January 30

Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama's  Birthday
 
 
Wilmer Valderrama was born (in America, if you can believe it) on January 30, 1980. Although he’s appeared in numerous plays and film adaptations, Wilmer Valderrama is known to most fans for one thing and one thing only: Fez.

Valderrama played Fez (short for “Foreign Exchange Student”) on Fox’s highly successful That 70’s Show, which ran for eight seasons and hasn’t left syndication since. The show’s clever writing and capable acting imparted depth to what would otherwise have been one-dimensional caricatures, and Fez is no exception. Known as “Fez” because his real name (which we never hear) is unpronounceable in English, he came to America from an unknown island nation to attend high school, where he quickly fell in with the rest of the show’s principals. Fez’s childlike personality, foreign quirks and misunderstandings of American social mores were consistent sources of humor for the show.

Fez was a dedicated skirt-chaser, although quite an unsuccessful one. Valderrama carries this personality trait over into the real world, as for a time he was known as something of a Lothario. He famously bragged to Howard Stern that he took onetime-girlfriend Mandy Moore’s virginity, and had a short-lived affair with Lindsay Lohan in 2004. He also claimed to be intimately familiar with Jennifer Love Hewitt, although the actress later denied this.

 
Valderrama also hosted MTV’s short-lived insult game show “Yo Momma,” which pitted contestants against each other in a televised version of The Dozens, where they attempted to out-insult each other to win glory and prizes. The show lasted three seasons.

In Fast Food Nation (2006), Valderrama  received good reviews for playing an illegal immigrant from Mexico named Raul who found work in a Colorado slaughterhouse. So what would be the most appropriate dish to serve Wilmer on his birthday than a popular specialty that is a tribute to both his That 70’s Show and Fast Food Nation roles?
 

Fez Burger

 

 
Ingredients
 
 
1 lb ground chuck
1/2 pound merguez (North African-style lamb sausage)*
2 oz dried apricots, diced
2 oz dried dates, diced
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3 TB chopped fresh cilantro
 
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3 TB chopped fresh cilantro
2 TB chopped fresh mint leaves
2 tsp harissa
2 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper sauce
 
 
* casing discarded
 
 
Instructions
 
1. Combined all of the ingredients and form into four patties.
2. Grill about 3-4 minutes on each side depending on your preference for medium or well-done burger.
 
 

Serves 4

 

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes