From places to visit to films to see to books to read, lists of things to do 'before you die' are certainly nothing new. One that I stumbled upon for the first time recently, however, was a list of the '50 things to eat before you die', compiled via a poll of BBC viewers and aired as a television show back in 2004 (which somehow I missed at the time). I was prepared for some oddities and questionable inclusions, but I wasn't quite prepared for how flabbergasted I would actually be at the things chosen by the British public as the gastronomic highlights of their life: the list's contents range from the absurdly general (fresh fish) to unflinchingly specific (Moreton Bay Bugs), and seem to contain several items for no other reason than to satisfy a need for something weird, e.g. guinea pig, alligator and reindeer. Vagueness seems to be its most pervasive flaw, with Chinese food, curry, pasta and sandwiches all having made the top twenty! And in case I were still looking for things to criticize, I could point out how culturally unbalanced the whole thing is, but it probably isn't worth the effort (and in fact I doubt there are many of these lists that aren't).

It did get me thinking, however. Realizing that I have so far managed 44 of these 50 (can you guess what I haven't eaten? answers are at the bottom!), I then started to imagine what would be on my list, if I were to make one based on my experience, and from there it was only natural to start wondering what would be on other food-minded people's lists. And as the curiosity grew, an idea took shape. What if I tried to actually compile a list, a bigger, better list, and one that is far more trustworthy and relevant for those of us who spend inordinate amounts of our time pondering, planning, preparing, reading about and traveling in search of food; a list as long as it needs to be, and as diverse in terms of geography and cultural preference as possible? And more importantly, where could I find enough passionate, well-traveled foodies to flesh out this list with their infallible good taste and culinary expertise? Why, in the food blogosphere, of course!

I am therefore announcing the creation of a 'joint project' (I know memes have gotten a little tiresome to many bloggers - yes, including me! - which is why I'm not calling it one ;) to create a list of food bloggers' top picks for things you've eaten and think that everyone should eat at least once before they die. Think of it as kind of a global food guide, which can enrich and inform our travels and perhaps even clue us into things closer to home that we've somehow overlooked. And although it will probably be too long for any one person to dream of completing, I hope it will give us all some small inkling of how many more edible treasures there still are out there, and how much there still is to experience.

Here are my general guidelines. I'm restricting contributions to five items per blogger, which is hard, I know! But this will keep the list semi-manageable in length and will force you to really think hard about what your absolute top picks would be. You're welcome to be as general or as pin-sharp as you like, referring to specific dishes, restaurants, ingredients, products or preparations (although I think entire cuisines are a bit too general...), but they should definitely be things you know and love and couldn't imagine not having tasted. A sentence or two about your history with this food and why it means so much to you would also be great, and an item or two that is local to you, your cuisine or a place you have lived will help maintain a nice geographical diversity. Oh, and although I really welcome contributions from bloggers all over the world, I'm asking for all contributions to be in English to keep the list coherent. I'm envisioning the contribution process to be passed along like a normal meme, which is why I'm tagging five people to start, but feel free to participate even if you haven't yet been tagged. And if you want to participate but don't feel like devoting an entire post to it, you're welcome to do that too - just whatever you do, drop me an email (my address is in the 'about' section in the sidebar) or a comment on this post with your five foods or your permalink and I'll add your choices to a (hopefully) ever-growing list as they come in. I've also added a link to this post in the top right-hand corner, so you can easily come back and check on new additions!

To get you started, here are some food-for-thought questions. What are some of your most treasured food memories? Where have you had a dish or a meal beyond compare? Where have you traveled and been bowled over by the cuisine? What foods could you absolutely not live without?

I hope you'll participate!

p.s. The things on the BBC list I haven't tried are: Moreton Bay Bugs, alligator, guinea pig (though I had the chance in Peru... but chickened out!), shark, Australian meat pie and durian. What about you?

p.p.s. Jeanne just reminded me of another, slightly more, um, sophisticated list published by the Guardian last year. I'll bet not many score as highly on this list!

So who to tag first? This was hard, but I finally decided to pass the baton to this list of geographically diverse and very talented bloggers, all of whom I know to have exceptionally good taste...
1. Matt in Los Angeles
2. Ximena in Madrid
3. Helen in Sydney
4. Chubby Hubby and his wife S. in Singapore (and I'm kind of cheating here, because I want them both to post their top five!)
5. Fanny in France

 

The List

Make sure to click through to each contributor's post to see full descriptions, photos, etc!

From yours truly: 
1. Real jerk barbecue, preferably from a roadside jerk hut in Jamaica itself, smoky, tender and spicy enough to make you cry
If you don't yet know about my love affair with jerk, just read here. Really one of the greatest (and most painful, but somehow that only added to it) culinary experiences of my life.
2. Berthillon's salted caramel ice cream in Paris
I have tasted a lot of great ice cream in my day, but I don't think any has made me stop eating halfway through because I couldn't bear the thought of finishing it and having none left! Luckily I got over it and licked the cup clean, but I'd probably sell my soul if that meant I could have it regularly.
3. A Louisiana crawfish boil
To the uninitiated it's a smelly massacre. To the converted, those stubby pink tails are good enough to balance out a significant number of life's unpleasantries, and certainly worth the fatty, fishy mess and sore fingers that result from peeling so many of them.
4. Zachary's pizza in Berkeley, California
I like thin-crust pizza as much as anyone, but when push comes to shove, my heart will always belong to Zachary's. This thick, stuffed 'Chicago-style' pizza, the pride and joy of my original hometown, has an unusually crisp, flaky bottom crust, a pillow of cheeses and other fillings sitting below a trademark second crust, and a layer of thick, chunky tomato sauce on top of that perfumed with just the right amount of garlic and herbs. I haven't had one in years, but I can still taste them like I ate one for breakfast.
5. A ripe fig, straight off the tree
I've always liked figs and been fascinated with their color, shape and texture, but I never really got what all the fuss was about eating them raw until I tasted one, bursting with ripeness, straight off the tree. It was the sweetest fruit I have ever eaten, dripping with thick juice that tasted almost like pure honey. Luscious may be one of the world's most hackneyed descriptors, but it's the only word I could possibly use here.

From Chubby Hubby:
6. Macarons from Pierre Hermé
7. Sakura ebi
8. A really proper frito misto in Venice, Italy
9. Corner Bistro's bistro burger
10. Sushi at the crack of dawn in Tsukiji fish market

From Katharine:
11. (tie) I know it's cheating a bit, but I honestly couldn't decide between butter and garlic
12. Cheese
13. Sushi
14. Truffles
15. (tie) Foie gras and escargot

From Catherine: 
16. The chef's tasting menu at Manresa
17. A cup of grapefruit sorbetto and yogurt gelato from Gelato Milano
18. Macaroni and cheese
19. A Krispy Kreme donut, hot off the presses
20. A really good tomato sandwich

From Matt:
21. Texas Barbeque from any reputable place in the Hill Country
22. Chicken Fried Steak
23. Barbacoa
24. Dry Jack Cheese
25. Bugey Cerdon

From Christine:
26. Brie de Meaux
27. Baklava
28. A Philippine mango
29. Feijoada
30. Fig's fritter with Gorgonzola cheese served with serrano ham from The Green Tangerine in Hanoi

From Mac:
31. A sun-ripened heirloom tomato that you have just picked out of your garden
32. Fresh, unpasteurized French cheese, like Epoisses
33. Nutella crepe from a street stand
34. Basil gelato from Capogiro in Philadelphia
35. A real Philadelphia cheesesteak

From Melissa:
36. Deep-fried alligator
37. Unagi nigiri
38. Shiner bock ice cream
39. Sausage & swiss kloboznik from the little czech bakery in west, texas
40. Smoked sirloin from schoepf's barbecue in belton, texas

From Margaret:
41. The babka at the Hotel Europejski in Warsaw
42. Gyros from one of those ubiquitous street stands in Turkey
43. anything with cinnamon or lemon
44. The #4 Enchilada Plate at The Shed in Santa Fe
45. Blueberries picked and eaten directly from the bush

From Ana:
46. Carne Asada Fries at a Mexican take-out somewhere in Orange County
47. Salmon Sashimi
48. Foie Gras
49. Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake
50. Bonuan Bangus (Milkfish)

From Ximena:
51. First quality Ibérico de bellota
52. Angulas (baby eels)
53. Dim-sum, from wheeled carts
54. A full-on English cream tea
55. Pipas (toasted salted sunflower seeds)

From Jeanne:
56. Try foie gras
57. Karoo lamb, eaten in the Karoo, hot off the fire
58. Visit one of Pierre Herme's shops and have some macaroons
59. Order fresh wild Cape coastal oysters at The Knysna Oyster Company
60. Eat Jamon Iberico de bellota from Jabugo

From Julia:
61. Ganache truffles
62. Laduree’s "Club Champs-Elysées"
63. Kruidnootjes (Dutch ginger nuts)
64. My family recipe for oliebollen (doughnut balls)
65. The Liquid Lounge’s "Honey and Chili Prawn Skewer" in Puerto Banus, Spain

From Jen:
66. Coal Oven Pizza from Lombardis in Manhattan
67. Chiles en Nogada in Puebla
68. Lobsters on the Coast of Maine
69. Macarons at Laudree in Paris
70. Dim Sum in Hong Kong

From Husband:
71. North Carolina Barbeque (Eastern style)
72. Cincinnati Chili
73. Dim Sum
74. Graeter’s Ice Cream
75. Praline Pecans from A Southern Season

From Kevin (five sandwiches to eat before you die):
76. BLT (bacon, lettuce & tomato)
77. Reuben
78. Muffaletta from Central Grocery in New Orleans
79. Cuban
80. Grilled cheese

From Abby:
81. A ripe yellow watermelon (the whole thing)
82. Green tea ice cream
83. Venison
84. Blackberry creme brulee
85. Fried okra/squash/eggplant

From Neil:
86. Wild barramundi
87. Spanish tapas
88. Fresh porcini
89. A piece of cheese
90. Wild salmon

From Kat (five countries/cities to eat in before you die):
91. Italy
92. France
93. Spain
94. New Zealand/Australia
95. San Francisco

From Mary:
96. Spicy Angel Wings at Marnee Thai Restaurant, Sunset District, San Francisco
97. Coffee Crunch Cake Eastern Bakery, Chinatown, San Francisco
98. Super Carnitas Burrito (with extra hot sauce) Gordo’s Taqueria, San Francisco
99. Dad’s Fried Chicken
100. Anything and Everything at the French Laundry, Yountville, California

From ASMO:
101. Dungeness Crab in San Francisco
102. Oysters from Etang de Tau in the South of France
103. Fresh raspberries, straight from the bush, still warm from the sunshine
104. Danish Fjord Shrimp
105. BBQ'ed langouste from the Indian Ocean

From Deccanheffalump:
106. Mussels/Tisri Masala
107. "Adele Pidou's Soup" as described by Marcel Rouff
108. Dinner at El Bulli , Girona, Spain
109. Huzarensla/ Hussar Salad the way my mother made it
110. Bater/Quail at the Moti Mahal In Delhi

From aer:
111. A Pierre Herme macaron
112. Breakfast at the Four Season’s Sayan, Bali
113. Fresh truffles on scrambled eggs in truffle season
114. Tasting menu at Cordeillan Bages, Pauillac, France
115. Tasting menu at French Laundry, Yountville, California

From Nicola:
116. Fig bruschetta from Donna Hay
117. Fresh mussels in white wine, shallots, cream, garlic, and stilton
118. Linguine with tomatoes and basil
119. Any fruit that comes right off the tree
120. The ahi tuna sandwich at Lola’s in Playa Avellana, Costa Rica

From Deb:
121. Mom's matzoh brei
122. Really good lox and Temptee whipped cream cheese on a Brooklyn bagel
123. Peas in their pods right off the vine
124. Freshly made chocolate mousse
125. A multi-course meal at Millennium in San Francisco

From Bea:
126. Bouillabaisse
127. Wild Strawberries
128. Black Cod from Roy’s restaurant in Chicago
129. A gourmet picnic at the top of a mountain, after hours hiking
130. Tartiflette with a big bowl of mâche

From Lola:
131. Fois gras with apple jelly from La Cushara de San Telmo in San Sebastian, Spain
132. Caramel fleur de sel macaron from Pierre Herme
133. Home-made ice-cream
134. Fish that you have caught and prepared all on your own
135. A chocolate milk shake from the dairy booth at the MN state fair

From Alison:
136. Barbacoa Tacos at Taqueria Y Tortilleria El Campion, San Juan Capistrano, CA
137. Olallieberry Pie at Polly's Bakery Cafe in Fullerton, CA
138. Fried Oysters at Seafare Inn in Whittier, CA
139. My Grandmother's Rigatoni with Italian Sausage and Tomato Sauce
140. Stir-Fried Morel Mushrooms

From Helene:
141. Morrocan Couscous
142. Vacherin
143. Cassoulet
144. Flamekuche
145. Calissons d' Aix

From Homesicktexan:
146. Refried beans from Las Manitas, Austin, TX
147. Ninfa's green sauce, at the original Ninfa's on Navigation, Houston, TX
148. Tapas at Cal Pep, Barcelona
149. Fresh oysters in October, Le Baron Rouge, Paris
150. My grandma's chocolate pie, McKinney, TX

From Genie:
151. A chili half-smoke with the works from Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC
152. My Grammy’s mac and cheese, made my way
153. The roast chicken at Casa Mingo in Madrid
154. Belizean Rice and Beans with a healthy dash or three of Marie Sharp’s Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce
155. Caprese salad made with a tomato and basil you grew yourself

From Austin:
156. Khao Soi (as prepared in northern Thailand)
157. Beer from Oregon
158. Orecchiette com Cime di Rapa
159. Real Bread
160. Anything green prepared phat fai daeng

From Luisa:
161. Sun-warmed Tomatoes, Sliced, Sprinkled with Flaky Salt and Drizzled with Olive Oil
162. 5 for $1 Pork-and-Chive Dumplings at Dumpling House on Eldridge Street, NYC
163. Batter-fried Zucchini Flowers Stuffed with Anchovies and Mozzarella
164. Basler Leckerli
165. Pizza al Taglio

From Lindy:
166. Fried zucchini blossoms
167. Real strawberries
168. Vosges Barcelona Bar - smoked almonds, gray sea salt, deep milk chocolate
169. Skate with brown butter and capers
170. Crusty potatoes roasted in goose fat

From Haalo:
171. Umbrian White Truffles
172. Foie Gras
173. Fresh Italian Buffalo Bocconcini
174. Canadian Scallops
175. 100 year old Seppelt Para Liqueur Vintage Tawny

From coffeepot:
176. Baked Alaska
177. Beignets and chicory coffee from Cafe De Monde, New Orleans
178. Any breakfast spread at any one of the Palace resorts in Cancun, Mexico
179. An all the way pizza from Mama Lazardos in Floyd, VA
180. Frog legs gigged on a hot summers night from our own fish ponds

From Helen:
181. A raw oyster, just opened and slurped in shell
182. Fish and chips by the beach
183. A bowl of noodles eaten whilst standing at a Tokyo railway station
184. A mystery meal eaten in pitch darkness with only touch, smell, sound and taste to guide you
185. A freshly baked pasteis de nata from Lisbon, Portugal

From Serge:
186. Cassoulet in Castelnaudary
187. Seafood Paella in Barcelona, Spain
188. Vegetarian Couscous in Cordoba, Spain
189. Grilled Sardines served on toasted bread with a mustard spread
190. Galettes de Ble Noir dipped in Lait Caille (curdled milk) in Brittany

From Michelle:
191. Baby Crawford peaches fresh off the tree at Andy's Orchard, Morgan Hill, CA
192. Strawberries from Swanton Berry Farm, Davenport, CA
193. Pears & black walnuts foraged in the Czech Republic
194. Fields of wild blueberries around Sackville, New Brunswick
195. Fresh mulberries anywhere you can get them

From Julie:
196. Steamed blue crabs
197. Mussels
198. Corn on the Cob
199. Artichoke
200. Fresh Caught Trout Cooked Over a Fire

From Rebecca:
201. Fresh cherry pie, home-made with sour cherries
202. Ice cream made by ag students and sold at the University Creamery on the campus of Penn State University in State College, PA
203. Real Philadelphia sticky buns, preferably with pecans
204. Real Philadelphia cheese steaks, on good, crispy rolls, with the Cheez Whiz topping
205. The Pennsylvania Dutch cheese fritters that my grandmother used to make

From Jessica:
206. Traditional bulgogi from a good Korean restaurant with a side of kimchi
207. A fresh pressed fig, goatchease, and prosciutto panini
208. Real pizza from Naples
209. Fresh squeezed orange juice from Malaga
210. Blueberry thumbprint cookies (best from Newboston Bakery)

From Pengrin:
211. Salt & Pepper Dungress crab from Yummy Yummy, San Francisco
212. Ginger Cake with Pumpkin Gelato from Park Chow, San Francisco
213. Pandanus cake from New Sweet Heart Bakery, San Francisco
214. Chocolate soufflé from Miss Williamsburg, New York City
215. Fluffy and Light pancakes from Tygers Cafe, San Francisco

From Lindsey:
216. 'Squeaky' Wisconsin Cheese Curds from a little rural cheese shop or the Madison farmer's market
217. Fresh Figs
218. Gogosi
219. Freshly picked berries swimming in vaniljesaus in Norway
220. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

From NS:
221. Fresh White Truffle from Alba
222. Vanilla Bean
223. Seared Foie Gras with Brioche, Peach Jus, Tahitian Vanilla Butter at The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
224. Agnolotti of Summer White Corn at The French Laundry, Yountville, CA
225. Early Girl Tomatoes from Dirty Girl Farms, Santa Cruz, CA

From Heather:
226. Green chile in New Mexico
227. Turnip cakes from the top Chinese dim sum restaurant in New York
228. Peking duck from the top Chinese dim sum restaurant in Chicago
229. Curried hearts of palm from the top Jamaican restaraunt in Gainesville, FL
230. Fried chicken from that place in Savannah near Tybee Island

From Kathryn:
231. Poronkäristys
232. Southern Pecan Pie
233. Toasted Ravioli
234. Chicken and Chips with Garlic Mayonnaise from Houssain's Kebab Van on St Giles in Oxford, England
235. A cheeseburger from Otto's BBQ on Memorial Dr in Houston, Texas

From Anna:
236. Brachetto d’Acqui
237. Alici/Boquerones (depends whether you're Italian or Spanish)
238. Donna Hay’s Triple Chocolate Brownies
239. Coriander Potatoes
240. Parmigiano Reggiano

From Jen:
241. Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey
242. Arnott’s Tim Tams
243. Kangaroo Meat
244. Perigord Truffles
245. Quandongs

From Leland:
246. The bacon-blue cheeseburger from Tessaro’s in Pittsburgh, PA
247. My mom’s Alice Waters biscotti
248. Brioche from the Brioche place in Tours, France
249. Nakládaný hermelín
250. Wine from the Mas Gourdou

From Mae:
251. Haianese Chicken Rice
252. Laksa Lemak
253. Jersey Milk and Cream
254. Jersey Prime Beef
255. Foie Gras

From Monkeygland:
256. Something you have grown yourself
257. Something you have killed
258. The Roast Marrow Bone and Parsley Salad at St Johns, London
259. Food made by people you have watched grow up
260. Scrambled eggs with freshly shaved truffle on your own
and one more I'll let you read on his site! 

From Andrew:
261. Picking the bits off a chicken carcass
262. Fruit straight from a tree
263. Blackberry and Apple Pie
264. Mr Whippy Ice-cream
265. Any meal with friends

From Rebecca:
266. Kangaroo Island Marron
267. Mussel Boys Restaurant in Havelock, Marlborough Sound, South Island, New Zealand
268. New potatoes and cloudberries on midsummer weekend in Helsinki
269. Têtes de Violin as they come into season in Montreal
270. Risotto di Gamberi at the balcony restaurant at the Hotel Danielli, overlooking the Venetian Lagoon

From Ilva:
271. Mussels from Læsø in Denmark
272. Pizza Margherita
273. White truffles
274. Champagne
275. Dajm candy from Sweden

From Marie:
276. Every single flavour of frozen delights from passionflower, gelatissimo and gelatomassi
277. Yoshii's green tea brulee
278. The truffle pasta at Buon Ricordo (Surry Hills - Sydney)
279. Sushi and sashimi at Daiwa sushi (Tsukiji fishmarket)
280. (tie) A selection of deserts from Pierre Herme and the dessert section at a Japanese depaato and a feast at a sicilian/sardinian farmhouse

From Sher:
281. Seafood Filé Gumbo
282. Oysters and Pearls at The French Laundry, Yountville, California
283. Huckleberry Cobbler, made with real huckleberries
284. Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie at Mustard's Grill, Napa, California
285. Tomato Sandwiches made with vine ripened tomatoes

From Anthony:
286. A real S.F. burrito from a real S.F. taqueria
287. Pizza from a truck in Marseilles eaten on a bench in the Old Port with a good bottle of red wine
288. Fresh (and I do mean fresh) oysters on the half-shell from a reputable source of your choice, served in generous quantities
289. Real dim sum served from carts
290. A runny, perfectly ripe raw milk cheese (like a St. Marcellin or a St. Felicien) with some good apples, some good pears, some nice grapes, and a crisp white wine of your choice

From Anne:
291. Hotdog on any corner of NYC
292. Pineapple Dole Whip from Disneyland
293. Dad's Ribs
294. Croque Madame from Bouchon
295. Apple Cider

From David:
296. The Salad Judy Rodgers Made For Me
297. The Corned Beef Sandwich From the Second Avenue Deli
298. Porcelana Chocolate from Amadei
299. Château d'Yquem
300. Glace Caramel at Berthillon

From Lady Lunchalot:
301. A crusty baguette straight from the oven smeared with chunks of butter
302. Freshly baked chocolate cake with a thick layer of chocolate icing downed with a glass of cold milk
303. Pavlova
304. A really juicy roast chicken with tarragon and butter cooked on a rotisserie
305. A particularly deep-flavoured washed rind cheese

From Anne:
306. Chicken Korma Kashmiri from The Curry Leaf in "Curry Hill"
307. Tonkatsu with Bulldog Sauce
308. Hungarian Pancakes from Little Poland in the East Village
309. Sauteed Pea Shoots from New York Noodle Town in Chinatown
310. Coca-Cola from a 10 oz. green glass bottle poured over crushed ice

From Megs:
311. Brunch
312. My dad's Thanksgiving dinner
313. My mom's lamb roast, with asparagus & 12 grain bread
314. Mom's tuna burgers
315. A really good tomato sandwich - with Jersey tomatoes, mayo & fresh-soft bread

From County Clerk:
316. Greg Seay's Venison Sausage
317. Argyle Club's "Pepper Bomb" Steak in San Antonio
318. Topo Gigio's Conchiglie alla Sarda in Chicago
319. Old Guard House Inn Wienerschnitzel in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
320. Chicken Pot-au-Fau

From Bonnie:
321. Rare breed British Pork
322. Reindeer
323. Prosciutto
324. Creme brulee
325. Mangoes

From Christine:
326. Lobster Roll from the N.E. Atlantic coast
327. Crabcakes from the Carolinas
328. Foie gras before it is outlawed in California
329. Real French bread
330. Fresh mangosteens

From Matt:
331. Kiwi hot dogs
332. Feijoa
333. Freshly Shucked Natural Oysters
334. Lamb roast with all the trimmings
335. Hāngi

From Mila:
336. Humboldt Fog goat cheese paired with a tart pear and fresh walnut bread
337. Joseph Schmidt chocolate truffles
338. White peaches in the height of their season, slightly chilled
339. Bagoong with green mangoes
340. A plate of fennel and green onion stuffed Beijing dumplings, eaten in a tiny hole in the wall Beijing restaurant

From Lisa:
341. Raw Oysters
342. Funnnel Cake
343. Fried Zucchini
344. Lobster tail from Silvestro's Depot Restaurant in Painesville, Ohio
345. Chicken Dinner, Family Style, from the Bavarian Inn at Frankenmuth, Michigan

From Mademoiselle Differentielle:
346. Rösti
347. St.Galler Olmabratwurst
348. A slice of "Zopf" covered with butter and honey
349. An apple, fresh off the tree
350. My grandma's caramel cream

From gagatka:
351. Whole wheat crepe with yoghurt and strawberries
352. Pizza Margherita in Naples
353. Russian pierogi anywhere in Poland
354. Chocolate gelato
355. Oven hot ciabatta with pesto and tomato

From SusanV:
356. Tapenade
357. Ethiopian food
358. Mussamun curry
359. Pesto
360. Pralines

From Dan:
361. Idli Sambar
362. Lucy's Saigon Sandwich
363. In-N-Out Burger
364. Dry aged steak
365. Fresh Pesto Sauce

From Emma:
366. The difference between factory farmed and organically reared meat
367. Something you have sown and grown then eaten at the peak of its existence
368. Butter so fresh because you have made it yourself
369. The perfect potato topped mince pie
370. New Zealand sauvignon blanc

From Gattina:
371. Trattoria/ristorante-style pizza from Italy
372. German-style roast pork knuckle
373. Chicken masala-North Indian style
374. Deep-fried soft-shell crab with beer batter
375. Hawaii Pineapple

From Joey:
376. Foie Gras
377. Lapid's Freshly Popped Chicharon with "laman"
378. Philippine Mangoes
379. Belgian Frites from the streets
380. Sushi and Steak Tartare

From Aria:
381. Sea Urchin
382. Mango
383. Coconut Jellies
384. Fresh Croissant
385. Tamarind restaurant in Atlanta

From Yulinka:
386. Blini
387. Manti (steamed Uzbek lamb dumplings)
388. Fresh fruit in season
389. My mom's Napoleon cake
390. Chocolate frozen custard from Kopp's

From Melanie:
391. Fromage blanc drizzled with thin cream and sprinkled with fine caster sugar
392. A fresh, sun-warmed juicy mango
393. Tarte flambee with cream, garlic, onions and bacon
394. Tarte aux framboises
395. Nice thick steak cooked on the BBQ served with a wholegrain mustard

From Greg Kuzia-Carmel:
396. Oysters and Pearls at either Per Se or The French Laundry
397. Any good open air aged cheese, somewhere relatively close to where it was aged
398. A good 10+ year old red wine
399. Some kind of meat roasted over an open flame
400. Fresh Morels, Ramps and Asparagus

From Little m:
401. Big M’s bbq on the Weber
402. Mum’s roast ham with scolloped potatoes and carrots
403. Fondue with secret sauce (half mayo half tomato sauce)
404. Lamb chops
405. Lindt dark chocolate

From Big M:
406. Bacon butty with HP sauce, pot of Yorkshire tea
407. Fish and chips with mushy peas, Fullers ESB
408. Italian wood fired oven pizza
409. Pork goulash with dumplings, Pilsner Urquell
410. Beef in stout with dumplings, Guinness extra stout

From Trullake:
411. Estonian spelt bread
412. Almost anything from Tartine Bakery in San Francisco (but especially bread pudding and the pecorino and almond pressed sandwich and the chocolate souffle cake)
413. Pesto -- in Genoa
414. Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco
415. Kristall Kümmel

From scubagolfer (five Japanese foods):
416. Raw Hokkaido female Bafun Uni (Sea Urchin eggsac) over sushi rice
417. Robatayaki-grilled Hokkaido (over-night) air-dried Hokke Fish (Greenling)
418. Raw Season's first catch of Katsuo Fish (Skipjack) with Ponzu sauce
419. An Omi or Yonezawa beef steak
420. A full Tora Fugu (Puffer fish) dinner course

From Bron:
421. The best snatched straight from the source, be it tree, vine or soil
422. A fluffy West Coast, New Zealand Whitebait Omelette
423. Blue Cod fillets fresh from off the boats in Riverton
424. My Auntie Dorothy’s Apple shortcake
425. My Mum’s profiteroles

From Laura:
426. The clam chowder in a sourdough French bread loaf, preferably eaten sitting on an outdoor bench on Pier 39 in San Francisco
427. Cajun boil
428. Roast rabbit
429. BBQ Chicken Pizza
430. Classic New York cheesecake with my Raspberry Wizbang Syrup

From Siu Mai:
431. Long lunch at Louis XVI at Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco
432. Durian
433. Impromptu picnic in France after exploring the local market
434. Beef Carpaccio or Steak Tartar
435. A bowl of noodles from the local stand in Asia

From Robyn:
436. Pizza from the Cheeseboard in Berkeley, California
437. Manti at the source
438. Sweet corn in season, anywhere in the USA
439. Noodles sauced with lard
440. Liver pate at Sean's Panorama, Bondi Beach, Sydney area

From Ann:
441. Christmas Borscht at Veselka in NYC
442. Steamer clams
443. Salt Potatoes
444. Pretzels from the Amish ladies at the Reading Terminal market in Philadelphia
445. The Recession Special at Gray’s Papaya in NYC

From Tanna:
446. My mother’s fried chicken
447. My daddy’s doughnuts
448. My aunt Dort’s German chocolate cake
449. Heirloom tomatoes
450. Fresh wild salmon eaten by a campfire under the stars

From Colin:
451. Argentine beef
452. Maine lobster
453. Sturgeon caviar
454. Brie de Meaux
455. Ridiculously hot peppers

From Kalyn:
456. Spicy Tuna Roll from Tsunami Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Salt Lake City
457. Red Curry from Thai Siam in Salt Lake City
458. Thai Chicken Salad from East Street Cafe in Washington D.C.
459. Greek Salad at Cafe Med in Salt Lake City
460. Bacon and tomato sandwiches

From Catherine:
461. Red Lentil Rice Patties with Cilantro Sauce
462. Humboldt Fog Cheese
463. Squash Blossoms
464. An English cream tea complete with scones with butter, jam, and cream, and cucumber sandwiches
465. Gooseberry fool

From Sam:
466. Gnaw on a lamb rack or chop, cooked medium rare
467. Eat Cornish clotted cream in Cornwall, England
468. Ferment your own soda and drink it
469. Eat a fish you caught yourself
470. Eat your favourite results of a taste test

From Phil (five Cambodian foods):
471. Prahok
472. Samlor Machou Yuon
473. Kampot Pepper
474. Fish Amok
475. Cambodian Beer

From Kim:
476. Cream Tea in London
477. An authentic salt bagel with a thin layer of cream cheese, thin slices of perfectly ripe tomato and fresh basil leaves
478. Macaroni and cheese made from the recipe in New Basics, topped with Penzey's India Special Extra Bold black pepper
479. Lobster, outdoors, in Maine
480. The best hamburger, medium-rare and topped with sauteed mushrooms and Swiss cheese, with perfectly crispy fries and Heinz ketchup

From Pamela:
481. Swiss Raclette cheese hot and gooey and served over boiled new potatoes with pickled onions and gerkins
482. Mussels, especially good cooked with chilli and garlic from anywhere in Thailand
483. Steak Pie
484. Grilled Lorne Sausage (Scottish square sausage) & Champ Potatoes
485. Any meal in the darkness at Blinde Kuh (Blind Cow)

From Honeybee:
486. Very fresh buffalo mozzarella
487. Chocolate fondant
488. Pirikara (inside out sushi rolls with spicy tuna)
489. Cream tea
490. Truffles

From Cindy:
491. Peaches fresh off the tree at Little Tree Orchard Newfield, New York
492. Striped Bass fresh from my son’s latest fishing trip to Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
493. Smoothies at Banana Joe’s in Kauai
494. Hot chocolate for breakfast in Paris
495. Warm Sopaipillas and fresh Tamales on Christmas Eve anywhere in New Mexico

From Nat:
496. Tuna sushi looking at the sea at les Villas du Lagon, Reunion Island
497. Algerian couscous cooked by my mother
498. Some figs and 'plaquemines' (persimmons)
499. A glass of 'Orenga de Gaffori' Corsican red wine
500. A complete typical Corsican Menu with traditional soup, Corsican Lamb 'à l'étroite' and Fiadone for dessert

From Gridskipper:
501. Lobster Roll from Mary's Fish Camp
502. Burger from Corner Bistro
503. Pizza from Grimaldis
504. Truffled Egg Toast from 'ino
505. Grilled Corn from Cafe Habana

From Tea:
506. My Japanese homestay mother’s sukiyaki, Takayama, Japan
507. The Burrito Especial at Cactus Café in Mill Valley, California
508. Thai pumpkin curry with chicken and basil on Ko Tao
509. A garden fresh Italian meal in the Chianti
510. Artichoke soup and olallieberry pie from Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero, California

From Lara:
511. A bowl of freshly picked berries off of your own bushes
512. Tuna Sashimi - straight off of the fish while you are still on the boat
513. Barbecued octopus whilst sitting out on a patio in Athens, Greece
514. Real Neapolitan Pizza
515. The Ferroni family recipe for butter tarts

From Foodie (five Indian foods):
516. Pani puri from any street corner
517. Kebabs from Delhi
518. Dum biryani from Hyderabad
519. Prawns/crab xacuti from Goa
520. Rasgullas from Calcutta

From Jane:
521. Fish and chips (and mushy peas of course) from Rick Stein's fish and chip shop in Padstow
522. Sausage and mash on a cold day
523. Chicken wings and ribs after a day snowboarding
524. Teriyaki salmon
525. Does chocolate count as food? If so, Montezuma's giant buttons

From Amanda:
526. A warm jam donut from the Mock Turtle Teashop in Brighton
527. Curry chip from the Moyola chippy on the Shore Road in Belfast
528. Macaroni and cheese from my mother's kitchen
529. Broiled crab cakes from Legends Restaurant in Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware
530. A Reuben from a Jewish deli

From Becke:
531. Good chocolate
532. Insalata Caprese
533. Black truffle cheese
534. Lescure butter
535. An authentic Philly cheesesteak

From Faith:
536. An apple picked straight off a tree in Ohio
537. Fresh bread that you have baked yourself, warm, with lots of butter
538. Melon gelato from a street corner gelateria in Italy
539. South Indian breakfast that includes a masala dosa, plenty of coconut chutney and lime pickle, and a mango lassi
540. Krofi, from my mother's family's recipe

From Papa Squirrel:
541. A pound of middling from a smoked whole hog
542. A real fried green tomato
543. Indian food in London
544. Sassafras tea
545. Snow cream

From Christine:
546. Cassoulet, preferably in Toulouse in southwest France
547. Seared Foie Gras appetizer at the Corner Table Restaurant in Minneapolis
548. Dungeness Crab Cakes, preferably mine
549. Roast Leg of Locally Raised Lamb
550. Salade aux Gesiers de Canard

From Natalia:
551. Bread you made yourself
552. Really good, high-quality butter
553. Almond Croissant from Trompeau Bakery in Denver
554. Mozzarella from A16 in San Francisco
555. Cake Batter Milk Shake

From Carolyn:
556. Milk from a cow
557. Custard apple with blue cheese
558. An ice cream cone at Maple View Farms in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
559. Jiao.zi
560. Your grandmother’s cookies, made by you

From Erin:
561. Fresh-caught fish
562. Fruit you picked
563. Sadza
564. Duck in any and all its forms
565. Goat cheese with fennel honey

From Gareth:
566. Andouillete
567. Bara lawr
568. Germknodel
569. A sun-ripened apricot, warm from the tree
570. Tuber magnatum, on anything

From Ed:
571. A single slice of fresh sauteed prepared fois gras
572. A seared scallop, diver caught, fresh out of the sea on the west coast of Scotland
573. Simply poached sewin that’s a Welsh for sea trout, served with hollandaise and rock samphire
574. Summer pudding made with ripe organic fruit
575. A single marron glacé

From Angie:
576. Durians
577. Cheesecake
578. Egg tarts
579. Pasta
580. A good loaf of bread

From Cookiecrumb:
581. Difficult Flavors
582. Difficult Textures
583. Wild food
584. Comfort food
585. A glass of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise