Three jump out at me. The first was chicken tacos at a little roadside place near Tulum in Mexico. The second was foie gras at Lautrec, a French restaurant in Nemacolin resort. Also on my short list were the boat noodles at a little canal side stall near Victory Monument in Bangkok. This was the biggest surprise, as my son had to convince me to even try it. The sight of the chef ladling pig's blood into the broth was intimidating. The fact that it was one of the best thing I'd ever eaten, at about $0.30/bowl, caught me completely by surprise.
What's the best meal (or meals) you've ever had?
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Rijsttafel in Amsterdam on vacation
Thanks, Dave . . . memory is a funny thing, and it HAS been more than 35 years since the family had gone.
My memory aligns with yours of Hwy 6. My parents are from near the other end of Hwy 6 so our family was often heading up six to visit relatives. East side of six, a bit outside Hamilton so Burlington or maybe Waterdown, sat The Plainsman. My dad had eaten there, business lunches but the rest of us never made it inside.
dave
I can totally relate to this, so true. Posted this originally back in December, in the 'Comfort Food' thread.
Original post;
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...kout-Theme-Comfort-Food?p=7861843#post7861843
dave
I know you have said that before, but have we ever had a thread about it? If so, maybe we need a new one? I brought up, in another thread, a hoagie I had years ago, and it got me thinking about a few other things that I have stuck in my memory. Or maybe we can just bring it up here.
Parione, Florence, Christmas day. Lobster risotto, balsamic glazed filet of beef, flourless chocolate cake.
We lived in Bangkok for three years and just about every meal was pretty special - it doesn't matter what the cuisine is, it's really good. And of course the Thai food is amazing.
Outside Thailand, we spend a lot of time in France and this is by far the best we have tried http://restaurant.michelin.fr/restaurant/france/75012-paris-12/le-cotte-roti/68g6ih6
Outside Thailand, we spend a lot of time in France and this is by far the best we have tried http://restaurant.michelin.fr/restaurant/france/75012-paris-12/le-cotte-roti/68g6ih6
As others have mentioned, there are many different reasons for a meal to be memorable. Outstanding food helps, but if the atmosphere and company aren't the best then a large part of the picture is missing.
Having lived outside of my homeland for many, many years I can say that some of my best meals have been get togethers with family and friends- often home cooking and always done with passion and served with the appropriate wines.
Having lived outside of my homeland for many, many years I can say that some of my best meals have been get togethers with family and friends- often home cooking and always done with passion and served with the appropriate wines.
Australia, Owen.
I love this thread, I have a few memorable meals. The first being the fried chicken Sunday dinner at my Grandparent's house I described in the other thread. Secondly, in the early 80's a family fried gave my mother an International cookbook, and one of my favorites was steak Diane, my mom would make it her stainless steel electric skillet, we even flambéed it with Grand Marnier... It was quite the show for us, a pat of fresh herb butter melting on top of the steak, beefy, salty, unctuous heaven.
Several years later, as a teen, we got to take a family vacation to Europe for a mad dash tour that my parents had saved up for years to do. On the stretch of Highway somewhere between Brussels and Paris, the bus stopped at a little place that appeared as if it was converted from and old barn, ancient with exposed wood beams on the inside. My family was a little lost, along with the rest of the Yanks, as the proprietors spoke only French, and our guide was busy at the time. Fortunately a part of the tour group was a family of either Haitians, or Trinidad Tobagans... I can't remember, well, they were in heaven happily chatting away in French, and ordering beers, and plates of food. Somehow one of them looked my way, and saw the look of hunger and feeling out of place, and then I next see him motioning to my Dad and I to come over to their table, where in broken English says that we need to eat, and hands my dad a big tray of Sandwiches, and emphatically shaking his head side to side, and saying no, no, no when my Dad tried to pull out his wallet.
Well that sandwich was something I'll never forget! Crusty, yet pillowy soft on the interior baguette, slices of salty ham, with cold butter that was the color of Marigolds. I'm sure it was all fresh made, I don't know what else I had at that meal, but the sandwich is the one of my dreams. I learned something very meaningful from that encounter, and it's a kindness that I haven't forgotten to this day.
That same trip, we spent three days in London, and after a day of sightseeing, we wandered into a dark neighborhood pub where we we seated in one of those quaint back rooms that set designers attempt to create for period piece films, we ended up getting a simple Ploughman's lunch, and oh boy, it was good! The waiter asked my Dad if I was over 15, which I was I was 16 at the time, so imagine my surprise when I was served a small glass of Brown beer with my meal, I only ended up drinking about half of it, but it was a simple discovery of balance. The richness of the Stilton cheese, the bitterness of the beer, the crusty bread with butter, and the pickled onions in malt vinegar.
Several years later, as a teen, we got to take a family vacation to Europe for a mad dash tour that my parents had saved up for years to do. On the stretch of Highway somewhere between Brussels and Paris, the bus stopped at a little place that appeared as if it was converted from and old barn, ancient with exposed wood beams on the inside. My family was a little lost, along with the rest of the Yanks, as the proprietors spoke only French, and our guide was busy at the time. Fortunately a part of the tour group was a family of either Haitians, or Trinidad Tobagans... I can't remember, well, they were in heaven happily chatting away in French, and ordering beers, and plates of food. Somehow one of them looked my way, and saw the look of hunger and feeling out of place, and then I next see him motioning to my Dad and I to come over to their table, where in broken English says that we need to eat, and hands my dad a big tray of Sandwiches, and emphatically shaking his head side to side, and saying no, no, no when my Dad tried to pull out his wallet.
Well that sandwich was something I'll never forget! Crusty, yet pillowy soft on the interior baguette, slices of salty ham, with cold butter that was the color of Marigolds. I'm sure it was all fresh made, I don't know what else I had at that meal, but the sandwich is the one of my dreams. I learned something very meaningful from that encounter, and it's a kindness that I haven't forgotten to this day.
That same trip, we spent three days in London, and after a day of sightseeing, we wandered into a dark neighborhood pub where we we seated in one of those quaint back rooms that set designers attempt to create for period piece films, we ended up getting a simple Ploughman's lunch, and oh boy, it was good! The waiter asked my Dad if I was over 15, which I was I was 16 at the time, so imagine my surprise when I was served a small glass of Brown beer with my meal, I only ended up drinking about half of it, but it was a simple discovery of balance. The richness of the Stilton cheese, the bitterness of the beer, the crusty bread with butter, and the pickled onions in malt vinegar.
New Year's Eve dinner 1999 in Madrid, Spain with my parents and other relatives. Squid in its own ink was one of the dishes that I recall clearly. Also the eating of the grapes as the clock rang in 2000.
A few year's later, a group of seven dining at Restaurant Christian Etienne in Avignon, France. We sat for dinner around 8pm and were a bit flummoxed as none of us spoke much French. One gentleman came to our rescue. He introduced himself in a stream of indecipherable French, then transitioned smoothly to American English. It turned out he was the sommelier and was originally from Nevada. He proceeded to take care of us all night. Suggestions for menu choices, wine, cheese, after dinner drinks, etc. We left around midnight. As we departed, he told us to meet him at a bar near our hotel. About 12:30 he shows up and escorts us to an after-hours techno club that was in an ancient nunnery. We drank Champagne and took in the sights until about 3am. Unforgettable....
A few year's later, a group of seven dining at Restaurant Christian Etienne in Avignon, France. We sat for dinner around 8pm and were a bit flummoxed as none of us spoke much French. One gentleman came to our rescue. He introduced himself in a stream of indecipherable French, then transitioned smoothly to American English. It turned out he was the sommelier and was originally from Nevada. He proceeded to take care of us all night. Suggestions for menu choices, wine, cheese, after dinner drinks, etc. We left around midnight. As we departed, he told us to meet him at a bar near our hotel. About 12:30 he shows up and escorts us to an after-hours techno club that was in an ancient nunnery. We drank Champagne and took in the sights until about 3am. Unforgettable....
Good story and good people.
I recently visited Vietnam, amongst other places, with my girlfriend. We watched a street food programme beforehand which featured a restaurant that served just one dish in Hanoi, so we had to try it!
It's called cha ca - fish with turmeric, fried at the table with dill and spring onions. We were showed how to prepare it then you're left to your own devices. Add some rice noodles to your bowl, add some sprigs of holy basil and coriander, some finely sliced spring onions (scallions) top with some of the cooked veggies and herbs, add a piece of fish and top with peanuts and what I think was a sweetened mix of fish sauce and lemon juice. Absolutely outstanding, and primarily because of the fish. I think it may have been slightly fermented as I've never tasted any fish like it. Extremely soft, pink in the middle (white fish, cooked through) with almost a smoked pork flavour to it. Maybe not the best dish I've ever eaten, but it was a foodie highlight of the trip and something totally unique. All for $6.50 each with a local beer. If you're ever in Hanoi, seek one of the cha ca places out!
It's called cha ca - fish with turmeric, fried at the table with dill and spring onions. We were showed how to prepare it then you're left to your own devices. Add some rice noodles to your bowl, add some sprigs of holy basil and coriander, some finely sliced spring onions (scallions) top with some of the cooked veggies and herbs, add a piece of fish and top with peanuts and what I think was a sweetened mix of fish sauce and lemon juice. Absolutely outstanding, and primarily because of the fish. I think it may have been slightly fermented as I've never tasted any fish like it. Extremely soft, pink in the middle (white fish, cooked through) with almost a smoked pork flavour to it. Maybe not the best dish I've ever eaten, but it was a foodie highlight of the trip and something totally unique. All for $6.50 each with a local beer. If you're ever in Hanoi, seek one of the cha ca places out!
I lived just across the river from there for several years. It was a nice place. I only went a few times when relatives were in town. More memories having a beer or so at the Harp.
