What do you consider to be the defining dish when trying a new regional / ethnic restaurant?
- Thread starter lucas80
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When I travel in the United States or Canada I always: 1) Try the famous local specialties, 2) try the regional pizza variety if any, 3) try the regional BBQ if any, 4) try the local seafood if any, and 5) try any world famous restaurants in the area.
This strategy has served me well. USUALLY the originator of a dish or a famous restaurant for x recipe makes a decent to great food item. Only occasionally have I been disappointed using this strategy and I can name them. For example IMO’s may be epitome of St Louis Style pizza but it’s the worst pizza I’ve ever had anywhere.
First, great question.
When I went to Italy the first meal I had was lasagna and it blew my mind. Totally different appearance and taste than your typical Moms lasagna. So how, when I see a new Italian place down here I will always order it. If it’s trash, I’ll never go again.
When I went to Italy the first meal I had was lasagna and it blew my mind. Totally different appearance and taste than your typical Moms lasagna. So how, when I see a new Italian place down here I will always order it. If it’s trash, I’ll never go again.
I've grilled mine before...in yhe husks after soaking. But that's, essentially, steaming the corn in the husks.
That's different than husking the corn and placing it direct on the grates...like shown in that list. The way they show is a bad way to cook corn.
Honestly, that rectangular shit pizza they served in elementary school is light years better than IMO's.
I agree with that. I’ve even made school pizza from scratch using authentic recipes and that’s when I learned we were all lied to and that the “sausage pizza” we all thought we were eating was just ground beef with a little basil and Italian seasoning.
Other famous dishes/restaurants that nowhere matched the hype include The Shed in Ocean Springs Mississippi and The Drover in Omaha Nebraska, but the worst meal I’ve ever had on vacation was at M. Manze in London. M. Manze is a 123 year old restaurant that is famous for being London’s best meat pies, best jellied eel and best stewed eel. I love Japanese eel dishes but both the jellied and stewed English style eels were horrifically bad. But surprisingly even worse was the meat pie. I had fantastic versions in New Zealand, Australia, Wales and Scotland and decent ones in the US, Canada and other parts of England, but the Manze version was probably the most disgusting thing I’ve purposefully eaten. And then top all that off, the only real drink they have is a lukewarm sassafras drink that tastes NOTHING like good American sassafras.
At a Vietnamese restaurant, you always gotta try the Pho. The Pho really should be the all-star dish (i.e. the thing they do best) on any Vietnamese restaurant's menu.
If the Pho is no good, chances are nothing on the menu is good.
It takes time, patience and skill to make a good Pho broth.
If the Pho is no good, chances are nothing on the menu is good.
It takes time, patience and skill to make a good Pho broth.
So many places destroy calamari that I’ve stopped ordering it.
I don’t know if it was north or south, or an Americanized version, but the wife and I went to a place called Anita’s in Bend tonight. It smelled AMAZING from the parking lot, but the “Open”, light was off. An overly polite lady came out and told us they’d closed for the day due to a holiday and she had been unable to cook meat, and was prepping for a Saturday feast.
North, South, or Americanized? I really wanted the lamb.
You didn’t grow up in IC, Bro. We got real fennel in the sausage
They still have a ton of stores in Wisconsin. I ate there a few months ago.
Good to know. I basically begged her for some vegetarian stuff but she apologized again and said no.
I usually last about two minutes. Is that considered fast for hindus?
TBW and I recently discovered "Iowa Pho" in Coralville and it's amazing.
Yes...the Pho is fantastic (full disclosure I have nothing to compare it to, but damn is it good)
I'll check it out.TBW and I recently discovered "Iowa Pho" in Coralville and it's amazing.
Yes...the Pho is fantastic (full disclosure I have nothing to compare it to, but damn is it good)
If you ever make it over to the Quad Cities, I highly recommend "California Pho" on the west side of Davenport.
Oh and if you can imagine, when I travel to Canada, I like to indulge in their local beer selection, particular Old Vienna...."Just say OV!"
(although I have been known to also partake in Labatt, Molson and Kokanee)
When I'm up there, my usual choice is Alexander Keith's (apparently own by Anheuser/InBev). Have you tried it?
As a teen/young adult, Molson (Canadian or Golden) and Moosehead were my go-to's
No i have not tried Alexander Keith's, i will make note of that for next June's trip for sure. I have had Moosehead though.
In regards to OV, its pretty much not the best beer....I would equate it to Pabst Blue Ribbon down here in that it used to be one of the major players and now it is not, but all the old boys in the group we go fishing with up there used to get that back in the day, so its pretty much a nostalgia thing.
I am quite familiar with OV (burp). Definitely a cottage/lake-house beer. Labatt's 50 and Black label are some other ones (at least they were back in the day). There not the best, but they have their place, for sure.
Try Paradise Grill in North Liberty. I would take it to go. They are short staffed and you could be waiting a long while or service might be sub par. Their food is good and carry out doesn't experience massive time delays. Let me know what you think!
Thanks! My son has a middle school football game on Sunday in IC, so I may be able to get it then.
No sir.....you are not.
Its literally probably my favorite part about traveling. When the destination is decided upon for a trip, my next search is for foods & places to eat that are relevant or unique to the area.
Give it a shot. If you like spicy, try their indo Chinese offerings. These are real items you can get in India. Chicken Manchurian or the Haka noodles dish.
me too! and I get really pissed if the people I am with aren't down or make it difficult.
Apparently in Northern Kentucky the specialty of the house is middle aged white male. I've never tried it. Anybody here?
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