The Best/As Close to Perfect Foods

[archetypal_yuppie]

Lightly seared hamachi.

Manchego cheese with water crackers.

Bacon.

 

[foodguy]

personally, i go with the keller theory: if you're going to do luxury, the only way to do it is over the top. if you're really serious about wanting to try oneof them, but on a budget, the only way is to go someplace that does it great and then order just that ... even on a college student budget, you're probalby looking at $40 to $50. on the other hand, ordering those things at a place where the whole meal is $40 to $50 is almost guaranteed to be disappointing.

 

[Yo-han]

pizza is the perfect food

 

[Working Stiff]

You don't need a restaurant for foie, if you can find someone that will sell you good pate de foie gras (should be possible, depending on location). Sauternes is often sold by the half bottle, so it's not that expensive (the good stuff is, but the cheaper stuff is perfectly drinkable). If you can get some brioche to eat the foie gras on, you're pretty damn close to heaven, and you haven't spent all that much.

 

[ama]

They have half bottles of D'Yquem at Costco (at least where I live) for $200. Not exactly "affordable," but worth it for the experience, especially if Keller is the inspiration.

Originally Posted by Yo-han

pizza is the perfect food

 

[esswhykay]

Bone marrow on lightly charred toast.

 

[Working Stiff]

rillettes

 

[cheessus]

the potato

 

[bBoy JEe]

A good spaghetti bolognese.

Olive oil with balsamic and a loaf of fresh crusty bread. Can include tomatoes and a nice cheese if wanted.

Peking/Beijing duck.

 

[HgaleK]

Originally Posted by ama

They have half bottles of D'Yquem at Costco (at least where I live) for $200. Not exactly "affordable," but worth it for the experience, especially if Keller is the inspiration.

I couldn't appreciate the nuance in anything more than a $40 bottle of wine. I've tried stuff from dirt cheap to (what I consider to be) stupid expensive, and as of the last glass I've had, my favorite was an 06 Willamette Valley pinot noir that I had recently. I'm sure that some of the more expensive stuff was way nicer, but my grasp on the subtleties involving is lacking to say the least.

 

[gdl203]

Anchovies

 

[philosophe]

Originally Posted by jpeirpont

I'm going to go Oysters on the half shell.

Originally Posted by iammatt

Yup. Also ocietre caviar, Iberico ham, superripe tomatoes, fresh black truffles (OK, white as well,) giant asparagus.

Yes, yes, yes. Also grilled fresh (right out of the garden) corn and perfectly ripe apricots.

 

[leftover_salmon]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Foie gras and a top notch ice wine or Sauternes.
+1, though the ice wine is really just the cherry on top. Foie gras on its own is still perfect.

 

[Joffrey]

Oysters. Most [ripe] fruit.

 

[Kyoung05]

Bacon, and in that same vein, I also like a good Carbonara.