Best of the Best

Some people go to bars to get laid. I travel around cafes and restaurants to find my next food orgasm. It’s that experience you get in your mouth and blows your mind when you taste the most amazing foods in the world.

And I am obsessed with that feeling. So I plan my life according to that. I schedule my days such that I can go try things that people tell me are the best thing they ever had. And I’m sure I am not the only person who is obsessed with the best. Here is a list of the best thing I ever ate. Go ahead and challenge them. Tell me what you think. I am more than happy to change them and credit you for it. Here we go!

Best Pancakes: Lola 2000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA (5 stars)
Can pancakes really be that good? That’s what I thought, until I tried Tom Douglas’ amazing creation. All I can say is O M G. I have no idea what he put in there, but its a perfect combination of sweetness, flouriness, fluffiness, moistness, burntness. It’s like crack. You get addicted to it the moment you have it. And you can’t stop thinking about it. And you just want to have it every day. Would kill to have some right now… 

Best Pizza: Artichoke 328 East 14th St, New York, NY (4.5 stars)
Where do you go when you are drunk and hungry at 3 in the morning in New York City? ARTICHOKE! Everything they serve is just darn good. Their signature artichoke and spinach slice changed my life. The margarita is rich with flavor. Not to mention they sell beer in 32 oz cups which goes oh so well with the pizza.

Best Shrimp Dish: Pascal’s Manale 1838 Napolean Ave, New Orleans, LA (5 stars)
I used to think seafood can’t be done well in the US. The flavors in the US are nothing to compared to that of Asia, especially in Singapore. Until I tried Pascal’s Manale’s Barbeque Shrimp in New Orleans. Featured on the Food Network’s “best thing I ever ate”, I made the long and inconvenient journey there to try it. And boy did I not regret it. It’s not exactly barbeque. Its a whole plate of shrimp cooked in a broth that is rich with butter and spices that make it taste like barbeque sauce. Every bite of the shrimp is a pure orgasmic feeling. I remember groaning throughout the entire meal and making a mess on the table in this exquisite restaurant. It was just that good.

Best Crab Dish: Sin Huat Eating House 659 Geyland Road, Singapore (5 stars)
There is a reason why Antony Bourdain included this shabby looking place in his “13 must eat places before you die”. Located in the red light district of Singapore, it is not exactly a restaurant. But it serves the best crab dish I ever had in my life. And I have had a lot of crabs. I made my family, one of the most critical bunch of people I know when it comes to food, eat here with me. We patiently waited for our crab beehoon to be served. By patiently I mean FOR HOURS. This place has terrible terrible service. The boss is so full of himself, he doesn’t care about the customers. But after you taste the crab, you won’t mind the wait. Cooked to perfection, this dish blows all other crabs away. There was a moment of silence as my family ate the crab. We were all experiencing a food orgasm together, saying a prayer to thank God for placing such an amazing dish on this planet for us to indulge in. And then I broke the silence by saying, “I don’t know about you guys, but this is the best crab I have ever had.” Everyone replied by nodding, and then returned to enjoy the dish silently.  

Best Cupcakes: Butterlane 123 East 7th St, New York, NY (4.5 Stars)
No one knows frosting better than butterlane. They have successfully created over 20 different kinds of frostings that are delicious and exceptionally sinful. Pick and choose the combination of cake and frosting you want. It is all about customization here. My favorites are banana cake with peanut butter frosting and vanilla cake with blueberry frosting.

Best Sandwich: Katz’s Delicatessen 205 East Houston St, New York, NY (5 Stars)
One year ago, I was introduced to pastrami. My life changed. I clearly remember squirting mustard over the multi-layered pastrami and sinking my teeth into the thick sandwich, not expecting anything much. Then this intense meaty smoky flavor filled my mouth and I was in a state of food orgasm. Yes! Yes! Yes! There is a reason why this is on Anthony Bourdain’s “13 must eat places before you die.”