Recently did the tasting menu at Tabla restaurant in Manhattan. Wonderful varied menu with great wine pairings. Went with friends and four hours later we couldn’t please what an evening we had.

The best meal I ever had… that’s a tough one because I feel like I’ve had a lot of good meals. I could say it was at Peter Luger’s but I think the best meal would have to be about more than just the food. I think the best meal would have to be one of the ones where we sat at the table for 3 hours talking and enjoying good food. That would probably be at Zum Schneider in NYC on my birthday 2 years ago.

Lamb loin and a 1996 Grange in October of 2006

QOTD: Swordfish and a fully loaded baked potatoe.

That 2005 Justin Cab was tatsy.

QOTD: Swordfish and a fully loaded baked potatoe.

That 2005 Justin Cab was tatsy.

I have to agree with Dan here. When thinking of my best meal, I keep thinking of the people around me. Not sure what I had on my 21st birthday, but it was pretty amazing because of all the peeps that came down to Atlantic City! However, I am a sucker for a great steak or anything with crab meat.

Best meal was probably this year at thanksgiving. I don’t like most of the traditional food, so I encourage a little outside the box type of dinner. Roasted goose stuffed with apple and pear, cornbread and cranberry stuffing with a port/cream sauce, roasted butternut squash and brussel sprouts sauteed w/ pancetta and sour cream. Lots of pie, people brought 11 kinds of cheese and all washed down with great wine. The favorite wine of the day was the Leeuwin Artist Cabernet. Gary recommended it while I was shopping at the store the day before thanksgiving. Thanks a ton G. I was outstanding.

T

Best meal was probably this year at thanksgiving. I don’t like most of the traditional food, so I encourage a little outside the box type of dinner. Roasted goose stuffed with apple and pear, cornbread and cranberry stuffing with a port/cream sauce, roasted butternut squash and brussel sprouts sauteed w/ pancetta and sour cream. Lots of pie, people brought 11 kinds of cheese and all washed down with great wine. The favorite wine of the day was the Leeuwin Artist Cabernet. Gary recommended it while I was shopping at the store the day before thanksgiving. Thanks a ton G. I was outstanding.

T

I just had the best steak of my life at Delmonicos in the Venetian in Las Vegas. Bone-in steak and I also had a bite of the filet which was just as silly.

QOTD: I have to agree with my husband (JasonH) — Best meal EVER was our 2nd anniversary dinner in Cortona, Italy. But he left out the details! We sat outside overlooking the valley and they served us an AMAZING 5-course meal with a mushroom theme. Each was paired with a different Italian wine and my favorite was the dessert course — several tiny pots of different desserts including a lavendar creme brulee, a chocolate pot de creme, and a vin santo to die for! All of this after a full day of wine tasting in Motepulciano, Montalcino, and Pienza. Does it get better than that?!?

Had a great meal with my wife as Casa Mono. The duck egg with potatos and tuna loin is probably the best single dish i have ever tasted.

I’ve been watching your show for a month or two. I really enjoy it. I wonder at your palate. I’d like mine to be half as developed.
I had a great meal of a small brined and roasted chicken prepared for me and my wife, by the chef, at Isabellas in Cleveland, that was just outstanding. But on the other hand I once had side of wild salmon cooked on a plank over a fire while camping in the Maine Woods that was pretty damn good.
The best meal is the one that you eat with your family when everyone loves the food and each other.

Thanks for the show.

The best meal I’ve ever had was at the French Laundry – 9 courses of flawlessly executed food. So much food that I could barely walk out of the place, and I kept threatening my dining companion that I was just going to lay out in the street because I couldn’t make it to the car. I believe we sat on a bench in the vegetable garden for about 2 hours before I was able drive.

Hi Gary,

Our favorite resturuant serves the best filet mignon I have ever had. Last October,we went to this resturant for my birthday. We always drink wine, but my wife said no. I didn’t think much of it, so I ordered a half-bottle. After a great meal, she gave me two presents. The first one was a very nice shirt. The second gift was baby’s clothing with the words “I love Daddy” on it. She was pregnant!

Needless to say, that was THE greatest meal and THE best birthday gift I have ever had.

Michael

You’ve drawn out this long time lurker.

QOTD:
Half my family is Sicilian and my late Sicilian great grandmother loved to cook. The best meal that I’ve ever had, was her manicotti. She would start the sauce around 10am and it would cook for 7 to 8 hours. The entire house would smell like an Italian kitchen. I love Italian, but have yet to find manicotti as delicious as hers.

You’ve drawn out this long time lurker.

QOTD:
Half my family is Sicilian and my late Sicilian great grandmother loved to cook. The best meal that I’ve ever had, was her manicotti. She would start the sauce around 10am and it would cook for 7 to 8 hours. The entire house would smell like an Italian kitchen. I love Italian, but have yet to find manicotti as delicious as hers.

So many great meals, so little time. Best ever? Has to be the
next sitdown shared with friends…I can see it now in my mind’s
eye…

The best meal ever was enjoyed at a restaurant on top of a mountain just outside of Radda in Chianti. For three hours we enjoyed the most sumptuous Italian cuisine after watching the sun go down from our table. A reserve Sangiovese from Centennoio(sp) accompanied our meal and after being attended by the chef and owner dessert arrived along with a complimentary dessert wine. It was an experience my wife and I will never forget. So stay healthy all vayniacs and get out to enjoy what life has to offer—–SOON—–

Dry aged steaks and King Crab legs at Gallagers at the NYNY hotel/casino in Vegas!

My best meal was on the employees canteen of a casino.
Sometimes you get the best meals in unexpected places 😀

The best meal I ever had was a, light as air, dish of Gnocchi in the Italian Lakes region. I wonder if it had something to do with the scenery?

Hello Gary. Number one lurker fan here.
Best meal had to be at a friend’s restaurant in the Ribera del Duero region in Spain. Asados Garci. Best lamb I’ve ever had, and chirizo sausages, cheese, the works, you know how they eat in Spain. Great local wine also.
Cheers fellow vayniacs.

Robert from Miami, FL

My best meal was and are the amazing baby back ribs which have been slow cooked over a mesquite /charcoal BBQ for 15hrs accompanied with a side of fresh from the garden BBQ Zucchini. All cooked and enjoyed with my father and a 1990 Masseto.

My best meal was and are the amazing baby back ribs which have been slow cooked over a mesquite /charcoal BBQ for 15hrs accompanied with a side of fresh from the garden BBQ Zucchini. All cooked and enjoyed with my father and a 1990 Masseto.

QOTD: I have had many great steak dinners, but the best have to be at Swedish fish restaurant (sorry, super nice contest arranging steak company) Sjömagasinet, where I had the following:

Appetizer: Toast Skagen – Caviar and toast, with some onion preparation
Main course: Sole with salmon roe, and some potato side, probably just boiled potatoes.

No dessert. Although I don’t remember all parts of all dishes, that sole was the best prepared fish I have ever had, I can still taste it in my mind. Of course I had some delicious white wine to it, but I can’t remember which one.