It lost in Round 5 to the pizza.
I’ve been on an Eggs Benedict kick lately. I made it three times over the past 2 weeks: twice atop the customary English muffin and once atop a pile of corn grits (mixed with Hollandaise…and cheddar cheese…don’t tell my cardiologist). My Hollandaise is lemony and quite saucy, BTW.
I picked ‘none’ because it’s obvious that the best meal is chicken fried steak.
Eh? I’ve very rarely seen tomatoes on top of the Margherita - usually its just tomato sauce, slices of mozzarella, and basil
The bar I hang out at makes a tomatoe overload pie, with thinly sliced tomatoes, diced sun dried tomatoes, and tiny, whole grape tomatoes in addition to the rest of the marghareite.
Thanks for posting this. Never heard of it but can’t wait to give it a try.
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I was wondering the same thing. Maybe it’s assumed that it is seasoned.
Peking Duck.
I love me a good steak, and of your four choices, I’d choose the Rib Eye, but to me, the most delectable of meats (and foods in general) is the lamb chop. Pray tell, was that anywhere in your tournament?
So, what is the recipe for rib-eye steak? Heat it until desired doneness hardly seems like a recipe - it would seem that “sliced apple” could have made the tournament?
I’ve seen it very occasionally. But here’s pretty much your canonical Pizza Margherita. It’s not about the toppings. It’s about the whole technique. Wood fired (or even coal-fired–some very hot burning oven), flavorful dough (usually 00 grade finely milled flour that’s been fermented to develop flavor), pure tomato sauce made from San Marzano or similar Roma-style tomatoes and not much else (maybe some salt, but no herby flavored “pizza-sauce”), fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. It’s all about the quality of ingredients and, most importantly, the dough to me. The dough needs char, good spring and “crumb” on the crust, soft to almost soupy interior. Done right, there are few things – for me – more delicious and soul satisfying.
This poll assumes a lot.
Disclaimer: I am not Idle Thoughts, but an incredible simulation. Hopefully he won’t mind if I field a few of these since he hasn’t check in here for a bit…
Cassoulet lost to hot dogs with sauerkraut in Round 2.
Chicken fried steak lost in Round 7… a special round to reduce the five remaining contenders to the four semi-finalists in this thread’s poll.
Lamb chops lost to onion rings in Round 3.
I don’t really love eggs but Eggs Benedict is up there on best meals- especially if it’s Crab Cakes Egg Benedict served at the Old Post Office in Lake Tahoe- it’s Hollandaise was the best I’ve ever had, lick-the-plate lemony goodness…
I picked Tacos out of these selections because they have the best potential and are a meal in themselves. But if I really had to choose, I think I’d go with Paella as the ultimate best meal of all time- it’s got everything good- rice, sausage, seafood, saffron…
Looking at those four finalists, my choice would also be the Pizza Margherita. Good pizza is one of those foods for which I frequently get a powerful craving.
I love an occasional steak, and the marbling of the ribeye makes it my favorite. Even better is the bone-in rib steak, because I like to chew on the bone like a wild animal, and then throw the naked bone to my dogs.
Earlier this week I grilled a boneless beef rib, which was extraordinary, but difficult to do perfectly…it has to be enough past rare to thoroughly melt the interior fat but shy enough of medium so that the fat doesn’t drip out and turn the meat into shoe leather. It’s also quite inexpensive, and the top choice for Argentine and Korean barbecuers…try it.
I also enjoy a medium rare half-pound hamburger patty (on a plate knifed and forked) as much as I do a steak, which must prove that I am a low-class bum.
Chicken enchiladas are great. I never make them, because it’s much easier to do a Mex lasagna – corn tortillas layered with grilled chicken, cheeses, green salsa, and homemade chile gravy. In a restaurant I order a mix of cheese and chicken enchiladas (don’t care for beef in this form) with beans and rice.
Tacos, meh. Tacos have jumped the shark for me. I eat 'em once in a while, but prefer other options on any Tex-Mex or Mexican menu.
And since when are “onion rings” a meal? On a par with <b>cassoulet</b>? I love onion rings, but geeez.
Hey, I nominated onion rings! :mad:
Although I will concede that the overall endeavor may be lacking in scientific rigor.
Nice to hear…seems every place I’ve gone to and ordered it, they thought Hollandaise meant white sauce…bland bland bland. My mother taught me; she’s the only one I knew who made it the right way. 
A real onion ring is a thing of beauty. I always ask before ordering them though. There are too many places that serve up some horrible monstrosity of breaded onion paste.
Interesting… I’ve rarely seen one with sauce instead of slices/pieces of tomato. This is what I normally see.
Even frozen Margherita pizza from California Pizza Kitchen has tomato pieces.
But to the point… if I have to decide on one best food it would be Steak Oscar (or sometimes labeled “Neptune”). Filet, Crab meat, Asparagus, and Hollandaise sauce.
Any Food stuffed with other Food is bound to disappoint.
I am very surprised to see no sausages here. The sausage is one of mankind’s noblest creations. I would easily take as a last meal
- Grilled kielbasa with sauerkraut and potato pierogies
- Bangers and mash with onion gravy
- Double bratwurst on a hard roll with mustard, raw onion, and dill pickle slices.
Also a platter of lamb (chopped-up gyros) over rice from any Halal food cart in NYC. Covered with hot sauce and the delectable white sauce made from mayo, ranch dressing, garlic, vinegar, dill, parsley, lemon juice and god knows what, referred to on the mean streets as “Angel Jizz.” This tastes best at 3AM while drunk.