UltimateList
This is a special list dedicated to the Ultimate Epicurean Experiences of the World. It may be the only reason for visiting this site! I welcome your submissions.
How does something make the list? I must obsess about it for days after the meal, and I must order it without hesitation the next time I come back to the place. And I must talk about it. And dream about it. And tell random people about it. Some of the places and dishes on the list are long gone, but the memories will remain here for as long as I can afford to support this site.
The Ultimate List:
Hush puppy waffle with honey chili crisp butter, FigureEight, NYC
Cottage Burger, The Cottage, Greenwich
Deviled Eggs, The Cottage, Greenwich
Salmon en croute, Koloman
Short rib terrine, Koloman
Gougeres, Koloman
Kartoffel & kaviar, Koloman
Trout Roe Tempura, Giant, Chicago
Pasta Matta, Giant, Chicago
The Roister Chicken, Roister, Chicago
Cinnamon Cruller, Daily Provisions, NYC
Shrimp Toast, Bungalow Kitchen Tiburon, CA
Duck Neck Confit, Falansai, NYC
Dad’s Fried Rice (mortadella & Chinese sausage), Falansai, NYC
Glazed and Blazed, Falansai, NYC
Low Country Boil Egg Roll, The Breakwater, Beaufort, SC
Fried Chicken (Nashville Spice Level), Porch, St. Simons Island, GA
Kofte, Mandolin, Miami, FL
Prime Beef Short Rib Wellington, TAK Room, NYC
Cote de Boeuf, TAK Room, NYC
Caesar Salad, TAK Room, NYC
White Shrimp Toast, The Ordinary, Charleston, SC
Mustard-crusted grouper with grits and chanterelles, The Ordinary, Charleston, SC
Brisket, Lewis BBQ, Charleston, SC
Hot gut sausage, Lewis BBQ, Charleston, SC
Duck leg confit, Husk, Charleston, SC
Baked oysters, Bedford234, Bedford, NY
Roast duck, Da Dong, NYC
Fluke crudo with caviar, Four Seasons Restaurant, NYC
Any pizza, Via 313, Austin TX
Akamaru Modern, Ippudo, NYC
Testa Pizza, Marta, NYC
Pepperoni Roll, Roberta’s, UrbanSpace NYC
The Tomahawk, Pig Bleecker, NYC
Smoked Fried Chicken, Pig Bleecker, NYC
Brick-pressed Chicken, Marc Forgione, NYC
Spicy Lobster with Texas Toast, Marc Forgione, NYC
The Steak Bomb, Destino’s, Glocester, MA
Pizza Stracciatella, Marta, NYC
Lamb Tartare with shrimp salt, Lowlife, NYC
Borscht, Trout Roe, and Raw Cream, Lowlife, NYC
Spicy chicken sandwich, Fuku, NYC
Duck Carnitas, Cosme, NYC
Uni tostada, Cosme, NYC
Veal Parm, Carbone, NYC
Side of sweet corn with bacon and truffles, Carbone, NYC
Spicy Rigatoni a la Vodka, Carbone, NYC
Pork Chop & Peppers, Carbone, NYC
Lobster Fra Diavolo, Carbone, NYC
Red Sweet Shrimp Crudo, Costata, NYC
Duck Chirashi, Chez Sardine, NYC
Bottled Manhattan, Booker & Dax, NYC
Fried Chicken with Jerk Spices, Willow Road, NYC
Ponzu-glazed salmon sashimi on crispy sushi rice with chipotle mayo, Mercer Kitchen, NYC
Thrice-cooked bacon with rice cakes and tofu, Mission Chinese, NYC
Salt cod fried rice, Mission Chinese, NYC
Short Rib Sandwich, Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, NYC
Escargot-style fried oysters, Ca Va, NYC
Prime Rib, Manny’s Steak House, Minneapolis, MN
112 Cheeseburger, 112 Eatery, Minneapolis, MN
Pickled Elephant Garlic Cloves, Four Seasons, NYC
Pasta Za Za, Minetta Tavern, NYC
The Sazerac (yes…a drink and quite a great updated version of the classic), Hakkasan, NYC
Braised lamb taco, North End Grill, NYC
The Wylie Dog (deep fried wiener with deep fried mayonnaise, tomato molasses, onions, romaine), PDT, NYC
“Ricci” (Sea Urchin, melted lardo, sea salt on a bruschetta toast), Marea, NYC
Scallion pancake, Lychee House, NYC
Veal angolotti with sweetbreads and mushrooms, Marea, NYC
Squid ink pasta with sea urchin and jalapenos, Maialino, NYC
Spaghetti with crab, sea urchin and basil, Marea, NYC
The Horseshoe Sandwich, Smith & Wollensky, NYC
Spinach gnocchi in brown butter sauce, Vetri, Philadelphia, PA
Roasted wild mushrooms with pancetta, garlic, ricotta salata, and a poached egg, L’artusi, NYC
Roasted Brussels sprouts, Dell’anima, NYC
New Style Uni Sashimi, Nobu 57, NYC
Sweet & Spicy Fried Calamari, Bobby Van’s, NYC
Cheesesteak Egg Roll, Philly’s Cheesesteak, Hoboken, NJ
Suckling Pig (for 2-3), Maialino, NYC
BLT with fried eggs, American cheese and a hashbrown patty, Joey B’s, Cos Cob, CT (details)
Salmon Tartare, Baang, Riverside, CT
Stuffed Pig’s Foot (really a leg), The Breslin, NYC (details)
Mushroom soup with croutons, lardons, mushroom slices, and goat cheese, Les Papilles, Paris
Saute of veal sweetbreads, foie gras, crawfish, in braising juices with pasta shells and bacl truffles, Benoit, Paris
Brussels Sprouts with Pork Belly, The Publican, Chicago, IL
The Cheeseburger, Holeman & Finch Public House, Atlanta, GA (details)
Guanciale, Black Truffle, and Sunnyside Up Egg Pizza, The Tarry Lodge, Port Chester, NY
Bistecca Fiorentina for Two, Carnevino, Las Vegas
Cracklin Pork Shank, Maloney & Porcelli, NYC
Reuben Fritters, Delicatessen, NYC
Cheeseburger Spring Roll, Delicatessen, NYC
Cheddar Bacon Burgers with Crispie Creme buns, Google Cafeteria, NYC
Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Babbo, NYC
Side of Brussels Sprouts, Spotted Pig, NYC
Fried Duck Egg and Bacon Salad, Spotted Pig, NYC
Banoffee Pie, Spotted Pig, NYC
BBQ Pork Bun, Fatty Crab, NYC
Polenta. Tutto Al Giorno, Sag Harbor
Whole roast pig, St. John’s Smithfield, London
Tacos al lengua. Taqueria La Mexicana, Half Moon Bay, CA
Asparagus with pancetta, garlic, chili pepper & oyster sauce, Garibaldi’s, San Francisco
Steak and Cheese sandwich with Pommes Frites, Pastis, NYC
Lobster Roll, Red’s Eats, Wicasset, Maine
Dry-rubbed pork tenderloin, Fore Street, Portland, Maine
Spaghetti in red sauce, Delfina, San Francisco
Lobster Il Mulino (garlic and red peppers), Il Mulino, NYC
Smoked thick-cut Usingers bologna sandwich with cole slaw and pickles, Blue Smoke, NYC
Roasted duck for two, The Four Seasons Restaurant, NYC
Garlic fries and an Anchor Steam, Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco
Pig’s Foot Milanese, Babbo, NYC
Upscale meatloaf, Restaurant Medure, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Pappardelle with guanciale, butter and Alba’s finest white truffles, Babbo, NYC
Braised, roasted, pressed duck, Brigtsen’s, New Orleans
The Hamburger, Bistro DB Moderne, New York City (schrohe.com Top 5 Burger)
Brick-oven roasted Tuscan chicken for Two with Bread Salad, Zuni Cafe, San Francisco
Black Truffle and artichoke soup with parmesian and wild mushroom stuffed brioche, Guy Savoy, Paris
Toro Tasting Platter, Masa’s, San Francisco
Miso black cod, Nobu, NYC
Hash browns, Del Friscos, Dallas
Hash browns (scattered, smothered, covered & chunked), Waffle House, the South
Grilled corn with cheese and red pepper flakes, Cafe Havana, NYC
Brussels sprout salad with egg and bacon, Gordon’s House of Fine Eats, SF
Casoulet, Bistro Jeanty, Yountville
Texas BBQ, Angelo’s, Ft. Worth, Texas
Hot Dog with everything, Hot Diggity Dog, Chicago
Any triple decker sandwich from Koch’s, Philadelphia
Best airport restaurant: Salt Lick BBQ, Austin, Texas
Leberkase (hot bologna sandwich), any street stand in Vienna
Frites, Cafe Loup, NYC
Cheesesteak, Charlie’s Water Wheel, Philadelphia (no longer in business…sorry if you missed it)
Fruit crisp, Tavern room at Gramercy Tavern, NYC
Terrine of foie gras, beef cheek and veal foot, Eleven Madison, NYC
My Wife’s Penne Arabiata (from Mama Agata’s recipe)
Coffee ice cream, Kona Village, Hawaii
Risotto frutti di mare, La Lampara, Monterosso (Cinqueterre), Italy
Turkey club, the Viand, NYC
Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich (with egg & anchovies), Juniper Cafe, NYC
Carnitas burrito, Taqueria Maria, San Rafael, CA
Raw Sea Gull (or maybe it was puffin), Brasserie Borg, Reykjavik, Iceland
Shanghai style dumplings, Joe’s Shanghai, NYC
Bananas Foster, Friends Lake Inn, Chestertown, NY
Spaghetti and meatballs, Avenue Grill, Mill Valley, CA
Macaroni salad, Lucca delicatessen, SF
Peking duck, Wild Ginger, Seattle
Beef cheek ravioli with squab liver sauce, Babbo, NYC
Mt. Gay and tonic, Pier 23, SF
BBQ chain, Corky’s
Hamburger, the Bistroburger, Corner Bistro, NYC (schrohe.com Top 5 Burger)
Po Boy, Debris Po Boy, Mothers, New Orleans
Babyback Ribs, the Rendezvous, Memphis, Tennessee
Clam chowder and sourdough bread, Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco
Chow Tsu Bau, Ha Gow, Tsu Mai, from Ton Kiang, San Francisco
Steak Tartare w/ frites, Brasserie Balzar, Paris
Apple Tart, Boulangerie Poilane, Paris
Oeufs au caviar, Kaviar Kaspia, Paris
Pretzel, Pennsylvania Dutch Pretzel Stand, Redding Terminal Market, Philadelphia
Wild mushroom and duck mascarpone lasagna, Cafe Metronome, Portland, Oregon
Ham and butter on baguette, any cafe in France
Roast Chicken, Chez L’ Ami Louis, Paris (also incredible huge slabs of country style foie gras)
Foccacia, Liguria bakery, San Francisco
Porterhouse Steak, Doe’s Eat Place, Greenville, Mississippi
Aged Porterhouse Steak, Peter Luger Steak House, Brooklyn, NY
Doughnuts, Krispy Kreme
Oysters & Pearls, French Laundry, Yountville CA – poached oysters nestled in a sauce of zabaglione cream and pearl tapioca, topped with Sevruga caviar.
Crispy Seared Duck Foie Gras on Polenta with Country Ham, Inn at Little Washington, Virginia
Seasonal Vegetables, Chez Panisse
Lobster Roll, the Clam Shack, Kennebunkport, Maine (the meat is boiled in salt water, then quickly chilled)
Blueberry Pancakes, Original Pancake House, Portland Oregon (lumberjack-style)
Steamed Blue Crabs, Chesapeake Landing, McDaniels, Maryland (pitchers and monster crabs)
Biscuits with Debris or Blackened Ham, Mother’s, New Orleans (debris is roast-beef drippings; blackened ham is the burned-sugar coatings from the baked hams)
The Martini, Rainbow Room/Promenade Bar, NYC
Spring Rolls in Mango-Chile Sauce, Roy’s at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach
Rum-and-Pepper-Painted Grouper with Mango and Habanero-pepper accents, Normans, Coral Gables, Florida
Baked Black Sea Bass Wrapped in Potato Crust, Restaurant Daniel, NYC
Wok-Charred Peppered Yellowfin Ahi, Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Honolulu, Hawaii
Key Lime Pie, Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami Beach, Florida (almost overshadows their famous Stone Crabs)
Blenheim Ginger Ale – South Carolina
Vanilla Cupcake, Magnolia Bakery, NYC
Sourdough Bread, Acme Bread Company, Berkeley, CA
Beef Jerky, Jiggs Smoke House, Clinton, Oklahoma
Muffaletta, Napolean House, New Orleans
Monkfish Pate Served with Ossetra Caviar, Matsuhisa, Beverly Hills, CA
Crackling Pork Shank, Maloney & Porcelli, NYC (Henry VIII-style)
Cioppino, Tadich Grill, San Francisco
French Kisses, D’Artagnan, Inc., Newark, New Jersey (Armagnac-marinated prunes stuffed with mousse of duck foie gras)
Grandmom Radomile’s Gnocchi, Tiburon, CA
North Carolina Style BBQ: Chopped-pork sandwich, Parker’s Barbecue, Wilson, North Carolina
Texas Style BBQ: Barbecued beef brisket, Louie Muller’s, Taylor Texas
Memphis Style BBQ: Pulled-pork Sandwich, Interstate Barbecue, Memphis, Tennessee
Kansas City BBQ: Beef Brisket on white bread, Arthur Bryant Barbecue, Kansas City, Missouri
Mint Julep, the Oakroom at Seelbach Hotel, Louisville, KT
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing, Kudzu Bakery, Georgetown, SC
Cinnamon Bun, Le Bistro, San Anslemo, CA
Barbecued Shrimp, Pascal’s Manale, New Orleans
Black Diamond Watermelons, Farmers Market, Sikeston, MO
Southern Fried Chicken, Mendenhall Hotel Revolving Tables, Mendenhall, Miss
Vanilla Ice Cream Cone, Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul
Grilled Salmon, Taku Glacier Lodge, Alaska
Sopa Azteca, Frontera Grill/Topolobampo, Chicago
Steamers in Clam Broth and Melted Butter, Lundy’s, Brooklyn, NY
Virgil’s Root Beer, Crowley’s Beverage Corp., Wayland, MA
Pan-Fried Trout with Grilled Shrimp, Uglesich’s, New Orleans
Rhubarb Compote, the Painted Table, Seattle, WA
Thin-Sliced Catfish, Middendorf’s, Manchac, LA
Fried Asian Oysters with Wasabi Mayo on Shredded Seaweed Salad, Merge, NYC
Pennoni with Duck Ragout and Eggplant, Valentino, Santa Monica, CA
Idaho Smoked Trout, Silver Creek Farms, Twin Falls, ID
Frango Mints, Marshall Field’s, Chicago
Citrus-Crusted Shrimp with Ginger and Bourbon, Chef Allen’s, North Miami Beach, Florida
Ole Salty’s Potato Chips, Rockford, Illinois
Bratwurst, Usinger’s Famous Sausage, Milwaukee, WI
Chicken-Fried Steak with Cream Gravy, Threadgill’s, Austin, Texas
Andouille Sausage with Homemade Worcestershire Sauce, Emeril’s, New Orleans
Pork Roast Stuffed with Plums and Chipolte Chiles, Café Poca Cosa, Tucson, AZ
Chocolate Frozen Custard, Nielsen’s Frozen Custard, Bountiful, Utah
Pastrami on Rye, Zingerman’s Deli, Ann Arbor, MI (even New Yorkers swear by this)
Warm-Lobster Taco with Yellow Tomato Salsa and Jicama Salad, Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
Fried Mullet, Chet’s Place, Florida
Duck Tamales with a side of Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Coyote Café, Santa Fe, NM
Creamy Roasted Corn Soup with a HUITLACHOCHE dumpling, Maya, NYC
Roasted Lobster with a Ginger and Gewürztraminer Sauce atop Wilted Spinach, Everest, Chicago
White Chocolate Wrapped Coconut Tres Leche Served on a Slice of Grilled Pineapple, Four Seasons, Palm Beach, FLA
The Ultimate Chocolate Bar, Scharffen Bergen Chocolate Maker, South San Francisco
Grilled Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy, the White Way, Durant, Iowa
Mac & Cheese, E.A.T., NYC
Lox, Eggs & Onions, Barney Greengrass, NYC
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge & Caramel, The Ivy, Los Angeles
Fusilli, Cabbage & Sausage, Rao’s, NYC
Hobo Steak, The Forge, Miami
Slice, any pizza shop, The Boardwalk, Atlantic City
Pizza, John’s Pizzeria, NYC
Fast Food Cheeseburger, The Double Double, In-n-Out, The West
Mashed Potatoes with poached eggs and black truffles, Destinee, NYC
The “chocolate cigar”, Balducci’s, NYC
Now you should be quite hungry!
Special Thanks to Justin (may he rest in peace) who really helped get this list off the ground! And thanks to all of the other contributors!