I am not a sentimental person, but I am a person who likes lists. And after two years of blogging, perhaps I should make a list of the favorite things I’ve eaten since I started. These will be specific things. So dinners at Babbo don’t count; it’s a specific dish that stands out in my memory. These will include things I’ve cooked and things I’ve eaten at restaurants. I’ll do this by scanning my archives instead of finishing the 9 pages I need to finish writing for tomorrow. That’s how much I love you people. I’m making you a list at the expense of my education. Ready? Here we go.
The Best Things The Amateur Gourmet Has Eaten Since Starting His Blog [in chronological order]
Apple Cobbler from Saveur Magazine [1/2004]
Fried Chicken at Watershed in Atlanta [1/2004]
Cheeseburger and Foie Gras Milkshake at Blais in Atlanta [2/2004]
Tomato Sauce from the Babbo cookbook [3/2004]
Crab fritter at Bacchanalia in Atlanta [4/2004]
Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream from the ice cream maker cookbook [4/2004]
Toasted Coconut Doughnut at Dunkin’ Donuts [4/2004]
“Peach Melba”/Molard Duck “Foie Gras Au Torchon” Frog Hollow Farms Peach Jelly, Pickled White Peaches, Marinated Raw Onion, “Melba Toast” and Crispy Carolina Rice at Per Se [5/2004]
Pumpkin Bread from Epicurious [5/2004]
Turtle Ice Cream from The Barefoot Contessa [5/2004]
The Veal at Aria in Atlanta [5/2004]
Katy’s nectarine pie in Atlanta [5/2004]
Nectarine, Apricot, Ginger Jam from Mes Confitures [6/2004]
Pasta, Pesto & Peas from The Barefoot Contessa [6/2004]
Biscuits at The Silver Skillet in Atlanta [6/2004]
Biscuits from Cook’s Illustrated [6/2004]
Biscuits at The Flying Biscuit [with apple butter, of course] in Atlanta [8/2004]
An everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and Nova Scotia salmon at Murray’s Bagels in New York [8/2004]
The turkey sandwich at ‘Wichcraft in New York [8/2004]
Thai Jewels at Spice Market in New York [9/2004] [note: from here on we make the presumption that we’re in New York, unless indicated otherwise]
Spontaneous Ricotta Cheesecake Baked in a Coffee Mug invented by me via the Chez Panisse Cookbook [9/2004]
Vanilla Bean Loaves from “Cooking For Mr. Latte” [9/2004]
Burger at The Burger Joint [10/2004]
Butternut squash soup with homemade marshmallows and sides of pumpkin seeds, some kind of croutons and huckleberry puree at Daniel [10/2004]
Chicken soup at The 2nd Ave. Deli [10/2004] [Sidebar: I will miss you 2nd Ave. Deli! You had the best chicken soup in New York.]
Pumpkin Cake from Epicurious [10/2004]
Beet salad at Balthazar [11/2004]
Fruit-stuffed waffle with creme brulee topping at Norma’s [11/2004]
Almond cake from “Cooking for Mr. Latte” [11/2004]
Gingersnaps from Chez Panisse via Feeding Dexygus Seconds [12/2004]
Olive Oil Gelato at Otto [12/2004]
Latkes from Epicurious [12/2004]
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake from Wolfgang Puck [12/2004]
Tomato Sauce from Marcella Hazan [1/2005]
Salad of beets, smoked halibut and blood orange at Palena in DC [1/2005]
Lemon Sabayon Pine-Nut Tart from The French Laundry Cookbook [1/2005]
Blueberry Apple Kuchen from The French Laundry Cookbook [1/2005]
Kadjemoula from “Cooking for Mr. Latte” [2/2005]
Meyer Lemon Bars from Hessa & Contessa [2/2005]
The Pumpkin Salad & The Gnudi at The Spotted Pig [2/2005]
Penne a la Vodka with Pancetta at Pepe Rosso [2/2005]
Truffled Egg Toast at ‘ino [3/2005]
Ginger scallion noodles at MomoFuku [3/2005]
Pastrami at Katz’s [3/2005]
Doughnuts at Doughnut Plant [3/2005]
Almond-Crusted Duck at Jean-Georges [3/2005]
The lobster roll at Pearl Oyster Bar [3/2005]
Rugelach from The Barefoot Contessa [3/2005]
Pumpkin lune at Babbo [3/2005]
Lamb at Hearth [4/2005]
Orecchiette with Pancetta and Broccoli from The River Cafe Cookbook [4/2005]
Lamb souvlaki at Snack Taverna [4/2005]
Cuban Sandwich at Havana Chelsea [5/2005]
Daniele’s Piadina at Daniele’s Piadina [5/2005]
Kitschy Kitschy Coconut Cake from “Cooking For Mr. Latte” (retitled by me) [5/2005]
Pizza at Grimaldi’s [5/2005]
Lamb Porterhouse Chops at Bar Americain [5/2005]
Lunch sushi platter at Tomoe Sushi [6/2005]
French Onion soup at Blue Ribbon [6/2005]
Canadian bacon at Peter Luger’s [6/2005]
Steak at Peter Luger’s [6/2005]
Sundae with schlagg at Peter Luger’s [6/2005]
Pappardelle with Morels and Thyme at Babbo [6/2005]
Seafood Risotto at Trattoria alla Madonna in Venice [7/2005]
Grilled fish at Orhan in Dubrovnik [7/2005]
Greek Salad at Archipelagos in Santorini [7/2005]
Greek Salad I made myself when I got home from Europe [7/2005]
Everything we ate at Il Terrazzino in Monaco. I know that’s cheating, but this is one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. Click the link to see photographic evidence. [7/2005]
Hamachi Tartare Topped with Wasabi Tobiko; Ginger-Coriander Emulsion at Le Bernardin [8/2005]
Pasta Fiori with tomato concasse, thyme & rosemary at Cafe Gray. [8/2005]
Watermelon salad with feta and mint leaves from Paula Deen [8/2005]
Roast suckling pig at Prune [8/2005]
Chicken adobo at Cendrillon [8/2005]
Duck Salad at Wondee Siam II [9/2005]
Heirloom Tomato Salad at The Union Square Cafe [9/2005]
Corn soup with salsa from Chez Panisse Vegetables [9/2005]
Caesar salad from The Barefoot Contessa [10/2005]
Beet salad at Deborah [10/2005]
Rocky Road from “The Great Book of Chocolate” [10/2005]
Chicken Soup from Joan Nathan [10/2005]
Bacon and egg risotto at Craft [10/2005]
Tarte Flambe at August [11/2005]
Mushroom soup from The Balthazar Cookbook [12/2005]
Caramel Corn from The Craft Cookbook [12/2005]
Macaroons at Laduree in Paris [12/2005]
Steak frites at Chez Omar in Paris [12/2005]
Mister H Mogador at Pierre Herme in Paris [12/2005]
Fallafel at L’as Du Fallafel in Paris [12/2005]
French toast at Au Gourmand in Paris [12/2005]
Pot Au Feau at Chez Paul in Paris [12/2005]
*************
And that, my friends, is what I call two years of eating well. Who knows what the future holds for our tastebuds? Keep on reading as we continue the adventure.
Looks and sounds like a lot of good food.
I will have to try a few of them.
Looks and sounds like a lot of good food.
I will have to try a few of them.
So many things to agree with:
I’ve made Thomas Keller’s lemon sabayon tart, and it is awesome (I added a trackback on this post for it).
Mario Batali’s tomato sauce is unbelievable. It is the only tomato sauce we ever make.
I’m a vanilla fanatic, and Amanda Hesser’s vanilla loaf is perhaps the tastiest vanilla creation in existence.
The lobster roll at Pearl Oyster Bar is so good I found myself trying to devise ways to steal my wife’s sandwich at the bar.
The burger at The Burger Joint was the first thing my wife and I ate on our recent trip to NYC, and, after fourteen hours of travelling and a long walk through a torrential downpour on a Saturday night, it was a transcendent food experience.
As a Canadian, I feel deep shame in acknowledging that Doughnut Plant makes the finest donut I’ve ever tasted. On that same trip to NYC, we ate their donuts for breakfast almost every morning. My kingdom for a key lime glazed donut….
Thanks for rekindling some wonderful memories.
Rob
I’m sad not to see any recipes from Melissa! How could you not mention her ice-cream or her eggnog? :)
Wow…I’m…so…hungry…now. What an amazingly delicious sounding list!
Methinks the boy likes biscuits (among many, many other things).
Thanks for the great list, I’m writing down the bites in New York. Happy Anniversary!
hey Adam, being a student, how do you afford all these meals? I don’t want any details, just a general idea of how this is done. My student times were poor and I hardly ever had money to go out. And eating in NYC is so pricey. How can you manage it? And you are soooo young, too!
Please give me a hint.
lola
Lola: That’s exactly what I’ve been wondering for a good while now. I would think with the cost of law school, the cost of grad school take two, the cost of living in NYC (photos of the apartment look nice), he’d be forced to eat Ramen noodles even if he were pulling in $100k as a student.
Adam: Do you have a food trust fund? :-)
Love,
Josh, a fellow 26yo whose budget is so tight that fine dining is only possible via fine cooking skills ;-)
Adam–
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. You put so much effort, detail and enthusiasm into each post! It’s nice to read a blog about someone who’s as passionate about food as I am. I look forward to your future entries (:
Oh my! I am foodie who – like you – can name every meal I have eaten in the past 10 years. BUT, your list is astounding. So much good food and so little time…
Thanks for the tips. Happy eating.
Lola and Josh,
Some people have money! It’s gauche to ask for the details.
Alison,
I decide what is gauche and what is not. It is fine to ask a 26-year old young man how he can afford eating out while he is a student and while he just finished another school. Maybe he has some tips to share for such a grand life? Maybe he will share them, maybe not. It is not un-American to ask anything. Do you feel embarassed to ask? Are you not curious yourself? If you are too embarassed to ask, then go ahead and profit from my gauche behavior, the unashamed Lola.
And do not try to teach ME what is cool and what is not. Go and f*** in the mud, how is that for gauche?
Lola
Lola,
Sorry to offend you. I honestly didn’t realize that you were unaware of that faux pas.
Catfight!! Growl!
My parents are generous when they come to town. When they’re not here, it’s a combination of money saved from law firm jobs, Blogad revenue and most recently the advance on my book. Hope that helps.
Sincerely,
Adam
Thanks, Adam, for the clarification. That’s nice to know that you are not moonshining as an escort. And thanks, Alison, for your apology. Do not be afraid, Alison. Never.
I think I might have to take a stroll over to The Spotted Pig, Grimaldi’s, The Burger Joint & Otto’s this weekend….New Year resolutions be damned!
And I am so happy you enjoyed L’as Du Falafel. It was one of my favorite places to eat in Paris.
I was so sure that somewhere on your blog was a recipe (from somewhere) on how to make authentic ricotta cheese. I’m down here in Central America and not a deli in sight. Don’t what to go the vinegar and milk route if possible. Anybody out there with some clues? Addicted to AG!
Could you please post the recipe for the apple cobbler. I am dying to make it.
Could you please post the recipe for the apple cobbler. I am dying to make it.