtesy of the great website “Foodimentary”:

The oldest fast food restaurant in the world is the White Castle franchise, which opened in 1921!

That’s right, we owe it ALL to White Castle!

Time To Celebrate White Castle!

That’s right! Growing up in Seattle, I never got to taste White Castle until I went to New Jersey for the first time! I fell in love with the mini-slider burgers from White Castle and have never looked back!

These little burgers are an inexpensive, tasty treat – and sometimes that’s all you need! Click on the link to see more of my love affair with White Castle, and I review New York’s terrific “Five Napkin Burger” as well!

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

More facts:

The people of America eat more burgers out at restaurants or on the go than they do at home.

The largest hamburger ever created was over 8,000 pounds and was cooked for a burger festival in Wisconsin.

Don’t believe me? Take a look!

The Origin Of The Hamburger!

The hamburger in its current form, with ground beef and a bun, is a decidedly American creation.

And That Means Dick’s!

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

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

Read all about their small but terrific menu here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/12/free-dicks-not-what-you-think-but-sundaes-bacon-me-hungry-latest-burger-news-and-bacon-madness/

Next fact: Hamburgers are made of beef, not ham, and there is much debate over whether they actually originated in Hamburg.

Well, if that’s the case, let’s see what Germany has to offer the burger lover!

The McD Germany!

Yep, McDonald’s will use the world’s taste buds to try out strange creations, like the “TeamBurger” above…or how about this: a pretzel bun burger!

Thanks to Wendy’s, the pretzel burger is a huge hit in the US now, but Germany tried it first…oh, and they also tried something called:

“The Lauginator!”

Read all about these burger monsters by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/09/bacon-in-your-face-the-30000-calorie-sandwich-the-bacone-lets-go/

Burger Of The Gods!

That’s right, it’s a burger for the Gods! Thanks to the crazy and inventive Lunchbox Laboratory in Seattle, there is no end to what you can do to a burger! Check it all out by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/22/burger-of-the-gods-black-pudding-burgers-phillys-best-glaze-me-up-a-cheeseburger-we-are-going-bacon-burger-big/

And of course, all roads lead to my friends here in Chicago – that’s right, I give you:

Badhappy’s Chick-Fil-E!

Fold, you are lucky I can hold the thing up for you! Sure, it’s a burger, but so much more! Try a full size hamburger patty topped with FRIED CHICKEN! Then add cheese, a fried egg AND FROSTED FLAKES!

I recently called this one of the ten most unique sandwiches in the world, and it’s just one of the great burgers that Badhappy offers…read about all of them here!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/03/badhappy-chicagos-best-burger-the-race-is-on/

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

Yes, what you see in front of Chris is, in fact, a burger! It’s the craziest offering from Chicago’s Kuma’s burger shop – a plate full of hamburger, chili, cheese, fries and more!

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

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/14/rocking-out-kumas-heavy-metal-burgers-chicagos-best-burger/

Enjoy “national cheeseburger day” – take this holiday and bite down hard!

Say “Happy Halloween” This Year – With Bacon!

Yes, it’s time to start thinking about what you will wear this Halloween – so why not wear your favorite food? And it’s not just bacon!

Time To Party With Pickle Head!

Yes, it’s Halloween time, and if you need to dress up as FOOD this party season, I’ve got you covered! Here’s a look at the many different ways you can celebrate Halloween with food costumes!

Let’s get started with some of the bacon-themed costumes that you can buy for this Halloween season!

Bacon And Eggs!

Talk about a pair of outfits that look good enough to eat! And don’t worry – if you’ve got kids you can add them to the breakfast menu!

Oh, and what if you have an EXTENDED family? Well, the smart creators of this costume have taken care of that, too!

And if you want to cut out the cholesterol, just go with bacon!

I can’t imagine going as a single strip of bacon when you can use it as one part of a well balanced costume…

And yes, you can emulate your favorite star at the same time!

Ok, never mind, I guess it’s all in how you wear it…still, here’s another way to approach Halloween as a couple…

A Pair Of Big Macs!

OK, this is easy: you and your wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, whatever – go as a pair of Big Macs! Talk about “partners in crime!” Or you can go solo as well!

Now, check out these three below: one costume is just a picture of a burger printed on polyester tunic. One is more form fitting, kind of a bulky cheeseburger top. Finally, check out Gene from “Bob’s Burgers” – a burger costume with a bonus megaphone cut-out.

Adult Unisex Deluxe Cheeseburger Costume

This costume has it all, but it’s also $140. Here is how it is described:

“The Adult Unisex Deluxe Cheeseburger Costume is a deluxe cheeseburger indeed. The plush one-piece costume is a knee length tunic with all the details of a deluxe cheeseburger.

If you love burgers this makes a great, humorous outfit. It would also be ideal for wearing to advertise a burger joint. In addition to the tunic you get a pickle slice hat.”

Yep, a “pickle slice hat!” And an optional “Burger King” outfit as well! If that’s too much for you, how about this:

A Cheeseburger Hat!

“Tie one on”, indeed! A cheeseburger hat can now be all yours…

Jerseylicious Olivia!

And of course I’ve shared this before, Olivia Blois-Sharpe from “Jerseylicious” showing off a “cheeseburger hat!”

If a cheeseburger hat is just too much for you, you can go with something more subtle – like a cheese steak!

Cheese Steak Head!

Forget cheeseburgers, go cheeseheads! I mean, who doesn’t love a good cheese steak on their head? Get all the laughs and grab all the attention in this hilarious cheese steak hat!

Is That A Cheeseburger Skirt Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

This next costume is interesting as it includes a pickle hat, plus what appears to be a “3D Big Mac” skirt!

I get the idea, sort of a “cheeseburger in paradise” approach…and it works, but you will no doubt find yourself bumping into a lot of people at your party…unless that’s the goal!

Here’s a more subtle approach:

A Nike Hamburger Sneaker!

The Nike Hamburger shoe was part of an expose in Vice Magazine, where 8 creatives were asked to interpret Nike sportswear icons. The Nike Hamburger shoe, created by Olle Hemmendorff, fashion guru and freelance art creative, is meant to illustrate Nike’s Air Max 90.

While he could have chosen any material to re-design the Nike sneaker, Hemmendorff chose to use the hamburger to create his extreme edible fashion item. Because, obviously, the hamburger is the “most powerful, most durable, and most delicious material know to man” (at least according to the innovative fashion designer).

The extreme edible fashion sneaker is dressed like a fully-loaded hamburger, including cheese, sesame bun, triple decker patties, tomatoes and ketchup. This weird and wacky fashion may not be practical for everyday wear, but it sure will make you hungry.

Yes, it’s a hamburger shoe…walk on it proudly!

Or just dress up nice in the sophisticated cheeseburger dress:

For families, the options are just as varied…

Hamburger Family

The family who cheeseburgers together stays together…the alternative is just to be a “Taco Baby”:

And finally, no reason to leave your family pet out of the fun, as you can see from this news story:

The Cheeseburger Cat!

Holiday Gift Alert!

If you want to look past Halloween, here are some gift ideas for the holidays. I’m still waiting to find one of THESE under my tree…

And finally – FINALLY! The “Say Anything” Cheeseburger moment!

What better way to celebrate cheeseburgers than by bastardizing an iconic moment from a classic movie!

Happy Halloween!

A “Black Tongue” Burger?~!?!?!?!

Ok, relax: it’s NOT made with black tongue…it’s bacon that has been placed strategically on the burger to look like a tongue! And it’s placed on a black bun, too!

Behold The “Kuro Ninja!”

This is Burger King’s new Japanese burger masterpiece: it’s the “Kuro Ninja,” a burger with a black bun and long, thick strip of bacon protruding out of the sides, looking like, well, a tongue!

“Kuro Ninja,” a burger with a black bun and long, thick strip of bacon protruding out of the side…in the case of this pic, out of both.

The burger also comes with “wide-size” hash browns, onions, lettuce, mayonnaise, and a blackish brown Chaliapin sauce. The “Kuro Ninja” will be on sale starting October 25 for 680 yen (US$6.93).

But Wait! There’s More!

Customers who purchase a medium or large size set meal will receive these special “Kuro Ninja” character logo stickers! The fun never stops!

Kudos once again to the great investigative reporters at Rocketnews24 for reporting on this first! Now, black buns are nothing new in Japan, here is a Burger King black bun burger without the tongue:

The “Black Big Mac!”

And Burger King isn’t alone with the black bun concept. Here is a japanese Big Mac that also utilizes a black bun…

And Don’t Forget The “BIG STACKS!”

And let’s not forget some of Burger King’s other Japanese classics! The fast food chain is always offering something new and unqiue in Japan, and that ALWAYS leads to an inventive use of their food…remember these?

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

And of course, the “1,000 slices of cheeese” cheeseburger – with video!

And of course, we can never forget THIS Bacon Cheeseburger from Burger King Japan:

Just click on the link to see the world’s most amazing bacon cheeseburger EVER!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/04/18/two-headed-burgers-japanese-bacon-madness-bacon-alarm-clocks-bacon-sundae-reviews/

All of this huge food is making me hungry enough to lick that “tongue burger”! Let me know what you think!

It’s National Burger Week!

Yes, it’s a week long celebration of all things stuck between a bun! To honor burger week, here are my 7 favorite burgers, and they are all wacky, bizarre and delicious!

Here you go – get ready to bite down hard!

#7 – The “Okonomiyaki Burger!”

Yes, we begin in Japan, because, let’s be honest, they are going “burger crazy” right now! Why not start with the “okonomiyaki burger”…don’t know what that is? Just click here for the whole story!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/22/osaka-burgers-lotteria-okonomiyaki-burger-more-japan-burger-madness/

Don’t need a ramen bun? Well, how about one that is pure joy - PURE BACON!

#6 – The “Bacon Weave” Burger!

Yes, someone has invented the “bacon bun” – and not only that, they have an “all bacon” bacon burger as well! It’s just one of many new burger creations, and you can see them all by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/18/national-cheeseburger-day-celebrate-with-bacon-weaves-cheese-goo-burger-bashes/

And if you want something delicious but oh so simple, try this masterpiece:

#5 – The “Wasabi Avocado Slider!”

I love this burger so much! It’s a slider that utilizes just a few key ingredients: bun, burger, wasabi mayonaise and fresh avocado – it’s delicious, and just one of a many slider recipes you can see by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/24/new-memorial-day-slider-recipes-spanish-japanese-vegan-sriracha-international-sliders/

And if you were saying to yourself, “hey, why isn’t there more seafood on my burger?” Well, I have the answer:

#4 – The “Lobster Burger!”

Yes, there are places in the world that are more advanced than we are – they are making “lobster burgers!” I love this idea, and if you do too, then click on the whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/08/07/lobster-burgers-foie-gras-burgers-tokyo-gets-burgered-mcdonads-goes-for-olympics-gold/

And if you love garlic, and I mean LOVE GARLIC, then you MUST try this beast:

#3 – The “Garlic Meat Beast!”

Yes, it’s a supersized burger with a ton of garlic added…how can this be bad for anyone? If you like the sound of this, click on the link to see the entire story:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/01/the-garlic-meat-beast-potato-mayonaise-pizzas-wacky-fast-food/

Now that you’ve eatern the “Garlic Meat Beast” and are most likely sitting alone, are you ready to “get slayed?”

#2 – “The Slayer” From Kuma’s Too!

Kuma’s in Chicago was just chosen “best burger” in town, and this could be one reason:” a mega plate of goodness that is too big to pick up! If you want to see what’s on this baby, click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/14/rocking-out-kumas-heavy-metal-burgers-chicagos-best-burger/

I love Kuma’s, but to me, the best burger right now is courtesy of my friends at BadHappy Poutine in Chicago:

#1 – The “Chik-Fil-E” Burger From Badhappy!

Yep, it’s a burger TOPPED with fried chicken, an egg, melted gruyere cheese…AND FROSTED FLAKES!

If you need to see this – and you do, click on here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/25/worlds-ten-most-creative-sandwiches/

Leave a comment and tell me which one you like best!

Hungry?

Maybe you didn’t hear me….I said: ARE YOU HUNGRY??????

Well, if you aren’t, you soon will be. I am about to share one of my most delicious meals – at one of Chicago’s best restaurants!

Say hello to the Sears Tower…nobody in Chicago calls it anything else. Just west of Chicago’s Loop, there is a burgeoning food district. Along with such hot spots as “The Girl And The Goat” and “Publican”, there is a restaurant that is taking foodies by storm:

Behold “Au Cheval”!

The west loop neighborhood, just west of downtown Chicago, has exploded with new restaurants, and Au Cheval has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best!

The inside of Au Cheval feels like a modern french bistro, with an american pub feel…there are no reservations, so you can expect a wait, but they are friendly and keep things moving…

One seated, you quickly realize that the chefs are serious about their food. It is, simply, one of the best places to eat in all of Chicago. Here is our amazing food adventure, beginning with some appetizers:

Foie Gras Terrine With Strawberry Jam!

Since my son Jeff lives in California, he’s had to do without foie gras. So naturally, we ordered it here…and this dish is a masterpiece of simplicity. It is a delicious foie gras, buttery and smooth – served with thick toast and strawberry jam….

My daughter Jessica and her husband Mike were with us, so we were able to try a number of different items…like one of my favorite dishes that has never been done better:

Roasted Bone Marrow, Beef Cheek Marmalade And Toast!

Yes, this is a beautiful roasted bone marrow – and it comes out of the kitchen looking like a sculpture:

The process is easy: you scoop out a glistening spoon full of marrow, and then place it on the toast with a dollop of beef cheek marmalade…the savory sweetness of the marmalade was perfect for the marrow.

Now onto a classic french dish – that the kitchen at Au Cheval has re-imagined for a new generation!

Toasted Open-Faced Ham And Cheese Fondue With Fried Egg!

Yep, this is fondue!

Au Cheval’s take on this classic french dish is a plate of sizzling baked cheese on top of ham – with a gorgeous fried egg on top! You take a piece of toast and slather it up – after breaking this gorgeous egg of course…

Remember, these are just appetizers! Even though we were already beginning to get full, we had one more shared appetizer to go: Au Cheval’s fried chicken!

General Jane’s Honey Fried Chicken With Chili, Sesame Seeds And Cilantro!

There is fried chicken, and then there IS FRIED CHICKEN:

First of all, look at how this chicken glistens in the light – the honey glaze has an Asian kick to it, and the chicken itself is crispy outside but moist in the middle:

This is the perfect appetizer for sharing – the dish is large enough for everyone to have a couple of pieces – and trust me, everyone will:

The sauce is a bit sweet, with a nice bite of chile as well…and then you have the toasted sesame seeds – all of it coating your fingers as you eat…and you WILL lick your fingers afterward!

Time to move on to the main courses: we ordered two dishes and cut them into quarters. Au Cheval has won many awards for their food, and these two dishes are their masterpieces – first, take a look at THIS!

The Au Cheval Burger!

Yes, this is the Au Cheval take on a burger…first of all, take a look at the homemade slab of bacon:

Not only do you have the burger, cheese and bacon on the bottom bun, but you have a fried egg on the other! All you have to do is close and enjoy!

Not only does this taste amazing, but look at how this burger remains standing after being cut into quarters! One of the biggest problems with a “loaded up” burger is that it all fall apart when you eat it – but not this one…

And now, time to unveil Au Cheval’s crowning achievement:

Yes, in a world where food fads come and go, Au Cheval and reached into every single person’s past to offer up a taste of legendary goodness:

The Fried House-Made Bologna Sandwich!

When was the last time you ate bologna? Exactly! But just like the rest of the food, this dish harkens back to comfort food, yet it is presented in a modern, inventive take. Here it is cut in half:

And here is what it looks like when held up proudly by my son-in-law Mike Minick:

Take a look again: this is a FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH! Every kid had a bologna sandwich in their lunch pail at one point or another in their formative years, but Mom NEVER thought to load it up like this!

It has a creamy gruyere cheese on it…the Mortadella is juicy and crispy on the edges – and the flavor – it’s honestly your fondest memories of bologna turned up to eleven!

Au Cheval also has any number of other great dishes, like the Matzo Ball soup, one enormous matzo ball in chicken broth…Alex and I had it once when we dropped in on a whim and sat at the bar. I didn’t have it on this trip, but it is terrific as well.

Here is the latest menu from the restaurant:

Au Cheval is a terrific place to eat – and the prices are very reasonable…I cannot wait to go back – if you have been there, leave a comment and let us know how it was!

Hallelujah, “Star Wars” Fans!

You like the look of this?

How about this?

Olivia Munn IS Princess Leia!

How THAT for a “Star Wars” tease?

When I worked with Olivia at G4, she created quite a sensation when she first put on the Princess Leia outfit…and no one was more committed to the performance than Olivia – well, except for the guy who made THIS:

“Star Wars: Episode VII” Has A Release Date!

The internet exploded with “star joy” when word came out that “Star Wars: Episode VII” had a release date! Here is the official announcement:

“With pre-production in full-swing, a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015, has been set for Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII.

“We’re very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture,” said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be directed by J.J. Abrams and is being scripted by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). John Williams is returning to score Star Wars: Episode VII.

Shooting is scheduled to begin spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios.

And fans are already offering up their version of the movie’s poster art, beginning with this brilliant teaser from “The Mad Butcher!”

Fan anticipation is high, as you can see…here are a few more fan-created “Episode VII” posters:

And, here is the first official teaser from Disney themselves:

OK, there is some amazing “Star Wars” artwork being shared right now – can’t wait to see what happens over the next two years!

And as the world anxiously awaits the next “Star Wars” movie, fans continue to find new ways to entertain themselves…

“I Now Pronounce You, BIG “Star Wars” Fans!”

“Star Wars” weddings are nothing new – put that phrase in “search” and you will find pictures like the one I shared with you above – after all, fans have had a rabid interest in the movie franchise since it premiered in 1977. It’s easy for forget how much the world changed when this image appeared:

The Internet Loves Star Wars, And Star Wars Loves The Internet!

We all know what a phenomenon “Star Wars” is…and that means there is a never-ending flow of material for fans, by fans, and among fans – all about the unique world that George Lucas created…across six films so far, plus countless books, animated TV shows, and of course, the three NEW films coming soon:

Cue The Star Wars Merchandise!

Along with enjoying the films on blu-ray in their new pristine versions, you can also buy a LOT of different collectible merchandise….most of it is authorized, even if some of it’s just a bit strange:

Of course you can buy stormtrooper outfits, Darth Vader helmets, light sabers and more, but I love the offbeat stuff. At Comic-Con a few years back, I bought this R2D2 soy sauce dispenser:

Of course I will never take it out of the box – it makes for a much better conversation piece in the office! Then again, I managed to pass on these:

Imagine your girlfriend, wife, significant other, WHOEVER – showing up with Yoda hanging from their ear…it’s just one of the many “unique” products with a “Star Wars” connection. Like this:

Olivia Munn And Kevin Pereira In Tokyo With The “Dancing Stormtrooper!”

Yes, Kevin and Olivia went full-on “Star Wars” when they danced with Tokyo’s famous “dancing stormtrooper”, Danny Choo! We filmed in Shibuya crossing for a great “Attack Of The Show” sketch…

Princess Olivia!

And of course, G4 fans remember when Olivia dressed up as Princess Leia at the “Star Wars” convention – when G4 had exclusive live coverage of the fan experience – as always, Olivia embraced the fan spirit and donned the Princess Leia outfit:

Olivia donned this outfit at Comic-Con, for several great “Attack Of The Show” sketches, and of course, for our live “Star Wars” special from the convention floor…these pics are all over the internet, as fans took lots of pictures of Olivia in action:

Lucas and his team have done a great job sharing the fan enthusiasm for the franchise to let this material live for fans…like this collection of bloopers from Star Wars 4. 5 and 6 that currently lives on youtube:

Disney Takes Over The Force!

Many fans were shocked when George Lucas sold his entire company, including the “Star Wars” franchise, to The Walt Disney Company. So, when it was announced, Disney President Bob Iger must have expected screenshots like this to show up online:

Fans are obviously excited about the release date for the new film, but they also want to make sure that Disney will move the franchise forward…hiring Abrams and Kasdan was certainly the perfect first step…

Bloopers, Bloopers Everywhere!

Youtube is absolutely loaded with bloopers from every single movie in the series – here are some more from the first film…doesn’t everyone look so young?

As I said earlier, when I was at G4, we did live coverage of one of the Star Wars conventions, and it was so much fun to see the fans celebrate everything “Star Wars”…and of course, there were a huge number of the film’s talent there as well, both in front of and behind the camera…it is a galaxy that just keeps growing…in ways you can hardly imagine:

“Star Wars” – As Imagined With Bacon!

Yes, real fans have stepped up in a big bacon way! When “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” introduced the “All Terrain Armored Transport” (AT-AT) – it was only a matter of time before it would be honored with bacon!

We’ve always known that “Star Wars” fans were passionate – and now we know they love bacon, too!

Darth Vader Burger with Black Bun

For some, “Star Wars” tastes as good as it looks! And of course, the French have led the way! The fast food restaurant Quick jumped on the bandwagon by selling a Darth Vader burger!

In connection with the 3D release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”, the French fast food restaurant chain Quick sold Darth Vader burgers with a black bun – and also a Jedi burger!

Darth Vader Contemplates Bacon!

Yes, all roads lead to “Star Wars”, and in this case, Darth Vader – who not only needs bacon, but PROMISES IT!

And if this make you thirsty, well, there’s nothing more refreshing than a:

Darth Vader Refrigerator!

There you go, plenty of stuff to keep you full of “Star Wars” until December 2015!

Get ready for a Japanese “Monster Meal!”

Here’s a question for you:

HAVE YOU EVER GONE “O-MORI” ON YOURSELF?

First of all, how do you “go o-mori?” Well, I am about to tell you, because you may have done it and not even known it!

O-Mori, That’s A LOT Of Food!

Yes, time to head back to Tokyo for a look at how the Japanese “Supersize” their meals!
In Japan, “o-mori” refers to an extra large food portion. So when you dine, you can upgrade your regular ramen dish by ordering it like this:

“Ramen O-Mori, Please!”

And this is what you will get:

If, like me, you like a little poultry as a meal, you can order:

Chicken Curry O-Mori Style, Please!

And they will place down in front of you this dish:

“O-Mori Fried Chicken Curry!”

The photo above was taken at Café Majori in Aichi Prefecture – more on where I found these pics in a second – but this colossal curry with fried chicken is officially referred to as “YA-YA MORI”, or a “kind of big portion.” You think?

You see, now matter WHAT you order, you can get it to look like THIS!

Some Japanese restaurants have their own special codes for these super-sized portions, such as “toku-mori”, “giga-mori”, “mega-mori”, “deka-mori”, and “doka-mori”.

No matter what they call it, it all means one thing: BIG FOOD!

Pork Cutlet O-Mori – or “toku-mori”, “giga-mori”, “mega-mori”, “deka-mori”, and “doka-mori”!

According to Rocketnews24, this pork cutlet curry is served at Manrai restaurant in the Nigata Prefecture of Japan…I’d say that was more than filling….or how about this bowl of ramen noodles with sliced pork…oh, that’s right, it’s SLICED PORK “O-MORI” STYLE!

Something “Fishy” Here!

And if you are a seafood fan, you can always try a nice “O-Mori Tuna Bowl”! Yes, that is one large ball of fish…

“Just A Burger For Me, Please!”

And for burger fans, there’s an “o-mori” version of a hamburger steak platter, weighing over four pounds!

And For The Vegan In All Of Us…

That’s right, if you are swearing off meat and fish, just have the omelet…

Once again, the terrific website “Rocketnews24″ has the entire story on the “O-Mori” phenomenon in Japan, with even MORE pictures of HUGE japanese food. Enjoy!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/06/01/big-eats-in-japan-the-glutinous-gallery-of-o-mori/

Bacon-Wrapped Thanksgiving Turkey!

Time to plan for your holiday meal, so why not go bacon?

That’s right – a bacon wrapped turkey could just be what you need this Thanksging! And if it’s cold out:

Nice hat!

That’s right, wear your love of bacon! OK, let’s take a step back. There is plenty of time to go “bacon crazy” – first, let’s focus on what’s in the oven…

Wrap Your Turkey In Bacon And Eat It!

Want to make a bacon wrapped Turkey this year? Jump on board, it’s easy! First, get yourself one of these:

1 (13 lb) whole turkey (uncooked)

Once you have your raw Turkey, time to have fun! You’ll also need these items:

kitchen twine (to tie Turkey)
aluminum foil
2 cups butter (softened)
1 1/2 ounces fresh sage
1 lb bacon (uncooked)
1 onion
1 garlic clove
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)

Here is what you do to get to THIS:

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 325°F

Remove giblets and neck from Turkey. Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels.

Chop Onion and Garlic and mix together. Once chopped and mixed, stuff the Onion and Garlic mixture into Turkey.

Tie up the Turkey’s wings, legs, and drumsticks with Kitchen Twine as desired.

Chop Sage and mix in with softened Butter.

Rub Sage/Butter mixture under the skin and over the skin of the Turkey.

Salt and pepper Turkey to taste.

Place uncooked, Bacon slices all over the skin of the uncooked Turkey. They will stick onto the buttered Turkey.

Insert an Oven-Safe Meat Thermometer into the inner thigh area near the breast of the Turkey but not touching the bone.

Place Turkey in a roasting pan and use Foil to tent the uncooked Turkey.

Remove foil tent for last hour of cooking Turkey.

Continue to let bacon cook on Turkey for an additional 15 minutes, then remove. (OPTIONAL – Bacon can then be chopped and placed in a separate dish of your choice).

Remove Turkey from oven once 160 degrees is reached internally in the Turkey.

Allow Turkey to rest for 20-30 minutes, then carve (during the rest period, Turkey will continue to cook to 165 degrees).

There you go, the perfect bacon Turkey! And now all you need is this:

THE PERFECT TURKEY STUFFING!

Yep, time to get your White Castle on!

White Castle Stuffing!

It is, without a doubt, the best tasting stuffing I have ever made – and it is amazing simple! The secret is in the slider!

I read about this a few years ago, apparently a result of an official White Castle recipe contest…and it works!

All you have to do is buy a dozen hamburger sliders…that’s right, ten for the recipe and TWO for the Chef!

10 White Castle hamburgers, no pickles
1 1/2 cups celery, diced
1 1/4 tsp. ground thyme
1 1/2 tsp. ground sage
3/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup chicken broth

In a large mixing bowl, tear the burgers into pieces and add diced celery and seasonings. Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well.

Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting. Makes about 9 cups (enough for a 10- to 12-pound turkey). Note: Allow 1 hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound.

I made mine separately like this:

I also made “traditional” stuffing so no one would be upset – everyone tried “a bite” of the White Castle stuffing….and then everyone went back for more! It was a big hit!

And another mea culpa: I used White Castle Cheeseburgers for even more deliciousness!

If you REALLY wanted to go crazy, take that bacon from the turkey, chop it up and add it in! I would use – oh, about THIS MUCH BACON:

Trust me, the White Castle stuffing is GREAT. Let me know what you think!

Turkey’s Not ONLY For Thankgiving Day!

I took this picture from Seoul, South Korea – street vendors selling a wide array of food on sticks – including a delicious bacon-wrapped hot dog on a stick! So, let bacon take your Thanksgiving leftovers to a whole new level!

I found this picture on the internet of course…I don’t know who took it, I don’t know who this nice young woman is – but I do know that she has wrapped her head in bacon…and that, as they say, is the whole story.

It’s a great use of bacon, but wrapping it around something edible is even MORE enjoyable…case in point…

Let’s get started with the bacon-wrapped turkey legs you see above you…if you’ve got Thanksgiving leftovers, this is the one for you…and another good look right here:

if you are one of those people who loves turkey legs – you know. the Neanderthol type – then this recipe just takes you up a notch to eleven…

If bacon-wrapped Turkey Legs are just a “bridge too far”, then try this: leftover slices of turkey wrapped in bacon – a great way to bring your day-old turkey back to life…

And don’t forget your side dishes – bacon is ready to take on all of your vegetables!

You can spice up your Thanksgiving grilled corn with a bacon-wrapped version, and you can always wrap your asparagus the same way to bring home the flavor…

Holiday Getaway!

Now, if you plan to visit relatives over the holiday, you can take your love of bacon with you….by sleeping in it!

OK, that’s just crazy, but if you REALLY want to knock the socks off your holiday guests:

GO ALL IN!

Now HERE is a Thanksgiving side dish! If I put a plate of “Bacon-wrapped-mac-and-cheese-stuffed meatloaf” in front of you, you would eat it, right?

This recipe is pretty easy: make a meatloaf, cut it in half and stuff it with mac-and-cheese and wrap it in bacon! I mean, we have proved that you can wrap ANYTHING in bacon, right?

And why not top off your amazing Thanksgiving meal with a nice glass of Cheeseburger Red!

Read all about this terrific wine by clicking here:

http://biteeatswallow.com/2013/11/11/burger-wine-cheeseburger-red-drink-with-this-extreme-food/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lotteria Japan Does It Again!

Time to congratulate the wacky Chefs at Japan’s Lotteria restaurant! The chain’s latest creation is the “Bacon Cube Deluxe Cheese Burger”! This masterpiece of bacon goodness sell for ¥490, $4.90 in US dollars! Here is what you get: a beef patty topped with two types of melted cheese, creamy truffle sauce, and cubes of bacon.

As you can see, the Kotaku website got very excited to show off the bacon cubes! The website “A Hamburger Today” called them “pork croutons”…no matter what you call them, call them delicious looking!

If you feel the same, the new burger will be available at Lotteria locations starting November 29th, for a limited time.

Thanks to the website “A Hamburger Today” for the story, written by Erin Jackson – a food writer and photographer who is obsessed with discovering the best eats in San Diego. You can find all of her discoveries on her San Diego food blog EJeats.com. On Twitter, she’s @ErinJax

And here is the entire story:

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2013/11/lotteria-bacon-cube-truffle-sauce-burger.html?ref=title

This is just the latest form the twisted minds at Lotteria!

Remember that Lotteria has a great history of burger madness…like their “ramen burger!”

Check out the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

Speaking Of Noodles…

Lotteria also loved giving you a “spaghetti” burger…

Read all about this one right here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/17/spaghetti-burgers-japan-meets-italy-on-a-bun/

And of course, Lotteria gave us this:

Yep, read all about the “9-patty stack” by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/25/bacon-bazookas-monster-burgers-massive-slabs-of-meat/

Keep up the good work Lotteria!

Yes, It’s Jenna Jameson And Sylvester Stallone!

Wait until you hear the story behind this picture!

OK, this was designed to be, as it is known in TV, as a “deep tease.” You will have to keep reading to find out how I ended up taking this picture of Jenna Jameson and Sylvester Stallone – it’s all part of a birthday celebration of sorts…

Two Years Of Posting!

Yes, it’s the two year anniversary of this blog! When my wife Alex suggested I start this blog two years ago today, she thought it would be a fun creative outlet. She had NO idea it could lead to THIS:

Yes, I used that trust Alex placed in me to share things like this “bacon cube burger”, and some of you have thanked me for it. I have also shared things like THIS:

If you don’t recognize this image, consider yourself lucky. (Yes, it’s The Bee Gees as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!) While this blog has been a fun project for me, it has also turned into much more: it’s been a way to share a wide variety of stories of interest to me, and more importantly, it has been a great way to meet a lot of new people with similar passions…like all of the Todd Rundgren fans I’ve met…

521,270 Strong!

I wanted to update everyone on the blog, and of course to thank all of you who take the time to read it. Last year at this time, I had just cracked 104,000 views.

In the last year, I saw a huge increase in the average daily traffic to the site – thanks in part to the huge amount of interest in things like the Eagles reunion tour, which you can see above – as well as the large number of people who have been interested in seeing just HOW Marlon Brando remembered his lines on the set of “The Godfather”:

As you can see, he DIDN’T! Yes, that is Robert Duvall holding cue cards for Brando! That story has been very popular, and if you missed it, here it is:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/20/brandos-cue-cards-real-horse-heads-the-godfathers-best-stories/

I also shared Clemenza’s recipe for meatballs – you know, when you need to feed a dozen guys after you “go to the mattresses”:

So, thanks to all of you, I smashed through a half a million views for the blog! I wanted to not only thank everyone for their support, but to share some of the most popular stories – and preview what is still to come!

Cool It, Ringo!

So, what have people responded to most? Well, it’s been everything from crazy stuff like this picture of Ringo and Raquel Welch clowning around on the set of the cult classic “The Magic Christian”…in fact, these guys always do great:

The Beatles never cease to interest people, and rightly so – my single most viewed story of last year was this one – looking at the “lost” Beatles documentary, “Let It Be”:

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

Over 49,000 views for this story so far – as always, The Beatles have spoken…well, at least their fans! And speaking of rabid fans, let’s hear it for “Jerseylicious!”

“Jerseylicious” Forever!

Thanks as well to the terrific cast of “Jerseylicious”, and to the fans who love them…my wife Alex Duda created this show in 2009, and in the five seasons so far I’ve been lucky enough to befriend many of the incredibly talent people followed on the show…

Oliva is not only “America’s Sweetheart”, she’ a terrific makeup artist – and a wonderful person as well…Tracy is also great, and yes, she got married in the “still to be seen” season six of the series…

I’ve had an amazing amount of interest in my behind-the-scenes looks at the show…like when Gigi, Tracy and Olivia visited Steve Harvey:

It was a great year for the team – I had more than 11,000 views of the story about the “Jerseylicious” book by Anthony and Olivia – with amazing cast pictures by Karl Giant!

So many fun posts so far, and more “Jerseylicious” to come….you know, THE WEDDING…

In addition to stories about TV and movies, I also love posting stories about music…including stories about the eagles, Paul McCartney, great new female singer/songwriters like Grace Potter, the best and worst Jame Bond themes, and of course:

“Todd Is God!”

Todd fans know what that means, and they showed it in a big way this year…I want to thank the Todd Rundgren fans who have really shown support for this blog, including a retweet from Todd himself! Here is that story:

http://musicplatter.com/2013/11/01/laura-nyro-todd-rundgrens-muse-todds-retweet/

The original story was about Todd’s friendship with Laura Nyro, an amazing singer/songwriter…and apparently Todd approved!

I posted this story and got a retweet from Todd’s twitter account – which was really cool – I’ve also been lucky enough to have been acknowledged by Director William Friedkin, Actress Rebel Wilson and the legendary singer/songwriter Paul Williams….among many others who have RT’d my stories and shared them with friends…

You can always sign up to receive all of the music-specific stories here:

http://musicplatter.com

What’s With All The Sites?

I’m sorry if I confused some of you with the “topic-specific” sub-sites, but here’s an explanation: When I started blogging, Alex suggested a title that would capture what the site was all about – but as you see, it’s about a lot of different stuff! So I used my name as an easy entry point…

Well, maybe not so easy, since my entire life has seen RIEBER spelled “REIBER”…So, to resolve the confusion, here’s how it works…I post virtually every single day on Johnrieber.com. I hope you all sign up to get notifications – so you won’t miss anything like THIS:

Yes, “Love Actually” is my favorite holiday film…well, except maybe for “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”…and in case you missed this post, here is a list of ALL of the best holiday films:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/11/23/amazing-love-actually-facts-rare-wonderful-life-photos-the-best-holiday-movies-ever/

You see, Del Griffith understands! You don’t have to do anything to get a wide variety of stories from me – just stop by Johnrieber.com and see what’s new…and, if you want more on a certain type of subject, the mini-sites are a way for you to take a blog shortcut:

If you need a quick “bacon fix”, you don’t have to look through the 500+ posts on Johnrieber.com …because “biteeatswallow” has a bacon tab that will take you immediate to this:

Yes, you know I will always have bacon for you somewhere!

Bite Down Hard!

I enjoy posting about strange and unique food items – or as you can see above, “bacon superheroes”…and of course, I love burgers, like this ramen burger from Japan:

And you can never go wrong with a slider…I have posted many recipes for making unique sliders from around the world, like this incredible one from Japan – the “wasabi avocado slider”!

I post all of the food stories on this site first, but later I also post them on a more-specific site devoted to the wacky world of food – like this food stadium to make for Super Bowl Sunday!

Remember, any time you need a burger fix – or any other food stories, you can always go here:

http://biteeatswallow.com

Something like this will ALWAYS be waiting!

Time For A Fight!

I was most excited this year to start the “film fight club!” This allowed you to hammer down on the important film arguments of the day!

The purpose of “Film Fight Club” is solely to argue about movies we love, hate, and love to hate!
This is where you can discuss your favorite James Bond theme song, as well as why you think “The Human Centipede” is a misunderstood masterpiece!

And yes, I got lots of hate comments from fans of “Centipede”, who couldn’t understand why I called it “misguided”! Check out all of the film battles here!

http://filmfightclub.com/

Forget movies, let’s see the world!

I know that some of you enjoy vacationing here:

Let’s Travel The World!

Yep, for those of you who love to travel the world – well, I’ve got you covered: whether it’s Barcelona’s amazing aerial trams, which give you an amazing sky-high view of this incredible city, or surfing with Sasha Grey on Australia’s Bondi Beach…

I posted a number of stories recounting my G4 shoot in Australia with Sasha Grey: everything from her surfing Bondi Beach – to getting photo bombed by live sharks:

I always have to remind people that there was NOTHING between Sasha and those sharks…and then there was this clip of Sasha in the tallest building in the southern hemisphere – by far the most popular video I posted, with more than 24,000 views:

Sasha went 88 stories high in Melbourne, Australia’s Eureka tower – just one of the many travel adventures I’ve been able to share. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to some really fun places, and I’ve gotten a great response from people when I post these stories on “spinningorbit”, which you can check out here:

http://spinningorbit.com/

So, I want to thank everyone who has read a story, and I hope you come back for many more in the years ahead…there have been many fun adventures – interesting people, places and food – so what is next?

Year Three…

Here is a tease: there are more great adventures to come, including my legendary trip to Thailand with Jenna Jameson!

And it wasn’t just us…we hung out with Sylvester Stallone too!

More on that trip soon – really one of my most unique travel adventures ever – and more on Tracy’s “Jerseylcious” wedding as well:

I also have some VERY unique food to share soon:

And I have some great stories about some of the best movies of the 70′s – films that deserve to be remembered, revered, and watched!

Yes, I will be telling the story of “The Getaway”, a classic action film that also caused a Hollywood scandal! And for fans of TRULY unique movies, I have some of the most amazing exploitation classics to share with you as well!

Yes, more crazy world cinema to share! You can always read about it by clicking here:

http://jrsploitation.com/

This is my mini-site devoted to the most unique and outrageous movies the world has ever offered!

And there is a whole world of entertainment still to explore! That’s just a sneak peek of what is still to come…see, there IS a reason to keep reading!

Thanks again to everyone for your support – as always, please leave comments pro, con, or “positively negative”…I enjoy hearing back from you – and thanks again for reading! I will leave you one last tease – a new post about Todd Rundgren and some of his neglected masterpieces is on the way…

Here’s proof: click on the link to enjoy Todd’s amazing live version of “Fade Away”…more to come on this as well!

I am overdue to share this…

One of the greatest bacon cheeseburgers I have ever eaten…it is EXACTLY the kind of food we should all be eating this holiday season…except that, for some of us, the holiday will turn out like THIS:

Time To Bite Down Hard!

Everyone loves great food. These guys certainly do. That being the case, it’s time to celebrate great food – THAT COMES IN A CAN!

Get ready to surprise your food fanatic with some of the most unique tastes they’ve ever experienced – you’ll not only get a big hug, but perhaps a look like this as well!

Time To Celebrate Food In A Can!

Yes, it’s time once again to bite down hard on some of the strangest stuff that comes CANNED! And yes, you know what I mean:

Cheeseburger In A Can!

Yes, my old favorite – I can NEVER get enough of this: the famous “cheeseburger in a can!” And not only can you find this online, you can find this picture of what someone looks like AFTER eating one!

Time to look at the strangest food that comes packaged in metal – the famous and infamous “foods in a can!” And what better way than with my all-time favorite:

The concept behind this product is easy: someone in Germany knew that hikers and campers would need a portable, “quick to make and easy to consume” food product – and nothing beats a cheeseburger, right?

Watch This Guy Bite Down Hard!

And yes, there is even a VIDEO of someone eating a cheeseburger in a can! Here is the experience in all of its glory:

If you want to see how this food monstrosity was reviewed by those brave enough to eat it, I have compiled a list of great quotes – just click my link HERE!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/01/22/worlds-wildest-burgers/

It’s hard to imagine that you can ever top a cheeseburger in a can – it is, after all, a food product that was never supposed to be put inside a metal tube – unlike this stuff!

So, in speaking of the greatest food ever canned, it’s time to look at some of the craziest stuff ever stuffed into a can!

Hungarian Canned Bacon!

Yes, our good friend bacon is also available in a canned version. And I see why it works so well – just stand it up on end, roll it up and slide it in! Now you have the goodness of bacon whenever you want it – just pop the top and unroll some deliciousness!

I can imagine taking a can of bacon along on my next camping trip to adding it to my cheeseburger in a can – once we have canned mayo, it’s all golden!

It’s hard to criticize canned bacon, which seems like a very normal canned food product…unlike THIS:

Hold Your Tongue!

OK, time to edge into wacky territory, and here’s an idea for you: canned sheep tongue!

Many cultures eat tongue, so it is something you will find on more progressive ethnic menus…beef tongue is eaten like bologna, so it’s not THAT unusual:

Well, after looking at ten pounds of sheep’s tongue, maybe it IS UNUSUAL:

Armadillo Meat!

Now, from the wacky to the bizarre, let’s take a look at other mystery meats coming out of a can soon:

Yes, you can keep a can of Armadillo at the ready, just in case you have the need – now you have the ability as well!

Creamed Armadillo On The Half Shell!

I can only imagine that if you want some Armadillo, but don’t have the time to “cream” it yourself, this is for you…and speaking of strange “creamed meats in a can”:

Creamed Possum!

I almost wish this was a joke – unless I am missing something, Possum doesn’t come to mind as a meat to eat in any way, especially creamed.

But, just in case this sparks some sort of cooking frenzy in you, I actually found a website that is all for you – here is a possum recipe!

http://southern.food.com/recipe/stuffed-roast-opossum-107969

Pork Brain In Milk Gravy – Hold The Cholesterol!

Time now to move onto a “smarter” meal:

Yes, if you need a week’s worth of cholesterol in a single day – with “milk gravy” no less, then I guess pork brains are for you! And here is a canned food product that doesn’t beat around the bush!

“Potted Meat Food Product!”

Hey, talk about “truth in advertising!” It’s a potted meat food product – there are many on the market, and this is NO knock against the quality of Libby’s version: it’s a product, much like spam, that uses lesser parts of an animal, and adds seasoning and spices…it’s mostly used on crackers as a sort of pate:

Among the ingredients: Mechanically separated chicken, pork skin, partially defatted cooked pork fatty tissue, partially defatted cooked beef fatty tissue, vinegar, less than 2% of: salt, spices, sugar, flavorings, sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite.

Again, there is no knock against this type of food – it’s just a unique packaging style to be sure! And, to end on a very pointless note, I leave you with this:

Spotted Dick!

That’s right! Look it up! And yes, they sell it in a can!

STILL not enough for you? Then what about this new way to eat sushi!

Yes, sushi poppers! Sushi in a tube is close to food in a can, right?

Click HERE to read all about this amazing new food product!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/19/the-future-of-sushi-behold-sushi-poppers/

Enjoy all of this unique food goodness – and remember to bite down hard!

After a big day of celebratory eating, I think I need to have a light lunch today:

But I Like Bacon!

What, too much? I just thought a bacon cheeseburger would be a good way to come down from a holiday food high…although this type of thing is more akin to a food coma – maybe just a cheeseburger then…

Allright, if you think I’m going overboard, I’ll just have a hot dog:

As you can see, there will be NO relief from bacon today! It’s time for my favorite bacon, cheeseburger and hot dog abuse of all time…let’s get started!

LET’S ALL APPLAUD THE WEBSITE “A HAMBURGER TODAY!”

I love to post crazy bacon and food abuse as you know, and here is my all-time favorite, thanks to the great investigative work of “A Hamburger Today”:

Burger King Offers Bacon – And One New Organization Steps Up To The Challenge!

Burger King Japan loves to offer specials. Well, taking advantage of Burger King Japan’s “15 strips of bacon for ¥100″ deal, “AHT” linked us to the Japanese news blog RocketNews24 – which successfully ordered a Whopper with 1,050 strips of bacon!

RocketNews24 reporter Mr. Sato then went back to Burger King and ordered a Whopper with – READY FOR THIS?

1,050 strips of bacon, or ¥7,000 (about $86) worth of bacon. The burger/bacon mountain weighed 2.7 kilograms (about 5.95 pounds), contained roughly 14,300 calories, and took 2 hours to make.

What could possibly top this? Well, all you had to do was ask – Here we go!

THE 1,000-SLICE CHEESEBURGER!

Yes, hold the bacon and pile on the cheese!

From the people who brought you the Whopper topped with 1,050 strips of bacon comes a Whopper topped with 1,000 slices of cheese (aka, a bloated tower of cheese slices with Whopper ingredients on top and somewhere underneath). RocketNews24 reporter Mr. Sato ordered the burger three days in advance from a Burger King in Japan and was rewarded with a Whopper weighing in at 12.782 kilograms (28.18 pounds) and containing 45,661 calories. Thankfully, he didn’t eat the whole thing. Mr. Sato managed to finish about 350 slices before giving up, explaining: “It tastes good, but if I eat any more I won’t have room for dinner.”

And “AHT” added this fun pic from Robyn Lee, who is the editor of “A Hamburger Today” and takes many of the photos for Serious Eats. They have a link to read more from Robyn at her personal food blog, “The Girl Who Ate Everything”.

While we are discussing crazy food, let’s grab some bacon and start wrapping dinner!

“The Fred”

According to a post on reddit, “The Fred” is a bacon-wrapped, deep-fried hotdog – topped with Mac ‘n cheese on a toasted Cuban bread bun – yes, it is.

B.L.T. Dog

Again, posted on the “foodporn” area of reddit is the BLT Dog – a Deep Fried Bacon Wrapped Dog with Lettuce, Tomato & Mayo – as you can see, wrapping things in bacon is catching on…

Seoul Bacon-Wrapped Dogs

When I was in South Korea, we found a bunch of street markets that sold a ton of food on a stick, including these delicious bacon-wrapped hot dogs with a spicy korean sauce…

Bacon-Wrapped Lobster Bites

I would wrap lobster in bacon any day of the week.

The Kilo Burger!

And then I found this “Kilo” burger – full of meat and bacon and bun. Yes, it weighs a kilo…you want to know how much that is, get your ass over to the metric system NOW.

And of course, Burger King had to come back with their own new idea, and it’s a Whopper – and what a Whopper!

In a country where Burger King routinely offers up items like the 5 patty Whopper, there is a singular food fanatic who has one-upped them again!

The Grilled Onion Whopper!

It begins innocently enough, with Burger King offering grilled onions on their Whoppers, and a special deal for extra onions:

Thanks to the great writers at “A Hamburger Today”, we know that Japan’s RocketNews24 Reporter Mr. Sato has struck again!

Burger King’s Onion Bomb!

Burger King Japan has just released the Bakudan Oniteri (Onion Bomb) burger – a Whopper that is topped with five slices of grilled onion and drizzled with teriyaki sauce.

Mr. Sato once again took on Burger King’s deal and decided to re-purpose the extra onion for making gyudon. But of course he did…

The video of this entire process lives here:

Thanks again to “A Hamburger Today” for finding this masterpiece of onion excess! And for the rest of us, let’s get stacked NOW!