A scattering of thoughts fluttered through my mind with the question of "incredible meals".  But instead of courses, ingredients, and the like, I find that no matter how delectable, the food itself takes second place to the company I am with.  And, of course, the ambience.  Doesn’t everything taste so much better when you are with that special one … or the small group of friends that seem to encourage scintillating conversation in surroundings that seem to bring out the best of each of us?  To be honest, I find myself caught up in the moment, the laughter, the camaraderie that I while my meal is savored, I find myself looking back at "the special time" more than my savory lobster tail. 

If you haven’t been to Nepenthe, perched precariously high on the cliffs of Big Sur, California, overlooking some of the most glorious ocean scenery in our world, lounging back, toasting with glasses of some of the best California wines, soaking up the sheer ambience — well, you have a treat in store.  Hours can be spent - and, to be honest, they are - when four of us sit back and totally unwind.  The specialty?  Ambrosia burgers - living up to their name, wooden platters with a tempting display of cheeses, cut-up fruit, and bread that make casual dining a gourmet treat, and the "let loose" feeling that we are on top of this beautiful world and life couldn’t be better — ever.  We toast to that — many times, in fact — and each moment there becomes a memory. 

Is it any wonder that a combination like this would be "incredible?   

I am a great cook so, it would have to be the meal I fixed for my son last Friday, May 1, 2009, his 24th birthday.  I made Eggplant parmasan with 4 cheeses and capers and a lemon pound cake, rustic garlic bread w/herbs.  He loved it!  It was our best birthday ever.

Rhoda Ludy 

Oh ya… I eat out a LOT. and all over the country. In some of the best restaurants IN the country as well as out of it. I have yet to have a restaurant meal that compares to the meals I’ve had cooked by friends and family who are good at it. I’ve got a girlfriend who has 20 acres, used to teach cooking and grows all her own vegis and herbs. Her house… AMAZING. My moms fried chicken. No one elses compares. Although when I go to NYC this fall I’m trying out that place Liz talked about!

I consider myselef a great Italian cook coming from a very traditional Italian family.  So other than my own cooking, the best meal I ever had was the Ocean Club in Arizona.  The seafood was outstanding.  My second choice would be when we went to California  over in Oakland  called Chez Panisse runned by Alice Waters.  She grows her own vegtables and has a set menu for the night.  I was introduced to Pumpkin soup and it was out of this world.

I love meat. And for a meat lover like me, going out to a restaurant that specializes in serving the best cuts of meat was a pleasure. Last month on a ladies night out of dinner and a comedy club, we went to a Brazilian restaurant named Sabor. They have servers (cuties may I add) called Gauchos, that go from table to table with large skewers of various cuts of meat (beef, chicken and lamb) Yummy!

I am not a spicy eater, if it’s not Italian or generic American food, I usually won’t like it. So I wasn’t sure about Brazilian food and spices. Boy was I wrong, it was hands down the best meat I have ever eaten. Tender, juicy, succulent. And the sides….holy cow! Whipped potatoes that taste like they added a pound of butter and these little cheese bread things….yummy! Ooh I hope my doctor isn’t reading this, I’d be in big trouble! :-)

http://www.saborbrazil.net/index.html

I am in a homesick mode. Homesick for Belgium. So that follows with any meal (all are great) in a little restaurant in Ghent on St Margrie Straat. I can’t even remember the name and have been going there for decades.

I always refer to it as the one across from St Rita’s. 

It was near my Mom’s apartement and we had to try out all the "menu of the day". A working class restaurant, no fantasy just fresh down home cooking. I have introduced it to many of my American friends every one returns for more. 

The most memorable meal I ever had ironically is a meal I don’t remember. This was in France at an extraordinary vineyard/Inn where  my second son had his wedding dinner. It was a seven course meal with a different wine for every course. "Ah, this is sooo good" we all said after tasting each course and each wine and the presentations were spectacular––little green sprigs of rosemary, or flower petals, decorated every dish. At the end they reeled in the high tiered wedding cake that had sparkler-type explosions shooting out of the top––spectacular! But––I couldn’t tell you what I ate. I could tell you loads about all the interesting people around this long, long table. I could even describe one of the odd looking waiters who had a head shaped like a cone. I could tell you about the conversation with a fascinating woman on my right that I was trying to impress with my knowledge of Rilke. I could also tell you about the German guitar player and his seven lovely daughters who supplied the music for the evening. The food and the wine, as delicious as they were, have receded in the background while the memories of all the people linger. 

In Cozumel , Mexico,… on the far side of the island, around 1999.  There was a tiny outdoor restaurant with a few old metal chairs out front in the sand.  We ordered a few beers, and then the garlic shrimp.   There were three of us.  We were served  a huge platter of about six pounds of buttery garlic shrimp swimming in herbs.  On the side was that wonderful Mexican bread and sliced avocados.  

Total cost was five American dollars.