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Time To Bite Down On Platform 8!

As many of you know, I am a “Burger Aficionado” – and whenever a new “burger bar” opens up, I will be there to give it a try…and that opportunity presented itself in Napa Valley, thanks to a great Chef who has decided to tackle my favorite food!

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Chef Michael Chiarello, who already has a terrific Italian restaurant in Yountville called Bottega, has opened up Platform 8, which is a burger bar and ice cream lab!

The menu is small, just a few burgers, including a veggie burger and chicken sandwich, plus fries, onion rings and other sides on a specials basis, and of course, his “liquid nitrogen” ice cream!

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My Platform * Burger Review!

I ate three separate times – had to do the research for you, right?

Let’s begin with his burger: I ordered “The Classic” – a single patty with tomato, lettuce, house pickles, onion – along with his “mixie-doodle” sauce, which is something he grew up on: mayonnaise, mustard AND ketchup all mixed together!

I order some “billionaire’s bacon” and smoked mozzarella as well.

Here is what showed up:

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As you can see, the burger is partially built for you: on the right side is the burger, cheese and a bit of the “mixie-doodle” sauce, which is on the bun already, and on the left is the pickle, tomato, onions and lettuce. I liked this presentation, because it allowed me to build my burger the way I wanted, and the billionaire’s bacon came on the side as well:

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Billionaire’s Bacon Rules!

Now, this was dynamite bacon – meaty, smoky, DELICIOUS bacon. So much so that I decided to eat some of it as a side dish, so I just put one of the slabs on the burger – once together, I had this:

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An important note here: the burger tasted great, and Chef points out that this is his signature blend of beef freshly ground daily with a touch of what he calls “mad science” – and he warns you that they will be juicy!

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Delicious And Juicy, Yes – But What About That Bun?

So, as you can see the burger looks terrific, and the smoky mozzarella really stands out as well – the burger drips nicely, which I chose to position over my fries for maximum effect – more on those fries in a moment – but I was really in love with the bun – which is a house made, “not so” english muffin – and it is amazingly good!

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The Revelatory “Not So” English Muffin!

I cannot adequately tell you how much I love this bun – it’s a perfect compliment for the flavor of the burger, condiments and cheese.

There is a slight bit of crunch, but the muffin is thin, and it’s soft and chewy as well – one of the best buns I have ever had!

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Time For The Chicken!

I headed back to Platform 8 a day later to try one more burger – and of course that incredible bun!

Here is the bun again: this time holding their “Crispy Chicken Burger”, which I think I liked even more!

It comes with “southern pressed slaw” – which is a perfect compliment to the chicken and that incredible bun!

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This is a great sandwich: I added some cheddar, so all-in it was $12, and I had some fries for $4 as well:

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Chef says the fries are “thrice fried” in olive oil to be the healthiest on the planet – well, I can say they are not greasy at all, and are slightly crunchy outside and fluffy inside, exactly what you want!

An important note about the menu: it is extremely limited – but they have a vegan burger, a bun-less burger, and early reviews said they had a $50 version that fed 3-4 people, but this menu no longer lists that, just a note stating you can ask about less healthy options:

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I have seen reviews complaining that there are no salads or other options, but this is a burger bar and ONLY a burger bar…

There was only one last thing to try – take a look at the last description on the menu under the heading “Ln2”:

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Time For Some “Molecular Milkshake Magic!”

As the menu states: this milkshake will be made with “the 4th coldest element on the planet” – so I had to try it:

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The entrance is separate from the burger bar, and inside you see the huge tank of liquid Nitrogen that connects to the machines that make molecular milkshake magic:

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I have to say that the person working “the magic” this day wasn’t in a very good mood, and it turns out, he had already performed his “nitro work” on a batch of ice cream, so I didn’t get to see it happen…but he served me a nice caramel milkshake anyway:

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The taste? Well, it was the most velvety smooth ice cream I’ve ever had – a rich vanilla flavor with a hint of the caramel I added…BUT – I didn’t get the wacky nitro toppings offered, and honestly, I would have been more adventurous if I had the chance to see the process from a more “welcoming” staff member…

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That said, both the burger and the fried chicken sandwich were outstanding, and the staff in the burger bar were fast and friendly.

So there you have it, a great new addition to the Napa Valley burger family, and worth trying, even with the limited menu!

Of course, there are a number of great burgers in wine country, led by the legendary Taylor’s Refresher:

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Yes, Taylor’s Refresher has been satisfying Napa valley for decades, although a burger battle resulted in a name change to Gott’s – read about it here:

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

Also in Napa, a regional chain opened up and served this unique “Squeeze” burger:

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The only way to explain it is to showy the process, which you can see here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/11/02/squeeze-with-cheese-please-the-amazing-squeeze-inn-burger-unique-cooking-recipe/

Let me know how many of these incredible burgers you’ve had!

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Time To Welcome Mark Wahlberg To Chicago – With My Bacon-And-Egg iPhone!

Here’s a quick story about my celebrity encounter with Mark Wahlberg – sitting on the terrace overlooking Chicago’s river!

First, the picture above is the Chicago river from Lake Michigan, and right there in the middle of the skyscrapers is Trump Tower. From the 16th floor, there is an outdoor bar that offers this view looking down the river and back at the lake:

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Regardless of how you feel about the President, it’s a beautiful view at sunset, and my wife Alex and friends were having a drink when I noticed Mark Wahlberg a few tables away…I told Alex to pretend to pose for a shot for me, and I’d try to get Wahlberg in the shot…what I forgot is that my iPhone has this cover:

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Discovered By Bacon!

Yes, I loved that bacon-and-egg iPhone cover, but it did cause people to give me a look – so when I held it up for my “undercover” shot, look who noticed it!

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I quickly realized that holding bacon-and-eggs up to a movie star will always get their attention…unfortunately, that iPhone cover no longer fits my updated phone, so I have to get another one soon – which you can do it Tokyo, of course!

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I also have an iPhone cover that is sushi – yes, sushi! You can see all of the unqiue food-based iPhone covers you can buy in Tokyo by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/17/my-bacon-iphone-cover-wacky-covers-a-toilet-restaurant-too/

Of course, there are so many funny pictures like this we have to share, so when I go on social media and find one, I have to share to – like this man balancing himself on a beer bottle:

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It’s just one of millions, and I pulled some of my favorites here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/25/balloon-heads-hot-dog-coffee-beer-bottle-balancing-funny-pictures-on-parade/

Let me know your best celebrity encounter!

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Glenn Frey – “Above The Clouds!”

Eagles fans are rejoicing! The late Eagles singer – and successful solo Artist Glenn Frey, is getting a terrific retrospective CD / DVD release!

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Ultimateclassicrock.com had the best story – as always – about the release. As they report:

Titled ‘Above the Clouds: The Collection’, the four-disc set is scheduled to arrive in stores May 11. After a first disc focusing on the Eagles co-founder’s hit solo singles — which will also be available as a standalone release — Clouds moves on to less well-known material, including songs from his 2012 ‘After Hours’ release.

But here’s the best part:

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The Digital Debut Of Longbranch / Pennywhistle!

Most Eagles fans know about this legendary, early work by Frey, but as Ultimateclassicrock.com notes:

“With its third and fourth discs, Above the Clouds offers material that should be of most interest to collectors — starting with the digital debut of ‘Longbranch/Pennywhistle’, the 1969 LP Frey recorded as a duo with longtime collaborator JD Souther. Previously available on CD only as an import, the album is followed here with a DVD presenting footage of a Frey show from Sept. 15, 1992, during the tour in support of his ‘Strange Weather’ release.”

Wow!

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Here is a look at the complete track listing for “Above the Clouds: The Collection”:

Disc 1:

“The Heat Is On”
“Call on Me” (Theme from South of Sunset)
“Part of Me, Part of You”
“You Belong to the City”
“Smuggler’s Blues”
“Sexy Girl”
“The Allnighter”
“Soul Searchin'”
“Same Girl”
“The One You Love”
“Strange Weather”
“I’ve Got Mine”
“River of Dreams”
“Love in the 21st Century”
“Lyin’ Eyes / Take It Easy” (Medley – Live at The Stadium: Dublin, Ireland)

Disc 2:

“Let’s Go Home”
“I Got Love”
“The Way to Happiness”
“Common Ground”
“After Hours”
“Rising Sun” (Instrumental)
“The Shadow of Your Smile”
“Better in the U.S.A”
“Brave New World”
“Caroline, No”
“For Sentimental Reasons”
“It’s Too Soon to Know”
“Worried Mind”
“Lover’s Moon”
“Route 66”
“True Love”

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Disc 3:

“Jubilee Anne”
“Run, Boy, Run”
“Rebecca”
“Lucky Love”
“Kite Woman”
“Bring Back Funky Women”
“Star-Spangled Bus”
“Mister, Mister”
“Don’t Talk Now”
“Never Have Enough”

Plus, the live concert DVD:

“Long Hot Summer”
“Peaceful Easy Feeling”
“New Kid in Town”
“The One You Love”
“Strange Weather”
“I’ve Got Mine”
“Medley: Lyin’ Eyes / Take It Easy”
“Wild Mountain Theme”
“River of Dreams”
“True Love”
“Love in the 21st Century”
“Livin’ Right”
“Smuggler’s Blues”
“The Heat Is On”
“Heartache Tonight”
“Party Town”
“Desperado”

What a great collection! You can read more about it – and see more great music coverages, by going to Ultimateclassicrock.com:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/glenn-frey-above-the-clouds/

This looks like a great tribute to Frey’s solo work:

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Of course, Frey also did a lot of acting int he 80’s and beyond, and I took a look at his movie and TV work here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/16/actor-glenn-frey-from-jerry-maguire-to-miami-vice-great-solo-hits-too/

Let me know if you plan to go “Above The Clouds!”

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Time To Enter The Marvel Cinematic Universe! Only Ten Years Old And The Most Successful Movie Franchise In History!

Isn’t it amazing that the Marvel movie universe, so dominant at the box office, is only ten years old? Yet in only a decade, these films have become the most successful franchise in movie history!

In fact, the latest “Avengers” film has made more than $400-million in the US along – in 9 days! That’s the second fastest in history!

What a huge box office behemoth – and all done thanks to 19 films in a single decade!

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Here is how wikipedia describes this empire:

“The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films are an American series of superhero films, based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The films have been in production since 2007, and in that time Marvel Studios has produced 19 films, with 13 more in various stages of production. The series collectively has grossed over $15.4 billion at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.”

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What I didn’t realize is that this Marvel world was put together in three phases, beginning with “Iron Man” in 2008.

Yes, forget any and all super hero films prior to the Marvel Universe coming together in 2008 – this last decade, under the direction of Kevin Feige, has completely re-branded this iconic comic book company to become a movie powerhouse worldwide.

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Three Phases Of Marvel!

Here is the list of the three phases of Marvel’s world domination in movies:

1 Phase One

1.1 Iron Man (2008)
1.2 The Incredible Hulk (2008)
1.3 Iron Man 2 (2010)
1.4 Thor (2011)
1.5 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
1.6 Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

2 Phase Two

2.1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
2.2 Thor: The Dark World (2013)
2.3 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
2.4 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2.5 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
2.6 Ant-Man (2015)

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A special mention of “Guardians Of The Galaxy” – this was Marvel’s first step away from the big, well known superheroes…they trusted independent Director James Gunn to take this lesser batch of characters and make a film – which proved to be a massive hit, and opened the door to many other smaller comics as well!

I worked with Gunn several times, and here is the story of how we met at the Cannes Film Festival:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/05/08/director-james-gunn-geek-guardian-of-the-galaxy-my-cannes-photo/

Here now is the last phase:

3 Phase Three

3.1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
3.2 Doctor Strange (2016)
3.3 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
3.4 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
3.5 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
3.6 Black Panther (2018)
3.7 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

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the last three films have all been record-breakers around the world, so the future is looking brighter than ever for Marvel. As wikipedia notes:

“A sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming has been scheduled for 2019, alongside Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2020, with an additional two untitled films also scheduled for 2020, three untitled films scheduled for 2021, and three untitled films scheduled for 2022. Feige has indicated that Marvel may abandon the phase grouping after the conclusion of Phase Three.”

We will see where they go next, but bravo to the incredible achievement so far! Well, except for….

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My Least Favourite Marvel Cinematic Universe Film!

Yes, there is one film here that I didn’t like – more for the person involved than the finished product, although there are many stories about conflict behind the scenes during filming and especially in the edit bay – because Edward Norton was the wrong choice to be Hulk, pure and simple…

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Edward Norton In An Edit Bay!

There are many stories about the problems making “The Incredible Hulk”, and they all pointed a finger at Edward Norton – shown here being restrained after trying to make an edit to the film…

Marvel films have a formula – a focused story and visual design, a point-of-view and a “world” that must be respected – google this film and you will read that the shoot was contentious and Norton disagreed with the studio on many things…that’s just not what’s needed – and Mark Ruffalo has taken over the role and made it his own…

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Here is a look at a great opinion battle that discusses the worst movies in Marvel’s world so far…

https://johnrieber.com/2018/05/05/opinion-battles-year-4-round-5-worst-movie-in-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/

That said, bravo again to Marvel for creating a cinematic universe that is entertaining fans the world over!

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“Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” by Sean Penn

A new book has taken the publishing world by storm!

As Amazon says:

“From legendary actor and activist Sean Penn comes a scorching, darkly funny novel about Bob Honey–a modern American man, entrepreneur, and part-time assassin.”

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So…a volatile movie star with a controversial approach to life – can he write? Well, let’s go to the reviews!

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How about a review that begins with this headline?

“If You Think The Title is Bad, Try Reading the Book!”

Hard to misunderstand how the reader felt about Penn’s work!

The reviewer goes on to state:

“I’ll say this as simply as possible: This book is not good. Poorly plotted, poorly written, and a waste of time. I’m doing you all a favor here and saving you time that you will not get back and will kick yourself for, for a l-o-n-g time. Should you choose not to heed my warning, do me a favor and at least read it near an eye rinse station.”

Ouch!

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Another reviewer had this to say on Amazon – and included a few choice lines that Penn had written:

“Here, the author gives us tortured, clumsy phrases such as “a woman so cynical she doesn’t understand the meaning of her favorite songs,” and follows that with this mess: “One who concentered candy smells to her crevices in the self-objectification-seeking of every random man’s desire. This pursuit outweighed even her own existence in any actual elation that life might otherwise offer.” Elsewhere the author overwhelms with his alliterative talents: “salacious sessions of sexual solitaire she’s seen as self-regard.”

Well, you might say that’s “an awful lot of alliteration from anxious Anchors placed in precarious posts!” Yes, that’s Albert Brooks making fun of William Hurt in “Broadcast News”…

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Needless to say, the reviews have been cruel!

But, in a feisty series of ads and appearances, Penn’s publisher is fighting back, and has actually taken this ad out in major newspapers across the country:

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Yes, they are owning up to the horrible reviews, and Penn is making the rounds discussing his reaction to it!

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This Oscar-winning Actor has been in a number of great films, but he is equally well known for his volatile personality and personal life!

Here is a great interview from The Guardian, where Penn takes on these horrible reviews:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/05/sean-penn-some-of-my-best-laughs-have-come-out-of-the-worst-reviews

The crazy thing is: it kinda makes me want to read it! How about you? Let me know!

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Hungry? Well I Was, So I Ate An Entire Sign!

I have lived in LA for a long time now, and I have passed this sign hundreds of times…one of those places you always say “I’ve got to try that!” Well, it was time to do just that!

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Astro Burger is located in West Hollywood, on Santa Monica Boulevard – yes, the iconic “Route 66”!

The great website “Wehoville.com” has this to say:

“Route 66 invented the fast food industry, embodied along Santa Monica Boulevard by other places including the Formosa Café, founded in 1934; Irv’s Burgers, opened in 1948, Astro Burger, opened in 1974; Hamburger Haven, Fatburger, L.A. Buns & Co. and the much more recent Shake Shack.”

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Located Nearby Is The Legendary Irv’s Burgers!

Irv’s Burgers began as a classic Route 66 gas/service station and fast food restaurant when it first opened at 8289 Santa Monica Blvd. Always a favorite of the rock crowd, it was the cover photo setting for Linda Ronstadt’s 1978 album, “Living in the USA.” As “Wehoville.com” adds: she’s seen in the album photo above grabbing a burger and reaching for a bag of chips.

I plan to do a review of Irv’s soon, but for now, I had to find out what Astro could do with “char-boiled burgers”, pastrami and onion rings!

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As you can see, it’s your 50’s classic soda joint vibe, and the menu is MASSIVE:

There are burgers of every shape and size – and a garden burger of course, plus a myriad of sandwiches, salads, fries, tacos, burritos, and even a huge breakfast menu in the morning…but we all know what I was here for – as the sign said clearly:

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Char-Broiled Burgers! Pastrami! Onion Rings!

Yep, I needed to try that entire sign! I was intrigued by the “pastrami burger” – so I ordered it loaded – I expected a pastrami sandwich on a bun, but it was a burger that was also stuffed with pastrami!

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Boom!

Folks, this $9 burger came with a hamburger patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato – I honestly don’t remember if it was loaded with sauce, because the burger was so juicy it didn’t need it!

You need more proof?

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This burger is incredible!

You can taste all of the unique ingredients, and surprisingly, the pastrami was a perfect, slightly salty pop to the cheeseburger, complimenting the flavor rather than taking away from it…but I will also tell you that I took a bit of it off and ate it separately, because there was so much!

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They wrap it tight, and that’s a good thing, because, while the bun is hearty and toasted well, this is a juicy sandwich, and the wrapper holds it all together for you…as I said, I ate the sign, so I had to have some onion rings as well:

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This was a good size order, with thick slices of onion breaded nicely. They were crispy and very flavorful…

Over all, this food was excellent – it is made to order, so expect to wait 10-15 minutes for your food, and it’s cash only, so come with some money…other than that, this place delivered on their promise:

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Yes, I know I didn’t have a “taco”, so I didn’t officially eat the entire sign, but it was a good headline, so I ran with it.

I don’t know that I need pastrami on my burger every time, but it was fun as a “one off” – you see, pastrami can take care of itself, as I’ve shown you in the past:

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This is the legendary Pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Deli in New York – also home to that orgasmic movie moment in “When Harry Met Sally”:

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They make an unbelievable Pastrami sandwich, which I tried – you can see my review here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/02/26/katzs-deli-my-first-pastrami-at-nycs-legendary-deli-when-harry-met-sally-there-great-movie-food-scenes/

Let me know if you’ve had an Astro Burger, and what you thought!

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I Love Animals Of All Kinds!

And I love butterflies, so when I got this shot of one visiting my backyard, it reminded me of some other “animal” pictures I had taken.

Like recently, when I was in San Francisco and saw a man walking his duck – yes:

A MAN WALKING HIS DUCK.

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It was San Francisco, alright? If there is a “man with a duck” anywhere, San Francisco would be the place. We were on our way to Napa Valley, and one morning, my wife and I took a walk in the vineyards – it was after a day of rain, so who did we find on our path that morning getting some sun?

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Yes, he was a BIG TURTLE, just out for a morning stroll – I love turtles as well, even when they get in traffic jams like the one I saw in Chicago:

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For all I know, they are still there…

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt an animal, especially when they bring such joy to the world – like the pure innocent joy my daughter’s dog Colbie brought to my grandson Luke on his first birthday:

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I love that picture so much. Dogs can be such great companions, as you can see, but what do you do when you don’t have a dog but still want that “dog like” experience?

Well, if you live in Tokyo, you do this:

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“Man In Leotard Being Walked Like A Dog!”

Yes, that was the headline in SoraNews24’s story about a man in a leotard being walked like a dog, because that’s what was happening! This took place on May 3 in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, which is wild and has a certain “anything goes” vibe! Here’s what the area looks like at night:

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You can see the entire story of the man being walked like a dog – and the hilarious video of the incident, by checking out SoraNews24 here:

https://soranews24.com/2018/05/05/man-in-leotard-being-walked-like-a-dog-reminds-twitter-that-there-are-some-weird-dudes-in-tokyo/

And finally, when we in Barcelona, my wife and I discovered that EVERYONE takes a siesta in the middle of the day:

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As comfortable as that dog was, my favorite animal shot in Barcelona was actually a statue of a shrimp – A BIG SHRIMP:

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As I said, I love animals, even if they are oversized pieces of art!

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Ever Wanted To Paddle A Kayak – Across The South Seas?

Idyllic, isn’t it? Well, if your “wanderlust” drives you to a kayak and the pacific ocean, you won’t be the first – because legendary travel writer Paul Theroux beat you to it!

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The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific by Paul Theroux – published in 1993

Paul Theroux is a legendary travel writer as well as an Author of fiction – such as “The Mosquito Coast” – and I have posted about many of his great travel memoirs before. This one, however, may be his best, because he wrote about an amazing adventure here:

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Welcome To Paradise – The South Seas!

Theroux spent 18 months in a one-man collapsible kayak exploring such exotic Pacific islands as New Zealand, Australia, the Soloman and Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Easter Island, and Hawaii. His adventure makes for an amazingly entertaining book.

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As one review states:

“Never a kind-hearted chronicler of place, he sets out on this voyage in an especially dour mood, leaving behind a failed marriage and expecting to be diagnosed with cancer at any moment. Soon after he escapes the crowded towns of Australia, however, he starts to lose some of his harsh edge and enjoy his travels, which ultimately heal him. A brilliant storyteller with an eye for the absurd, Theroux takes the reader to little-known places where time seems to have stood still and people lead simple lives totally unrelated to 20th-century America.”

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The pages of “Happy Isles” are lined with comedy, tragedy, politics and a touch of the mundane – because as you can imagine, it take a long time to get from one island to the next. The Author is a terrific writer, and you really feel you are there on the trip with him – and what a trip it is!

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Another reviewer raved:

“Any perceptive reader with a sense of adventure couldn’t help but feel drawn to the islands as Theroux describes them – their idiosyncrasies, history, culture, beauty and repulsiveness in equal measure – which speckle the Pacific Ocean like stars in the night sky.”

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The South Pacific is paradise for sure – but it’s also thousand and thousands of miles of ocean, sprinkled with small islands – and it’s one of the most isolated places on the planet – perfect for a brilliant writer like Theroux.

From the book:

“There were stars everywhere, above us, and reflected in the sea along with the sparkle of phosphorescence streaming from the bow wave. When I poked an oar in the ocean and stirred it, the sea glittered with twinkling sea-life. … It was as though we were in an old rickety rocket ship.

It was an image that afterwards often came to me when I was traveling in the Pacific, that this ocean was as vast as outer space, and being on this boat was like shooting from one star to another, the archipelagoes like galaxies, and the islands like isolated stars in an empty immensity of watery darkness, and this sailing was like going slowly from star to star, in vitreous night.”
– Paul Theroux, The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific

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I loved this book, and am about to read it again – perhaps it’s because I have always loved book about this region, like this one:

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Writer Lucy Irvine wrote the incredible true story “Castaway”, about living on a deserted island for a year with a man she had never met. Her followup book, “Faraway” is an incredible true story as well – you can read all about it here:

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

I also shared the story of a young teacher who signed up to spend a year on a south seas island as well:

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His memoir is also fascinating – this part of the world is so far removed from the rest of us, living there on a small island in the middle of nowhere is an eye-opening experience…you can read more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/02/08/surviving-paradise-a-year-on-a-south-pacific-island-blue-lagoons-swaying-coconut-trees-millions-of-flies-lost-in-the-middle-of-the-pacific-ocean/

Let me know if you’ve read any of these memoirs, or have been to the remote South Seas!

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Producer Jack Waltz Will See You Now!

One of the great movie locations for “The Godfather” was movie mogul Jack Waltz’s Beverly Hills estate: it’s home to the most shocking scene in the movie!

My wife Alex read that the mansion was close to where we live, and as it turns out, she was right – it was less than two miles away from us!

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We drove by, and Alex was so excited when she realized that behind this simple front entrance was the legendary Jack Waltz estate! Here’s an aerial view of what lies behind the gate:

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The exterior of Woltz’s mansion was also used as Whitney Houston’s estate in the film “The Bodyguard”. It’s an enormous Beverly Hills estate located just north of Sunset Boulevard and The Beverly Hills Hotel. The address is 1011 North Beverly Drive.

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This magnificent estate was built in the 1920s, and had once been owned by William Randolph Hearst. It has sold several times in the past few decades, and was listed for sale at more than $115-million!

The Infamous “Horse Head” Scene!

Of course, this is the estate where Producer Jack Waltz refuses to grant Don Corleone just one favor: to let Johnny Fontaine star in his new war picture. The next morning, Waltz woke up with someone else in his bed with him…

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Yes, he woke up with his triple crown-winning horse, Khartoum, in his bed – well, the head at least!

And It Was Real!

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This is some of the best “Godfather” trivia. During rehearsals, a false horse’s head was used for the bedroom scene. For the actual shot, a real horse’s head was used, acquired from a dog-food factory. According to John Marley, his scream of horror was real – because it was all a secret: no one told him that a real head was going to be used!

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“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

This is probably the most iconic line EVER from a movie…and yes, from the greatest film ever made…so my only question is this: did “The Godfather” read that line from a cue card?

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Yes, He Probably Did!

Look at this behind-the-scenes picture, from the filming of the movie…priceless! Robert Duvall holds cue cards for Marlon Brando to read – just one of the many legendary tales of making “The Godfather”!

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There are SO MANY incredible stories about the making of the film, starting with the behind-the-scenes antics of Marlon Brando!

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Brando’s Transformation!

Marlon Brando wanted to make Don Corleone “look “like a bulldog,” so he stuffed his cheeks with cotton wool for his audition.

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For actual filming, Brando wore a mouthpiece made by a dentist; this appliance is on display in the American Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York.

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If you really want to immerse yourself in this film, there is the perfect way to do it!

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The Epic Godfather On Blu-Ray!

Thanks to a phenomenal effort by Paramount home video, you can now go deep, deep, DEEP into the history of “The Godfather”…like this blu-ray release, an amazing collection including all three films, plus hours and hours of extras!

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Here are just some of the extras that are included:

“The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t,” reviewing in detail much of what has been said about Paramount’s mistreatment of Coppola, about casting fights (Steve McQueen as Michael?), about the studio’s assumption they were getting a quick-and-dirty B-movie, and about producer Robert Evans’ determination to keep his choice of director and unlikely actors under his wing.

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“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”

There are so many great lines from the film – as well as great stories about the making of the movie, especially about the iconic cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and John Cazale.

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James Caan Is Hot-headed Sonny!

Of course, James Caan also became a star as the hot-headed Sonny, who gets set up by his brother-in-law at a toll booth in Jersey…

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Here’s a behind-the-scenes picture of the bullet angles for the blood squibs that have been put on Sonny’s face…

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How Francis Ford Coppola tricked Marlon Brando

Paramount executives were adamant that Brando not be hired to play Vito Corleone because of the actor’s reputation for problems on set. Finally, they relented by providing conditions that they thought could never be met, including that Brando give them a screen test.

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Director Francis Ford Coppola told Brando he wanted to test equipment and get a sample take, very carefully not phrasing the filming as a screen test. When the take had been filmed, even Brando was happy with it, saying he thought he’d gotten the appearance of being “mean-looking, but warm underneath.” In later years, Brando said he’d known all along it was a screen test.

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There are many more great anecdotes about the film HERE:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2012/0202/The-Godfather-10-behind-the-scenes-stories-about-the-making-of-the-classic-films/How-Francis-Ford-Coppola-tricked-Marlon-Brando

Last year, The Tribeca Film Festival had an incredible cast reunion event:

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I would have loved to hear that conversation! You can read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/30/tribecas-the-godfather-reunion-great-film-trivia-deniro-pacino-keaton-coppola/

Let me know if you’ve ever had the chance to visit Jack’s place!

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RIP Margot Kidder…

Sad news to share: Margot Kidder, the Actress who portrayed the best “Lois Lane” os all time, has died at the age of 69. The Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston, MT, said she died Sunday but did not give a cause of death.

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The Actress had many big hits in her career, and a series of personal setbacks as well – but her body of work deserves some credit, as she was an iconic Actress to so many of us…

Kidder began her career in the 1960s, working in TV and film, and modeling as well…

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Kidder was one of Hollywood’s most free-spirited new sex kittens, at a time when a new permissiveness was underway in the entertainment industry…

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She appeared in Brian De Palma’s thriller “Sisters” in 1973, and then starred in the shock classic “Black Christmas” the following year.

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Kidder was terrific as the caustic friend who helps Olivia Hussey search for a missing sorority sister. You can read all about this horror classic here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/11/28/the-last-christmas-black-christmas-its-a-horrific-grindhouse-holiday/

Kidder’s winning streak at the movies continued with her role in “The Amityville Horror”…

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These roles were great, but she achieved her biggest success starring as Lois Lane in the classic “Superman” films with Christopher Reeve.

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Cinema’s Best Lois Lane!

Kidder’s quick wit and “tough as nails” demeanor were the perfect foil for Reeve, and the chemistry between the two stars was perfect for the material…

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The first two “Superman” films in the 80’s are considered by many to be the best superhero films ever made…and much of that credit goes to Kidder’s feisty performance…

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Kidder’s Rough Stretch…

According to wikipedia, the Actress has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led to a widely publicized manic episode in April 1996. She disappeared for four days, and was found in a back yard by a homeowner and was taken by Los Angeles police to Olive View Medical Center in a distressed state. She was later placed in psychiatric care. In 2007, Kidder said that she had not had a manic episode in 11 years.

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Kidder since worked in numerous films as well as numerous television series and also starred in Rob Zombie’s 2009 film “Halloween II.”

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Margot Kidder in her home for Celebrity Home Kathryn Kates story.

In 2015, she won an Emmy Award for her performance in the children’s television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.”

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So sorry to hear about her death…RIP Margot Kidder…

Unfortunately, like Margot Kidder many Hollywood stars can’t overcome their personal demons…

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The Shocking Tale Of Jan-Michael Vincent!

This 70’s star of such films as “Big Wednesday” and “The Mechanic” is now struggling, and had one leg partially amputated – you can read this story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/31/jan-michael-vincent-from-70s-sexiest-man-to-a-true-hollywood-tragedy/

Another star from the late 60’s also fell from grace…

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June Fairchild starred with The Monkees in their movie “Head”, but ended up on LA’s skid row!

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You can read more about this tragic Hollywood story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/20/sex-kitten-june-fairchild-from-stardom-to-skid-row-a-starlets-shocking-death/

RIP Margot…

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Question: As you see the late Karen Black in the cockpit, will there ever be a better line of dialogue from a film that this one:

“The stewardess is flying the plane!”

And she was! It’s just one reason I love 70’s films, and a great book tell the wild wild tale!

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The Stewardess Is Flying The Plane!: American Films of the 1970s –
Ron Hogan (Author), Peter Bogdanovich (Contributor)

Here is a terrific book about the greatest moments in 70’s cinema – the good, the bad and the hilarious!

Those “Stewardess” words were courtesy of the cult classic “Airport ’75” – a disaster film that showcased 70’s cinema at its most disastrous!

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How can you not love this dialogue!

“It’s Nancy Pryor… stewardess. Something hit us! All the flight crew is dead or badly injured! There’s no one left to fly the plane! Help us! Oh my God, help us! – from Airport 1975

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Yes, Karen Black was the “Stewardess Who Flew The Plane”! This book is a fantastic love letter to the movies of the 70’s…ALL OF THEM. It was, as you know, the decade for classic films like these:

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These are just some of the classic films of the decade that are included in the book.

But let’s not forget that the 70’s ALSO gave us classics like THESE:

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Here is what Publishers Weekly had to say about this great book:

“With films such as The Godfather, Star Wars, The Sting, Rocky, Apocalypse Now, Jaws and M*A*S*H, the 1970s is now considered the second Golden Age of Hollywood. There is renewed interest in some of the decade’s most durable genres, including disaster films and blaxsploitation flicks, allowing viewers to rediscover early performances from major stars such as Jeff Bridges, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton.”

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“The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!” is a lavishly illustrated, fun and informative look at more than 400 films of the decade – not just classics like “The Godfather” or “Taxi Driver”, but cult favorites like “Kansas City Bomber” and other amazing disaster films like “The Poseidon Adventure!”

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This is one of the greatest movie tagline:

“Hell Upside Down!”

If you want to see the trailer for this classic, click here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/06/18/celebrity-smackdowns-hell-upside-down-the-disastrous-duo-of-poseidon-adventure-and-towering-inferno/

This book has an introduction by legendary Director Peter Bogdanovich, who made “The Last Picture Show” and “Paper Moon” in the 70’s among many others, and the book also shows hundreds of never- before-published photographs and new interviews with key participants in the ’70s film industry!

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This book puts the decade into perspective with categories like “Thrillers”, “Hard Crime” and “Horror” – and reminds us of some little-seen cult gems like Diane Keaton “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” – with Richard Gere’s help…

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If you haven’t heard of this provocative gem, see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/27/sex-violence-and-diane-keaton-looking-for-mr-goodbar/

It was a decade of some of the best – and worst- movies of all time – let’s celebrate them with a big toast!

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And while we are at it, let’s toast some of the craziest drinkers in movie history as well!

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Hellraisers – by Robert Sellers – originally published in 2009

RICHARD BURTON. OLIVER REED. RICHARD HARRIS. PETER O’ TOOLE. The most legendary English drinkers in movie history are the subject of a great book about their wild ways, mostly in the 70’s!

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Here is what Amazon had to say about this hilarious book:

“This highly entertaining biography of four charismatic and much loved actors follows them through five decades of boozing, brawling and braggadocio.”

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“I did quite enjoy the days when one went for a beer at one’s local in Paris and wake up in Corsica,” Mr. O’Toole once quipped.

At their career peaks, these four controversial actors had the whole world at their feet and lived through some of the wildest exploits Hollywood has ever seen. But all that fame had a price; Richard Burton’s liver was shot by the time he was 50, Richard Harris’s film career stalled for over a decade. Peter O’Toole’s drinking almost put him in the grave before his 43rd birthday, and Oliver Reed ended up dying prematurely.

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This is the story of four of the greatest thespian boozers who ever walked — or staggered — off a film set into a pub. It’s a story of drunken binges of near biblical proportions, parties and orgies, broken marriages, drugs, riots and wanton sexual conquests. And yet these piss-artists were seemingly immune from the law.

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Mr. Reed is said to have drunk 126 pints of beer in 24 hours, and as you can see, loved to carouse with The Who drummer and legendary mad man Keith Moon.

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Richard Harris joked that he formed a support group called “Alcoholics Unanimous” that worked this way: “If you don’t feel like a drink, you ring another member and he comes over to persuade you.” Mr. Reed, by far the most hellish of the four, had an eagle’s head tattooed on his shoulder.

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Oliver Reed also had the eagle’s claws tattooed on the part of his body that he most enjoyed exposing without warning. “Would you like to see where it’s perched?” he liked to ask about the bird.

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And what about Richard Burton? Mr. Elizabeth Taylor – TWICE? Here’s a story about Mr. Burton during the filming of “The Klansman,” one of his worst. “If you want to interview a drunk or see a drunk fall in the camellia bushes, come ahead,” that film’s publicist supposedly told the press. And when the film’s makeup artist was complimented on how well he had prepared Mr. Burton for his death scene, the makeup man replied: “I haven’t touched him.”

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They got away with it because of their extraordinary acting talent and because the public loved them. They were truly the last of a breed, the last of the movie hellraisers. This is a great great book – but it will make you thirsty!

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The Great Sci-Fi Epic “Star Wars!”

One of the most beloved series in film history came from the mind of George Lucas, and continues to entertain people around the world today…remember the plot?

@RealCinemania on Twitter brought this “Star Wars” summary to my attention:

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So, I guess it’s all about how to look at something, right?

That brings me to this classic:

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“The Wizard Of Oz!”

Without a doubt, this 1939 classic is beloved the world over – the story of a young girl and her dog, who follow the yellow brick road to Oz…and of course, the incredible characters they meet along the way:

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Of course, there are wicked witches, flying monkeys and an irritable guy behind a curtain to contend with – which leads to this hilarious summation that was published in TV Guide’s listing page:

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Hilarious!

And do you remember this crowd pleasing musical?

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Yes, “Les Miserables” is a timeless musical, and was turned into a great film as well:

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Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried and Russell Crowe were all terrific in the film – and so Sam Richardson shared his opinion of the film this way:

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Can’t argue with this!

Finally, my wife admits she isn’t a fan of most science fiction – and there, not a fan of this film at all:

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2001: A Space Odyssey!

Yes, Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece is a mind-blowing experience, and moviegoers were dazzled AND perplexed by what flooded by them in one of cinema’s most wildly imaginative films of all time…

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My wife, however, saw it years later and had this short, six word review:

“Some Dumb Astronaut. Some Dumb Baby.”

Well, she’s accurate about the plot line at least!

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Let me know if you have a funny movie plot summary to share!

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A Celebration Of “Goodfellas” – And That “Goodfellas Thin” Garlic Sauce Recipe!

If you know how to slice garlic “really really thin”, it may be due to this incredible film!

First, it is a real definition:

“Goodfellas Thin”: The unofficial measurement of a slice of garlic cut extremely thin using a razor blade.

A great film pays attention to detail – and Director Martin Scorsese did just that when he shot the famous cooking scene that involved very precise knife skills in his 1990 classic about mob life in the 70’s and 89’s in New York.

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Here’s how the film came together:

In 1990, Scorsese teamed up with Robert DeNiro to tell the true story of Henry Hill, the young kid who worked his way up through the mob hierarchy, only to see it all fall apart.

According to IMDB:

“Martin Scorsese first got wind of Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguy” when he was handed the galley proofs. Although Scorsese had sworn off making another gangster movie, he immediately cold-called the writer and told him, “I’ve been waiting for this book my entire life.” To which Pileggi replied, “I’ve been waiting for this phone call my entire life.”

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Ray Liotta is brilliant as the real life Henry Hill, who learns how to be a mobster from Robert DeNiro – who plays James Conway, the guy who helps Hill get into the mob, only to betray him in an effort to save himself. Paul Sorvino plays a mob boss, and Joe Pesci is an out-of-control mobster who can’t be controlled.

Pesci won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of psycho gangster Tommy DeVito – with the infamous “But I’m Funny HOW?” scene – when Henry tries to compliment him, Pesci’s character erupts:

“You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it’s me, I’m a little fucked up maybe, but I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to fuckin’ amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?”

One of the greatest scenes, and scorsese kept it out of the script so that the other characters in the scene wouldn’t know what was going on!

Better still, Scorsese’s Mom is in the film as well!

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Scorsese’s Mom Cooked For Them!

Scorsese’s mother, Catherine Scorsese, plays Tommy’s mother. She and the cast ad-libbed the dinner scene they filmed together. Later in the movie, Scorsese’s father Charles Scorsese plays the prisoner who puts too many onions in the tomato sauce…it is that prison scene that introduced America to the “Goodfellas thin” slicing of the garlic!

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The term “Goodfellas thin” is a reference to the famous scene in which lead character Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) describes in detail how mob boss Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino) prepared dinner while in prison:

“In prison, dinner was always a big thing. We had a pasta course, then we had a meat or a fish. Paulie was doing a year for contempt and had a wonderful system for garlic. He used a razor and sliced it so thin it would liquefy in the pan with a little oil. It’s a very good system.”

Here is the scene:

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How can you not love that? Of course, you need to buy the entire movie to watch right now, because it is one of Scorsese’s masterpieces…and while you are watching, why not enjoy this incredible meatball dish as well?

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Goodfella’s Meatballs With Thinly-Shaved Garlic!

Here is the three-meat meatball (just like Goodfellas “Veal, beef and pork… you gotta have the pork.”) recipe to try at home:

First, slice the garlic “Goodfellas thin!”

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Meatballs a la Goodfellas

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, sliced razor thin then minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

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Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.

Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold it’s shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.

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Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

Place cooked meatballs into Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 more minutes.

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Dig In!

There you have it, Meatballs ala Goodfellas….the best “dinner in a movie” you will ever have!

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“Once upon a time aired a show featuring some of the greatest comedic minds of our time. What could go wrong? Everything.”

The collection of images you see above does indeed include some of the most popular comic minds of the past two decades…and yes, they came together to create one of TV’s biggest bombs of all time!

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“Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of The Dana Carvey Show!”

This terrific new documentary airing on HULU tells the story of the creation of “The Dana Carvey Show” in 1996 for ABC, how its creative team was assembled, and how the show bombed spectacularly!

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This was the Dana Carvey who exploded to success thanks to his “Church Lady” character on Saturday Night Live, and his co-starring role in the movie phenomenon “Wayne’s World.” ABC could only imagine what he would do on primetime television!

First, checkout the trailer:

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The documentary features extremely candid and honest interviews with Carvey, along with his on-air talent and behind-the-scenes creative team including Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Heather Morgan, Bill Chott, Bill Hader, John Fortenberry, Robert Carlock, Jon Glaser, Spike Feresten, J.J. Sedelmaier, Chuck Dalaklis, Howard Rosenberg, and really candid and funny comments from then-ABC Entertainment Exec Ted Harbert.

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Louis CK was also on the show, but doesn’t appear in the documentary, perhaps due to the issues he is currently embroiled in, but if you want to know how this show could have failed, perhaps it all began when the VERY FIRST SKETCH had Carvey portraying then President Clinton, suckling a puppy!

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This is a great look at the creative process, how “sure things” can turn out exactly the opposite, and why making a hit TV show or movie is much more difficult than it looks! This is a great movie, and bravo to Carvey for being so candid about the experience.

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Congrats to HULU for picking this documentary up – they’ve been on a creative tear lately, with “The Handmaid’s Tale”, and they also have another terrific documentary:

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He was the “one and done” James Bond 007 – a single film as the Secret Agent – how could that happen?

This documentary tells the story with great commentary by George Lazenby himself – see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/02/the-sex-secrets-of-james-bond-007-george-lazenbys-swinging-007-days-great-new-documentary-becoming-bond/

Let me know if you’ve watched “Too Funny To Fail!”

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Ready To Dig Into Some Lobster? Lots And Lots Of Lobster?

I found this picture online and had to find out what was going on – so let’s head to the famous Fishman Clubhouse Restaurant in Toronto to see some of the most amazing towers of seafood in the world!

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Bizarre Enough For Andrew Zimmern!

Yes, The Travel Channel Host showed up to try one, and all across social media, you can find picture of diners posing with their food – before and after!

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It turns out, The Fishman Lobster Clubhouse Restaurant in Toronto is famous for making giant towers of seafood: and people can’t wait to post pictures with their dishes…not only that, video too!

Here is the video of a 57-pound Lobster Tower being delivered to the table!

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57 Pounds Of Lobster!

All I say say is: WOW.

The menu offers many ways to eat these incredible towers, and clearly it’s better to bring a lot of hungry friends.

Don’t worry, if your taste is more for crab – guess what?

They’ve got a tower for you too!

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I will find a way to convince my wife Alex to make the journey to Toronto for this – I would love this!

If you follow this blog, you know I’ve posted about towers of food before:

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Remember the fried shrimp tower? Not only do they sell it in Japan, I found someone who ate one!

See him take it on here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/12/10000-yen-fried-shrimp-tower-giant-bacon-towers-food-stacked-a-mile-high/

And if you don’t like seafood, don’t worry: I found a chicken yakitori dish a mile high as well!

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That’s the legendary Mr. Sato from SoraNews24, and if you want to know if he ate that thing, click here to see the results:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/23/the-mega-yakitori-japans-huge-chicken-on-a-stick/

I love food towers! Let me know if you agree!

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Ready For This $$$ True Tale Of Hollywood?

Sometimes people just don’t realize how bonkers the entertainment industry is – although now we are seeing payback for its excesses.

Several year ago there was a terrific “inside Hollywood” book about the time that Jon Peters and his partner Peter Guber ran Columbia Pictures – and it’s a great tale of superstars, big money, and foreign owners who don’t know what they are getting into when they come to Hollywood!

Here is the terrific book:

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Hit & Run – by Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters

This bestselling book has been around for years, but the story is as fresh and fascinating as ever!

“Hit and Run” tells the improbable and often hilarious story of how two Hollywood film packagers went on a campaign to reinvent themselves as studio executives — at Sony’s expense!

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Veteran reporters Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters chronicle the rise of Jon Peters and Peter Guber — and all the sex, drugs, and fistfights along the way.

“Hit and Run” delivers rock-solid business reporting liberally laced with inside gossip and outrageous scandal — plus later editions of the book include a new afterword bringing us up to date on the latest fallout from the “Guber-Peters” legacy at Sony.

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Here is what Publishers Weekly said about the book when it was published:

“This is basically the story of two boys who never grew up, but ended up running Sony-owned Columbia Pictures into the ground. Peters, whom the Los Angeles Times described as a “seventh-grade dropout and reform school graduate who began his show-business career as Barbra Steisand’s hairdresser-boyfriend-manager,” was a master at self-promotion; only semi-literate but able to count well enough to make it big in Hollywood.”

Yes, this is the Jon Peters who got his start in Hollywood by doing Barbra Streisand’s hair! What else do you need to become a movie Producer?

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Guber and Peters went on to produce a number of big hits, including “Batman”, so it wasn’t completely out of left field that the Japan-based Executives at Sony wouldn’t think the pair could run their newly acquired movie studio. And boy, is that where it gets crazy!

The business side of this book is intriguing, recounting internecine financial twists and turns after the pair are hired to run Columbia Pictures – ultimately leading to a top Sony executive exclaiming:

“Huh! You bankrupt Sony!”

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This is a great inside look at how the movie industry operates, especially when outsiders try to navigate the expensive waters of Hollywood.

And if you think things have changed…now, decades later, Jon Peters returned to make big headlines – for making millions of dollars NOT to produce “Superman” films!

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Jon Peters Speaks!

Writer Tatiana Siegel and The Hollywood Reporter had a fascinating, exclusive interview with the legendary Hollywood Producer Jon Peters – with a very provocative beginning…

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“And With A Loaded Gun On The Coffee Table…”

How is this for a setup to the article?

“In his first interview in 10 years, and with a loaded gun on the coffee table, the legendary former hairdresser turned producer and studio chief opens up about voting for Donald — kept secret from “love of his life” Barbra Streisand — his feud with Peter Guber and how it feels to collect huge paychecks on Superman movies for doing nothing.”

Well, that grabs hold of you and never lets go, right?

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The article quotes him this way regarding Barbra:

“She was probably the love of my life. Yeah. She was the most captivating, interesting, creative person I have ever met,” he says. “I owe her. I will always owe her for giving me the life that I’ve had.”

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And this is also the Jon Peters who makes millions and millions of dollars for NOT actively producing “Superman” films.

Yes, he has made a fortune for staying away from the “Superman” movies!

According to the article:

“One of the first questions he answers is about his cut on Superman films. He says he took home $80 million to $85 million combined for 2006’s Superman Returns and Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel thanks to backend granted for his role in jumpstarting the franchise in the ’90s. Warners declined to comment. “I have 7.5 percent of the gross,” says Peters. “Together they did [more than] a billion.” He adds he was banned from the set of Man of Steel at the behest of producer Christopher Nolan: “My reputation scares these guys.”

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This is a great article, and Tatiana Siegel weaves an amazing story of Hollywood, and of a man who has become a legend for so many reasons! Read more of it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/13/legendary-producer-jon-peters-making-a-fortune-for-not-producing-superman-movies-the-amazing-hollywood-reporter-interview/

Let me know what you think of these “True Hollywood Tales!”

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“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.”

Alex just reminded me of something incredibly important:

It’s National Wine Day!

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Toast, It’s Good For You!

We all know that a glass of red wine every day tastes great, but science has shown that it’s a great way to maintain a healthy heart. Did you know the other benefits of a glass of wine? How about boosting your memory and immune system. Not only that, but wine in moderation might also help with weight loss. I mean, this stuff is gold!

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Toast To Good Health And Eternal Life!

We all know how good wine tastes, but thanks to Food and Wine magazine, here are the eight great reasons you need to be drinking an “f’in Merlot” right now:

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The Benefit: Promotes Longevity

The Evidence: Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers. Source: a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007.

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The Benefit: Reduces Heart-Attack Risk

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers. Source: a 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.

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The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

The Evidence: Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines. Source: a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006.

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The Benefit: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. Source: research on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each, at Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.

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The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Stroke

The Evidence: The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Source: a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period, published in Stroke, 2006.

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The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Cataracts

The Evidence: Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer. Source: a study of 1,379 individuals in Iceland, published in Nature, 2003.

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The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer

The Evidence: Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Source: a Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.

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The Benefit: Slows Brain Decline

The Evidence: Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers. Source: a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.

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All of these great health benefits remind me of this classic wine-related movie exchange:

Jack: “If they want to drink Merlot, we’re drinking Merlot.”
Miles: “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!”

One of the greatest movie lines of all time, and it’s related to wine!

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Sideways

This classic film celebrates wine, friendship, love, disappointment, betrayal…sounds like it celebrates life! Here is the trailer for this modern masterpiece:

Paul Giamatti is Miles, a failed writer living a meager existence in San Diego as an English teacher. Thomas Haden Church is Jack, a fading television actor. The two embark on a road trip through California’s wine country. Miles wants to give his friend a nice sendoff before married life, while Jack wants one last chance to party – and that he does, with lots and lots of wine!

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I can watch this movie every day – and always with a glass of wine at the ready…

I leave you with Daryl Hall and John Oates and their musical tribute to wine:

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Daryl Hall & John Oates – Intravino!

Wine is so good for you that Hall & Oates once wrote a song about it, at raucous love of the grape that includes these lines:

“Gimme wine, wine, I need IntraVino
Wine, wine, I need it every day-o
Wine, wine, Mis en bouteilles au Chateau
All the time, I need wine all the time.
Six o’clock gotta have Beaujolais
Eight o’clock I open up Pouilly-Fuiss?
Love the ruby color. Grand cru classe
Never love another once I’ve savored that bouquet
Oh yeah need IntraVino”

How can you argue with that? Take a listen:

Enjoy this day of celebration!

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First and foremost, thanks to everyone who serves our country in the military. Memorial Day allows us to honor those people who died while serving – something I will always remember to acknowledge.

It is, also a national holiday that seems to have become the unofficial beginning of summer “outdoor cooking” season, and with that, a chance to fire up the grill and make some burgers!

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Calling All Burger Lovers!

The reason I love making sliders is that you can play around with a lot of different flavors without getting too full – and by playing around, I mean BACON!

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A Memorial Day Slider Celebration!

That might be a bit much today, so let’s dial it down a notch.

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

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That’s it for me – and as you can see, nobody said you could only have ONE – upon this temple of meat flavor, I add unique ingredients that give my sliders a more specific flavor…here are some of my favorite recipes!

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The All-American Bacon-Cheeseburger Slider!

What can you say? It’s as American as you can get:

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

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Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank California makes a classic “all-American” burger, you can see it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/01/22/bobs-big-boy-inside-burbanks-iconic-diner-bite-down-on-my-burger-review-bobs-exotic-car-showplace/

If you want to add more toppings, here is one to get you started:

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Shrooom Slider

Top your burger with melted Provolone Cheese, and a boatload of saute’d Crimini Mushrooms,
along with Caramelized Sweet Onions, a slice of Roma Tomato and Spicy Mustard Aioli – boom!

Or, get fishy with it!

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Salmon Sliders!

Handmade Salmon Patties, Frizzled Onions, Spring Mix, Roma Tomato with a Lemon Pepper Aioli will give you a delicious taste of the Pacific Northwest!

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

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The Nut Burger!

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is good enough to satisfy meat eaters, too!

Now, if you want to venture overseas, this is one of my favorites.

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Japanese Wasabi-Avocado Slider!

I read about this over the holidays and I made one…it was delicious! It is very simple: a slider patty topped with sliced avocado, and a heavy dose of wasabi mayonaise. Trader Joe’s sells it, or buy some great mayo and wasabi and mix it together to the strength you can handle…this is delicious with a Sapporo! One last look….trust me, MAKE THIS ONE!

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The Sriracha Burger!

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

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

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

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In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of the Sriracha, and the pepper.

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

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

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

Oh, but what about dessert?

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That’s right, just add a scoop of ice cream to your burger and top off your meal on a delicious high note!

Click here to see how to make one:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/09/23/ice-cream-cheeseburgers-bacon-pies-muffaletta-burgers-serving-size-madness-chart-fast-food-runs-amok-2/

Whatever hits your grill today, take a moment and remember what this day stands for, and for everyone who has – or is – serving out country today – thank you!

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Nonna’s In The Kitchen!

As a foodie, I love this story: a great restaurant on Staten Island has hired Grandmas from all around the world to cook for him – and keep their family recipes alive for generations to come!

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Bravo Jody Scarvella, Owner Of Enoteca Maria On Staten Island!

According to a great story from CBS New York:

A restaurant kitchen staffed by grandmas was the vision of Jody Scaravella, who opened Enoteca Maria in 2007. At first, he hired exclusively Italian nonnas, filling a personal void left by his own late grandmother.

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The story goes on to add:

Over time, he began to invite additional grandmothers from around the world to take turns cooking the foods they grew up with. Today, countries from Japan to Algeria are represented in the kitchen on a rotating schedule.

“You have two grandmothers every day,” Scaravella explained. “You always have an Italian nonna, and every day, the featured kitchen changes.”

A “Nonnas of the World” calendar assigns each grandmother a monthly date in the kitchen. “Sometimes people call, and they want to know when the Greek nonna’s cooking,” he said. “But some people enjoy the surprise.”

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And yes, you can get the cookbook with these classic family recipes!

Here is a link to the story, which includes a great video interview with one of the “Grandma Chefs”!

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/01/30/enoteca-maria-the-dig/

I love this story – keeping family recipes alive and letting these Nonnas, who have raised their families with longtime family recipes, take over the kitchen…terrific – I would love to go to this restaurant!

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I love that Jody is helping to keep longtime family recipes alive for generations to come…it’s one of the things I love most about this story.

I also shared a story recently about the meal I had at the incredible NEXT restaurant in Chicago, which put on multi-course menu highlighting the fifty best restaurants in the world…here’s a look:

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