The Best Meals of Your Life

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The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by jkbarnes »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:07 pm But I also wonder, isn't location so often a part of that perfect dining experience?

Motivated by Steve’s (AVO) comment on this thread, I thought I’d start a new related one.

Describe the five best dining experiences of your life. This isn’t just about the food though, but the whole dining experience - where, when, circumstance that’s made it great.

I’ll start it off. Here are the best dining experiences of my life, in no particular order...
  • A coworkers 65th birthday: 6 course meal at a local restaurant with each course paired with a wine selected by my coworker (originally from the Midlands, by the way!) and her husband, both wine aficionados. They worked closely with the chef to selected foods to compliment each wine. The highlight was a fennel ice cream for dessert! The best part of the evening was not the great food, but sharing this milestone event with coworkers who were also very good friends. It was an evening of wonderful conversation, excellent food, and fine wines!
  • Dijon, France, circa 2011: While in Dijon weigh students as part of an exchange, I was invited with my coworker and her husband (same couple from above) to dinner with a local French couple - retired teachers who used to participate in the exchange. This might have been the single greatest home cooked meal I’ve ever had. The highlights - the most delicate homemade mayonnaise I’ve ever had, fantastic local Burgundian grand cru & premier cru wines, the cheeses....oh, the cheeses!..., and asparagus. I was the only one who didn’t speak French. I’d following along as best I could, picking out words here and there, and my coworker and her husband would fill in the details where necessary. It was wonderful!
  • Dijon, France, June 2017: My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Dijon. After so many student exchanges, it’s my absolute favorite place in the world, and I wanted to share it with her. Our last night there we ate at a small place recommended by a teacher from the exchange. It was a tiny little place, down a small side street in the middle of the historic center city. We ate in a small courtyard with only one other couple there. Every course was a riff on traditional dishes. Some examples - an amuse-bouche of tomato gazpacho with lightly friend shrimp; a twist on a paella - all the elements but presented but with a twist! Before the meal we wandered slowly from our apartment towards the ducal palace, winding our way along quiet back streets. After dinner, we wandered along the silent, nearly empty streets through the historical center of Dijon. My wife had fallen in love with Dijon, just as I had. The restaurant was L’un des Sens on Rue Jeannin
  • Dijon again, same trip: Another teacher from the exchange had us over for a small dinner party. I barely even remember what we ate, other than that it was delicious. What I’ll never forget however, is being gathered with friends around a picnic table on his back patio, watching the sun set while we enjoyed amazing food, amazing drink, and fantastic company. I’m glad my wife wears able to meet people so dear to me and share in a place I love. To experience Dijon with her was to experience anew.
  • Istanbul, Turkey, July 2012: A coworker and I spent a week in Istanbul. What an amazing city! For history teachers, it was absolute nirvana. While walking to the Süleymaniye Mosque, we came upon a tiny family restaurant on a back street. The meal was ridiculously simple - lamb kabobs ad chicken kabobs with a pilaf, grilled tomatoes and peppers, and a small salad of parley and onion. Simple ingredients, simply prepared, and simply presented. No pretension what so ever. And more importantly, no tourists. We were clearly not in a tourist area. It felt like we were eating like a local. It was easily the best meal we had that trip.
I could easily add probably another five meals to this list. And that doesn’t even include the family meals that punctuate key times in my life. Gathering with friends around the table to share in good food and good drink is one of the greatest pleasures in life.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Bident »

This is a tough one for me...both because I've had lots of incredible dining experiences but also it's harder to recall as I get older :lol:

One that comes to mind immediately is a dinner out with my wife and her sister who was visiting us. My wife and I lived in Chicago at the time and there was a haute cuisine Thai restaurant (yes, high end Thai, the only one I've ever come across) called Arun's. The chef/owner, Arun Sampanthavivat, used to be known as the Susan Lucci of the James Beard awards: always mentioned every year but never won the best restaurant title (for those who don't know, Susan Lucci was an American actress who starred in a soap opera and was perennially nominated for an Emmy award but infamously never won, although I think she ultimately did). The restaurant had a prix fixe menu with exquisitely prepared food such that it was a shame to eat some of the dishes because they were works of art. An example would be carrots carved into little baskets surrounding the vegetables of a salad...incredibly intricate and I'm sure time intensive. They also had a great sommelier with a well curated wine list. My wife picked out a gruner veltliner (commonly from Austria) and the sommelier told us how an out of town chef who always came to the restaurant whenever he was in Chicago also ordered the same bottle every time...the chef being Austrian Wolfgang Puck.

In fact, Arun's was known at one point to be the most frequented restaurant in Chicago by out of town chefs who came to the city. I don't know if that is true today (probably not) but discoverying this little gem along with my wife and sister-in-law is a memory that will stay with me forever.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Lkrm »

Enjoyed a number of excellent meals at various Michelin star restaurants in London and some beautiful food in Australia, France, Greece,Croatia and Spain but my favourite would be the Crown at Whitebrook in the Wye Valley in the UK (now known as Whitebrook).
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by jkbarnes »

Bident wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 11:43 pm This is a tough one for me...both because I've had lots of incredible dining experiences but also it's harder to recall as I get older :lol:

One that comes to mind immediately is a dinner out with my wife and her sister who was visiting us. My wife and I lived in Chicago at the time and there was a haute cuisine Thai restaurant (yes, high end Thai, the only one I've ever come across) called Arun's. The chef/owner, Arun Sampanthavivat, used to be known as the Susan Lucci of the James Beard awards: always mentioned every year but never won the best restaurant title (for those who don't know, Susan Lucci was an American actress who starred in a soap opera and was perennially nominated for an Emmy award but infamously never won, although I think she ultimately did). The restaurant had a prix fixe menu with exquisitely prepared food such that it was a shame to eat some of the dishes because they were works of art. An example would be carrots carved into little baskets surrounding the vegetables of a salad...incredibly intricate and I'm sure time intensive. They also had a great sommelier with a well curated wine list. My wife picked out a gruner veltliner (commonly from Austria) and the sommelier told us how an out of town chef who always came to the restaurant whenever he was in Chicago also ordered the same bottle every time...the chef being Austrian Wolfgang Puck.

In fact, Arun's was known at one point to be the most frequented restaurant in Chicago by out of town chefs who came to the city. I don't know if that is true today (probably not) but discoverying this little gem along with my wife and sister-in-law is a memory that will stay with me forever.
That’s a great story! The fact that we can easily remember the evening but not necessarily the food makes my point! You’ll notice I didn’t actually mention too much food.

Speaking of Thai food, friends of mine (true foodies who have exposed me to some of the best food I’ve ever had!) took me to a Thai place here in DC. It was a teeny tiny place operated as a passion project by the chef. He was actually the Chef de Cuisine at a bigger restaurant upstairs and ran this Thai place in the basement for the pure pleasure of it. It was completely different from the typical Thai place - none of the standard dishes. This guy only made food in the style of one specific region in northern Thailand, did a completely new fixed menu for each week, and served the food family style at each table. No menus, you got what he was serving that week! No reservations and the line formed up at the door well before opening. I have no idea what I ate, but it was delicious!
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

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My wife and I used to go to a small village in Normandy to ride whenever we got the chance (the horse-master is now retired so we haven't been for a while) and on this particular trip in May the weather was appalling all week, except we had one beautiful day to take a walk along the cliff tops. As usual we had our Shepherd, Bella with us.

That evening the heavens opened again but we wanted to eat so stopped the car at an isolated restaurant on the cliff road called "Le Marquis de Tombelaine" - the character was apparently a guide/fisherman sometime operating in the Bay of Mont St Michel. It didn't look promising, maybe closed. But we splashed over through the sheeting rain and knocked on the door since it seemed there were staff inside and enquired. We were welcomed with open arms as the only customers that evening! Best table in the picture window overlooking the bay (impossible to see through the weather though), Bella ensconced underneath with lots of fuss, exquisitely fed, fine wined and to conclude a leisurely cognac by the fire.

A very memorable evening, but likewise I cannot remember what we ate!
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I thought you might start this thread, Andrew.

At the risk of making posts that are too long, I might make several posts with one experience in each.

So, Zakynthos (Zante) Island, Greece. The Balcony, on cliffs overlooking the bay where our hotel was. Best sunset on the island, they said. There were 8 of us who wanted to go, and we got a minibus up to the hotel/restaurant, where they gave us a table close to the railings on the terrace. A lovely bunch of fellow-diners, a couple of whom are now Facebook friends.

I really enjoyed the food. King prawn saganaki, followed by a beautifully cooked lamb shank. I'm not a fan of really sweet things, but I had a fruit salad and home-made ice-cream that were excellent. And lots of local wine from a vineyard we had visited the previous day.

Oh, and the sunset:

balcony 1.jpg
balcony 2.jpg
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Paul Drawmer »

One favourite of mine, but it was the event, not the food.

One of our sons is an English teacher in Istanbul. The first time we went to see him (about 10 years ago), my wife Carol was worn out from the journey, so Miles and I went out for a meal on our own.
At that time he lived near Beşiktaş, so we left his flat and walked to the village (it's a suburb of Istanbul). It was nearly 10PM, and the fish market was just closing. We dived into the hubbub of a tiny restaurant and had fried fish (very like whitebait) with raki.
Next, we got an a bus and went into Taksim Square and walked down Istiklal Street. Down there was a restaurant that specialised in sweet courses. We got a table on the first floor and in the window, so that we could look down on the throng of "look at me"s parading in the very busy street below.
Then Miles asked if I'd like a coffee. So, into a taxi to an open air cafe on the bank of the Bosphorus just by the Dolmabahce Mosque. It was nearly midnight, on a warm, clear night. The newly opened Bosphorus Bridge was all lit up, and the whole place was busy. There was a stir, not a disturbance but more of a buzz. It was a wedding couple still dressed for the event, who had come down to capture some midnight photos by the water and lights. It seemed so strange to me.

The food was good, the occasion was memorable. The first time I had been to Turkey, and Istanbul is a pretty full-on experience! Later Miles moved to the other side of the water in Kadikoy, and we often opted for a meal with courses in different places.

He now lives further north in Tarabya which is a 'swallowed up by the city' fishing village. There are some quiet restaurants on the road by the marina, and whenever we go, I make sure that I have at least one lunch down there. Usually something light; Calamari with garlic sauce, fresh bread and, of course, raki.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

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Such a difficult one to input to! :?

My boss is French and massively into his food, and even more hugely patriotic. I’ve probably now eaten in 50+ restaurants with Michelin stars - mainly across France but several other countries too. Ironically I think the most memorable french cuisine restaurant for me was 21212 in Edinburgh - some real sit-back-and-marvel at the complex flavours going on in your mouth. Really amazing. 8)

Yet despite some amazing flavours I have savoured I have a stronger passion for simple-done-outstandlingly.

Cod in Portugal. Just Stunning. :shock:

Like others already mentioned - simply amazing meat dishes in Istanbul. They just keep bringing it and you literally can’t help stretching your stomach to the point of bursting.

Bay-leaf wrapped delights in Athens. Fabulous.

And in my home town - the Ravioli Ragu from Fratelli Sarti in Glasgow is simply to die for and significantly better than I’ve had in any restaurant within Italy - to the point that I can no longer order anything else from their menu it’s such a delight.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Wis »

The most recent really, really great meal I had was in March. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by dining at the same restaurant we had our wedding dinner (a small affair, just us and best man and bridesmaid). The restaurant has had a Michelin star for just about as long as our marriage, and didn’t disappoint. We had a ten course tasting dinner with selected wines. The kitchen is continental, and the food, wine and service was superb. It ranks among the best meals I’ve had, and there have been a few.

And the kicker is that it didn’t cost us anything. The restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary last autumn, and had a competition. They would give a dinner for two to whoever came up with the best reason for why they should win - and my wife won with the story of us having our wedding dinner there 25 years ago and now planning to go and celebrate!

The next day we had planned to go to Rome (it would have been our first visit), but instead the whole country went into lock down.

So now we plan on eating there again as soon as circumstances allow, probably after the country is vaccinated. We will also be going to Rome as soon as it can be done safely.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by jkbarnes »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:04 pm I thought you might start this thread, Andrew.

At the risk of making posts that are too long, I might make several posts with one experience in each.

So, Zakynthos (Zante) Island, Greece. The Balcony, on cliffs overlooking the bay where our hotel was. Best sunset on the island, they said. There were 8 of us who wanted to go, and we got a minibus up to the hotel/restaurant, where they gave us a table close to the railings on the terrace. A lovely bunch of fellow-diners, a couple of whom are now Facebook friends.

I really enjoyed the food. King prawn saganaki, followed by a beautifully cooked lamb shank. I'm not a fan of really sweet things, but I had a fruit salad and home-made ice-cream that were excellent. And lots of local wine from a vineyard we had visited the previous day.

Oh, and the sunset:
Wonderful story!


Great stories, everyone! Thanks for participating in the thread.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

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Wis wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:14 am The most recent really, really great meal I had was in March. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by dining at the same restaurant we had our wedding dinner (a small affair, just us and best man and bridesmaid). The restaurant has had a Michelin star for just about as long as our marriage, and didn’t disappoint. We had a ten course tasting dinner with selected wines. The kitchen is continental, and the food, wine and service was superb. It ranks among the best meals I’ve had, and there have been a few.

And the kicker is that it didn’t cost us anything. The restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary last autumn, and had a competition. They would give a dinner for two to whoever came up with the best reason for why they should win - and my wife won with the story of us having our wedding dinner there 25 years ago and now planning to go and celebrate!

The next day we had planned to go to Rome (it would have been our first visit), but instead the whole country went into lock down.

So now we plan on eating there again as soon as circumstances allow, probably after the country is vaccinated. We will also be going to Rome as soon as it can be done safely.
I love this, great story!

My wife and I honeymooned in Dijon, and our plan is to return for every 5th anniversary, and hopefully we’ll be able to eat at the same restaurant every trip.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

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I’ve been fortunate to have travelled extensively for work, and the food experiences in fabulous little restaurants and tiny street food eateries have been a highlight, but one “event” comes to mind for this thread.

Three years ago we took a short holiday in Dubai. My young son wanted to spend the time at a water park, so we decided to stay at one of the hotels which had its own. The hotel was undergoing construction, so there was constant drilling & hammering. We asked to be moved to a different room, but the hotel was sold out, and instead they offered us a surprisingly hefty room credit, which had to be spent on the premises. Anyone who has been to Dubai probably knows how easy it is to spend money there.

We decided to treat ourselves to dinner at Nobu. We enjoyed 14 exquisite courses, of which my favourites were the roasted duck with orange miso and the Black Angus ribeye. Needless to say we succeeded in blowing the full amount of the credit.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Paul Drawmer »

Wis wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:14 am The most recent really, really great meal I had was in March. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by dining at the same restaurant we had our wedding dinner (a small affair, just us and best man and bridesmaid). The restaurant has had a Michelin star for just about as long as our marriage, and didn’t disappoint. We had a ten course tasting dinner with selected wines. The kitchen is continental, and the food, wine and service was superb. It ranks among the best meals I’ve had, and there have been a few.

And the kicker is that it didn’t cost us anything. The restaurant celebrated its 25th anniversary last autumn, and had a competition. They would give a dinner for two to whoever came up with the best reason for why they should win - and my wife won with the story of us having our wedding dinner there 25 years ago and now planning to go and celebrate!

The next day we had planned to go to Rome (it would have been our first visit), but instead the whole country went into lock down.

So now we plan on eating there again as soon as circumstances allow, probably after the country is vaccinated. We will also be going to Rome as soon as it can be done safely.
Great story! Really enjoyed this one, thanks for sharing.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

An extract from my first book, "This Brightness of Morning". It's about my journey on the Camino de Santiago in 2011.

It was a rainy April evening. I had flown into Biarritz and journeyed up into the mountains to St. Jean Pied-de-Port, checked into a hostel and gone for a walk. Like many people, I was apprehensive about tackling a mountain pass in the Pyrenees the next day to cross into Spain...
Dinner at the Esprit du Chemin was a cosy affair served up in the warm dining-room. The albergue was far from full, and there were ten of us around the table; Jantine and the two full-time hospitaleros, Arno and Huberta, ate with the pilgrims, a charming and relatively uncommon touch. The fourth Dutch person was a lady called Sylvie, who was planning to walk only as far as Orisson the following day. The rest were all to feature in my diaries over the next day or two, so names will suffice for now: Philippe and Marc from France; Carlos and Jaime from Madrid; and lastly Felipe from La Mancha, who was in my dorm.

The meal itself was my first on the Camino, and also one of the most enjoyable. A warming, vegetable-packed soup was served with crusty French bread, and followed by a pair of enormous pasta dishes containing chorizo and goat’s cheese respectively. The non-vegetarians, myself included, enjoyed some of both along with a very fine salad. A good quality red wine was in plentiful supply, and the meal was rounded off with a creamy chocolate mousse and coffee.

The conversation flowed as freely as the wine, and I began to experience the linguistic peregrinations that I would come to find irresistible on the Camino; this was home from home as far as I was concerned. The French and Spanish chaps were not especially proficient in any language save their own, so Arno and I were called upon to provide translations and paraphrases. We all shared our personal histories and our hopes and fears for the coming days. At one point Carlos asked me, ‘Dime, Steve, ¿eres buen andador?’ Tell me, are you a good walker? Well, tomorrow and the days to come were certainly going to provide answers to that one!
There were many outstanding meals and "occasions" on that trip. This one was important because right from the start it established the tone of a bunch of strangers enjoying a convivial meal.
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Re: The Best Meals of Your Life

Post by Wis »

^^^ Is the book available for purchase yet, Steve? If so, feel free to plug it here! You were kind enough to let me read an early draft, and let me just say it is a great read. Anyone who’s read your posts here know you have a way with words, and the draft I read was written by a really good author!
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