I don't gravitate to sweets but today as I was checking out of Publican Quality Meats, I spied a tahini fig cookie, ridiculously good!

Veggie Flatbread at Xian Cuisine. The hand pulled spinach noodles were nice, the cold appetizer sampler was okay; but this filled pancake, a Chinese version of a Gordita, was fantastic.

Next time I go here, I am just going to order a couple of these instead of the appetizers. Plus I really like it that all the veggie items are clearly marked so I don't have to wonder.

Minke Whale Meat at The Fish Market in Reykavik. It was like the best steak that you've ever had.

hoppy2468 wrote:Minke Whale Meat at The Fish Market in Reykavik. It was like the best steak that you've ever had.

Lucky! Did you have an opportunity to try rotted shark?

Not to be the PC police, but hunting whales in Iceland is controversial, and to a significant degree, minkes are hunted to feed tourists. It's not a part of most of the local's regular diet.

I am shocked that it took four whole days to elicit a response to the original post.

I am no animal rights activist but given the ongoing controversies surrounding whale hunting I’d take a hard pass at the opportunity of trying it.

For curiosities sake would the foie gras enthusiasts out there consider eating whale steak?

We didn't have the chance to eat rotted shark. Thank goodness.
The whale was part of an eight course tasting.
Doing research after the fact, I read about how controversial eating whale is.
As for it being for tourists, that could be true. The restaurant was packed on a
Monday night.

Bhel Chaat @ Egg-a-Holic

Fwiw, whale tastes like bacon. Horse sashimi is pretty nice as well. When in Japan...

Jazzfood wrote:Fwiw, whale tastes like bacon..

That's interesting. I have a co-worker originally from Japan who has eaten it deep fried before and said it sucked so much he'd never try it again.

Mine wasn't fried. Believe, though not certain, it was raw.

I'll start off 2020 with the Pizza Amatriciana at Pizzeria Bebu in Lincoln Park. Their other pies have had brushes with glory but this one gets the medal - transporting Neapolitan aromas, thin red onion, strong romano, liberal red pepper flakes and salt, and their house cured pancetta which had crisped up so much it was like micro-chicharrones.

It was one of those cold, dreary days... when you wake up and realize that you are getting a cold on top of everything else. You wander down the street and into a random place that looks inviting and warm. Ramen... nice, hot ramen will feel good on your sore throat. It's a very small place, only 10 or so seats at a bar and a couple of wooden tables. You luck out... the place is full, but right when you walk in, someone gets up and leaves, leaving just enough space for you.

You order the Spicy Miso Ramen. The bowl arrives, and it is perfection. Pork belly, ground pork, chives, cilantro, bean sprouts, chili paste, soft boiled egg. The flour noodles are chewy and cooked just right. Simple, yes... but, there is something extra special with this ramen - it's perfect in every way that it can be. It's hot, flavorful, spicy and like sunshine in a bowl.

You slurp your ramen until every last drop is gone, you pay, you leave... and now you are a better person than you were when you walked in.

Mr. Taka Ramen LES
170 Allen Street
New York, NY 10002
https://mrtakaramen.webs.com

Another NYC Japanese experience from earlier this week: kaiseki at Shuko. In particular the tuna tartare and caviar on milk bread and the toro hand roll with chilis, and pristine aji with a thin slice of shallot and another piece with a towering lump of the sweetest shrimp imaginable. Solo so had more time to watch the guys work behind the counter also - mesmerizing.

Yesterday we drove from Shenyang in NE China to a smaller city, Yinkou (near the sea) to meet up with my wife's maternal side.

I found out today her uncle had made something for us for today. It is raw mantis shrimp in the shell marinated for a day in salt, water, garlic, anise, ginger, and scallion. A little bit of work to get it out of the shell but you eat it raw. Customary to eat it with congee but by itself....FUCKING DELICIOUS. This kicked the ever living shit out of any raw shrimp type of dish I've had at any Michelin star sushi joints we've been to in NYC, SF, or LA. I also had it in some congee with some salted duck egg. So, so, so good. I've eaten a ton of good food in the last 9 days in China but this takes the cake so far.

It is a specialty from areas of Liaoning closer to the sea (i.e. Yingkou, Dalian, etc) and I've never seen it in the US anywhere. There are some cooked versions I guess. Going to be urging my wife to make this at home when we return. So good.

Bacon cheeseburger at Carnivore in Oak Park.

Chicago Ramen
(in Des Plaines)

Had their signature Tsukemen and also their Red Miso ramen.

DELICIOUS. They just opened and are very small, and usually packed. Highly recommended.

A Cafecito double cortadito and cubano. Every dimension of satisfaction when most needed.

Gibson's Oakbrook.
A six ounce martini. Sesame seared tuna. The WR cut bone-in ribeye. Twice baked potato. Elotes. Sautéed mushrooms. Macadamia turtle pie. Shafer "One point five" 2016 Stags Leap Cabernet(half price).Twelve year old Redbreast. Tables appropriately spaced apart and the listed two hour and not a minute more table limit not enforced at all.

The Truffle BLT from Fat Shallot Lincoln Park. I forgot how good that sandwich is. A perfect example of quality ingredients making a fantastic whole.