San Francisco Creamery

From Man vs. Food

1370 Locus St., Walnut Creek, CA 94596

http://sanfranciscocreameryco.com/

We have found our first potential let down of the list and the gastrointestinal journey.  San Francisco Creamery.  This place was the sight of the food challenge on MvF and is known for the "Kitchen Sink" whihc is "We throw everything at you with this gigantic sundae served in our own specially made sink! We take three sliced bananas, scoops of yourchoice of up to 8 flavors of ice creams, 8 servings of toppings, mounds and mounds of whipped cream, chopped toasted almonds and cherries. Serves one (if you dare) to six people. Perfect for birthdays and special celebrations - 41.95"  It's GINRORMOUS.  However, this place has a few problems.  

1.  Its called San Francisco Creamery, but it's in Walnut Creek which is an hour AT MINIMUM from the city.

2. "It's just ice cream"-my grandmother

3. If you don't get the kitchen sink, this place is worthless and pointless.

4.  I ordered the chocolate fudge brownie, my favorite ice cream flavor in the entire world, made by Ben and Jerry's.  Bad news folks, but good news for me, I'm pretty sure they just scooped Ben and Jerry's ice cream into a bowl because it tasted the exact same, which made me happy, but disappointed me because it's not original.  Why pay $4.99 for a scoop and bananas on top (YES $4.99 FOR A SCOOP) when I could pay $4.99 for a pint at the Albertson's next door to the store.

Overall, meh.  No originality.  

The Ranch House

(These photos are not photoshopped...this is actually what it looks like)

From Best Thing I Ever Ate

102 Besant Rd  Ojai, CA 93023

http://theranchhouse.com/

Went to this hidden gem on our anniversary. My wife had her doubts about this place as she does most places on the list as they normally revolve around best shellfish or best meat dish....in this case best scallops according to Cat Cora, and the concern that they will A. have nothing for her to eat on the list or B. will have run out of the one thing she can eat on the list (this happened at Craft, Tom Colicchio's, you know head judge of Top Chef, restaurant on her birthday, so this concern is justified).  My wife keeps kosher, so no pork, shellfish, milk and meat together, un-kosher meat, or fish without fin or scales.  We keep a kosher home, but my wife says..."kosher home, but Albert has a un-kosher belly" and never given me grief about eating un-kosher out of the house.  We have a very fair agreement= kosher home, un-kosher out of the home for me.

Anyways, Rachel was hesitant about Ranch House.  We could have stayed at the INCREDIBLE resort we were staying at and played it safe, but she went along like the amazing wife she is, and boy was she not disappointed.

This place is magical.  The food was delicious..we shared mushroom pastries for appetizer...I had the flat iron steak...and Rachel had the seabass, which they didn't run out of.  The wine was great.  But the atmosphere and ambiance and scenery...easily top 3 most romantic restaurants we have ever dined at in our 8 years of being together.  This place is, as the name says, a ranch house converted into a dining experience.  You eat outside on the back deck among the most amazing trees, moss, flowers, and ferns along with water falls and creeks, all decorated with Christmas lights.  It is amazing!!  My wife even mentioned going back again!

IKE'S PLACE

SAN FRANCISCO 

FROM MAN V. FOOD AND BEST THING I EVER ATE

3506 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94114

3489 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

http://www.ilikeikesplace.com/

EASILY TOP 3 BEST SANDWICH OF MY LIFE! THIS IS THE CLOSEST I HAVE GOTTEN THUS FAR IN MY GASTROINTESTINAL JOURNEY TO THE FAMED "FAT" SANDWICH OF RUTGERS (A TRIP TO FAT SAL'S SANDWICH SHOP, OWNED BY JERRY FERARRA OF ENTOURAGE (TURTLE), IN LA IS ON THE HORIZON FOR A TRUE FAT SANDWICH EXPERIENCE...THAT POST TO COME SOON) WHERE THEY PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LIST WITH INSANE TOPPINGS AND INSANE SAUCES.  THIS PLACE IS MY BROTHER'S FAVORITE.  THERE ARE NO TABLES, JUST ORDER AND GET OUT.  IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WALK THE TWO BLOCKS TO THE PARK DOWN THE STREET FOR A PICNIC.

THE BREAD IS EPIC! THE SAUCE IS MIND BLOWING! FAT, ENORMOUS AMAZING SANDWICHES ARE WHAT ARE ON TAP AND IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

I GOT THE MATT CAIN...Godfather sauce, provolone, roast beef, salami, turkey on the dutch bread with onion rings on top....awesome...messy....awesomely messy....and definitely worth the trip and the wait!

PAPALOTE

PAPALOTE

From Throwdown

3409 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-3718

1777 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

http://www.papalote-sf.com/

From Food Paradise

What they say: "Triple Threat" (named after three local deejays; burrito stuffed with carne asada, Yucatan-style achiote chicken, jumbo prawns marinated in California chili pods and squeezed lime, shredded white cheese, rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and drizzled with their signature creamy roasted tomato salsa made with fire-grilled tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt and dry peppers in a grilled 14-inch tortilla) "Chili Verde Burrito" (stuffed with pork stew with green sauce made from tomatillos, onions, garlic and serrano peppers)"

I will state this for the official record: this is far and away, hand down, no questions asked, the best burrito I have ever had.  It is also far and away, hands down, no questions asked the best salsa I have ever had in my life. I ordered two jars of the salsa online the moment I got home. Sprint, do not run, you dare not walk, sprint straight to Papalote if you are anywhere within a 100 mile area of San Francisco.  Mind-blowing! Epic! Epically mind-blowing!

The scary thing is that people of San Francisco will claim better burritos...which obviously peaks my interest...and my appetite

KOPP'S

#80 BEST PLACE TO CHOWDOWN ON '101 PLACES TO CHOWDOWN'

5373 N Port Washington Rd, Glendale, WI 53217

5373 N. Port Washington Rd. Glendale, WI 53217

https://www.kopps.com/

AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, MANY CITIES ARE KNOWN FOR A TYPE OF FOOD....NEW YORK HAS PIZZA....CHICAGO HAS HOT DOGS, ITALIAN BEEF, AND POPCORN, CINCINNATI HAS CHILI, MEMPHIS/KANSAS CITY HAS BBQ, ST. LOUIS HAS TOASTED RAVIOLI, MINNEAPOLIS HAS JUICY LUCY AND SO ON.

BUT RARELY IS A STATE KNOWN FOR A FOOD..LET ALONE A FOOD CATERGORY...BUT WISCONSIN IS KNOWN FOR DAIRY...CHEESE....AND CUSTARD.

WISCONSIN LOVES ITS DAIRY...AND THEY LOVE THEIR ICE CREAM AND THEIR CUSTARD.  THE BEST ICE CREAM, HANDS DOWN, IS MULLEN'S IN WATERTOWN, WI...BUT THATS A DIFFERENT STORY FOR A DIFFERENT DAY.

CUSTARD IS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, A HYBRID OF YOGURT AND ICE CREAM...JUST THICK AND DELICIOUSNESS MADE FROM (NO DOUBT) WHOLE MILK....AND THE PLACE THAT DOES IT BEST...IS KOPPS!!

SMOOTH, CREAMY, SWEET, AND AMAZING! KOPPS IS A MIDWEST SUMMER MUST!

PS- KOPPS HAS THE BEST FAST FOOD BURGER IN AMERICA...THE BUTTER BURGER...YUP....WISCONSIN CAN'T DO BURGERS WITHOUT DAIRY INVOLVED...AND CAN'T DO BURGERS WITH JUST ONE FORM OF DAIRY IN CHEESE FORM....SO THEY JUST SLAP BUTTER ONTO THE BUN!  IT IS FAR AND AWAY THE BEST FAST FOOD BURGER IN AMERICA!!

INTERSTATE BBQ

MEMPHIS

#56 ON 101 BEST PLACES TO CHOWDOWN and BBQ PARADISE

2265 S 3rd St Memphis, TN 38109-2566

http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/
"Dry-rubbed brisket, pork ribs, chicken and sausage, 1-pound pulled pork sandwich, "Barbeque Spaghetti" (seasoned rib meat mixed with BBQ tomato-based sauce over spaghetti)"

SOME SAY ITS GOOD, SOME SAY IT'S GREAT, SOME SAY IT'S THE BEST.....

I SAY IT'S THE BEST....

INTERSTATE BBQ IS MY FAVORITE BBQ PLACE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLACE! THE HISTORY (BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY FOR YEARS), THE CULTURE (THIS PLACE IS IN A NOT NICE AREA OF MEMPHIS...BUT IN MOST CASES, THE BEST BBQ PLACES ALWAY ARE), AND THE EXPERIENCE (BBQ SPAGHETTI)

THE NEELY'S...YOU KNOW THE FIRST FAMILY OF BBQ...THE FOOD NETWORK FAMILY...WELL THIS IS THEIR BBQ RESTAURANT...NEELY'S INTERSTATE BBQ...AND IT'S OWNED AND RUN WITH PAPA JIM NEELY, THE PATRIARCH, OF THE FAMILY AT THE HELM OF THE SMOKER

PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE THAT IT'S THE BEST, BUT IT'S MY FAVORITE!

I WENT TO INTERSTATE  FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER MAKING A BALLSY CALL TO MY GRANDFATHER.  MY AMAZING GRANDFATHER WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MEMPHIS, AND WAS PROUD TO SHOW IT OFF!  ONE DAY, WHEN I WAS VISITING, WE WERE GOING TO THE SAME BORING BBQ RESTAURANT, CORKY'S...THIS PLACE IS TOURIST TRAP USA! ITS GOOD...NOT MIND BLOWING...I SAID "GRANDDADDY, LET'S GO TO YOUR FAVORITE BBQ RESTAURANT"...HE LEANED OVER AND SMILED AND SAID "YOU SURE YOU CAN HANDLE IT"....I SMILED AND NODDED WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT... WE DROVE TO A PART OF MEMPHIS I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO....AND AFTER THE MOST AMAZING PULLED PORK SANDWICH, BBQ SPAGHETTI, AND SIDES...I WAS HOOKED

I LOVE BBQ...BUT I AM A INTERSTATE BBQ BOY THROUGH AND THROUGH....STILL HAVE THE T-SHIRT I BOUGHT FROM WHEN I WAS 14 TO SHOW FOR IT...."I'VE BEEN TO HOG HEAVEN" IS ALL IT READS...AND THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT BEST!

OROCHON RAMEN

LOS ANGELES

FROM MAN VS. FOOD

123 South Onizuka St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

WENT INTO THIS PLACE WITH THE FLU....LEFT FEELING LIKE A NEW MAN....

THIS PLACE IS SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS!

TUCKED AWAY ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF A STRIP MALL IN LITTLE TOKYO

GIANT BOWLS OF SOUP WITH MEAT, NOODLES, AND VEGGIES...THATS IT

IT'S A SIMPLE THREE STEP PROCESS...YOU PICK THE BROTH....YOU PICK THE SPICE...YOU PICK THE ADD-IN....

AND IT'S LIKE $8!

BUT THE SPICE...MY G-D THE SPICE.....IS PERFECT....IT'S A PERFECT SPICE....I GOT THE 4....MY MOUTH IS STILL A BLAZE...IN A GOOD WAY....

THE WHOLE REASON BEHIND GOING HERE WAS TO WATCH MY HERO IN LIFE, JEREMY SIMONS, TRY THE CHALLENGE.....30 MINUTES....FINISH A BOWL AT LEVEL 9 SPICE....ADAM RICHMAN DID IT....SO COULD JEREMY....

BUT IT WASNT MEANT TO BE...IT WASNT THE SPICE...IT WAS THE AMOUNT.....EASILY A GALLON OF FIRE BROTH......WHICH HE HADN'T PREPPED HIMSELF FOR WHEN HE DRANK A HALF GALLON OF WATER IN THE CAR ON THE WAY OVER....BUT I KNOW HE WILL BE BACK TO TRY AGAIN....

LIKE I SAID...CURED MY FLU!

HOWEVER, THE BEST RAMEN IN LOS ANGELES CAN BE FOUND AT TSUJITA ON SAWTELLE. 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025