All time, top five...

High Fidelity is not only a great book, it's a great film too - something I normally only like to attribute to Stephen King texts*. What resonates so well with me from the Nick Hornby book (and indeed the film adaptation) is the consistent categorisation of everything, and I do mean everything, into personal all time top fives. I don't know, but there's something very satisfying and very simple about putting one's favourite albums or films or anything of worth into a top five caboodle.

Perhaps my next few posts on here will detail a few of my more important top fives (believe me, I have a fair few)? For now, I'll post one that I have recently updated this week and that is my all time, top five favourite cheeseburgers. Bear in mind, that with my top fives, number one is never better than number five; they're all good and that is why they are in the list. Drumroll please...

Number one:
GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) - This is a chain of up market burger eateries in the UK actually started by a New Zealand chef and boy is it tasty. The entry into my top five here however, is their very basic but insanely delicious cheeseburger. Plenty of mayo, awesomely fresh romaine lettuce, a good slab of cheddar that isn't too sharp, and the best Aberdeen Angus beef patty you've ever tasted.

Number two:
In-n-Out Burger - I first tried this California exclusive** back at the beginning of 2009 when I studied abroad in Sacramento, and even though I knew what to expect then, wow what a burger! I've finally nailed my perfect order though--taking account of all those hidden augmentations you can make--to a 4x4, no onions, extra lettuce and extra spread. Perfect. Evidently, this is not your typical fast food burger joint by any stretch of the imagination! Everything is freshly prepared, in fact, one of the main reasons the place hasn't expanded is because a location HAS to be within a day's drive of their meat processing plant! That is quality you can definitely taste!

Number three:
Rubicon Brewing Company, Sacramento CA - I know, not a burger place specifically but this local microbrewery in Sacramento CA actually serves one of the best burgers I've ever had! Again, super fresh ingredients and nothing crazy. A great American tasting*** all beef patty with fresh tomatoes, onions and a huge wedge of romaine lettuce! A very recent, but very welcome addition to my all time top five!

Number four:
The Old Studio Coffee House, Witney UK - Again, not a burger joint per se but the best bad burger you've ever had! A favourite at my old job for both me and my colleagues, make sure you order it with cheese, lettuce and mayonnaise! So bad it's awesome.

Number five: Jose's Fish Bar, Witney UK - Another home town favourite, this typical chip shop burger comes complete with a no fuss thin patty that, rather unusually for such burgers, covers the entire surface area of the bottom bun! It's greasy and messy but oh so good! I make sure to order mine with lettuce and fried onions and of course, the mayo!

So that's it! My all time top five favourite burgers. The list my change as you might expect, but for now these are the best five burgers available in my life!

* - Stephen King actually has the most book to film adaptations of any author ever and as a result they're not all great! So there is an element of sarcasm in this sentence which I don't think will translate. I think for it to make sense, you really need to see the film Maximum Overdrive, then it will make sense. Yes.


** - Whilst I've stated California exclusive, I am indeed aware that In-n-Out has locations in Nevada, Utah and Arizona.


*** - Yes, American beef does taste different and sometimes, depending on what you're eating, there really isn't an alternative.

The omnipresent flip flops

Omnipresent is perhaps the wrong word. Ubiquitous ... also doesn't quite cut it. I'd like to say that my Picnic Sport (contender for best brand name ever?) flip flops have been everywhere with me and when I come to think of it, they actually have, for almost half my life. I got these bad boys when I was eleven, holidaying in the Biscay region of Northern Spain. You will now undoubtedly be thinking, 'wow, you had big feet for an eleven year-old' and I will agree, yes, I did. But don't let that detract from the awesomeness of these stylish, molded-to-my-foot-shape beauties, they have literally been on every holiday and traveling expedition since then. Which includes, and is not limited to everywhere from Thailand to Vegas to Kenya.

I am understandably very reluctant to part with them. In fact, at the request of both my family and girlfriend (and come to think of it, my girlfriend's family), I have been asked to 'upgrade' the Picnic Sport's on countless occasions yet, thankfully, they remain.

Jonty x

American Psycho

...is a pretty intense book. I am sure there are many of you who have seen the film adaptation of this Bret Easton Ellis book, and rather paradoxically, I urge you to simultaneously stay away and also pick up the original text. Although I haven't finished the book yet (I'm about three quarters of the way through), it is in equal measure both graphically shocking and interesting. For those of you who haven't read, or know very little about the book, it focusses on the life of Wall Street 'yuppie' Patrick Bateman (played in the film version by Christian Bale, pictured above) as he indulges in psychotic, murderous rampages when he is not at the day job. He becomes seemingly more unhinged and blood thirsty as the book progresses and I can only imagine how all his crazy antics will pan out - I am definitely up for seeing what will happen though. Is that wrong?

Anyway, if you want a book that will both shock and grab you, have a look at American Psycho. I actually read that in New Zealand and Australia, it is illegal to sell the book to anyone under 18 and it actually comes shrink wrapped in store! All the more reason to check it out!

As a side note, if you want some awesome music to listen to, I am currently spinning Saves The Day's 'Stay What You Are' album - it undoubtedly rocks.

Jonty x

So...

I am going back to Sacramento at the end of September and cannot wait! I am hoping the weather here in the UK holds out until then and I can enjoy an extended summer / autumn until the New Year! Out of everything that California has to offer, I think I am most looking forward to revisiting my love for In n Out Burger. Back in Janurary last year I made this video of myself eating an 8x8 and am from today preparing myself to step it up to perhaps a 10x10 or even a 12x12. For those of you who also enjoy this fantastic West Coast burger establishment and do not always find yourselves propinquitous to all it offers, might I urge you to revel in Kenji Lopez's meticulous breakdown of an animal style double-double at A Hamburger Today. Other than that, I just found out that...

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Next time...

try this. When it's super hot out, rather than having an adequately chilled bottle of Dr. Pepper at hand from your fridge, why not put said bottle in the freezer? After a lengthy and unbiased testing stage, I have concluded that freezing a 2 litre bottle of the delicious liquid (from store / room temperature) for two hours offers the absolute perfect coldness. Reeefreshing!