Food Wars

What do sweet potato fries, calamari, escargots and vodka cranberries have in common? Aside from sounding like a really delightful (and totally fatty and unhealthful!) dinner, they comprise my favorite appetizers. Well, the food ones, anyway. You don't find them everywhere, so whenever I encounter an establishment that offers them on the menu, I find that I MUST try them, and see how they are.

I don't really know how this all began. Maybe it began the first time I ever tried calamari or sweet potato fries, and found them so delicious, I had to have them again whenever they were available. Somehow, that evolved into a competition of sorts-- I wanted to these appetizers at every place that served them, to get a taste of how different places prepared the same dish, and which one had the best ones.

The winners?

For calamari, it would be BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. Most places will only serve you the round rings from the squid's body. BJ's is the only place I've found (so far) that serves the rings AND the tentacles. Not only is it less wasteful by making use of the WHOLE squid, but I find the tentacles far more delectable than the body. They also cook it just right-- not too tough and chewy from overcooking. And finally, the breading is just right-- not only is the amount just right but the flavor is terrific. I don't use any of the sauces they provide. Just a squeeze of lemon is enough to round out this dish at BJ's :-9

For sweet potato fries, it's a tossup between Le Cafe Stella and Root 217, a new eatery on campus. To me, the perfect fry, whether sweet or regular potato, is one that is lightly crispy on the outside, and soft and melt-in-your-mouth on the inside. The first time I ever went to Stella's Cafe was during a work lunch, and the sweet tater fries were so delightful that I dragged Allan there for Happy Hour later that same day. To my disappointment, the evening fries weren't nearly as good as the noon fries. Yesterday, I had a chance to try the fries at Root 217, and wow, they really fit the bill in terms of what I enjoy in a perfect fry. A good sweet potato fry needs very little in the way of ketchup or other condiments, to perfect the taste.

Finally, escargots. First time I ever tried them was in a restaurant in Paris, 11 years ago. Of course, nothing can beat authentic escargots cooked in what is not only the food capital of the world, but the dish's native country! It was my first time trying them, and I was pleasantly surprised. The snail was soft and tender and drenched in the most savory garlic butter sauce. Recently, we've tried the escargots at both Pacific Crepes and Stella Mare's, and while both were delicious, none could compare to the "real thing" from Paris.

And what of the vodka cranberries? Well, a couple years ago I'd taken a liking to the drink, and decided to make a point of ordering it everywhere we went, so I could compare and contrast. The winner? Why, the bars in Vegas, of course! ;-)

How about you? What are your favorite things you like to repeatedly order?