The Search for The PERFECT BEST HAMBURGER

The political landscape is so frustrating and my exasperation with the amount of hatred, vitriol and total bullshit make me want to withdraw from the entire conversation.  So, today’s Blog is about something dear to my heart….food!

If you have never played the game, “My Last Meal,” with your friends, then maybe this will give you something to think about.  Most people claim that if they can choose their last meal, they would choose something ultra-gourmet and decadent.  A beautiful Filet Mignon topped with  Foie Gras with a butter poached lobster side or a meal of escargot followed by a beautifully prepared Duck a la Orange  and a chocolate lava cake for desert is often mentioned by self -proclaimed “Foodies” as their choices for My Last Meal.

Not me though.  My Last Meal would be the humble but perfect Hamburger with a side of twice fried French Fries and Onion Rings.  But, I have yet to find that Perfect Best Hamburger (PBH) in the world.  And, believe me, I have looked far and wide and will continue my search.

There are a lot of categories of hamburgers.  I have never had one that I absolutely didn’t, at least, like slightly.  On the lower end of the spectrum, there are the fast food burgers.  These include McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and the like.  While not even close to being the perfect burger, there is certainly a place in the universe for these…although it has been years since I have had one, I am sure I could choke one down in a pinch.  Although, the Varsity in Atlanta is better known for hot dogs, I still really like their “steaks.”  It’s a childhood memory thing!  You might have noticed that I didn’t include Krystal or White Castle in this category.  Those special sliders have a special place in my heart.  After all, I am a child of the 60’s and late night sliders after an evening of partaking is a fond memory.

Then there is the cooked-to-order, almost fast food joints.  Included in this category would be Five Guys, Shake Shack, Bobby’s Burger Palace, Burger Fi and (although I have yet to experience it) In-n-Out Burgers.  My friends from New York will probably disagree with me but I like Five Guys much better than Shake Shack and look forward to my first Animal Style, In-n-Out burger. Recently, I had the opportunity to have my first Bobby’s Burger…the Bobby Flay burger joint.  While his idea of “crunchifying” burgers by putting home-made potato chips on them is interesting, I was somewhat disappointed that this renowned chef didn’t have a better burger. I guess other untried Burgers like SmashBurger are also in this category.

Which brings me to a very important point about the search for the PBH…It is all about the meat FIRST!  Anybody can take a lousy piece of meat and dress it up with bacon, cheeses and other condiments. Inventive and creative toppings should enhance the burger, not hide it. If the meat doesn’t taste good by itself, then it can’t possibly qualify as the PBH.

Of course, there are the casual restaurant Burgers to contend with…Cheesecake Factory, Various Sports Bars, Chili’s, Duffy’s, Houston’s, J.Alexander’s, Zinburger’s, etc, etc, etc.  All of them are pretty good burgers.  Try the Classic Burger at Cheesecake…it is a generous Chop House patty that is grilled, comes with only a grilled onion lettuce and tomato and the meat has good flavor.  Like I said, I haven’t met a burger yet that I didn’t like!

Every food publication has published a “Best Burger” article at one time or another.  I have read many of them, keep a list of “Best Burgers” in my phone and try different burgers as we travel around.  I have tried the Cricket Burger at the Cherry Cricket in Denver, Burgers at Hopdoddy in Denver, Burgers in New York at The Burger Joint, PJ Clarke’s and others, the burger at BLT in Vegas, the Juicy Lucy at M.E.A.T and the Burgers of Tucker Duke’s in Boca Raton, all of the Burgers at Charm City Burgers in Deerfield Beach and many others that I have either forgotten or want to forget.

Not to mention that I have tried to create my own PBH myself.  Recently, I had the butcher grind 2 pounds of beef brisket, seasoned it with just salt and pepper and grilled the burger.  Not bad, but still not the PBH that I am looking for.  I will continue to experiment with various combinations of meat and see if I can perfect my own creation.

With all of that said, I think that, SO FAR, the possible PBH that I have experienced is at The Le Tub Saloon in Hollywood, Florida.  Le Tub is a dump of a place on the intra-costal waterway where you can wait for an hour or more for your Burger.  Touted by Oprah and GQ as the best burger in the land, The Sirloin Burger, itself, has a flavor that I haven’t found anywhere else.  It is 13 oz. of ground top sirloin, seasoned, charbroiled, and served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion.  Since the place is owned and operated by a “free spirit” who purchased the barren property in 1974 and dedicated a concentrated year personally hand building LeTub totally of Flotsam, Jetsam and ocean borne treasures all gathered daily over 4 years of day break jogging on Hollywood Beach, it is often speculated on exactly what is in this burger that makes it so good!  Granted, I haven’t been there in a while, but thinking of that Hamburger makes my mouth water!

However, The Search continues….I have been told that the Burgers at Holeman and Finch in Atlanta or the Farm Burger in Decatur, Ga or even the original hamburger at Louis' Lunch in New Haven, CT can nearly qualify as the PBH.  Or the Steak Burger at Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn…although I can’t imagine going to Luger’s and NOT ordering a steak.  Then there is the Spotted Pig, Minetta Tavern or JG Mellon’s in New York and Au Cheval in Chicago.  Should the burger be one big patty or two thinner patties or maybe even three patties?  Cheese or no cheese?

If you have a favorite Burger that you think could qualify as the Perfect Best Hamburger, let me know. 

And The Journey continues……

Not My Last Rant About Trump!

So, all my liberal friends…you’re feeling pretty good about Trump’s plummeting poll numbers.  Don’t be.  The raw numbers are the most frightening thing I have ever seen.  If the election were held today, some 50 million voters will vote for this man and all he stands for.  50 million voters!!!! And that’s if he only gets 40% of the vote.

Let’s examine exactly what they are voting for:

•        Abject Racism.  Yes, racism is alive and well in the Republic.  Whether it is railing against the Blacks, the Mexicans, any Immigrant or all Muslims, Trump has made it clear that if you are not exactly like him, then you are not to be trusted, respected or even counted.  In fact, you should be thrown out of the Country and not allowed back in.
•       A pathological liar that spews mysoginistic, xenophobic vile untruths over and over and over again.  This man doesn’t know the difference between truth and made up lies.
•      A person with an unfamiliarity of the US Constitution, an unfamiliarity with any of the domestic issues and an unfamiliarity of any foreign policy.
•      A person who denigrates anyone that disagrees with him and has stated his objective of overturning the 1^st Amendment so that he can sue any media that disagrees with him and his lies.
•      A poor businessman who has declared bankruptcy 4 times as well as bankrupted many small businesses by refusing to pay them for work done.
•      A fraudulent huckster who defrauded thousands with his Trump University and then paid off certain politicians not to prosecute him.  (Pam Bondi in Florida should be indicted for dropping the case after Trump donated $25,000 to her campaign).  And then lied about its sterling reputation…the Better Business Bureau gave it a D Rating.
•      A personality that is overwhelmingly immature. My 5 year old grandson doesn’t throw the tantrums this thin skinned poor excuse for an adult does.
•      An encourager of hate…brought on by fear, in the style of McCarthy.
•      A candidate and a Party that takes no responsibility for any of the issues facing us today.  But is only looking to blame someone else, whether it be immigrants, women, Latinos, gays, experts, black presidents and/or the media for their troubles.

I am frightened about what this Country has become.  Civil debate is non-existent.  People hating people, name calling, threats of violence and a general level of disrespect is the rule.  During the McCarthy hearings in the 50’s, one person being questioned finally had enough and uttered the now famous line, “Sir, have you no sense of decency?”

So, after listening to this twit one too many times, I repeat…Sir, have you no sense of decency?

Other than his plan to build a wall and throw all illegal immigrants out of the country, ban all Muslims from entering and watching all Muslim Americans very closely, there are no concrete plans or policies that have been thought about, talked about or shared.  Because his greatest advisor is himself, there are NO plans, policies or objectives to make America great again.  In fact, his general demeanor will only make America GRATE again!

Many leaders in politics, business and society are supporting this view of our Country.   I respect the fact that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. As my Dad use to say..."Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one."

However, I just can’t respect anyone that supports this very dangerous candidate , all he stands for and the level of hatred he espouses.

And The Journey Continues……..

Can You Say "President Trump?"

Donald Trump will be the next President of The United States.

I have remained relatively quiet during the last few months as this horrific primary season has unfolded.  In fact, I haven’t blogged since December.  Along with many pundits, I laughed about Trump’s candidacy and was very sure that his xenophobic, misogynistic, serial lying persona would surely derail any hopes he might have had about becoming the Republican nominee.  Surely, his lack of any knowledge about the issues and not having a single specific strategy about any domestic or foreign policy would disqualify him in the eyes of the Republican electorate. But, I have come to the overwhelming conclusion that we should never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter.  For that singular reason, I am predicting that the Trump/Christie ticket will win in November.

In discussing the whole political landscape with those that don’t share my general distaste with the Republican Party, their platform and their ideals, I have continued to hear from some that I thought were otherwise intelligent…”but you can’t be supporting THAT woman.”  Yes, I can and will support Mrs. Clinton.  Not that I think that she is the greatest candidate...to the contrary, I believe she has her own faults.  However, besides the fact that her ideals on most any major issue more closely align with mine, one of the main duties of the office of the Presidency is to do no harm.  And Mr. Trump and his ilk will surely take us down a path of destruction that this country will not recover from during my lifetime.

Mr. Trump has been a main force in creating an atmosphere of hate, prejudice and paranoia in today’s society.  It isn’t necessary to repeat his misguided statements about Mexicans, women, the LGBT community, the handicapped, all Muslims and others.  They have all been well documented ad nauseum over the last few months.  Reminiscent of Nazi Germany and statements made by Hitler during the late 30’s, his ideas to register and track those American citizens of a certain faith is not only deplorable but a sick affront to our Country and its Constitution. 

And for those that buy into his campaign’s recent statements that this is all an act and he will be a centrist…bullshit!  A leopard doesn’t change his spots.

What is even scarier than a Trump Presidency is the distinct possibility that his election will also come with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress.  When that happens, we will see social issues decimated, the Affordable Care Act dumped without a replacement, severe cuts (if it survives) in Social Security, the dismantling of Medicare, more tax cuts for the wealthy and a complete disappearance of the middle class.  Abortion will again become illegal in the United States, any chance of Women’s parity destroyed and it will become legal to discriminate based on race, religion or sexual preference.  Any pretense that we actually have a separation of church and state will disappear as the Religious Right is determined to impose the Christian equivalent of Sharia Law on the entire Country.  And the lack of any controls on guns in this country will further encourage the Wild West atmosphere that is becoming more and more prevalent.

How will all this happen when we supposedly have three branches of government with checks and balances?  Easy…a Trump presidency will assure a Conservative Supreme Court that will remain so for the foreseeable future.  And, THAT is the most important issue during this Presidential election.  Elect Trump and the Supreme Court is doomed! 

For the sake of my children and grandchildren I hope this does not happen.  But given the ignorance of the American electorate and the propensity to continue to vote against their own self-interest, this is the future we will have to endure.

Please, I hope I am wrong!

And The Journey Continues……………

I JUST DON'T GET IT!

I just don’t get it!  This morning I woke up to the news that the latest polls show Donald Trump with support from 35% of the Republicans polled.  Have these people gone mad?  Or are they so uneducated that they will follow just about any reality television star?  Or maybe, these people actually approve of what he says…if that is the case, then this country is in bigger trouble than anyone can imagine.

Let’s review some of Mr. Trump’s absurdities….In Trump’s short career as a politician he has been seen insulting Latinos, making fun of the disabled, tweeting neo-Nazi propaganda, and advocating a Nazi-style registration system. Now, he’s advocating a policy that can only end in Genocide.

First, his insults to Latinos:  He called Latin Immigrants “Criminals” and Rapists.”  He said Mexicans (and other immigrants) were  “Killers” too and insisted that the Mexican Government intentionally sends their criminals to the US.  On two occasions, he has taken jabs at Jeb Bush over his Mexican-born wife!  He said that his followers were “passionate” after being told that two men beat a Hispanic man in his name!  And he blamed blacks and Hispanics for violent crime cross the Country.

Of course Trump’s mocking of a disabled reporter was followed by his defense that he was “just joking.”  Wow, how Presidential of him!  All of this was proceeded by that reporter exposing Trump’s lies about “thousands of Muslims cheering in Jersey City after 9/11.”

Trump’s last week found him flirting with fascism by sharing a blatantly false, racist graphic that apparently originated with a Hitler-admiring neo-Nazi.

The Republican presidential frontrunner tweeted an image that claimed 81 percent of white homicide victims are killed by blacks and 97 percent of black homicide victims were killed by other blacks.  The graphic cited the Crime Statistics Bureau in San Francisco as its source — although that does not exist and the statistics are, quite simply, made up.  The earliest use of the graphic was from a tweet.  The account linked to the tweet uses a modified swastika used as the symbol of the neo-Nazi German Faith Movement, and the account profile expresses admiration for Adolf Hitler: “A detester of any kind of sick perverted dildo waving marxism and liberalism, we should have listened to the Austrian chap with the little moustache.”  The image was posted on the conservative Sexy Patriot account shortly before Trump shared it.  There’s no indication Trump was aware the graphic seems to have originated with a neo-Nazi, but a quick Google search should have revealed the statistics as inaccurate — and its racist suggestions are plainly obvious.  This isn’t the first time Trump has tweeted Nazi propaganda on his official social media account.   Trump shared a campaign graphic, which he later deleted, that included an image of Nazi soldiers taken from a World War II re-enactment.

Trump supporters beat up a Black Lives Matter protester recently in Birmingham, Alabama, and the GOP candidate said afterward that the man was “so obnoxious and so loud” that “maybe he should have been roughed up.”

This erstwhile Republican repeated his call to closely monitor or even close down U.S. mosques to fight terrorism, and he refused to rule out creating a database of American Muslims and expressed openness to the possibility of requiring them to carry special ID.  All Muslims living in the United States might be forced to register their personal information in a federal database if Donald Trump is elected president.  Last week, the billionaire Republican presidential candidate told an NBC reporter that all American Muslims “have to be” required to registered in a database in the wake of deadly terror attacks in Paris and Beirut. The attacks were carried out by ISIS, a group that proclaims itself to be Islamic — though many Muslims and religious scholars disagree that the group can be credibly considered part of the religion.

“I would certainly implement that — absolutely,” Trump said when asked about forcing registration of the 5 million to 12 million Muslims living in America.

And now, Trump openly advocates mass murder of innocents!   He not only wants to commit the US to a new war against the Islamic State, he wants to kill the family members of terrorists.  Forget the fact that deliberate targeting of the civilian populace and collective punishment are war crimes and that to do so systematically by policy would qualify as a crime against humanity.  Set aside the moral implications of murdering innocents.  Instead, let’s look at the fact that it just wouldn’t work…. If you kill a terrorist and “take out their families” as Trump has said, you simply have created more terrorists.  In order for this to work, you would have to literally exterminate bloodlines on a scale not seen since The Holocaust.

And, how do you define who is the terrorist’s family?  In 1935, The First Regulation of the Reich Citizenship Law was used as the basis of who died in Nazi concentration camps.  Perhaps Mr. Trump would like to use that statute to write a possible statute defining a terrorist’s family:

A terrorist family member is one who is descended from two terrorist parents, if (a) he belonged to the terrorist community at the time this law was issued, or joined the community later, (b) he or she was married to a terrorist person, at the time the law was issued, or married one subsequently, (c) he is the offspring of a marriage with a terrorist.

Sound familiar?  Further, I am offended by the tone of Mr. Trump’s remarks in front of Mr. Adelson’s Jewish Coalition this week.  His remarks were condescending and smacked of “some of my best friends are Jewish” rhetoric. “You’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money,” Mr. Trump said. “Isn’t it crazy?”

The Times of Israel led with Donald J. Trump’s referring to Jewish people as “good negotiators” and with his declining to commit to supporting Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the country. “Trump courts Republican Jews with offensive stereotypes,” the headline blared atop a story that described his remarks as “anti-Semitic.” 

And finally, to all those Republicans that think he would be a great President on economic matters.  This is a guy that has declared bankruptcy 4 different times.  Managing the economy…no thanks!  Further, if he had just taken the value of what his father left to him and put it in a mutual fund that follows the S&P index, he would be worth 6 times more that he is worth now.  This guy can’t manage his way out of a paper bag and most of the 35% supporters cite his ability to manage the economy as a primary reason for supporting this douchebag!

A final note to all of those that are not bothered by Mr. Trump and all that he represents, because you don’t believe he can actually get the nomination…..remember that I said it here…..this guy WILL get the nomination and could very possibly be our next President. 

God help us all!

And The Journey continues………….