Anonymous wrote:Beef Carpaccio with some freshly shaved parm, pine nuts, and either a balsamic reduction or some type of light pesto drizzled on top

Yum

Chocolate creme brûlée - I had it a decade ago and have never seen it on a menu since

Beef Carpaccio with some freshly shaved parm, pine nuts, and either a balsamic reduction or some type of light pesto drizzled on top

When I was in college a friend and I backpacked through the UK. We went to Belfast on a ferry, and then walked miles to this youth hostel in the rain. When we got there, the owner sat us by the fire and made us this sweet, milky, hot tea. I swear it was the best thing I ever had in my life. I'll never forget that moment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fettucine Alfredo. Pretty much anywhere, even my college dining hall. I wish someone would try to drown me in it so I could eat my way to safety.

Hahahaha!

Oh gosh. I remember the first time I had fettuccine alfredo. I was in high school on a school band trip to Epcot Center. I was in "Italy" with my friends and we went to this Italian restaurant for dinner. I didn't have much experience with Italian food outside spaghetti with jarred tomato sauce. The waiter suggested I get fettuccine alfredo and it was like-- mind blown. I didn't know food could taste that good. Who knows, it was probably a step above Bertolli or something, but to me it was incredible.

So many things. In first place are Joel Robuchon's mashed potatoes (at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Paris). So few things live up to the hype, but they did. Also in the running are are fresh Glidden Point oysters, out of the water for 12 hours in Maine, the Farmer Salad at Primo, the famous Oysters and Pearls appetizer at The French Laundry. David Chang's pork buns. The Parkerhouse rolls at CityZen. Great sourdough in San Francisco. Kobe beef. Pho.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first time I had sushi was pretty amazing.

I find this hard to believe. I don't think most people like sushi if they never heard of it. Perhaps they have been primed for it, with all the hype... it is still trendy.

This is not the reaction that my aunt saw when she served large platter of sushi at a wedding in the 70's. People were grossed out by eating raw fish wrapped over vinegar rice. I think this reaction would be the norm, like eating raw beef tartar.

As opposed to the cooked beef tartare?

Baked stuffed clams

Tortellini alla panna with with prosciutto and peas (in Italy)

White pizza with ricotta (on the Jersey Shore)

Sautéed fois gras drizzled with raspberry coulis.


I have to stop reading this thread.

Pepperoni rolls!!!

Anonymous wrote:cilantro, I resisted it in my childhood then had some in a Thai soup and our relationship has been great.

Agree. Parsley is up there for me, too.

cilantro, I resisted it in my childhood then had some in a Thai soup and our relationship has been great.

My grandmother's pickled pears.

Fish sauce.

Honestly? The chocolate cake at Fairfax Hospital, along with a cup of apple juice. Hours after I had given birth to my first child, and the first thing I had eaten all day. Nothing I eat will ever, ever be as delicious as that piece of cloying, heavy, slightly stale cake with cement-like frosting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fettucine Alfredo. Pretty much anywhere, even my college dining hall. I wish someone would try to drown me in it so I could eat my way to safety.

Hahahaha!

This made me laugh because as kids we always talked about a bathtub of homemade mashed potatoes. Hehe.