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Post by The Big PINK One♥ on Aug 28, 2008 12:45:33 GMT -5
Our country is blessed with some of the finest dining establishments in the world, but for this list, I thought it would be more intriguing to look at quintessentially American restaurants.
Some of these places are legendary. Most are local institutions. All serve tremendous food.
These suggestions are based on my professional wanderings over the last 30 years as a luxury hotel reviewer and committed food lover. The selections are completely subjective and wholeheartedly recommended.
The Steakhouse
You can almost always count on finding a good steakhouse in every American city. And then there’s Peter Luger in Brooklyn. In business since 1887, it is renowned for its rigorously selected, succulent, buttery porterhouse prepared to exacting standards. This is not a fancy place; it’s cash only, and the service is gruffly efficient. No carnivore should miss it.
Restaurant With a View
My choice is Nepenthe in Big Sur. A casual place perched right by the Pacific, with tiered outdoor tables so that all can enjoy the glorious panorama, this is one of the most singular settings I’ve ever found in which to enjoy a meal. I was relieved to hear it survived the terrible fires that ravaged Big Sur earlier this summer. The food is simple but very good, and the thing to try is the aptly named “Ambrosiaburger.”
The Crab House
Maryland crab is one of the glories of America’s bounty, a food so inherently delicious that the less done to it the better. Jimmy Cantler’s Riverside Inn, just outside Annapolis overlooking Mill Creek, is the place to enjoy incomparable blue crab. Get them steamed and learn the indelicate art (wooden mallet required) of opening them. Or go for the nearly binder-free crab cakes, plump and irresistible.
Barbecue
If you really want to get folks riled up, don’t talk politics or religion — name the place you think has the best barbecue. Here it is: Arthur Bryant’s in Kansas City, Mo. Yes, I know the venerable Mr. Bryant has gone on to his reward. Yes, I know they’ve branched out. So go to the original on Brooklyn Avenue, where, in a setting that can be called simple, you’ll feast on the most sublime, tender ribs you can imagine. I’ve tried barbecue all over the country, and this remains my favorite.
Hamburger
This being perhaps the most American of all food, choosing one was difficult, but my ultimate favorite is that at Zuni Café in San Francisco. I am a great fan of this personable, stylish restaurant, which I visit every time I go to San Francisco. Chef Judy Rodgers’ burger is made from fresh ground beef, salted, chilled overnight and served on a wonderful focaccia bun. Add the excellent Caesar salad and a robust glass of red, and you have one of my favorite meals.
Cajun/Creole
Some say that this is the one true cuisine that evolved in America. After having visited New Orleans regularly for almost 30 years, I must say that the one place that consistently delivers the best is Commander’s Palace. Beautifully rebuilt after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Commander’s is better than ever, and chef Tory McPhail is turning out classic and contemporary New Orleans food that is as good as any you’ll find.
Wine-Country Cuisine
During my last visits to Napa and Sonoma, the best meals I had were at the lovely restaurant Cyrus in the appealing town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, Calif. The service is flawless; the food utterly sublime; the wine selections always on the mark. An added benefit: It is in the charming Les Mars Hotel, so no need to concern yourself with driving.
Pizza
The Italians will rightfully tell you that pizza was born in Italy — Naples, to be exact — and that we’ve taken a thing of beauty and transformed it beyond recognition. So? I’ve had the pizza in Naples, and it’s great, but the homegrown version is every bit as good. After tasting extensively all over the country, my choice is Frank Pepe in New Haven, Conn. Everything here is of the first order. But the standout is the fresh clam pizza with white sauce. This is a pie of sublime pleasure, the one against which I judge all others.
California Cuisine
This approach to cooking prizes the finest ingredients and preparing them so that their best qualities shine. The concept started at a small, charming restaurant in Berkeley, Calif., called Chez Panisse. The inspiration of Alice Waters, Chez Panisse has been thrilling diners since 1971. The menu changes daily, and there are no choices. Don’t let that deter you. You will encounter some entirely new tastes here. It’s not fancy — just profoundly delicious.
Hot Dog
I have a personal favorite spot for enjoying this American classic. Tucked off of 53rd Street in New York, just east of Fifth Avenue, is a little jewel of place called Paley Park. Donated to the city by William Paley, the late chairman of CBS, it is an oasis of sophisticated tranquility in the heart of this busy town, with graceful honey locust trees, ivy-clad walls, and a beautiful waterfall at the far end whose cascade blocks out the din of the city. A small concession stand sells sandwiches and drinks, but I suggest ordering the excellent hot dog and reveling in this marvelous urban sanctuary. Who needs a power lunch when you can have this?
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