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[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] America’s First Celebrity Chef: Chef Boyardee

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : April 24, 2014
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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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His face dots millions of cans of pasta and pizza sauce.  At one time or another, we’ve all opened up a can of enjoyed his cuisine.  Chef Boyardee, with his tall white cap has fed American’s for almost a century, but he’s not just a face on a can – he’s America’s first real celebrity chef!

 

Ettore “Hector” Boyardee was born in 1897 and arrived in the United States from Piacenza, Italy in the early 1900’s.  It didn’t take him long to find a job and in 1915 at age 17, he was running the kitchen of the Plaza Hotel in New York City.   Having such a prestigious job also scored him the gig of catering President Woodrow Wilson’s wedding reception!

ravioli

He then headed west to work at the Hotel Winton in Cleveland, Ohio.  While working there, he met and married his wife.  But, he was tired of working for others and wanted a restaurant of his own.  In 1924, he opened Il Giardino d’Italia and his cooking became the talk of the town.  Hungry Clevelanders would line up for hours around the block to get in the door.  His food became so popular; he would package his spaghetti and meatballs in milk jars for customers to take home.

 

After making a good bit of dough with his take home meals, he decided he could sell his pasta to the masses.  Only four years later in 1928, he and his brothers would create the Chef Boyardee Company and move to Milton, Pennsylvania, (now just a few minutes off of Interstate 80.)  The central Pennsylvania climate allowed for more fresh tomatoes and mushrooms to be used.  They also dropped the Italian spelling to make it easier for Americans to pronounce.  At his plant, he invents a meatball making machine that’s still in use today!

 

Assortment of Chef Boyardee products in the canned goods aisle in a typical grocery store.

Assortment of Chef Boyardee products in the canned goods aisle in a typical grocery store.

His products are such a hit that they caught the attention of the U.S. Military.  During World War II, his company was contracted to produce canned meals for the troops overseas.  The plant goes into full production 24/7 to keep up.  His war efforts earn him a Gold Star, the highest honor a civilian can earn.

 

After the war, instead of cutting back on production, he sold the plant to American Home Products so that everyone could keep their jobs.  He continued on as a consultant and also starred in commercials for his products.  It was these commercials that can officially give him the title of America’s first celebrity chef.

 

 

Long before Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Emeril, and Giada de Laurenties became fixtures on our TV’s, Chef Boyardee was starring in commercials for his products since the days of black and white television.  He generally went off the air when he retired in 1978, but anyone who grew up before that time, knew who Chef Boyardee was, and not just from his line in the grocery store.

 

 

In 2000, ConAgra Foods of Omaha, Nebraska purchases the product line and they continue to manufacture his canned goods to this day.  To celebrate the chef, the company erected a statue in his honor at the Omaha plant.

 

Chef Boyardee statue at the ConAgra plant in Omaha, Nebraska.

Chef Boyardee statue at the ConAgra plant in Omaha, Nebraska.

THE 411

 

Name: Chef Boyardee

 

What: America’s first celebrity chef

 

Active: 1924-1978

 

Known for: canned product line in grocery stores

 

Website: www.chefboyardee.com

 

Chef Boyardee microwave meal.

Chef Boyardee microwave meal.

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

I was always a fan on his ABC’s and 123’s with meatballs and regularly keep a can in the cupboard.  Not only are they good, but also a must have in case of an emergency or long term power failure.  As a kid, this was my go to food when we would lose power after a big snowstorm in the country.  They are good either heated or right out the can!  The Chef Boyardee spaghetti sauce was always so much better than the rival, Spaghetti-O’s.  To me, Spaghetti-O’s always tasted like the can.

 

I had no idea he was a real guy until I just happened to come across a random fact on the web.  I always figured he was just a mascot kind of like Mr. Clean or the Jolly Green Giant.  It’s neat to see that he was indeed real and is a true American success story.  I just hope at some point they bring back his old Tic Tac Toe’s or Pac Man Pasta!  (Yes, I used to eat those as a child.)

 

Like the old commercials say “Thank Goodness for Chef Boyardee!”

Check out this guy's awesome Halloween costume... yes, he's a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli!

Check out this guy’s awesome Halloween costume… yes, he’s a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli!

Image credits – Michael Carian, cfinke, Friscocali, Jimmy Emerson DVM, Roadsidepictures & Scutter

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Uncovering a Hidden Bar Inside New York’s Grand Central Terminal

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : April 17, 2014
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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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New York City – thousands of bars and restaurants dot the island, catering to both hard working locals and tourists alike.  Grand Central Terminal is one of the world’s busiest and most famous train stations.  The terminal itself holds many secrets, from a hidden train car for presidents to a chamber where you can hear someone talk from 20 feet away!  It also holds a secret saloon!  One that you would never know is there, unless you walk right into it.

 

Hundreds of trains and thousands of passengers that pass through the terminal each day are served by dozens of shops and restaurants inside the long, winding passages.  One of the most famous is the Oyster Bar restaurant.  Known for fresh seafood, the restaurant is a popular place to dine in the city and can even been seen in the opening credits of Saturday Night Live.

 

The main entrance to the Oyster Bar Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal, New York City

The main entrance to the Oyster Bar Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal, New York City

The Oyster Bar opened along with the terminal, itself in 1913.

 

But, hidden off to the side is a little known New York secret… the Oyster Bar contains a separate bar/dining area known as the Oyster Bar Saloon.

 

Inside the dimly lit Oyster Bar Saloon

Inside the dimly lit Oyster Bar Saloon

I had never heard of the place, but a co-worker who frequents Grand Central discovered it and invited me along for a trip.

 

The entrance is located along the back side wall of the Oyster Bar restaurant.

The entrance is located along the back side wall of the Oyster Bar restaurant.

To find it, you must enter the main Oyster Bar, located atop the ramp to the dining concourse.  Once inside, make an immediate right and walk all the way to the side wall.  Then, make a left and the door will be located a few feet in front of you to the right.  A simple sign marked “Saloon” behind a row of tables with a gold door, marks the way.  Don’t be scared, you will be walking right through the main restaurant full of diners.

 

Upon arriving inside, a hostess will greet you and seat you.  The place is very popular during their 4:30 – 7pm Happy Hour (Monday through Wednesday), where beers go for as low as $4 and oysters for $1.25.  That’s when we arrived and the place was nearly packed.  The Oyster Bar and the Oyster Bar Saloon were both closed for several months, recently for cleaning and renovation.  Both reopened in March and judging by the crowd inside, people are finding it once again.

 

While the Oyster Bar features the same design curves and lights as Grand Central Terminal, the Oyster Bar Saloon features dark red wallpaper, wood paneling, and dim lights.  It’s actually like stepping back into the 1970’s.  I was almost expecting to see people smoking their Lucky Strikes.  Fortunately, New York banned smoking almost a decade ago.

oyster bar saloon 3

We were seated at a table in the middle of the busy restaurant.  The place was nearly packed.  The bar, which I guess could seat around three dozen, was full and there were only a couple of open tables.  There wasn’t a line, but had we gotten there a few minutes later, we would have had to wait.

 

The massive menu.

The massive menu.

As soon as you sit at the table, the waiter is right there, handing you a giant 8 ½ x 14 menu that’s quite overwhelming.  There are well over a hundred items to order, with seafood making up most of the menu.  For those who don’t care for seafood, there’s a small assortment of salads, burgers, and kids meals.  The menu is the same as what you will find in the main Oyster Bar.

 

The server was back in mere minutes and we ordered drinks.  Most draft beers run from $6-$8, which is about a dollar more than most New York bars, but on par with what you’ll find at one of the city’s train stations.

 

There is so much to choose from, we both needed a few more minutes, but was ready by the time the server returned.

 

I went with the Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes and even though the place was packed, they arrived in about 10 minutes.  The plate featured two large crab cakes, fries, and a saucer of marinara type dipping sauce.

 

The Maryland Crab Cakes. Gordon Ramsay would approve!

The Maryland Crab Cakes. Gordon Ramsay would approve!

These may have been the best crab cakes I’ve ever had!  Absolutely succulent!  The cakes themselves were full of Maryland crab with a hint of carrots and some other vegetable.  This was no imitation crab – this was real and you could tell by the very fresh taste.  I was nearly full after eating both, but still had my fries.  I never thought marinara sauce would work with crab cakes, but it’s the perfect companion!

 

It was well worth $27!

 

The only bad part is the layout of the seating.  Our table was really small and our two meals, took up most of the room.  There was an assortment of condiments on the table including ketchup, hot sauce, and sea salt.  There’s not a lot of room to move around though, let alone store your bag and coat.  I was on the side nearest to the aisle by the bar, and was constantly getting bumped by both servers and other customers.

 

Being in New York City though, they turn tables around here, fast!  As soon as group gets up, a server immediately goes over and removes the plates, while another sets up fresh plates, linen, and napkins.  Tables do not stay empty for long during the afternoon rush.

oyster bar saloon 6

The servers here are well trained and were right on it as soon as my water, beer, or plate was empty.  And they were extremely knowledgeable about that giant menu!

 

By the time we finished our meals, it was around 8pm, and since Happy Hour was over the place started to quickly clear out.  We decided to move to the long L shaped bar for a few more and to check the place out.

 

The other secret staircase entrance.

The other secret staircase entrance…

...leads to this plain gold door.

…leads to this plain gold door.

To the left of the bar is a white staircase that leads to a second little known entrance/exit.  At the top, a non-discreet gold door leads to a side entrance to the subway and a couple of stores, one of which is a Rite-Aid.  While the door is marked with a small sign, it blends in so well — I can say that I’ve walked down that corridor dozens of times, and never noticed it.

 

Another odd feature of the restaurant is the restrooms.  They are definitely worth a look.  Just past the secret stairway, a door leads to a waiting room with chairs, and two doors.  One marked with a baseball glove for the men’s room and the other marked with a pair of leather lips for the ladies room.  People were hanging out in a waiting area, just sitting there between the doors.  Not sure if they were waiting for someone in the can, but it had the feeling of a 70’s doctor’s office.

 

Last call for the bar is at 9pm.  We got one more drink as the place really started to shut down at 9:30.  We paid and walked back through the main Oyster Bar to exit.

 

Interestingly, while the Oyster Bar serves alcohol, to get to an actual bar, you need to enter the Saloon.  The main restaurant consists of long while community tables and has always been designed that way.  So, while the famous Oyster Bar experience gives you the feelings of the early 20th century, the Oyster Bar Saloon fast forwards a few decades later to the 1970’s.  Either way – you win with some of the freshest seafood in Manhattan!

oyster bar saloon 9

THE 411

 

Name: Oyster Bar Saloon

 

What: hidden bar/restaurant

 

Where: Grand Central Terminal, New York City

 

Cross streets:  42nd Street & Park Avenue

 

Subway connections: 4-5-6-7-S and Long Island Railroad

 

Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:30am – 9:30pm, closed Sunday

 

Price range: a little more than most NYC restaurants

 

All the way to the back and to the left in the main Oyster Bar restaurant, lies the Oyster Bar Saloon.

All the way to the back and to the left in the main Oyster Bar restaurant, lies the Oyster Bar Saloon.

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

 

What a neat place to discover!  The food is great and the ambiance is fun.  It kind of feels like you’re part of a secret club when visiting this place. It does feel a little odd walking right through the Oyster Bar restaurant, while people are dining to find that hidden door, but that makes it part of the fun!

 

I’ll definitely be back and would happily take both friends and out of town visitors.  The prices are a little more than what you would pay at a normal NYC restaurant, but you’re paying for fresh seafood and the location.  The beers are about one to two dollars more.

 

Just be forewarned, it can get a little packed during Happy Hour, and there could be a wait.  Go around 7:30pm, after it’s over, for a better chance at a seat and less of a crowd.  They will seat you until 9pm.

Image credit – Victoria Pickering

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Birthday Cake M&M’s Want to Party in Your Mouth

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : March 13, 2014
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Category: Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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M&M’s, the milk chocolate candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hands has been rolling out all kinds of new flavors and now, they’re making every day your birthday with their new Birthday Cake M&M’s.

 

Forrest Mars, Sr., son of the founder of Mars Candy Company came up with idea for M&M’s in the 1930’s.  He had witnessed Spanish War soldiers eating pieces of chocolate candy with a hard chocolate shell that prevented them from melting.  He decided it would make a great item to sell, got a patent for his version, and M&M’s hit stores in 1941 from a factory in Newark, New Jersey.

birthdaycakemandms2

Birthday cake M&M’s come in red, yellow, and blue color pieces.

 

The two M’s in M&M’s represent the names of Forrest Mars, Sr. and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey’s chocolate company president.  This cemented a partnership with Hershey’s to use their milk chocolate in the candy as Hershey’s had control of all rationed chocolate during World War II.  During the war, the candies were sold only to the military where they became an instant hit.  After the war, demand skyrocketed.

 

In 1950, each piece was branded with their now signature M for the first time.  However, it was black until 1954.

 

Also in 1954, Peanut M&M’s were introduced but were only tan in color.

 

Since 1991, M&M’s have been sold in a variety of flavors with the first being peanut butter.  Now, it seems that a new flavor and special limited editions are hitting stores on a regular basis, with the latest being birthday cake flavor.

 

Packaged in a light blue bag, the birthday cake M&M’s are only red, yellow, and blue in color.  The size of the candies are a little bigger than a standard M&M, almost as big as the peanut sized version.

 

The package contained 22 pieces and retailed for $1.42, but was on sale for $1 at CVS.

 

Cross section of a birthday cake M&M.

Cross section of a birthday cake M&M.

Sadly, it’s hard to taste any birthday cake.  The flavor is basically like a regular milk chocolate M&M and the insides are the same color and texture as well.  I’m sure ate side by side there would be a subtle taste difference, but they’re really nothing special (and who would do that, anyway?)

 

Other current M&M flavors include dark chocolate, pretzel, peanut, peanut butter, raspberry, dark mint, almond, and dark chocolate peanut.

 

THE 411

 

Name: birthday cake M&M’s

 

What: special flavor of M&M’s chocolate candies

 

Released: February 2014, mass release scheduled May 2014

 

Website: www.mms.com/

birthdaycakemandms4

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

Skip them and buy a standard bag of M&M’s, because they don’t taste any different.  While this product is a good idea, these need to be reformulated with more birthday cake taste.  These probably won’t be around long, once people realize this flavor is just a gimmick.

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] When Whales Explode…

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : March 6, 2014
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Category: Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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Over the years, I’ve featured all kinds of “caught on tape” blogs.  Well, this week is only for those who have a strong stomach!  When a whale dies at sea, it usually washes ashore on a beach somewhere and causes quite a stink.  It’s the job of local authorities to remove these giant animals before things really get bad.  Well, take a look at these videos (WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE) and think of this the next time you have a bad day at work!

 

Whales are some of the largest creatures to inhabit our planet’s oceans.  Ranging in size from 11 feet to 200 tons, the average life span is 77 years, but they can live well past the century mark.  While known as a gentile giant, these creatures were nearly hunted into extinction, with 2 million being killed during the 20th century.  Now, only a few countries are still on the hunt, while most have given up in hopes of growing the population.  Whalers hunted them for oil, meat, and to make perfume out of their intestines.  The issue of whale hunting was the subject for the time travel film, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

 

Sadly, after the long lives come to and end, many wash up on shore.  If not taken care of, they begin to decompose in only two days.  Who would want to be next to that giant stinky mess?  After they pass, their stomach and intestines fill with gas.  (Think of how you feel after eating a bloating meal!)

 

The following video was recorded last November in the Faroe Islands.  The Faroe Islands are about 200 miles northwest of Scotland with a population of about 50,000.  While under Danish rule, the island is self governed and prohibit whale hunting.  Therefore, the whale in the video was not hunted and died of natural causes.

 

I feel bad for this guy who had to go in and dissect the carcass for removal.  He gets quite a surprise!

 

WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE.  This did air on Faroe national TV across the island.

 

http://youtu.be/dCsMNurn3bQ

 

Since being posted, the video has scored over 4 million hits.

 

This is not the first time a whale explosion has been caught on camera.  Back in November 1980, KATU News in Portland, Oregon was there as another whale washed ashore.  This time, town officials decided to blow it up with dynamite in a huge public spectacle… which quickly goes wrong.  WARNING: MORE GRAPHIC FOOTAGE taken from the original newscast.

 

 

Another video that has scored over 3 million hits.

 

THE 411

 

What: exploding whales caught on tape

 

Why: pressure builds up in whale stomach and intestines after death

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

These videos are kind of crazy!  I think we’ve all learned not to cut into a dead whale.  It’s amazing (and a little educational) how the build up of gas inside can cause such an explosion.  The pressure was enough to destroy a car in the parking lot!  How do you explain that to your insurance company?

 

Judging by the millions who have viewed these videos, just about anything can become a trending topic on the web.

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Judge Joe Brown: Retired & Liquored Up

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : February 27, 2014
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Category: Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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For 15 seasons, Judge Joe Brown’s court kept law and order on daytime television.  His clean cut, down home approach had zero tolerance for thugs and low lifes.  After decades holding court both on and off television, Judge Joe has retired and a video you’re about to see is quite the change from his clean cut image.

 

Judge Joe Brown was born in 1947 and is a retired Shelby County, Tennessee judge.  After years of holding court, he was thrown into the national spotlight after presiding over James Earl Ray’s last appeal in the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  He was removed from the case after making comments about the murder weapon to a local congresswoman.  It was then; he caught the eye of producers of the hottest court show on television, Judge Judy.

 

http://youtu.be/z-xEgySJiUg

 

Judy’s producers noticed the unique way Joe operated his court room. He would listen intently for the facts of the case, picking up on subtitle facts, facial expressions, and mannerisms from the litigants.  Once he was sure he found the guilty party, he would zero in with his down home, no-nonsense approach, and often try to instruct them on where they’ve gone wrong and what to do to put economy in the community instead of being, what he would often say, “a damn fool.”

 

 

Judge Joe Brown’s television series was launched as a companion show to Judge Judy on September 14, 1998.  His main tagline: “protecting womanhood and promoting manhood.”  The show was a ratings success and was recorded in the same studio, with a set located directly behind the back wall of Judge Judy’s, at the Sunset-Bronson Studios in Hollywood.

 

While Judge Joe scored moderate ratings in daytime syndicated television, during the 15th season, his ratings took a slide, and he was informed by CBS, the show’s distribution company, that he would be taking a pay cut.  (He was the second highest paid TV judge, earning $20 million per year.)

 

Judge Joe was not satisfied with this (and reported pay cut down to $5 million per year) and his show was cancelled in spring 2012, with new episodes airing until June and reruns until September.

 

Since leaving TV, it looks like Judge Joe has been living the good life and enjoying his much deserved retirement.  But, in the day of cell phone cameras, people still know his as a celebrity and a video that’s turned up on YouTube, shows a much different version of the clean cut Judge.

 

Take a look at him having one too many double Bombay Sapphires resulting in some slurred speech, posing for photos with women, and having a few foul mouth words about his former TV show.  Note: Viewer discretion advised.

 

http://youtu.be/QCyHSEj0W94

 

Is Judge Joe done being on television.  “I don’t do that bullshit, anymore…” seems to answer that question.

 

THE 411

 

Who: Judge Joe Brown

 

What: former television judge

 

Number of seasons on television: 15

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

As long as he’s not getting behind the wheel drinking and driving, let him enjoy his retirement.  Everyone loses control when they’ve had a few too many (I’m not judging), just most of us are not on national television.  Video like that is gold to the paparazzi.  But hey, Judge Joe Brown is retired and doesn’t seem to care!

 

I also got a laugh at this parody of the Judge Joe video:

 

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Caught: Secret Marketing to Hide Product Downsizing

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : February 20, 2014
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Category: Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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Last week, I was in the drug store looking to pick up a can of body spray when I noticed that one of my favorite products Old Spice had been redesigned.  There were a few of the old cans left on the shelf and when I compared the two, I got quite a surprise.

 

The new product cans are shiny and eye catching.  I immediately noticed how the redesign on the can, now gave it a new higher and thinner shape.  The new Old Spice cans are now much taller than many other body spray products on the shelf.

 

The old and the new. Can you notice the difference in this side by side comparison?

The old and the new. Can you notice the difference in this side by side comparison?

Large bold print shouts NEW to hopefully grab the customer’s attention that the product has gone through a change.  But, it was when I took a look at the fine print, I got angry.

 

Old Spice has reduced the amount of spray, now in each can from 4 oz. to 3.75 oz.

 

So, for the same price ($5.79) – I’m getting less product.  Who likes getting less for their money?  No one!

 

Had I not caught the old and new cans side by side on the shelf, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.  And that’s EXACTLY what marketing companies hope for when they downsize a product.

 

With our current economy, more and more manufacturers are looking to stretch their dollars any way they can.  Many have done this by laying off staff, manufacturing products overseas, or as in this case placing a smaller product on store shelves.

 

I’ve seen this everywhere from soap, to canned goods, to soft drinks.

 

Are you getting less for your money and not even knowing it?

Are you getting less for your money and not even knowing it?

Companies are hoping that the consumer will not notice a small reduction in a product’s size and will use clever tactics, like redesigning the can or proclaiming it’s a NEW design to distract from the fact that you’re getting less for your money.

 

Given the choice, I’d rather Old Spice cut back instead of raising the price of their product.  But, if they were hoping no one would notice – to late… I did!

 

Old Spice has been on the markets since 1934 selling grooming products for men.  Originally a shaving cream and aftershave lotion, since being acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1990, the line has expanded to add deodorants, body washes, and body sprays with scents that target men.

 

THE 411

 

Name:  Old Spice

 

What: product line of male grooming products

 

Founded: 1934

 

Manufacturer: Procter & Gamble

 

Headquarters:  Cincinnati, Ohio

 

Website: www.oldspice.com

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

 

Keep and eye on your favorite products at the store.  It’s not just Old Spice, but many products have been downsized.  I saw something, I said something!

 

Even the bars of soap and my contact lens solutions have been downsized!  Sometimes, the cost actually goes up and you’re getting less product!

 

As long as nobody really notices, manufacturers will continue these tricks.  It’s up to you to be vigilant and notice.  If you don’t like what you see, reach out and give them a piece of your mind!  Go to their website and shoot them a simple email.  It’s your money – get more for it.  Or, at the very least – make them aware that we the consumers have noticed!  A reputable company will at least send you a couple of coupons or some freebies for your trouble.

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] The McGangbang & Other McDonald’s Secret Menu Items

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : February 13, 2014
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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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Ordering an item off a restaurant’s secret menu, can give you the feeling that you’re part of a club, where only special people have the privileged information.  Many restaurants have secret menus, or items that you can order, that aren’t officially on the menu.   Fast food restaurants are no exception, with everyone from Burger King to In and Out Burger getting in on the secret menu act.

 

Some restaurants are more open about their secret items than others.  Dozens of websites and news stories are devoted to finding the newest secret item.  While some have been created by the restaurant specifically, others have been created by fans, and have become lore.  I recently sampled two of McDonald’s secret menu items: The McGangBang and The Land, Sea, and Air Burger.

mcgangbang1

The McGangBang

 

THE MCGANGBANG

 

The McGangBang may be McDonald’s most famous secret menu item and likely, because of the price.  Both items needed to make the sandwich come off the dollar menu, giving you a full meal for only a couple of bucks.

 

Simply put, the McGangBang is a McChicken sandwich, shoved in between the patties of a McDouble.  Each costs $1 on the dollar menu, so for a cheap $2 plus tax, you have this belly busting sandwich!

 

The name is a nod to the adult term, “gang bang” which means to have intercourse with multiple partners at one time.  So, I guess your taste buds are getting multiple flavors at one time?  Obviously, this is not officially sanctioned by the McDonald’s corporation.

 

When I tried ordering this at my local New Jersey McDonald’s, the woman had no idea what I was talking about.  Sadly, she spoke little English, so even ordering regular items became a challenge.  Armed with my knowledge of the sandwich, I ordered the McChicken and a McDouble and assembled them, myself.

mcgangbang2

The taste was pretty good and the sandwich is definitely filling!  The chicken and the beef patties go well together.  The mayo from the McChicken worked well with the ketchup, pickle, and onions of the McDouble.  Each time I chewed, I got a little flavor of chicken and then a little flavor of beef.  The sandwich was a little heavy with all the multiple patties of meat.

 

Maybe a more “in the know” cashier will know about this sandwich, but my first secret menu ordering attempt was a bust.  Some online reports list this as being first served by employees at a Daytona Beach, Florida McDonald’s.  (Again, probably without the consent of the McDonald’s corporation.)

 

 

According to recipes online, you can replace the McDouble with a Big Mac, but I’m not sure how that would work with the secret sauce.  You can also spice this up, by replacing the McChicken with a Spicy McChicken.  I’d definitely try this again, but keep to the original McDouble recipe.

 

Apparently, there is another version known as a McWhitey, which features a Filet-O-Fish sandwiched in between two McChickens.

 

The Land, Sea, and Air Burger

The Land, Sea, and Air Burger

THE LAND, SEA, AND AIR BURGER

 

This giant sandwich looks really nice once assembled!  The land, sea, and air burger consists of a patty of beef (land), fish (sea), and chicken (air) all placed together.  Yes, I know chickens can’t really fly… I’m not responsible for naming this thing!  Would you rather call it the Land, Sea, and Embryo Hatcher Burger?

 

To enjoy this monstrosity, you will have to pony up several bucks.  Only the Hamburger and McChicken are on the dollar menu, so you will need to pay the full price for the Filet-O-Fish to finish this giant sandwich.

 

This time, I tried ordering at a New York City McDonald’s and again, she had no idea what I was talking about.  So, I ordered the three sandwiches separately and assembled everything myself.

 

The taste was really gross.  The tarter sauce from the Filet-O-Fish drowned out all other flavors and the fish was really nasty with the hamburger and chicken.  While it looked impressive when plated, the taste prevented me from finishing this one.

landseaairburger2

I couldn’t find who first came up with the idea for this sandwich, but it is not as much of a cost saver as the McGangBang.  Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

 

The internet is full of McDonald’s secret menu items, but it looks like only fans or bored employees are responsible.  None of these are sanctioned by the restaurant.

 

A few other popular so called McDonald’s secret menu items are:

 

• Big McChicken – a Big Mac, but with the buns replaced with McChicken patties, similar to the KFC Double Down sandwich a few years ago

• Chicken McGriddle – a McGriddle breakfast sandwich with a slab of fried chicken instead of the sausage, egg, or bacon

• Grilled Cheese – cheeseburger with no meat patty or condiments

• Mc1035 – only available from 10:35-11am, when breakfast service is switching over to lunch, featuring two burger patties and cheese (from a McDouble) sandwiched inside an Egg McMuffin

• McCrepe – an order of hotcakes, with a yogurt parfait folded up inside

• McKinley Mac – this was actually served at one time and still is overseas, featuring Quarter Pounder patties, instead of regular burger patties, on a Big Mac

• Monster Mac – 8 burger patties piled inside a Big Mac, variations have appeared on overseas menus

• Pie McFlurry – a McFlurry with an apple pie blended inside

 

While some of these may sound crazy, McDonald’s has an interesting assortment of sandwiches, which ARE being served by their restaurants overseas.  While there are hundreds of sandwiches we never see here, here’s a list of a few more novel ones being offered in foreign markets:

 

The Ebi Filet-O in Japan

The Ebi Filet-O in Japan

• German Sausage Chicken – served in Japan, fried chicken patty, pork sausage, sauerkraut, cheese, and mustard

• Mega Sausage – served for breakfast in Japan, a hot dog with relish and ketchup or mustard

• McPork – served in Japan, a sausage patty with lettuce and sweet & sour sauce

• Ebi Filet-O – served in Japan, a shrimp patty with Thousand Island dressing and lettuce

• Mega Tomago – served in Japan, a double Big Mac with egg and bacon

Ad for the Mega Tomago

Ad for the Mega Tomago

• McD Chicken Porridge – served in Malaysia, porridge with onions and chicken

• Prosperity Burger – served in Malaysia, looks like a McRib, but with black pepper sauce and onions, may be chicken or beef

• McSpaghetti – served in the Philippines

• Seaweed Shaker Fries – served in Asia

• Chicken Maharaja Mac – served in India, a Big Mac with spicy grilled chicken, instead of beef

• McAloo Tiki Burger – potato and chickpea patty with tomato, onions, and tomato mayonnaise

• Brie Nuggets – served in Russia

• McTurco – served in Turkey, two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, cayenne pepper sauce on a pita

The McLobster

The McLobster

• Kiwi Burger – served in New Zealand, with beef, tomato, fried egg, lettuce, and beet root

• McLobster – served in Canada & parts of US, lobster salad on a roll

• Lakeswrap – served in Norway, fried salmon filet, lettuce, cheese, in a tortilla

• McKroket – served in Hungary, fried pastry filled with beef stew on a bun

• McPumpkin Omlet Sandwich – served in Hungary, vegetable beef hash brown, egg, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, on pumpkin seed roll

 

McDonald’s first opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California and along with the rise of the automobile, helped fuel the fast food craze that swept through the United States and now globally.  Their menu of quick service burgers and fries, along with their mascot Ronald McDonald, has become an American icon.

 

While McDonald’s does not have an official company sanctioned secret menu, many other fast food chains do.  Pass along the info if you know of or have tried any!

 

McDonald's restaurant in Miles City, Montana

McDonald’s restaurant in Miles City, Montana

THE 411

 

Name: McGangBang and Land, Sea, and Air Burger

 

What: so called McDonald’s restaurant secret menu items

 

First served: approximately 2006?  Popularity spread with rise of internet

Website: mcdonalds.com

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

 

Don’t be surprised if you get shot down when you ask for one of these at your local McDonald’s.  I don’t want to discourage you from giving it a try.  But, if they have no idea what you are talking about, just do what I did, and order the parts to assemble the sandwiches yourself.

 

Just stay away from the Land, Sea, and Air burger… this thing is just gross!

 

Image credits – loop_oh, albedo20, Tony Chung, Canadian Pacific, and Dave Schott

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] A Man’s Dream: An Entire Bar Devoted to Bacon!

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : January 30, 2014
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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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You take bacon, you take beer, you dedicate a bar to serving them both and you’ve got just about every man’s dream!  It’s happening – in New York City!

 

NYC certainly has no shortage or great restaurants and bars.  Just about any theme or cuisine you desire can be found here.  But, every once in a while a new place just commands special attention – and the new BarBacon is it!  The only question is – what took so long for someone to come up with an entire bar devoted to bacon?

 

Inside BarBacon, New York City.

Inside BarBacon, New York City.

BarBacon opened their doors in December 2013 and judging by the crowd; this place is already a hit!  Last Friday, it was packed with after work New Yorkers hungry for beer and bacon!  As the evening rolled on, the place became standing room only.  By 5pm the bar was completely full.

 

BarBacon's Old Fashioned

BarBacon’s Old Fashioned

Their concept is simple, assorted craft beer and spirits mixed with a menu where just about every item features bacon.  Beers start at $6 ($3 during 4-7pm Happy Hour) and their specialty cocktail menu starts at $13, which includes cocktails like the Bacon Bloody Mary, Smoked Maple Lemonade (lemonade with Maple Syrup), and a Bacon Old Fashion (which comes with a Brown Sugar rim).

 

Their location at 836 9th Avenue between 54th & 55th streets makes it convenient for both locals and tourists.  The interior design features warm wood wall coverings, black bar and table tops, with an open view into the stainless steel kitchen.  Exposed soft lighting helps add to the warm, yet rustic industrial feel.

 

One of the highlights of the appetizer menu is a $20 beer and bacon flight.  Four 4 oz. draft beers are paired with four different types of bacon.  Or, you can opt for a $12 bacon only sampler.

 

Even the garnish on the bacon slides features bacon!

Even the garnish on the bacon slides features bacon!

The restaurant proudly serves the following bacon varieties:

 

• Nueske’s Smoked Applewood Bacon – family smoked bacon from Wisconsin

• Nodine’s Peppered Bacon – fine coated in course black pepper and smoked with hickory & maple hard wood, from the New England Berkshires

• BarBacon Lamb Bacon – salty, smoky, sweet lamb bacon

• Father’s Country Maple Bacon – from a family farm in Kentucky, features flavor of natural, hickory smoke with a glaze of brown sugar

• Peppered Turkey Bacon

• BarBacon Veggie Bacon

 

This place has cooking bacon down to a science!  While bacon is generally really greasy, it is not the case here. Each slice is cooked medium-well.  Not too crispy, but not rubbery, either.  They have found the perfect cooking temperature!

IMG_1332

The bacon lobster roll.

 

The sandwich menu features multiple specialty burgers, sandwiches, and rolls – all of course, come with bacon.

 

While I opted for the classic BLT (which was awesome with a huge stack of bacon for $11), my friend Craig ordered their much hyped lobster bacon roll ($18), featuring chunks of real lobster, which he said was absolutely fantastic.

 

The bacon popcorn.

The bacon popcorn.

Another of their crazy menu items is the bacon popcorn, which features small chunks of bacon shaken into a funnel of popcorn – another home run!

 

The BLT with a side of bacon potato salad. Note: sides do cost extra & are not included with all sandwiches.

The BLT with a side of bacon potato salad. Note: sides do cost extra & are not included with all sandwiches.

To go with my sandwich, I also tried a side of their bacon potato salad.  It featured large chunks of bacon, mixed in with large chunks of potatoes, egg, and a light mayo.  I enjoyed it, but found the egg taste a little much.  I’m not a fan of giant chunks of hard boiled egg and yoke, which this prominently featured.

 

They also offer a small dessert menu, which includes ice cream and cookies.  As of now, none of the dessert items really feature bacon, but online rumors state they are working on their own bacon ice cream and hope to have that ready in a few weeks.

 

With the Super Bowl in town this weekend, I’m sure fans would love to make this place a highlight of their Big Apple experience!

IMG_1328

THE 411

 

What: BarBacon

 

Location: 836 9th Avenue, New York City

 

Ambience: bar/casual dining

 

Website: www.barbacon.com

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS

 

This place is quickly becoming one of New York City’s best kept secrets and is part of the new gastropub restaurant phase.  Once the place fills up, it can get a little loud, but I was there on a busy Friday night and people were drinking the work week away.  We got there before the crowd, but the volume went up as the place got packed.  I saw multiple people walk in and walk back out when they saw how busy it was.  Your best value is definitely during the 4-7pm happy hour.

 

Expect to pay around $50 for a meal that includes appetizer, beer, entrée, and dessert.  Of course, the more drinks you have the higher the bill.  The cost for the beer is about $1 more than you generally pay around the Hell’s Kitchen area in my opinion for a name brand draft.

 

IMG_1339It’s a great meal and a great place to talk about.  It’s in a convenient location for locals and would be great for tourists as well.  I plan on bringing my out of town friends there and definitely will be back for another meal.  While it’s probably not the best place to take a first date or kids, more established couples or guys out on the town will find it the perfect spot.  Besides, who doesn’t like bacon!?!?

 

While there is a small vegetarian menu, sadly this is probably not their scene!

 

You’ll find more information about the restaurant on their Facebook page.  Their main website is still under construction.  Also, look for daily specials on the blackboards above the kitchen.

[Kicking Back with Jersey Joe] Caught on Tape: Fight over Fried Chicken

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Posted by :Jersey Joe On : January 23, 2014
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Category: Been, Columns, Going, Kickin' Back with Jersey Joe, Topics, Travel

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Sometimes you just end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Last weekend, my friends and I had one of those moments when simply trying to get some late night fried chicken.

 

(WARNING: strong language in video)

 

 

After living in Northern New Jersey / New York City area for all these years, one thing that I’ve come to learn is that each town, city, and suburb has their own iconic fried chicken joint.  Many of these places are open until the wee hours of the morning and Hollywood Fried Chicken on Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City is no different.

hollywood fried chicken

Hollywood Fried Chicken on Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ

 

The fried chicken is super cheap, super tasty, and probably not the best for you.  The breading is not too spicy, but is crisp while the chicken inside remains moist.  Their menu consists of fried chicken and all the sides, plus burgers and gyros.  There are three locations in New Jersey and this restaurant has been a neighborhood staple for decades.  Just say the name – and most locals know all about it!

 

And by cheap, I mean you can purchase a 15 piece chicken box with 2 sides and biscuits that will feed the entire family for $13!  While there are dozens of door buster meal deals, an individual chicken wing starts at the rock bottom price of 75 cents!

 

The restaurant opens at 10am and doesn’t close until 4am.  Those late night hours often make the place a last stop for those who’ve had a little too much to drink bar hopping all night.

 

We’re not sure what started the brawl.  As we turned the corner from Jersey Avenue, you could hear lots of commotion and arguing going on inside the restaurant.  Next thing you know it, one group is pushing the other and within a minute, people spill out the front door onto the street.

 

No one was seriously hurt and we left right after I stopped recording.  We had a conversation with two other customers who were inside when everything happened.  As one of them told us:

 

“It was stupid.  One girl bumped into the other and things got out of hand.”

 

The Jersey City police heading toward the scene.

The Jersey City police heading toward the scene.

Within about 10 minutes after everything broke up and being called, the Jersey City police finally arrived on the scene.

 

The sad thing is in this day and age with all the lawsuits and cameras, a simple misunderstanding like this can really blow up into big trouble.  While some of it was fueled by alcohol (and you could clearly see at least one girl, barely able to walk) too many people are looking to sue.  Just watch daytime TV with all the injury lawyer commercials!

 

Hollywood Fried Chicken has a 3½ star rating on Yelp with reviews mixed from really good to really bad.  Many of the reviews note the rowdy customers and late night drunks, but thank Hollywood for saving them from a massive hangover.

 

But, like it or hate it, the restaurant has a profitable business model.  The place is always busy no matter what time of day and they turn out lots of chicken during business hours.  They may want to add some more late night security, however.

 

Does your neighborhood have a late night chicken place like this?

 

THE 411

 

What: Hollywood Fried Chicken

 

Where: Jersey City, New Jersey

 

Date of incident: after midnight, January 20, 2014

 

JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:

banana pudding

The Hollywood Fried Chicken banana pudding.

 

The neighborhood along the Jersey City waterfront across the river from New York City continues to gentrify.  What were once railroads and warehouses are now expensive rentals and high rise condos.  Hollywood Fried Chicken has certainly seen the changes in the neighborhood over the decades.

 

The food is really good; sadly the crowd sometimes is not.  I eat there on a regular basis; I just scope it out, first.  If it looks packed and rowdy inside – I pass.

 

But, you’ve got to try their banana pudding!  It’s absolutely succulent and quite the little hidden bonus item on their menu!

 

Image credit – Paul Lowry