Show 25, April 13, 2013: George Motz, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author, journalist and burger expert

George MotzGeorge’s (a Brooklyn resident) burger epiphany started in Los Angeles some ten years ago at The Apple Pan so he’s tops in our book right from the start. He obviously has good taste.

His new series for Travel Channel, “Burger Land” debuts on Monday evening, April 15th. Appropriately enough the first city profiled is Los Angeles. What’s great about the series is that it’s as much about the stories of the owners of these iconic restaurants as it is about the incredible burgers. If we take Los Angeles as an example you’re going to hear fun stories that have previously been pretty much been untold.

Hamburger America” was George’s second documentary film which was completed in Spring of 2005. The success of that led to the publication of the state-by-state guidebook, Hamburger America. A revised edition of Hamburger America is now in print. It belongs in every burger lovers’ library.

Show 14, January 26, 2013: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)

Eating Las Vegas the 50 Essential RestaurantsAl is part of an unlikely group of three local restaurant critics who dominate the Las Vegas restaurant review scene. The other two members of this exclusive trio are the scholarly Max Jacobson who reviews for Vegas Seven and John Curtas, esq., a practicing attorney.

Over three years ago Al Mancini came up with the idea of penning the definitive guidebook to the 50 essential restaurants in Las Vegas. The thought was that it would be updated annually. Al brought in fellow critics Max and John to add diversity to the selection process and sold the idea to Huntington Press in Las Vegas.

For a restaurant to make it into the “50 essential” all three critics must agree. This is where the fun starts because the three seldom agree on anything! One of the highlights of the book is the list in the back of restaurants that didn’t make it because of a veto. You have the explanation from the nominator about why it was included and then the thumbs down from the critic who disagreed.

Also in the book is a useful section on where to get specific food items. For instance there are helpful listings for beer, buffets, burgers, pizza, steakhouses, Sunday Brunch, and sushi.

Eating Las Vegas : The 50 Essential Restaurants is now in its 3rd Edition.  It’s a value @ $12.95.