Where Would You Go for Your Ultimate 'Two Hour Vacation'?
All right. Close your eyes. Imagine that we have the ability to transport you to any restaurant in the world to have the ultimate two-hour vacation from your life. Where would you go?
I'm having a hard time deciding between Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix; Cafe de L'Academia in Barcelona; Del Posto in New York City; and the Magnolia Grill in Durham, North Carolina.
And who knows. There might be others I haven't thought of at the moment. What about you?
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20 Comments:
i'm sure this will be a popular answer, but it's a dream for a lot of us : i'd like to take the husband to the French Laundry.
or Daniel in NY.
french tart at 9:27AM on 06/21/07
Thinking the same thing. My two hours (or more) would be that dinner Tony Bourdain, Ruhlman and Scott Bryan had at French Laundry on "A Cook's Tour."
...including the Marlboro Foie Gras Custard.
ZenKimchi at 9:38AM on 06/21/07
Borough Market, London, on a Saturday....Neal's Yard, Brindisa, Monmouth Coffee
adrock1999 at 9:45AM on 06/21/07
Many years ago, I went to Lake Como in Italy. We took a rowboat to an island on the lake, and ate in a place called" ilsa de Comacina" (not sure of the spelling). We were led through a house to a table on a stone patio, looking out on the lake. Then they just started bringing food, like we were sitting for dinner in someones' home. Nothing fancy, but divine, nonetheless . It was one of the most magical evenings I can remember.
Mich23 at 10:19AM on 06/21/07
Can we travel back in time, too? If so, my pick would be Uglesich's in New Orleans, one of the best dive joints for oysters and shrimp and fish.
But I suppose I could make do with The French Laundry ... :)
rbryants at 10:28AM on 06/21/07
"Restaurant at the End of the Universe" featured in Douglas Adams book (by the same name) where the meals come out and introduce themselves before going off and shooting themselves (note: don't order a salad - it insults the other meals)
Or did you mean not-imaginary locations?
shea at 10:29AM on 06/21/07
J. Sheekey, London
Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Auberge de l'Ill, in summer, starting with an aperitif in the garden
Lippy at 10:42AM on 06/21/07
I'd head back to Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Ca. for another all-natural, unfettered meal. But this time I would take my hubby along.
lindseyn at 11:00AM on 06/21/07
Yes! I agree with Lippy! J Sheekey, my favourite restaurant in London. Their endive remoulade with arbroath smokies is one of the nicest things I've ever eaten. Actually, just thinking about it is making me want to ring them up and make a reservation.
caley at 11:18AM on 06/21/07
Milennium in San Francisco. Or, there was a fantastic osteria on one of the outlying islands of Venice. Might have been on San Michele or La Guidecca, but either way, it was an amazing meal made just for me alone, as I was the only customer at that time. It was an off hour, but the owner was kind enough to make me a vegetarian pasta dish. It was the best I'd had in my entire visit that week.
hereandthe at 11:38AM on 06/21/07
The chef's table at Michel Richard Citronelle in Washington DC.
vinnyger at 12:18PM on 06/21/07
Arzak. A total sense of place (San Sebastian) and a totally different sense of time (Spanish) the minute you walk through the doors. Unfortunately, two hours would only get you halfway through a meal.
Fat and Happy Food Slut at 1:04PM on 06/21/07
In NYC when I want to feel like I'm totally somewhere else-- someplace relaxing and exotic, I head for Hangawi...and I'm not even a vegetarian!
missbhavens at 1:06PM on 06/21/07
mumbai for street food! assuming this ultimate vacation can take over any unsavory after effects too.
mayam at 6:57PM on 06/21/07
Din Tai Fung in Taipei for soup dumplings... and then hit the streets for taiwanese street food.
yi at 8:16PM on 06/21/07
El Bulli in Spain. That would rock!
or "Restaurant at the End of the Universe" - brilliant idea!
queenkv at 9:17AM on 06/22/07
El Bulli, except 2 hours wouldn't cut it. In that case, French Laundry, Chez Panisse, or Masayoshi Takayama's place that Ruhlman talks about on his blog and in his book.
Jeana at 12:33PM on 06/22/07
This is an easy one: Phil Rohrer's diner in lovely Two Rivers WI.
aburke at 3:32PM on 06/22/07
With 2 hours to kill I would go to Doyle's in Watson's Bay (Sydney) on a lazy Sunday afternoon for fish & Chips (which I generally don't like) and beer (which I generally like).
Amazing views of the Bay and all the girls look like Elle MacPherson.
http://www.doyles.com.au/pages.asp?selectlocation=true
he_seems_ok at 10:55AM on 06/25/07
Eclectic: ABSOLUTELY El Bulli, for an out-of-this-different-world experience.
Picturesque: Any Taverna in the Greek Islands, overlooking the Aegean.
Fancy: Del Posto NY) or Chez Panisse(CA) or Vetri (PA)
Sexy: Buddakan
Sweet: Chez Angelina Paris...Hot Chocolate
Homey: The Pantry, downtown L.A. (Huge breakfast! Potatoes!)
Fishy: Joe's Stone Crab, Miami
To the Point: Pink's in L.A., although Great Burger (PA)is giving them a run with the Jersey style ripper dogs smothered in chili.
Oh, I guess I just like to eat!
superberri at 2:15PM on 06/28/07