John Rapaglia lives in the great city of New York, has a great job, he’s a professor of marine biology, and lots of great friends. Nevertheless, he quits his job and his apartment and wants to emigrate. The 36-year-old wants to try his luck again, starting from scratch: at the grill in Kiel, with minced meat and hamburgers.
An American dream comes true in Kiel: “John’s Burgers.”
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During his studies as a doctoral student, John lived on the fjord for two years and even then, to the delight of his students, he occasionally barbecued. Now he wants to make his dream come true with the friends of old and open his own burger restaurant.
However, there are plenty of hurdles and obstacles: The old bakery that John wants to move into has to be gutted. The noise protection report does not arrive on time, nor does the fire protection report, the tiles are too big and the entrance door is too small. After three months of construction at the latest, John has to open and sell burgers, otherwise there won’t be enough money.
A new life in Northern Germany
He has three months to “push” the meat prices at the organic farmers from the region, to find the right sheep cheese for the cheeseburger or a convincing recipe for the vegetarian burger. Three months in which one thing must not happen: John must not lose his enthusiasm. “die nordstory” accompanies John Rapaglia on his last days in New York until the opening of John’s Burgers in his dream city Kiel.
What do his university colleagues think of his emigration and the burger idea? Some friends even join in on his adventure. And at the end of his incredible story, John asked himself: Was it all worth it? A new life in Northern Germany? And: is it still there, the enthusiasm?
