Lists and more lists: Our most memorable meals part 1

This is the time of year for lists..... and more lists. First there's the Christmas shopping list, then the post Xmas return list, followed by that all too inevitable New Years resolution list, and so forth. I often get asked to do lists, stuff like Pho restaurants, eating itineraries for visitors (which I love to do BTW - it's just that I'm kinda slow on the email thing), and other stuff. Recently, Dennis asked me if I was going to do an updated 10 photos post, and I thought about it, but after a bit of pondering I gave up. You see, we average somewhere around 300 or so posts a year, and picking a few photos out of those...... well you see what I mean, right? And yet, because it is the time of the year for lists, I just felt I needed to do one. And so I pulled out an often requested list, of our most memorable meals, not in any order, and kinda off the top of my head. Now note that that is "our" list, which is, the Missus and I, which automatically excludes places like......

 
Urasawa, which was a ginourmous three part post......

And even though we've had some very memorable dishes like the Roasted Whole Sparrows from Highway 4 in Hanoi......

  Which was really delicious..... or even sannakji (live octopus), which I thought was less so....

Or even Prahok, a fermented Cambodian fish paste, made more interesting by the sour little crunchy things....

 
 Which turned out to be little red tree ants. The list is memorable meals, not memorable dishes.....  hey, that could be another list!

And there were those stories, like the young lady in Siem Reap named Akin, who came to work in the city at the age of 9!

 
Akin, an orphan who never knew her parents nor siblings, felt the need to comfort us when we were so touched and distressed by her story by sharing with us her philosophy on life: "no worries, no worries, I'm Happy-Happy every day!"

And since it's meals, not drink, I need to exclude the Chicha de Jora from a dirt-floored roadside shack in Calca. 

Frothy, yeasty, and light, it's a wonderful beverage. There's just one thing you need to understand about Chicha de Jora, to quote: "In order to start the fermentation process, the maize is moistened in the maker's mouth.....the digestive enzymes in saliva helps to break down the starches and start the fermentation process. In fact, it is thought that the modern name for this drink is based on the Spanish word "chichal", which means to spit".

I'd also need to exclude the best "hootch" I've ever had, Snake Ruou (rice wine):

 
From Quoc Phuong Ecological Farm in Le Mat, outside of Hanoi:

We've found that there's no way to get to know the folks than by trying out some of the local "beverages":

After all, if it comes out of a rusty old barrel, through a bamboo tube, it's gotta be good, right? 

Hmmmm..... another list! I'll stop now, and leave this list for later. But I'm wondering, how many of you have been reading for the last four years or so. And if you have.... first I'd like to thank you so much for reading! Second, are there any posts which stand out in your mind.... or perhaps you'd like to take a stab at what you think were our most memorable meals?

Thanks for reading!

Comments

[Janfrederick]

Personally, I liked all of the Laos posts. I've always thought of it as such an exotic and mysterious place.

Also, any posts that include people behaving badly really stick out (e.g., bad drivers, gastro intestinal issues, demanding guests, etc.) I love reading about food, but the human bits really pull me into the story.

Thanks for your posts!

[Johari]

RIP Royal Mandarin. The restaurant was on fire last night!

http://heartlandzonenews.blogspot.com/2009/12/smoke-check-turns-into-commercial.html

[Dennis]

Awesome! This is so much fun. Thanks Kirk.

[Carol]

Me picking out what I think were your most memorable meals would be like you trying to pick out 10 favorite photos. I have to agree that the posts with the human nature side always stick in my mind. Those are the ones I retell most.

[Sandy]

I think I've been reading your blog for about 2-1/2 years now. I enjoy reading about your adventures - local eats, travel and cooking. I always get a chuckle out of the Missus' comments (real and edited).

Re Royal Mandarin: I don't remember a Hometown Buffet nearby, but the photos look like the front of the restaurant. Hubby was just there a couple of days ago to pick up wings, too. Glad to hear that no one was hurt, and I hope the restaurant will come back.

Happy New Year, mmm-yoso!

[Porta Rickin Rick]

Mmmm, Prahok! Any leads on where to find that on this continent?

[Andy Sze]

Urasawa is by far the most memorable post on your blog for me. I've enjoyed your blog for years and hope to enjoy it for years more to come. Thank you for all you've given us. Happy New Year and btw, Panda Country didn't make the top 10?

[Jo`]

The Killer Whale, Sam Woo! Sometimes I think of that and I STILL crack up!

[caninecologne]

hi kirk
i've been reading your blog since early 2006 (the first post i saw was your review on Ben's 1615) which inspired me to start my own blog...thanks!

i always enjoy your travel posts - most recently the laos and cambodia posts.

lastly - that's awful about royal mandarin burning down! :( they had good wings.

[Kirk]

Hi Jan - You know, we loved Laos, and can't wait to go back.... though I'm afraid it'll be much changed by that time.

Hi Johari - Thanks for letting us know.... that's very sad news.

Hi Dennis - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Hi Carol - The Missus and I love those little slices of life..... sometimes more than the food itself.

Hi Sandy - Happy New Year! And thanks for all the comments! It's a sad thing about Royal Mandarin, but I'm pretty sure they'll rebuild.

Hi PRR - Try Minh Huong:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2009/10/minh-huong-supermarket.html

Hi Andy - LOL! Panda Country.... I'm trying not to remember that.

Hi Jo - Sam Woo the Killer Whale..... my goodness, who can forget that! ;o)

Hi CC - Happy New Year to you and the family! I think the Royal Mandarin thing has screwed up a bunch of New Year wing plans.

[Lynnea]

Hi Kirk,

Happy New year! I love everything you post. Thanks for all your hard work! =)

[kat]

love all your exotic posts throughout the year! happy 2010!

[Kirk]

Hi Lynnea - Thanks.... it's not really that hard work! But I'm glad you enjoy our posts!

Hi Kat - Happy 2010 to you too!

[Cellar Tours]

wow!
here are mines :)

http://www.cellartours.com/blog/italy/12-memorable-dishes-of-2009-remembering-these-dishes-fondly