Over the weekend, Tess and I were partaking in some scrumptious saltado at Mario’s Seafood and Peruvian and we started talking about what foods we would include if we made a top 5 list of food items that we’ve ever ordered. It occurred to me that as fun as it was to come up with my own list and discuss it with Tess, the fun would multiply if I got some of my friends involved too!

In the same vein as Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate, I’m posting some lists from some good friends – whose palates I respect and trust. So here are the rules:

• The food item MUST be ordered and paid for at some sort of food vendor. They can include restaurants, cafes, stands, carts, trucks, etc.
• It can be served during any meal – breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, late-night eats, whatever.
• It can be any course – appetizer, main course, side dish, dessert, snack
• The list isn’t in any particular order

When I first mentioned this to my friends, they were concerned that it would be too hard because ALL food is fair game. It was suggested to separate the list into categories – top 5 main courses, top 5 desserts, etc. But I say eff that! You just get 5 and you’re forced to ask yourself some tough questions. Questions like “Do I REALLY love this cupcake from Magnolia Bakery?” or “Do I REALLY prefer a Red Velvet cupcake (overrated) to the porterhouse steak at Peter Luger’s?”

So the votes are in and here they are. For the regulars who read this blog (all 4 of you), I encourage you to chime in with your own top 5 or even just an entree you simply could not live without eating again.

ANTON

• Office Burger – Father’s Office – Culver City, CA
  I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but Father’s Office is the FIRST place I take guests/friends to when they’re in town. The combination of flavors for this burger surpass most other things I’ve eaten in my life. I once had an Office Burger twice in the span of 3 days.
• Lamb and Rice Plate – Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th – Manhattan, NY
  There are few things I crave, and this probably tops the list since I don’t have access to it anymore. It’s the best $6 you’ll ever spend.
• Lomo Saltado – Mario’s Peruvian and Seafood – Los Angeles, CA
  This was the first lomo saltado I’ve ever had and remains my favorite among the handful of Peruvian restaurants I’ve visited. You can’t go wrong with a stir fry of marinated steak, red onions, tomatoes, cilantro and french fries – yes, french to the muthafuckin’ fries! It’s served over some lightly seasoned rice and a lemon wedge.
• Carne Asada Super Burrito – Taquería Cancún – Mission District – SF, CA
  This is the burrito against which all others are measured. I’ve been in LA for over a year now and haven’t found anything that can touch Cancun. The carne asada is well marinated and has a nice crisp to the edges. The rice is lightly seasoned. They also give you half and avocado’s worth of slices inside. Combine that with their spicy avocado-jalapeno-onion-cilantro salsa and  you’re golden my friend.
• Ono Nigiri – Sushi Central – Palms, CA
  It was between this and their signature sushi, spicy tuna (which beat Bobby Flay in the spicy tuna Throwdown). But this fish is practically a slice of heaven on top of a nugget of rice. The best part of this sushi is they take a creme brulee torch and lightly broil the top of the fish. The oiliness of the fish creates a buttery smokiness once it’s torched. And with a touch of ponzu (or yuzu – I can’t remember), it’s seriously the best sushi I’ve ever tasted.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Spaghetti Carbonara – Puccini – Hell’s Kitchen, NY
- Combination Chicken Wings (spicy & soy-ginger) – Bon Chon – Manhattan, NY
- Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings – Joe’s Shanghai – Chinatown, NY

TESS

• Ají de Gallina – El Rinconcito Peruano – Queens, NY (but used to be in Hell’s Kitchen)
• Lamb and Rice Plate – Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th – Manhattan, NY
• Lomo Saltado – Mario’s Peruvian and Seafood – Los Angeles, CA
• Black Linguine Con Frutta di Mare – Puccini – Hell’s Kitchen, NY
• Office Burger – Father’s Office – Culver City, CA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- German Chocolate Cake – Amy’s Bread – Hell’s Kitchen, NY
- Coconut Cake – Amy’s Bread – Hell’s Kitchen, NY
- Black & White Cookie – Roxy Delicatessen – Times Square, NY

MELISSA

• Pork Kra Pow with Fried Egg – Thai Temple – Fremont, CA
  Nothing in the world is as good as this dish.  Thai food at its finest.
• Salted Caramel Pot de Créme – Starbelly – Castro-SF, CA
  When I taste it, I want to jump in the pot so I can eat every last bite.  Don’t eat it with the cookie.
• Pork Belly Special – Bouchon – The Venetian-Las Vegas, NV
  By far THE BEST dish I have EVER eaten. I have yet to eat it again, but I have hope that the stars will align and that special will be served the next time I go there.
• Clay Pot with Chicken – Gochi – Cupertino, CA
  I like EVERYTHING there, but if I had to pick one, this would be it. Crunchy Rice is SOOOOOO good.
• Salted Caramel Ice Cream – Bi-Rite Creamery – San Francisco, CA
  Hands down the best ice cream I have EVER had.  I wouldn’t be able to live knowing I couldn’t eat this.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- BLT – Mustard Seed – Davis, CA
- Seared Fois Gras – Chapeau – San Francisco, CA
- Salt and Pepper Chicken – House of Orient – Campbell, CA (RIP)

DAVE

• Gyro & Chicken Plate – Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th – Manhattan, NY
  For $6 bucks this is the tastiest deal you will ever find.  I never go to New York without making a stop to the 53rd and 6th halal cart.  Rain or snow… seriously, I’ve waited in line in the rain and snow for this plate.
• French Toast – The Country Way – Fremont, CA
  I challenge anyone to find a better French Toast than The Country Way.  I guarantee you won’t.  Texture, thickness, flavor.  It’s the perfect French toast.
• Wasabi Poke – Yamma’s Fish Market – Honolulu, HI
  I love poke.  There are many places you can find great poke in Hawaii, the fish is just so fresh.  But some how one stands out more than any of the others for me.  Yamma’s Fish Market in Honolulu.  Their fresh ahi wasabi poke is my favorite poke.  I compare every poke dish I eat to yamma’s.  In my book, Yamma’s is still undefeated.
• Dry-aged Porterhouse – Peter Luger’s Steakhouse – Brooklyn, NY
  I don’t say this often, but taking a bite out of Peter Luger’s dry aged steak was a religious experience.  There is nothing fancy about their steak.  Dry aged, minimal seasoning, cooked to RARE perfection.  It’s a testament to QUALITY MEAT selection.  Eating at Peter Luger’s changed how and where I buy raw meats for home cooking.
• Twice Cooked Soy Braised and Grilled Kalbi Style Short Rib – Alan Wong’s – Honolulu, HI
  UH-MAY-ZING.  Slow cooked.  Once for 48 hours at low heat to braise the meat in soy, then grill kalbi style.  They gave me a fork and a knife to eat it, but i didn’t need the knife.  I could have cut that meat with a feather.  And that sweet kalbi flavor… I don’t even know what to say that could justify it.  My friends who I ate with can testify to my experience.  I threw my hands up after every bite, which meant one of two things: a) “WOOO!!!” b) “fuck this, I’m never going to enjoy any meal that follows this”.  Fortunately my palate wasn’t completely destroyed.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Hakulau (Kahlua turkey, spinach, onions, cranberry-mango chutney on garlic French bread) – Café Pesto – Kawaihae, HI
- Fish and Chips – Kalnikai Bar and Grill – Kailua Kona, HI
- Cinnamon Fudge Sundae apple pie, caramel topping with whipped cream – Serendipity 3 – NY

ANNA

• Squash Blossom Truffled Flatbread – COCO500 – San Francisco, CA
  This dish is seasonal, so i only have a small window to enjoy it during the summer. Paper thin flat bread covered with a trifecta of truffle oil, parmesan and squash blossom.
• Caramel Copetta with Marshmallow Sauce and Spanish Salted Peanuts - Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles, CA
  Caramel ice cream, marshmallow fluff and salted peanuts. I can’t believe this hasn’t been on anyone’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate yet. The sundae wasn’t invented until this one came along.  It should be canonized into sundae sainthood.
• Moule Frites – Café Chloe – San Diego, CA
  I am a lover of mussels-and it’s standard French bistro fare but Café Chloe takes it up a notch.  They vary the broth from time to time, but everytime I’ve had it it’s been really good. The mussels come in this mini cast iron pot with a tower of French fried onions AND potatoes right next to it. The disobedient fries fall into broth and soak up the goodness.
• Paté – Starbelly – San Francisco, CA
  Paté done right. smooth, creamy and well seasoned. They serve it with grilled country bread, homemade chutney and cornichons.The servers there must hate me because I go through at least 2 rounds of bread to finish up the block of pate they serve.
• Ham and Cheese Croissant – Tartine Bakery – San Francisco, CA
  Bless the bakers hearts-they are the most buttery and flakiest mofos around. The flaky layers house the melted emmenthaler and the Niman Ranch ham inside. When I want to really really bad in a very good way, I go here for breakfast. It’s so good I almost want to go to France and learn all the secrets of croissant making. Tartine brings france right in the heart of the Mission District.

HONORABLE MENTION:
- Pink Peppermint Ice Cream in a Homemade Waffle Cone – Ici – Berkeley, CA

PHUONG

• Hủ Tiếu Nam Nam – Vung Tau II – Milpitas, CA
  You have to order this dish with the mung bean (chewy and clear) noodles with the soup on the side. Served with jumbo prawn, crab claw, lean pork, and covered with ground pork in an intensely flavorful sauce. Top it off with freshly squeezed lemon and bean sprouts. The classic Vietnamese flavors of sour, sweet, and savory are all present.
• Lobster Risotto – Gary Danko – San Francisco, CA
  This restaurant is famous and well known for serving seasonal and fresh ingredients, so their menu changes with the seasons. The lobster risotto is always present; however it will be prepared differently depending on the available ingredients. It was the summer of 2003; the lobster risotto was prepared with chanterelle mushrooms and dressed with coriander oil. Coriander oil! I still stalk their website to see if this combination will return on their menu.
• French Macaroons – Bouchon Bakery – Yountville, CA
  This is a classic French pastry that so few bakeries can follow through on. Bouchon provides many flavors, all with the standard but not always present, crispy shell and chewy center.
• Snow Mountain Bun – Hong Kong Saigon Seafood Restaurant – Sunnyvale, CA
  There is something irresistible about these buns. They are only served around noon during dim sum service and they disappear fast! Sweet taro paste is wrapped in a flaky (I swear there is lard in it!) and crispy bun.
• Clams in Black Bean Sauce – BoDa Seafood Restaurant – San Jose, CA
  Simple, good, dirty fun!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Falafel Sandwich – Falafel’s Drive-In – San Jose, CA
- Spinach & Mushroom Deep Dish Pizza - Zachary’s Pizza – Berkeley, CA

PROUD
(Proud is my co-worker and sits right next to me. I’m transcribing this as she recites her picks)

• Lomo Saltado with Tri-Tip – Lomo Arigato – Los Angeles, CA
• Sirloin Burger with Garlic Aioli, Jalapeno Bacon, and Smoked Mozzarella, and Portabello Mushrooms – 25 Degrees Restaurant – Hollywood, CA
• Spicy Yellowtail – Komasa Restaurant – Los Angeles, CA
• Shrimp and Cheesy Grits – The Edison – Los Angeles, CA
• Green Curry with Calf Meat and Roti – Roti Mataba – Bangkok, Thailand

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Lamb and Rice Plate – Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th – Manhattan, NY
- Red Velvet Bundt Cake (”love that shit” says Proud) – Kiss My Bundt – Los Angeles, CA
- Cajun Pork Chop with Sweet Corn – Random Cajun Place in Bangkok (way to be thorough, Proud)

Pretty solid list compiled here and a wide array of entrees, cuisines and price ranges! Any surprise inclusions? Any glaring omissions? Share your thoughts on our choices and even add some of your own. I’m pretty sure it’ll be a win-win for everyone.

I want to thank the contributors for racking their brains and stomachs. I know it’s hard to choose your favorite child, but list-making is fun! I also know everyone’s lists are always in flux…and it should be. Happy eating everyone! See you at the LA Street Food Fest this Saturday!

I was turned on to Mindy Kaling’s blog titled “Things I’ve Bought That I Love.” She hasn’t posted recently but it was quite entertaining to read why she likes all the stuff that she buys. They’re mostly about shoes, and I think I saw a post about candy – Sour Patch Kids, I think.

Anyway, it occurred to me that I’m gonna post random silliness like this too! So for my first post, I want to talk about my favorite burgers.

I think the fairest way to rate the burger is by price range. Right now, I see 3 separate categories A) Subcompact – the under $6 crowd which covers most if not all fast food spots B) the Mid-Size – right around $7-$11 and C) Luxury – burgers of the “gourmet” variety with prices starting at $12. (more…)