The Water Lot Inn at the Fairmont Southhampton Hotel in Nassau Bermuda
Il Mulino in New York City (interestingly enough the second time was just OK)
Felidia in New York City
Topolobampo in Chicago (happily, the second time was equally as good)
Le Florimond in Paris
I've had lots of other really amazing meals at places like The Inn at Little Washington (Little Washington, VA) , Le Bec Fin (Philadelphia), Po (NYC), Boulevard (San Francisco), Nola (New Orleans), Le Coq au Vin (Orlando) and many more. Somehow the particular meals I had at the five I listed rise to the top. How about you?
Topo is on top for me, closely followed by Il Mulino since Don Shaw's expense account bought the amazing wine and all those truffles. Without Don, Il Mulino's is not the same.
ReplyDeleteFelidia and Le Florimond, no contest.
Most memorable - a cobbled together meal on the bench at the foot of the Eiffel tower. The wine, okay, it's France, is there bad wine? The cheese (that lady did NOT want to sell the uncouth American less than a kilo) a revelation. Bread? Oo la la. The wild strawberries and the company made it all perfect.
Gnocchi at Il Palio in Leesburg.
Pastrami and swiss on rye at Hello Deli in Exton.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns ----still dream about the salad - a soft scrambled egg with pistachio topped with bitter greens and then the main course - the most amazing sous vide duck with baby carrots.
And I cannot leave out the noddles at Wagamama in London just before closing. The broth had been simmering all day and reached the perfect degree of savory saltiness for a seriously jetlagged traveler. I have been a devotee ever since.
Speaking of London -Tamarind in Mayfair - best Indian EVER.
Thanks to my lovely wife for reminding me of several meals that I left off of the list. Fortunately, I was there to share each one on her list, and she is right, they were all spectacular. I'll add one more - Price's Chicken Coop in Charlotte, NC. Best fried chicken ever. http://www.priceschickencoop.com/
ReplyDelete