Burger Bar

The Burger Bar's website notes their mission: "Influenced by the fast pace of daily life, our mission is to make and distribute healthy and tasty fast food."

What a find!  Located in the heart of Amsterdam's famous Red Light District, the Burger Bar not only serves fresh made burgers daily, but also has the best fries I tasted in Amsterdam.

I got 200 grams of Irish beef on a sesame seed brown bun with cheddar cheese, bacon, and avocado.  Despite European restrictions on cooking meat at medium well, the patty tasted juicy.  The only misgiving I have is the tough bacon.  You can skip this on your visit.  Really, nothing tastes like good ol' crispy American bacon.

If you can't make it out to Amsterdam anytime soon, then check out their list of burger recipes you can make at home - listed here!

Open daily until 3a and on the weekends until 4a, this is the perfect spot to venture after a long day of biking the canals and drinking coffee.

Beardedjew Out.

GUEST BLOGGER: Mike Blogoff (www.mikeblogoff.com)

Guest Blogger: Tucker Blogs (www.tuckerblogs.com)

My whole family loved White Castles, and they were a neighborhood staple for as far back as I can remember. Block parties, birthdays, and graduations alike would find a stack of empty slider boxes zigzagging up to the sky in front of every happy adult and child. They were the perfect size for a toddler to hold, and we were all hooked at a very early age. A White Castle cheeseburger is the first burger I ever ate in my life. I can remember my sister as a toddler with ketchup on her face, cradling a little whitey in her hands while still struggling to stand. I can also remember my sister in college, struggling to stand and cradling a slider in each hand and a smile on her face. My dad tells me stories of his parents coming home from a wedding or formal affair with a white bag of sliders in their hands for a late night snack.  I have inducted many friends into the club, challenging them to the "Sack of 10 challenge" after a night of... studying. In High School I organized a White Castle eating contest in the cafeteria to raise money for the Student Center. We eventually had to have revolving teams heading back and forth to the local Castle to keep up with demand.

There is no way I could write a review about White Castles without eating one. Living in Los Angeles makes this a hard thing to accomplish. When I made the decision to leave Chicago, one of the hardest things I had to leave behind was White Castle. It was very comforting to see White Castles appear in the frozen section at the Grocery Store a few years after I moved here. Finally... a little taste of home. While it's no surprise to say that something that's been frozen isn't as good as something fresh, there is enough of the familiar brilliance present in the taste to satisfy my craving. Through experience with my microwave I know to reheat the burgers for 50 seconds at full power then 20 seconds at 60% power so as not to harden the bun or leave the center of the little burger cold. Freezing and reheating can take its toll on food, but the patty has the same consistency and onion infused flavor I've known my whole life. Never one to eat only 2, I originally cooked 4, then began reheating the last 2 in the box while eating my last one. The house is gonna smell classy all weekend!

I tend to arrange the burgers on my plate in a square with a pool of ketchup in the middle, that way I can slowly push the ketchup into the last burgers without wasting any. I'm a dipper. I don't have the time or interest to begin some sort of disassemble and rebuild project when I'm hungry. I crave them now, and I'll eat them now. I don't know what my average was when I was 2 years old, but now I eat them in 2 bites. I can take the whole thing in 1, but I like to enjoy them. I love them fresh, and if I had been able to go to a real Castle, I would have had at least 3 times as many in front of me and started with at least 3 eaten whole. That's not to say I'm a stranger to frozen sliders. Even when I would get them fresh, I would as a rule buy twice as many as I was planning to eat. We always froze the extra, because the 2nd best thing to a fresh White Castle is a frozen one.

What is it about these burgers? A lot of people like the tradition, knowing it was the original fast food stand their grandparents would visit. Others like the small size. For some it may be the mystique involved, wondering what all the fuss was about for Harold and Kumar. No matter what people may say, it boils down to taste. The burgers are absolutely delicious. The only thing I regret about this experience is that I only had 6. It looks like I have to go back to the store.

GUEST BLOGGER: The Joe Moran - (www.thejoemoran.com)

Every journey to WC happened because I was at some bar earlier in the night getting sh*t faced and ended up super hungry by closing time. Here are three facts about every trip I make to WC:

*I never go to White Castle sober. I am always drunk. Booze and WC go hand in hand.

*The Sun is never up when I go to WC. It's always dark. I normally get to WC between 2-4 am, after I have successfully drank myself into a stupor and lost any chance of scoring with the fat chick end of the bar that no one is talking to.

*Just like you don't drink alone, you don't eat WC alone either. It's always with at least one other person, usually another completely sh*t faced ally who was with you at the bar doing bullet point # 2.

I will never forget my first trip to White Castle. I lived in La Grange, IL at the time and some how made it 20 years without once eating a Slider. Anyways, this was back in the days of drinking every night and wearing the next day's hangover like it was a badge of honor. The beer farts were always funny the next day (they still are today) and somewhat colorful. After all, this was college and I was immature. I still am.

I was with Tucker Blogs at Irish Times in Brookfield, IL. The night began with our usual philosphical banter - mainly movie and tv quotes. While trading zingers with WLTL's very own, I managed to put down 6 or 7 pints of the black stuff. Last call was made and another beer was ordered. At this point I was getting pretty hungry too. I suggested food. Tucker Blogs pleaded with me to take him to White Castle. In the past I refused this request because I always looked down on WC like a peasant in the street...I finally gave in. The scene was set. We ordered through the drive-though-window because for some reason, no one ever goes inside to order (at least at this location). I ordered my first 10 sac of Craver Savers with Cheese and 2 orders of onion rings with a Coke. Once we got the food, which took like 15 minutes to prepare, we parked the car and ate.

The moon was shinning a little brighter than usual that night, and something inside me changed as I wolfed down this magnificent feast I now call, GENIUS.

www.whitecastle.com

What a SPECIAL treat!  Just got a 'Crave Case' from my contact in the White Castle empire.  Coffee!  Coupons!  A keychain!  AND the Slider scented candle!

This is almost TOO MUCH!  In fact, it is, which is why I'm giving away some of these treasures in the first ever White Castle Burger Blog Off brought to you by Beardedjew's Burger Blog!

FIRST PRIZE - Slider Scented Candle & 10 FREE Sliders
SECOND PRIZE - History Pack
THIRD PRIZE - WC Keychain
And how do you WIN?  EASY!  Submit a review of a WHITE CASTLE BURGER including:

1) A photo of the BURGER
2) Comments on the BUN & PATTY
3) A Sense of Humor

The best 3 reviews will win one of the prizes above, plus they'll be published on www.burgerblogging.com.

SUBMIT HERE

You have until JUNE 25, 2010 to enter.

Beardedjew Out.

www.astroburger.com

GUEST BLOGGER: Tucker Blogs (www.tuckerblogs.com)

Armed with a 3 Bell hangover and an empty belly, I headed over to Astro Burger at Melrose and Gower in Los Angeles. I was in need of grease, and possibly bacon. Astro Burger offers a retro feel in its decor and a cash only policy that sometimes makes a visit an inconvenience, especially when you consider their rather expensive menu. I ordered a double bacon cheeseburger with no onions, a gyro with extra tzatziki sauce, a large fry and a large coke, which totaled nearly 18 dollars. Like I said, I was hungry and hungover from a long night of margaritas, so while the menu is expensive, it was a necessary and appreciated expenditure.


Astro Burger cooks everything to order and I watched as they prepared my lunch. That's what made it so surprising when my burger tasted old. It was not hot and lacked an appropriate amount of ketchup. The sesame seed bun also seemed a little stale, and I could leave craters in the top with my fingers that cracked the top crust. The bacon was good, but for a double burger you expect more than 2 strips of bacon. The fries that Astro Burger serves are steak cut, thick and crispy on the outside and hot and mushy on the inside. If there's one thing Astro Burger does consistently and terrifically, it's their fries. The gyro was also satisfying, with the extra tzatziki served on the side, allowing me to set my own level of cucumber sauce goodness. The tomato slices in the gyro were a good size and tasted fresh. They weren't too big and didn't cause a "lumpy" feel to the pita.


Overall, the experience wasn't as good as it's been in the past. Astro Burger can vary wildly in quality, and today was one of the lesser experiences. Still, I will consider going there again. Hopefully the next time will prove a little more enjoyable.

For more Charm City Cakes, visit http://www.charmcitycakes.com/

Beardedjew Out.

Podcast (via Tuckerblogs.com)

I recently sat down with Tucker Blogs (www.tuckerblogs.com) and Mike Blogoff (www.mikeblogoff.com) to discuss what makes a great burger.  Follow the link above to hear the full podcast, then after you enjoy this meeting of the minds, check out my two guest stars' blogs!

Beardedjew Out.

http://www.donnas.com/

Great corner cafe serving the juiciest turkey burger I've ever tasted.  The bun is light and buttery, holding together this perfectly spiced turkey patty.  It's important to remember that turkey is full of tryptophan, so remember to order a coffee after you finish!

Beardedjew Out.

http://www.kooperschowhound.com/

Every morning, the Chowhound Burger Wagon loads up with meats and vegetables from Kooper's Tavern in Fell's Point, then tweets their location for that day on Twitter.

I caught up with the truck in Mt Vernon the other day and had the pleasure of the Macguinness Burger.  Cooked medium rare with grilled bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onions, on a sesame seed bun.  The crispy bacon was by far my favorite element of the burger.

Also of note are the regular and sweet potato fries.  Personally, I prefer the regular fries over the sweet potato ones, but if you're unsure of which to get, split the half and half mix with a friend!

- Dr Rush on the 'Macguinness' -

"I liked it. It was worthy of its namesake."
- Jeff Hockett on the 'Elvis Got the Blues' -






Beardedjew Out.

Dillon's Irish Pub & Grill

The interesting thing about this burger is that it's grilled with onions and cheese mixed into the patty.  I liked the mix of flavors, but found that the burger fell apart too easily.  That being said, I woofed down this thing and enjoyed every second.  Medium rare and juicy, you don't need any condiments for this one!  NOTE: Do yourself a favor and ask for the sweet potato fries.

It's also worth noting that all premium drafts at Dillon's are $3!   I recommend the Racer 5 IPA.

Beardedjew Out.

Earlier reviewed by MikeBlogoff, I decided I had to try this place for myself.

Located in Marina Del Rey, The Counter is a burger joint with options.  You choose everything from the bun to the cheese to the toppings.

I decided to be adventurous and topped my burger with pepperjack cheese, pickles, cucumbers, spicy aioli, and grilled onions.  Strange mix, I know, but sometimes you have to push yourself to try new things.  Like making a Subway sandwich, you learn from putting too much on the sandwich what you'd truly like to have on it.  When I go back to The Counter, I'd try something more basic like lettuce, onions, pickles and pepperjack.  I hate hiding the taste of a good burger under too many toppings.

Beardedjew Out.

Beardedjew Out.

Bristol

A Louisville staple.  Served on an English muffin, I added cheddar cheese and crispy bacon.  The burger was juicy and delicious from start to finish.

Beardedjew Out.

W.W Cousins

The first thing I notice when I walk into W.W. Cousins is the smell of the buttered burger buns, which are by far the best feature of a Cousins' burger.

The burger itself is tasty, however mildly unremarkable.  Fortunately, this is where the the condiment bar comes into play.  The condiment bar allows you to dress up your burger with sauces and veggies and spices galore!

I topped my burger with banana peppers, diced onions, cheddar, and ketchup.


Beardedjew Out.

http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/

Easily the best burger in Baltimore.  Sorry Brewer's Art.

Served on a warm, soft seeded bun, the Woodberry Kitchen burger is juicy without the drip.  The patty seemed slightly sweet, but not overbearing.  I recommend topping the patty with fries and diced tomatoes.

Beardedjew Out.

The Burger Joint

Hidden away within the Parker Meridien Hotel on 56th St, The Burger Joint is the place to go for a burger in the big apple.  Voted as the best burger in the city, The Burger Joint sells around 1,000 burgers at lunch time on any given day.

I got a hamburger (medium rare) with onions, lettuce, mayo and ketchup, plus a side of fries.  The burger is about a half inch thick and slightly charred, but juicy and rare inside. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner without sacrificing taste, The Burger Joint will not disappoint!

If you walk into the Parker Meridien Hotel and don't immediately find The Burger Joint, don't be frustrated, its hard to find.  The entrance is marked only by a neon burger shaped sign hidden next to the red curtain in the lobby.

Beardedjew Out.

http://www.mothersgrille.com/

I went with a couple friends, making it easy for me to try three different burgers: the basic hamburger with grilled onions, the BBQ burger, and the Heart Attack burger.  All three were prepared medium rare.

The basic burger was simply dressed, but delicious! Quality beef combined with grilled onions is all you need if you're not into all the fancy toppings.

I'm usually not a fan of BBQ burgers, but they got me with this one.  The sauce is cooked in to the beef, minimizing how sloppy BBQ burgers usually get.  Not too salty and a great upgrade from the basic burger.

The Heart Attack burger definitely lives up to its name.  It's a deep fried beef patty with cheese on the inside.  Ya, CHEESE ON THE INSIDE!  Add on some Chipotle Mayo and you've got yourself some potential heart disease.  I couldn't eat too much of this burger without feeling a tad bit guilty, but I recommend anyone in good health having at least a bite.


Beardedjew Out.

Connected to Umami Burger, the Salaryman serves $4 beers and $5 smash burgers from 3p-7p Monday through Friday.

The burger has grilled onions and is cooked medium rare. I found the burger to be a bit salty, but just on the verge of being too much.

I recommend adding the slim fries and an IPA.

Beardedjew Out.

http://www.yomamasbarandgrill.com/

Peanut. Butter. Bacon. Burger.

AMAZING!

A huge patty cooked medium rare with peanut butter smothered on top, then covered with a handful of diced crispy bacon! Unbelievably good!

Some people doubt having peanut and bacon on the burger, but trust me, after one bite your doubts will melt away.

Yo Mamma's may be a hole in the wall bar, but they know how to make their customers feel fat and happy. Served with a side of potato salad, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a burger from this joint.

Beardedjew Out