THE GREASY FOODIE: My Favorite Restaurant in the Entire World....

The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Friday, December 16, 2011

My Favorite Restaurant in the Entire World....

SAIGON LE

51 N Cleveland St, Memphis, TN 38104

I love all types of food.....and I will try anything twice...except olives and beets.....

But when it comes to my favorite restaurant in the entire world...one would think that as an American, it would be a burger place....as a Southerner, it would be a bbq joint....and as a Jew, a deil....

However....my favorite restaurant in the ENTIRE world...hands down, no questions asked, undisputed....is a hole-in-the-wall, run down Vietnamese restaurant in Memphis named Saigon Le.

I love Saigon Le. I am truly, madly, deeply, in love with Saigon Le with all my mind, body, and soul....and my family doesnt even like it. Let me state for the record...I love Saigon Le. I am truly, madly, deeply, in love with Saigon Le with all my mind, body, and soul.

This place has burned down 3 times, leaving the Vietnamese family who owns it homeless three times, and each time, its loyal patrons, including my loving grandfather, would help give to rebuild Saigon Le from the ashes.

This plaee is legit...dont go for the ambiance, decor, or service...but for the food. This place has won countless "best of", "favorite", and food awards from local and national publications.

This place would be where my last meal comes from...and here is my last meal menu....the menu I recommend to all people who go...

Albert's favorite meal of all time:

-Order of Saigon Rolls...ten perfectly cooked mini egg rolls that you wrap in fresh lettuce and dip in fish sauce
-Order of Birds Nest....ten perfectly fried mini egg rolls with a different batter than siagon rolls that you wrap in lettuce and dip in fish sauce
-Chicken Wings
-Veggie Egg Foo Yong...best egg foo yong in America according to my dad
-1/2 AND 1/2 MUSSELS....off the menu item..MINDBLOWING
-Chicken Lo Mein

PERFECTION IN EVERY WAY!!!

BEFORE YOU GO TO ALL THE BBQ AND FRIED CHICKEN MECCAS IN MEMPHIS...SAIGON LE MUST BE YOUR FIRST STOP.

SAIGON LE IS LOCATED AT 51 North Cleveland Street Memphis, TN 38104.

Sadly Saigon Le burned down (again) on March 8, 2016 and my late grandfather Alfred was not there to help them rebuild. Rest in peace sweet Saigon Le. You may be gone, but never forgotten.

THE GREASY FOODIE