My House: Pancake Supreme Sandwich

Where: My House - LBI, NJ

What: The Pancake Supreme Sandwich

Build: 2 pancakes griddle fried in bacon grease with American cheese, egg over easy, maple syrup, bacon, salt & pepper.

Comment: Yeah, I know what you're thinking, but sometimes a homemade dish is so good it needs to be shared. This creation was the byproduct of my daughter and her boyfriend making breakfast for the family this weekend. Everything about this thing shouted "awesome". Check the autopsy shot... you can almost taste it. The sweet-savory contrast of salty bacon and real Vermont maple syrup was distinct - 10/10.

White Castle: Cheeseburger

Where: White Castle, Clifton, NJ

What: Cheeseburger

Build: If you don't know what a White Castle burger is then you've obviously arrived at this website in error. (sucks for you)  This was the first hamburger I ate as a child and I've been in love ever since. White Castle's marketing of the word "crave" is a very real thing because once you've got the taste, you can't go long without returning for sack-full. They are salty and moist with great onion flavor and creamy cheese and it's all contrasted with a nice tart pickle slice. Within the past few years, I've been eating the double cheeseburgers which I can only describe as "creamy".  Just amazing. I'll be eating these before the week is out. 10/10

Click to enlarge this beauty...

This is a shot of WC breakfast sandwich I got in Kentucky while on a burger cruise. When I saw fried bologna, egg & cheese on the menu I just had to get a few...

This is also the only Fast Food restaurant I've ever seen that cracks a fresh egg on the griddle to order! The big 3 burger chains could learn something here....

Can't ya smell em' ?

The Beach Haven Fishery: Blushing Shrimp Po-Boy

Where: Beach Haven Fishery, Long Beach Island, NJ

What: The Blushing Shrimp Po-Boy

Build: Shrimp sauteed in butter, olive oil and garlic with fresh pomodoro tomatoes, fresh backed garlic bread, mozzarella, fresh chopped basil

Comment: Once again, my weekly visit to the BHF left me awe struck. The photos below speak for themselves. If you haven't gotten a chance to visit the BHF yet, you need to make time. Flavors continue to far exceed prices here.  10/10

CLOSED! Capt. John's Mr. Breakfast: Bill's Breakfast Burger

CLOSED!

**SECOND ATTEMPT**

Where:

 Capt. John's Mr. Breakfast, LBI, NJ

What:

 Bill's Breakfast Burger

Build:

 1/3 lb. burger topped with American cheese, Taylor Ham ("pork roll" to out-of-staters), 2 eggs over easy on toasted/buttered kaiser roll.

Comments:

 The last time I had the special breakfast burger at Capt. John's the burger was awesome and if not for being slightly off on temperature, it would have been a 10 of 10. Well, this time Judy, (our awesome waitress) brought the goods and I was in Heaven. Thanks to all the wonderful staff at Capt. John's. 10/10

The Beach Haven Fishery: Black Cowboy Burger

Where: Beach Haven Fishery, Long Beach Island, NJ

What: The Black Cowboy Burger

Build: 1/2 pound blackened 100% black Angus beef, huge onion ring, chipotle/sun dried tomato mayo,  American/blue cheese blend, butter toasted ciabatta roll.

Comment: I was told I now have "kitchen rights" and was invited into the kitchen to see this master piece (among other dishes) being built. It is another award winning combo of flavors from the BHF kitchen. Chef Mike, aka "Magic Mike" blew my doors off with this burger. I usually never order anything blackend because the flavor of the rub is always too overpowering for me but Chef Mike said it was good and he hasn't been wrong yet. The American/blue cheese blend worked great too, but the onion ring was a stroke of genius. This is no minor league ring, this is a large, thick cut onion battered perfectly and the fact that only one was on the burger made all the difference because it did not overpower any other flavor. A generous dollop of their homemade chipotle/sun dried tomato mayo on that toasted roll and all bets were off, this is an award winner... damn it was good.... even counter girl, Lauren got in on the action. 10/10

CLOSED! Merchant House Tavern: "Go Big or Go Home" Burger

CLOSED!

Where: 

The Merchant House Tavern, Fairfield, NJ

What: 

The "Go Big or Go Home" burger

Build: 

2 - 8oz burgers, thick cut hickory smoked bacon, Swiss and Parmesan cheese blend, grilled onion and tomato, sauteed portobello mushroom cap.

Comments: 

Sometimes you just know a burger is going to be a great one as soon as it's placed in front of you, and there are so few times a burger actually floors me - this was one of those times. The name of this beauty alone - "go big or go home" was enough to suck me in (I'm easy when it comes to burgers) and this one had me at "hello". I wasn't even looking for a burger, I was just visiting the Merchant with my Wife for our monthly Polenta appy (that's another review in itself) and a few glasses of wine when this burger jumped off the menu. Of all the times to be caught without my camera, sorry, but we'll have to settle for iPhone photos till my next visit.
2 full 8oz fresh ground patties grilled to medium-rare perfection.

Bottom to top description: burger patty, portobello mushroom, Swiss/Parmesan blend, thick cut hickory smoked bacon, burger patty, grilled tomato & onion, Swiss/Parmesan blend, another layer of thick cut hickory smoked bacon, all on a toasted kaiser roll and all served by our awesome waiter (Jimmy) and washed down with a glass of Chianti = Perfection. You NEED to go to the Merchant House Tavern. 10/10

    

Biscuitville: Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a Biscuit

Where: Biscuitville,  Winston-Salem, NC

What: Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a biscuit

Build: Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, scrambled eggs on house-made biscuit.

Comments: This road trip was in May, and I thought I deleted these photos by accident, but found 'em!!  After landing in Greensboro airport, my brother took my wife and I here on our way to his house. Great little "slow food" joint in NC. Damn good breakfast sandwich 9/10. 

Okay, okay, so I snuck in a Fried bologna with cheese and a fried egg, so shoot me. It made me realize how under-utilized fried bologna is in the breakfast arena. Blame the food snobs. (I hate you food snobs).

The Beach Haven Fishery: Blackened Grouper Sandwich

Where: Beach Haven Fishery, Long Beach Island, NJ

What: Blackened Grouper Sandwich

Build: Blackened Grouper, Broccoli Rabe sauteed in olive oil & garlic (of course), fresh baked roll smeared with chipotle mayo, house made green roasted peppers, topped with provolone cheese and a drizzle of olive oil and a balsamic glaze.

Comment: Okay, so I can't stay away from this place on the weekend - but just look at these hi-res beauty's below, can you blame me? This sandwich rang a few bells that haven't been rung in a while. I had flavors shooting around my mouth like July 4th came early. Kudos to the BHF once again. 10/10