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.