The Top 10 Greatest Dishes of All Time

as determined by me, at 12:05 AM, in no particular order.

Almond Cake

Pasta (my #1, if I was ranking)

Caesar Salad

Rib-Eye Steak

Roast Chicken

The Prune Hamburger (it has lamb in it)

The Anchovy Pizza at Franny’s

Cassoulet

The Lobster Roll at Pearl Oyster Bar

and

Bagels

Notes:

1. I realize that this list doesn’t really hold together, that bagels aren’t really a “dish” in the same way that cassoulet is a dish.

2. But, in my defense, these were the first 10 foods I thought of when asked to compile a “Top 10” list, so that has to count for something, right?

3. I once pitched this post to Craig and he said he didn’t get it. “So are you talking about restaurant dishes or just foods in general? It doesn’t really make sense.”

4. Craig isn’t here right now, he’s en route from L.A.

5. Craig’s parents are here, though, they’re in town for his graduation. I made them dinner tonight: Caesar salad (on the list!), lasagna (not on the list) and almond cake (on the list!) I’m a man of my convictions.

6. What’s on your list of The Top 10 Greatest Dishes of All Time? No need to write them in order. Or to have your list make sense. Just make sure to write it at 12:05 AM.

32 thoughts on “The Top 10 Greatest Dishes of All Time”

  1. 1. twice-baked potatoes

    2. mom’s homemade lemon meringue pie

    3. mac n cheese from Violet (LA)

    4. bbq chicken salad

    5. In-n-Out single with cheese animal-style

    6. Pinkberry yogurt with strawberry, mango, kiwi

    7. banana butterscotch cake

    8. fish tacos

    9. gorgonzola

    10. pad thai

    Great. Now I’m hungry. :)

  2. I just had cassoulet tonight! Brilliant!

    My list would include:

    Laura Scudders peanut butter

    filet mignon

    roast chicken

    gnocchi

    nut encrusted brie with jalapeno jelly

    fresh baguette

    fried goat cheese salad

    boef bourgignon (I am sure I spelled that wrong)

    california burrito

    turkey burger with avocado

  3. Maybe when I am 134 years old and have eaten in every culture I will have enough of a grasp to make this list. Now I am too young and inexperienced… and so are you!

  4. Unbelieveable! From all the dishes in the world you pick the ones that any four-year-old would choose too. Haha, you americans are terrible. :-)

  5. capellini fra diavolo

    insalata caprese

    dim sum

    saag paneer

    enchiladas in verde sauce

    challah french toast

    sweet potato casserole

    composed salads with seasonal ingredients

    bagel with smoked fish

    macarons in assorted flavors

  6. capellini fra diavolo

    insalata caprese

    dim sum

    saag paneer

    enchiladas in verde sauce

    challah french toast

    sweet potato casserole

    composed salads with seasonal ingredients

    bagel with smoked fish

    macarons in assorted flavors

  7. My grandma’s veggie dumplings

    Esther’s spaghetti and meatballs

    Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich

    mac and cheese

    curry chicken/tofu

    ma pao tofu

    fresh garlic naan or bread

    honey pound cake

    Baked fish in a bag

    fresh corn on the cob dipped in butter, parmasen cheese and paprika

  8. Eggs Benedict – With me FINALLY getting the Hollandaise PERFECT

    pictures here

    http://www.cheftalk.com/forums/food-cooking-questions-discussion/43467-hollandaise.html

    Peppercorn Ribeye with cognac cream pan sauce

    pictures here

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/04/steak-and-potatoes.html

    and

    http://rtimko.smugmug.com/gallery/4166522_L36ER#272552827_oCEuZ

    Braised Short Ribs

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/05/close-to-perfect-short-ribs.html

    left-over steak and eggs

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-is-how-we-do-it-on-weekend-morning.html

    Sesame pork chop with orange marmalade

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/03/laurie-made-some-sesame-pork-chops-with.html

    Breakfast for Dinner (home alone!)

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/04/when-im-left-to-my-own-devices.html

    Tiramisu in Chocolate Balloon Cups

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/02/this-weekends-dinner.html

    Tomato Basil Soup with Sourdough Grilled Cheese(and bacon!)

    http://randallpmcmurphy.blogspot.com/2008/01/trials-and-tribulations-of-novice-chef.html

    Coconut Pork chop

    http://rtimko.smugmug.com/gallery/4166522_L36ER#270556570_oWgbe

    Kobe Lunch at Uncle Jacks

    or…how to have a 300$ lunch….

    Bolognese at Mama Luisas in Newport, RI

  9. Pasta- it makes my soul feel better.

    Guacamole, chips and salsa with lime.

    Chicken fried steak (it must come with gravy and mashed potatoes…duh)

    Pie.

    Breakfast with the works, pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit.

    Pizza with thin crispy crust and roasted tomatoes and feta cheese.

    Ice cream.

    Shrimp at Commander’s Palace and Shrimp and Alligator Cheesecake at Jac Imo’s

    Dark Chocolate anything.

    Boneless buffalo wings with ranch. Not very classy but very tasty!

  10. Caesar salad

    perfectly cooked steak

    coconut layer cake

    pasta with spinach, chickpeas, garlic and tomatoes

    baby back ribs

    cous cous with feta, chickpeas, black olives

    pork tenderloin

    pizza with spinach, garlic and tomatoes

    thinly sliced french bread

    cajun roasted potatoes

  11. 1. Double double animal style, french fries and choc. shake at In-n-Out.

    2. Bacon

    3. Wonton soup/pork dumplings at Sang Kee in Philadelphia

    4. Carnitas tacos

    5. Shellfish of any kind

    6. Mashed potatoes and somekinda meat…like meatloaf but I can always go for mashed potatoes on their own

    7. Linguine and clam sauce – sentimental fave, was my favorite dish growing up

    8. Migas

    9. Duck, in any form

    10. Breakfast burrito at Northstar in Columbus OH

  12. How can you list “pasta” as a dish? There are so many variations. You might as well say “meat.” (If I had to pick one, I think I’d go with Carbonara.)

  13. Gorgonzola

    Chile Relleno

    Steak au Poivre

    Pad Thai

    Chorizo con Huevos

    Oysters

    Duck

    Salami

    Schweinshaxe (braised pork leg)

    Mama’s Baby Back Ribs

  14. I’m with Craig on this one, the list is a weird mix of vague ideas and very specific restaurant dishes. It’s your blog, so you can do what you want, but how can you list “pasta” as a dish? There are so many variations. You might as well say “meat.” (If I had to pick one, I think I’d go with Carbonara.)

  15. uni

    oysters

    sushi(raw fish only)

    foie gras

    pizza

    lobster rolls

    imaginative salads

    truffles(any way)

    mac and cheese

    kobe beef extra rare

  16. Rib-eye steak (good call on that)

    Hole Mole @ Selena’s (Fresh cheese nachos w/ guacamole)

    Grilled Steak Tacos @ Selena’s

    Gnocchi alla panna @ Lucano’s (fresh made Gnocchi’s in a light cream sauce w/ fresh peas & Prosciutto)

    Pad Thai

    Coconut Cream Pie

    freshly Steamed Clams

    Mac & Cheese (even the blue box kind, it’s a comfort thing)

    Potatoes & Gravy

    Ribs from Dinosaur BBQ

  17. macaroni and cheese (either Martha’s or Ina’s)

    Kobe beef very rare

    meatloaf

    cassoulet

    beef bourguignon

    flourless chocolate cake or Chocolate Oblivion by Rose

    escargot swimming in garlic and butter

    french toast made with challah

    Traditional New England Clambake with all the trimmings

    my “own” chocolate chip cookies, either regular or “Quartro Choc”

  18. 1. Pad se ew

    2. bread pudding

    3. fish tacos

    4. butternut squash

    5. chocolate mouse

    6. wild boar

    7. mac n’ cheese (using Beecher’s recipe)

    8. Pasta – Nuovo ravioli is AMAZING

    9. Cheese (the good stuff, could make another top 10 list)

    10. Morel mushrooms

  19. (no order)

    1. twice baked potatoes (made the English way…with duck fat)

    2. homemade ice cream

    3. thai iced tea (do drinks count?)

    4. roast chicken with a winey gravy

    5. McVities digestive biscuits w/ PG tips (can’t have the biscuits without the tea, it would just be wrong)

    6. mussels

    7. an amazing soup. probably butternut squash with creme fraiche.

    8. french bread or some pain levain with St. Agur, Perrano, and Exploratour cheeses and some sliced fruit

    9. gooseberry tart, with this unique meringue topping, that goes all flat and delicious with a bit of egg yolk

    10. Lame, but a good salad, preferably with my dads nose-wrinklingly sharp mustard vinaigrette, some interesting leaves, and some perfect avocado slices.

  20. (no order)

    1. twice baked potatoes (made the English way…with duck fat)

    2. homemade ice cream

    3. thai iced tea (do drinks count?)

    4. roast chicken with a winey gravy

    5. McVities digestive biscuits w/ PG tips (can’t have the biscuits without the tea, it would just be wrong)

    6. mussels

    7. an amazing soup. probably butternut squash with creme fraiche.

    8. french bread or some pain levain with St. Agur, Perrano, and Exploratour cheeses and some sliced fruit

    9. gooseberry tart, with this unique meringue topping, that goes all flat and delicious with a bit of egg yolk

    10. Lame, but a good salad, preferably with my dads nose-wrinklingly sharp mustard vinaigrette, some interesting leaves, and some perfect avocado slices.

  21. (no order)

    1. twice baked potatoes (made the English way…with duck fat)

    2. homemade ice cream

    3. thai iced tea (do drinks count?)

    4. roast chicken with a winey gravy

    5. McVities digestive biscuits w/ PG tips (can’t have the biscuits without the tea, it would just be wrong)

    6. mussels

    7. an amazing soup. probably butternut squash with creme fraiche.

    8. french bread or some pain levain with St. Agur, Perrano, and Exploratour cheeses and some sliced fruit

    9. gooseberry tart, with this unique meringue topping, that goes all flat and delicious with a bit of egg yolk

    10. Lame, but a good salad, preferably with my dads nose-wrinklingly sharp mustard vinaigrette, some interesting leaves, and some perfect avocado slices.

  22. This might turn into a list of my favorite foods:

    Buffalo chicken

    Salmon nigiri

    Matzo ball soup

    Lemon chicken from Big Bowl

    Filet mignon

    Caesar salad

    Margherita Pizza

    Yummmy.

  23. Oscar Mayer center cut bacon, avocado and homegrown tomato sandwich on thin sandwich style Wonder bread. (A childhood holdover.)

    Roast chicken with leek-mashed potatoes and gravy.

    Pasta with chicken, mushroom, spinach and asiago cheese cream sauce and garlic bread. (An excellent way to use leftovers from the roast chicken.)

    Foie gras, quickly pan seared and served on grilled French bread with wild blackberry gelee.

    Prime rib, rare, served with salt roasted baked potato and creamed spinach with shallots. (In summer I’d also like thick slabs of homegrown Cherokee Purple tomatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and a dollop of mayonnaise. But then again, I’ll eat those tomatoes as a side dish with anything… or nothing else at all.)

    Pizza Magherita made with homegrown tomato sauce.

    Caprese salad, once again made with homegrown tomatoes, good olive oil, sal de mer, fresh cracked black pepper and served with crusty sour dough bread to soak up all the lovely juices.

    Perfectly cooked pan roasted fresh wild King salmon served with steamed asparagus and garlic-herb orzo.

    Fresh strawberry waffles with lots of whipped cream, in season only.

    Challah French toast, stuffed with slightly sweetened cream cheese with orange zest, served with homemade orange syrup.

  24. *cheeseburger (gruyere) with pickled onions, homemade mayo and brioche bun

    *duck fat french fries

    *hummingbird cake

    *chicken pot pie

    *kumamoto oysters w/ champagne mignionette

    *homemade custard-style ice cream and chocolate chip cookie sandwiches

    *buttermilk biscuits n gravy

    *full fat greek yogurt with strawberries

    *sugar-coated walnut crescents

    *Peter Pan vanilla cream doughnuts

  25. Okay so I don’t have a top 10 but here are a few memorable things I’ve eaten that I would have no problem re experiencing.

    1. Chicken Piccata with buttermilk mashed potatoes and roasted onions (big ups to Ina Garten) I am eating this as I type and it’s even better than the first time I had it!

    2. Swiss Chard quesadillas from Hugo’s in Houston, Texas. AMAZING

    3. Greek Pizza

    4. Spicy Ahi Tuna Rolls from Cheesecake Factory.

    5. A fresh mango.

  26. Dolce DE Leche

    Spicy Eggplant Curry (sound nasty? it is…not)

    French Baugette

    Some kind of well seasoned, grilled, skewered Cow meat from somwhere in Middle east/South Asia

    Roasted Duck

    Vietnamese summer roll

    BLT

    Lamb Roganjosh

    Chocolate

    Gelato

  27. Spicy salmon, brown rice, avocado sushi roll

    Everything bagel with chive cream cheese and lox

    Rasberries

    Filet mignon with bernaise sauce

    French baguette with prosciutto di parma and brie

    Day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich composed of stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy on toasted whole wheat

    Chicken tikka massala

    Penne in a creamy, onion, mushroom sauce

    Patsy’s margherita pizza

    Lobster tails in lemon butter sauce

  28. Lasagna

    Linguine alla pesto

    French fries and gravy

    Any fruit salad without grapefruit

    The roast garlic appetizer at the Moose’s Tooth (Anchorage, AK)

    Dolmades

    Fresh banana nut bread

    Potato skins

    Pad Thai

    Freshly baked bread with very sharp cheddar cheese

  29. 1. Any kind of savoury puff pastry pie.

    2. Steak (mooingly rare) with pepper sauce

    3. Nan’s chips

    4. Mum’s coffee and rum chocolate mousse

    5. Chicken or lamb saag

    6. My cheesey pea tagliatelle

    7. The mushroom soup amuse bouche at Gordon Ramsey at Claridges

    8. Fish pie (with hard boiled egg)

    9. Tempura / sushi / anything japanese

    10. Asparagus wrapped in parma ham in cheese sauce

  30. I noticed that one of your favorite foods is ribeye, and it seems like everyone is pretty excited about some sort of meat. I’ve just discovered an incredible web site, built by the guys who supply Restaurant Daniel and Craftsteak in New York, and places like that, with their meats. It’s http://www.debragga.com, and they have the most delicious dry-aged ribeyes I’ve ever tasted! They do their own cutting and aging on the premises so they know every piece of meat. It’s totally worth it if you love meat, and like me, probably only eat it once or so times a week (of course, you can buy great chicken from them, too!).

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