One of the questions that I hear most often is "What's the best _blank_ that you've ever had?" As such, inspired by Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, I came up with the following list, spanning a myriad of different food categories. I do intend on keeping things current, and plan on adding and updating entries as we go along. Do let me know if there's anything I missed.
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 | Abalone | Awabi (nigirizushi) at Go's Mart |
 | Agnolotti | Duck confit agnolotti, shaved foie gras, duck consomme at Saddle Peak Lodge |
 | Aloo Tikki | Aloo tikki cholle at Vik's Chaat Corner |
 | Ankimo | Ankimo at Go's Mart |
 | Artichoke | Crispy baby artichokes, remoulade, pepper coulis at Raphael |
 | Banana Cream Pie | Black bottom banana cream pie at Gjelina |
 | Bavarois | Coconut bavarois, coffee, thai basil, peanut croquant, chicory at Test Kitchen (Jordan Kahn) |
 | Beef Heart | Anticucho de corazon, rocoto Sauce at Test Kitchen (Ricardo Zarate) |
 | Beef Short Rib | Short rib, prime, braised 72h, raisin-peppercorn sauce at Citronelle |
 | Beef Tartar | Tartare of filet mignon and French fries at Central Michel Richard |
 | Beet | Beet cake at Blue Vervain |
 | Bibimbap | Dolsot bibimbap at Young Dong Tofu |
 | Black Beans | Black bean crème, frijoles moros soup, compressed apple, calvados, tropical mint at Playa |
 | Black Cod | Misoyaki black cod, furikake rice cake, pickled garden vegetables, encapsulated foie gras miso soup at Molecular Menu at AnQi |
 | Blood Sausage | Sangrecita, morcilla crostini, fried egg, jalapeno salsa at Mo-Chica |
 | Bo La Lot | Grilled beef wrapped in sesame leaves at Starry Kitchen Nights at Tiara Cafe |
 | Bone Marrow | Grilled bone marrow at The Spice Table |
 | Bonito | Bonito, lightly smoked with wild fennel, black tea at Manresa |
 | Brain | Calf's brain and scrambled egg with shaved white truffles at Per Se |
 | Branzino | Loup de mer, sungold tomatoes, mole verde at Test Kitchen (Walter Manzke) |
 | Brisket | Beef brisket alla Genovese, onions, ozette potatoes, parsley at Sotto |
 | Broccoli | Cashew cheese, broccoli at Wolvesmouth Underground Dinner |
 | Butter | Foie gras butter at Hatchi at Breadbar (Walter Manzke) |
 | Butterscotch | Macallan butterscotch, winter squash cake, toasted milk ice cream, malt at XIV |
 | Burger, Slider | Le burger, au foie gras et aux poivrons verjutés (beef and foie gras burger with caramelized bell peppers) at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon |
 | Caesar Salad | Caesarin, Peruvian ceasar salad, grilled baby romaine, parmesan, huacatay anchovie dressing at Mo-Chica |
 | Camembert | Camembert | coing, camembert croquette, persimmon, quince purée, cherry vinegar, mâche at The Royce |
 | Cannoli | Cannoli at Test Kitchen (Zach Pollack, Steve Samson) |
 | Carbonara | Linguine alla carbonara, pancetta, eggs, black pepper and Grana Padano at Osteria Mamma |
 | Carrot Cake | Carrot cake, carrot sorbet, yuzu curd, cream cheese snow at The Dining Room |
 | Cassoulet | Rabbit cassoulet at Relate at Bistro St. Germain's |
 | Cauliflower | Fried cauliflower, fish sauce at The Spice Table |
 | Causa | Causa rellena, stuffed crispy causa, morcilla, rocoto aioli at Test Kitchen (Ricardo Zarate) |
 | Century Egg | Thousand-year-old quail egg, potage, ginger at Benu |
 | Ceviche | Ceviche crocante, halibut, leche de tigre, crispy calamari at Picca |
 | Chawanmushi | Chawanmushi at Urasawa |
 | Chicken Heart | Tokujo hatsu / special heart at Kokekokko |
 | Chicken Liver | Spicy chicken liver on toast with chicken cracklin' at Black Hogg |
 | Chicken, Roasted | Whole roasted black chicken, with piquillo pepper purée, fried chicken, stuffing at Sona |
 | Chicken Sandwich | Fried chicken sandwich, spicy B&B pickle slaw, rooster aioli at Son of a Gun |
 | Chicken and Waffles | Wood & Vine fried chicken & waffles, house-made waffle, maple roasted squash at Wood & Vine |
 | Chickpeas | Slow cooked chickpeas a la Catalan, sauce romesco, coriander at Ubuntu |
 | Chile Relleno | Chile relleno, farci avec une duxelle et servi avec une sauce de chèvre et d'ail at Rivera |
 | Chili Fries | Chili-cheese fries with onions at Volcano Burgers |
 | Churros | Chu-don't-know-mang, pound cake cinnamon churros, with malted chocolate milk and vanilla ice cream at A-Frame |
 | Clam | Humitas, Baja surf clam, red bell pepper, queso ranchero, fresno chiles, chives, lime pesto at Playa |
 | Clam Chowder | Clam chowder, with green curry, lemongrass, pancetta, coconut milk, and toasted sourdough at A-Frame |
 | Coffee | Los Naranjos, Handsome Coffee Roasters at Le Comptoir at Tiara Cafe |
 | Compressed Fruit | Compressed Asian pear, herbs, burnt orange, cinnamon at Amalur Project |
 | Congee | Westlake rice porridge, hangar steak, rock shrimp, soy-cured Egg, cilantro at Mission Chinese Food |
 | Consommé | Oxtail consommé, mushroom royal, black truffles at Test Kitchen (Alain Giraud) |
 | Coq au Vin | Coq au vin, braised organic chicken, market vegetables, thyme roasted potatoes, Burgundy jus at La Poubelle Bistro |
 | Corn | Sweet corn, custard, frozen uni powder, rambutan, lemongrass, chervil, young ginger at Red Medicine |
 | Corn Dog | Corn pups, two short dogs, Anson Mills corn batter, mustard at Short Order |
 | Corned Beef | Corned beef, appenzeller churro, red onion, pastrami syrup at ink. |
 | Cotton Candy | Lychee cotton candy at The Slanted Door |
 | Crab | Kani miso korayaki at Urasawa |
 | Crab Cakes | Jumbo lump crab cakes, with Pommery mustard sauce and coleslaw at Gulfstream |
 | Crème Brûlée | Crème brulee, strawberry at Test Kitchen (Walter Manzke) |
 | Crudites | Crudite, urchin bottarga and seaweed at Alma Pop-Up |
 | Curry, Japanese | Pork cutlet curry, crispy fried kurobuta pork loin at Fat Spoon |
 | Deviled Eggs | 3 devil eggs, porky, chive, truffle at Test Kitchen (Shelley Cooper) |
 | Dorade | Dorade royal "au plat", fennel, zucchini, eggplant, "Riviera jus" at Patina |
 | Dosa | Masala dosa at Annapurna Cuisine |
 | Doughnut | Buttermilk toasted coconut doughnut, mascarpone ice cream at Grace |
 | Dover Sole | Dover sole | endive, dover sole à la poêle, crunchy endive bergamot lemon, cauliflower mushroom charred truffled leeks at The Royce |
 | Duck Confit | Arroz con pato, duck and rice, traditional Peruvian dish from north of Lima at Test Kitchen (Ricardo Zarate) |
 | Dumplings, Non-Traditional | Chinese spring chive crystal dumplings, Alaskan king crab, shrimp, Kurobuta pork at WP24 |
 | Eggplant | Roasted eggplant, bulgur, charred cucumber and tahini at Alma Pop-Up |
 | Endive | Endive salad, apples, blue cheese, mustard vinaigrette at The Tasting Kitchen |
 | Engawa | Halibut fin sashimi at sugarFISH |
 | Fennel | A nice salad, fennel, persimmon, celery, chorizo at Test Kitchen (Chicks with Knives) |
 | Fish and Chips | Fish & Chips at The Parish |
 | Flatbread Sandwich | The bäco at Lazy Ox Canteen |
 | Fluke | Fluke, spinach, vinaigrette, shallot, chive at Wolvesmouth Underground Dinner |
 | Foie Gras, Cold | Moulard duck "foie gras terrine", Tokyo turnips, pickled ramps, black truffles, garden mâche and toasted brioche at The French Laundry |
 | Foie Gras, Hot | Foie-gras "en papillotte" and radish bouillon (« radis-foie ») at Guy Savoy |
 | Fried Chicken | Marinated fried chicken in duck fat brown butter potato salad at LudoBites 2.0 at Breadbar |
 | Fried Green Tomato | Fried green tomato, tabasco aioli at Wolvesmouth Underground Dinner |
 | Fried Oyster | Gougere, slider fried oysters, tartar sauce, bacon & arugula at Little Bear |
 | Fried Rice | Arroz chaufa de mariscos, mixed seafood, peruvian fried rice, pickled radish at Picca |
 | Frog | La grenouille, la cuisse en fritot à la purée aillée eu au coulis de persil (crispy frog leg, garlic and parsley coulis) at Joël Robuchon |
 | Gargouillou | Into the vegetable garden...their natural juices at Manresa |
 | Gazpacho | Watermelon gazpacho, Japanese octopus, Pedro Ximenez at Patina |
 | Goat | Slow roasted G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), pickled mango at Sunny Spot |
 | Grouper | Pan roasted black grouper, artichoke, sunchoke, Maine pink shrimp, black lentil puree, smoked lobster vinaigrette at Joe's Restaurant |
 | Guacamole | Guacamole (prepared tableside) at Oyamel |
 | Haam Sui Gaau | Glutinous dumpling with diced pork at Koi Palace |
 | Hamachi | Hamachi, Vietnamese style at LudoBites 6.0 at Max |
 | Har Gow | Steamed shrimp dumpling topped with XO sauce at Koi Palace |
 | Hazelnut | Hazelnut milk, frosted celeriac, Tennessee whiskey, wood ice cream at XIV |
 | Heirloom Tomato Salad | Heirloom tomato salad, Santa Barbara sea urchin, soy caramel at Patina |
 | Herring | Salade d'hargens, smoked herring, fingerling potato salad at Church & State |
 | Honeydew | Dessert (honeydew from Shizuoka) at Imahan |
 | Horchata | Agua de horchata at La Casita Mexicana |
 | Hummus | Hummus with tahini at Cleo |
 | John Dory | John Dory fillet, poached in Malabar black pepper-citrus butter, cannelloni beans, marin velouté, crunchy sauce at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire |
 | Kabocha Squash | Le Kabocha, en symphonie soyeuse au foie gras et gingembre (delicate kabocha pumpkin veloute on foie gras custard with ginger) at Joël Robuchon |
 | Kale | Sautéed kale, broccoli leaf, garlic & chili at The Gorbals |
 | Kamatoro | Kama toro / tuna collar at Urasawa |
 | Karaage | Awabi "karaage" at Urasawa |
 | Kebab | Koobideh (luleh kabob) at Raffi's Place |
 | King Crab | King crab legs, Tabasco butter at Son of a Gun |
 | Kohada | Kohada at Nozomi |
 | Lamb | Lamb, rack, raw-cooked vegetables, jalapeno-cumin sauce at Citronelle |
 | Langoustine | La langoustine, truffée et cuite en ravioli avec un émincé de chou étuvé (truffled langoustine ravioli with stewed cabbage) at Joël Robuchon |
 | Lobster Roll | Lobster roll, celery, lemon aioli at Son of a Gun |
 | Lobster, Cold | Lobster | pomegranate, slow poached lobster, coleman's farm butter lettuce, sweet onion, pomegranate hot and snow at The Royce |
 | Lomo Saltado | Lomo saltado at Mario's Peruvian Seafood |
 | Macaroni & Cheese | Mac & cheese, blue, cheddar, parmesan, truffle at Gordon Ramsay Steak |
 | Mango | Mango bavarois, sugar plums, star anise, pistachio at Patina |
 | Matzoh | Bacon-wrapped matzoh balls, horseradish mayonnaise at The Gorbals |
 | Minestrone | Wild fennel minestra, mustard greens, farro, Calabrian chilies, egg at Sotto |
 | Mole | Tres moles con puerco at La Casita Mexicana |
 | Morel | Trapped funghi, morels, sesame praline, spring alliums, mushroom sabayon, cardamom, homemade coffee oil, ginger at CR8 Purotekuta |
 | Mousseline | Poached egg, potato mousseline, Santa Barbara prawn, chorizo condiment at LudoBites 5.0 at Gram & Papas |
 | Mushroom | Dobin mushi (matsutake) at Urasawa |
 | Olives | Olives all'Ascolana at Scarpetta |
 | Onion Rings | "Beer batter" onion rings at Burger Parlor |
 | Ono | Ono ceviche, coconut milk, tomato, cilantro at Test Kitchen (Elderoy Arendse, Ori Menashe) |
 | Oyster, Cooked | Butter poached Kushi oyster, tapioca cream with Spanish caviar and fresh yuzu at Alex |
 | Pad Thai | Pad Thai, market version w/ sweet radish, peanuts, tofu & dried shrimp at Night + Market |
 | Panna Cotta, Savory | Soymilk panna cotta, Santa Barbara sea urchin, geoduck clam and fresh wasabi at Ibaraki Benefit Dinner at Breadbar |
 | Papaya | Papaya at Urasawa |
 | Papaya Salad | Green papaya, crispy taro, rau ram, fried shallots, peanuts at Test Kitchen (Jordan Kahn) |
 | Pastrami | Saul's pastrami at The Dining Room |
 | Peas | Peas all around (tout petits pois) at Guy Savoy |
 | Peasprouts | Sauteed peasprout at Newport Seafood |
 | Pig Ear | Pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg at Animal |
 | Pig Tail | Pig's tail, lettuce, herbs at The Spice Table |
 | Pig Trotter | Pied de cochon, spicy aioli at Test Kitchen (Neal Fraser) |
 | Pizza | Roma tomatoes, onions, feta, mozzarella cheeses, garlic olive oil, lemon zest & juice and cilantro at Cheese Board Pizza Collective |
 | Pommes Purée | Black truffle potato purée (purée de pommes de terre à la truffe noire) at Guy Savoy |
 | Pork Belly | Braised kurobuta pork belly with braised red cabbage & green curry at Bar Charlie |
 | Pork Jowl | Corned pork jowl salad, black trumpet vinaigrette, chicory and lettuce stems and leaves at Commis |
 | Pork Rillettes | Rillettes, pork, pickles, mustard, toast at The Tasting Kitchen |
 | Pork Shoulder | Maya puerco pibil sous vide, banana leaf braised pork shoulder, Peruvian potatoes at Rivera |
 | Pork Tenderloin | Grilled pork tenderloin, squash, chestnuts, bacon, violet mustard at Test Kitchen (Neal Fraser) |
 | Pot de Crème | Butterscotch pot de crème, salted caramel ice-cream at Wood & Vine |
 | Pot Pie | Chilean pot pie at Pan Am Room |
 | Pot Roast | Jar's signature pot roast, carrots, caramelized onions at Jar |
 | Potato Chips | Papas salsa verde, Kennebec potatoes, avocado, chiles serranos, micro cilantro at Playa |
 | Pretzel | Spretzel, mustard dipping sauce at Cooks County |
 | Quesadilla | Foie gras quesadilla, crispy cabbage, juniper berry oil at LudoBites America at Casa Pulido |
 | Rabbit | Rabbit, bacon n onion muffin, Swiss fondue, green apple, mustard greens at Wolvesmouth Underground Dinner |
 | Ragù | Hand cut maltagliati, pork ragù, scallion, Gruyère at Fraiche |
 | Ramen | Taiwan ramen noodle, Nagoya style spicy noodle soup served with beef and pork, Asian chives, and dried red chili at Sashi |
 | Rice Porridge | Kinoko zosui porridge of rice and egg at Aburiya Toranoko |
 | Risotto | Mushroom risotto, topped with shaved summer truffles at Patina |
 | Roe | eggs (flatbread) at Saison |
 | Sabayon | Lime sabayon, cucumber ice cream, cashew macaroons, white chocolate, jasmine at Red Medicine |
 | Salade Lyonnaise | Frisee aux lardons et oeuf poche, frisee salad with lardons, poached egg, bacon vinaigrette & toasted brioche at Bouchon |
 | Salmon Tartar | Le Caviar, tartare de saumon aux jeunes pousses de shiso (salmon tartar with shiso sprouts) at Joël Robuchon |
 | Salpicon | Salpicon, piquillo pepper & mandarin orange at Lazy Ox Canteen |
 | Salsify | Tree in the forest: confit of salsify, crispy maitake mushrooms with garlic & herbs at Bistronomics Lucky 13 at Breadbar |
 | Salt Cod | Bunelos de bacalao, fried salt cod and potato at Test Kitchen (Walter Manzke, Perfecto Rocher) |
 | Sangria | Basque sangria, Floc de Gascogne, flavors of sangria, freeze-dried fruit at Test Kitchen (Michael Voltaggio) |
 | Sausage, Asian | Sai krok Isaan / sour Isaan sausage, grilled fermented pork sausage, w/ bird eye chile, cabbage at Night + Market |
 | Scallop, Raw | Hokkaido scallop, nasturtium blossoms, crispy rice cracker at Providence |
 | Schnitzel | Sweetbread schnitzel with potato salad at Stefan's at L.A. Farm |
 | Scrambled Eggs | Black truffle (French) scrambled eggs at LudoBites 8.0 at Lemon Moon |
 | Sea Bream | Sea bream, almond and orange, fennel jam at Manresa |
 | Sesame | Goma aisu kurimu at Urasawa |
 | Shabu-Shabu | Premium wagyu beef (from Japan, grade A5) at Kagaya |
 | Shawarma | Duck "shawarma", Israeli couscous and organic corn salad at Taste of Beverly Hills (Momed) |
 | Shima Aji | Shima aji at Urasawa |
 | Shrimp Cocktail | Jumbo shrimp cocktail at Hank's Oyster Bar |
 | Shrimp, Cooked | North Carolina coastal shrimp and Anson Mills grits at Ratcliffe on The Green |
 | Shrimp Toast | Shrimp toast sandwich, herbs, Sriracha mayo at Son of a Gun |
 | Skate | Skate wing, sambal, bamboo leaf at Spago |
 | Snail | Escargot, country sausage, green tomato, black eyed pea at The Vagrancy Project |
 | Soba | Aonori soba pasta, Dungeness crab at Spago |
 | Soft Shell Crab | Soft shell crab, scrambled corn, Old Bay, vanilla-crab jus at The Dining Room |
 | Somen | Somen noodle with bottarga at Matsuhisa |
 | Sope | Isla de Cedros abalone chorizo sope at Test Kitchen (Javier Plascencia) |
 | Spaghetti | Spaghetti, tomato & basil at Scarpetta |
 | Spanakopita | Spanakopita at Cleo |
 | Spring Roll | Nem nuong cuon at Brodard |
 | Squash Blossom | Alchemic chemistry, 79 at CR8 The Art Of |
 | Squid | Baby Monterey squid, Chiang Mai pork sausage, candlenut, mint, rau ram at Lukshon |
 | Steak | True Japanese 100% Wagyu Beef From Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, Filet Mignon 6 Oz at CUT |
 | Sticky Toffee Pudding | Sticky toffee pudding, sweet pudding cake, brown sugar toffee, brown butter ice cream at Gordon Ramsay Steak |
 | Sweet Potato | Sweet potato, romaine ribs, turmeric, beer, baby shrimp at Red Medicine |
 | Sunchoke | Sunchoke soup, black truffle, olive oil at The Royce |
 | Taco, Non-Traditional | Pork belly tacos, Fuji apple slaw, jalapeño relish at Black Hogg |
 | Tamago | Tamago at Natori |
 | Tamale, Non-Traditional | Tamalli Chateaubriand, wild-mushroom duxelles dumpling, filet mignon, chipotle béarnaise at Playa |
 | Taro | Acra, graded taro roots blended with herring, green onion, bell pepper, onion, garlic, black pepper and parsley at Test Kitchen (TiGeorges Laguerre) |
 | Tempura | Ebi tempura at Urasawa |
 | Tiradito | Tiradito de jurel, Japanese aji carpaccio, garlic, ginger lemon sauce at Test Kitchen (Ricardo Zarate) |
 | Tiramisu | Tiramisu at Osteria Mamma |
 | Tofu | Agedashi tofu at Raku |
 | Tomato | Momotaro tomatoes at Totoraku |
 | Toro | Otoro (nigirizushi) at Kyubey |
 | Torta, Non-Traditional | Chorizo piquillo goat cheese torta at Wolvesmouth Underground Dinner |
 | Tortilla | Tortillas florales, housemade nixtimal tortillas, "Indian butter" at Rivera |
 | Tres Leches | Tres leches cake at Gulfstream |
 | Trifle | Yuzu banana trifle, mountain berries at Lazy Ox Canteen |
 | Tripe | Omasum tripe, shrimp, yellow chive, lovage at Benu |
 | Truffle | Black truffle, explosion, romaine, parmesan at Alinea |
 | Tuna, Cooked | Maguro "spare ribs" at Kyubey |
 | Tuna Tartar | Cru (bluefin tuna tartar) at Saison |
 | Turbot | "EcoPez" turbot, fungi, seagrass, ash oil at Test Kitchen (Michael Voltaggio) |
 | Turkey Burger | O.C., turkey burger, herb sauce, sprouts, marinated carrots, avocado, provolone at Burger Parlor |
 | Unagi | Unagi, summer truffle, crushed potato, quail egg at Providence |
 | Uni, Sushi | Uni / sea urchin roe at Urasawa |
 | Veal | Marcho Farm nature-fed veal, "lasagne de langue de veau," toybox tomatoes, globe artichoke, romaine lettuce and Castelmagne "mousseline" at The French Laundry |
 | Venison | Filet de chevreuil, loin of venison, roasted market vegetables and fall fruits at Bocuse d'Or USA Benefit Dinner |
 | Vitello Tonnato | Vitello tonnato, veal eye of round sousvide for 12h@51°c, salsa tonnata and celery at Il Grano |
 | Waffle | Crisp sourdough waffle, black cherry and mascarpone, balsamic caramel at Muse |
 | White Chocolate | White chocolate cube, orange blossom cream, coriander, pistachio, sake at XIV |
 | Wild Boar | Vibration, bee hive at CR8 The Art Of |
 | Wontons | Pork chili oil wonton+Szechuan-style shredded potatoes at Starry Kitchen Nights at Tiara Cafe |
 | Xiaolongbao | Lobster coral xiao long bao at Benu |
 | Yakiniku | Outside rib eye at Totoraku |
