McClure's Pickles

From Best Thing I Ever Ate

Any Grocery Store in America

This will be the most easily accessible item on this entire blog.  They are in every and any grocery store in America. Check the deli department where they sell cheese and meat not vacuumed sealed in the display case.  Did they sell out and go corporate. Yes.  Does it make this outstanding product available to the public for a beefed up hipster price of $8.99 a jar.  Yes.  Is it worth every penny? Yes!

I love pickles. I love dill pickles! I love half sour, whole sour, no sour (cucumber).  I love chips, spears, halves, and wholes! I love pickles, but my body and breath, no so much.  My father and I share a distinguishable trait in that pickles stench are maginfied with our breath and musk.  My wife can smell when I have eaten a pickle before she enters the room and will refuse to be in the same vicinity as me once I start talking.  I love pickles, but love my wife and her company more, so I have reduced the number of pickles I eat to almost none.

Except for when she is out of town.

McClures pickles time.

These pickles are amazing.  They are wonderful! They are delicious.  They are exactly what you want in a pickle that you are gonna eat as a snack or with a meal.  Each jar has whole sprigs of dill and whole cloves of garlic.  The garlic is key to the McClures pickles.  Its not all about the dill.  They have many types. Garlic and dill.  Spicy. Spicy Sweet.  They got bloody mary mix. Relish.

Would I put this pickle on a cheeseburger? No.  Does this pickle belong on every deli table across the country ready for you to be the first thing you bite into when you sit down for your matzah ball soup and corned beef on toasted rye with mustard, fat fries, and a giant soda.  Yes!!

Do yourself a favor.  Skip the Vlasic, Claussen, and whatever cheap generic Kroger brand you are going to buy at the store and live a little bit.  Splurge for that jar of McClures pickles.  You, your family, and your friends will thank you…until they smell your breath, or in my case until my wife walks in the front door.

Bakesale Betty

From Best Sandwich in America and Sandwich Paradise

5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

What they say: "Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich (fried chicken bathed in buttermilk, coated in peppery-seasoned flour and deep-fried topped spicy slaw featuring green cabbage, seed-in jalapenos, apple cider vinegar-soaked red onions tossed in a vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, sea salt and high-quality olive oil and fresh parsley on a fresh homemade round bun)"

I love many things when it comes to food.  A good burger.  A good steak.  A good bbq rib or pulled pork sandwich.  A good lobster roll.  A good fajita. A good oyster or shrimp with cocktail sauce.  Like I said, many things.  And I LOVE a good chicken sandwich.  BBQ, fried, grilled, sliced, pulled, whole.  I love a good chicken sandwich, and Bakesale Betty is supposed to have the best in the country.  This place is plain and simple.  A bakery inside a corner shop.  The menu written on the wall daily on butcher paper.  They have no more than 10 items on the menu.  Chicken sandwich, scones, strawberry shortcake.  That's pretty much it.  Take-out only.  You sit out on the street at chairs pulled up to old ironing boards.  You order at a card table and they hand you everything in a brown bag.  The man behind the counter is making the sandwiches just trying to keep up with the demand.

The line around the corner is the dead give away of the legitimacy to the claim of best chicken sandwich in America.  And a totally, 100% hands down, no questions asked legitimate claim.  Plain and simple and perfect.  Great bun, giant piece of perfectly fried buttermilk fried chicken breast with a slaw.  Great great great great. Awesome awesome awesome.  Incredible incredible incredible. With a ice cold can of Coca-cola, its a perfect lunch or snack.  As a lover and obsesser of Heinz Ketchup, I would have loved to add ketchup to this monstrosity of awesome, but I will know to bring my own.  This sandwich belongs on the chicken sandwich Mt. Rushmore with the Chik-fil-A sandwich, Wendy's spicy chicken, and the Portillo's chicken sandwich.

The Best BBQ In Nashville

903 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203

http://peglegporker.com/

People ask me all the time about where they should go for food in Nashville, and my answer is always the same.  Peg Leg Porker.  The best ribs, best pulled pork, and EASILY best sauce.  And BBQ Nachos.  The ribs are dry rub, so not my normal go-to, but with sides of sauce to dip it, it's perfect. It's not a question, it's not a competition.  This place is the best BBQ in the city and cannot be missed.

THE BOILING CRAB

From Best Thing I Ever Ate

3377 Wilshire Blvd #115, Los Angeles, CA 90010

http://theboilingcrab.com/

Plain and simple, this is my kind of restaurant.  When I die, this place is what heaven will look like if they also served glass bottle coke, bbq, and cheese burgers.  Its simple, straight forward no nonsense deliciousness.  Its a cajun seafood boil.  You walk up, check the board for what they have in season and what they don't.  You get seated, put on a bib, they put down the table cloth which is a plastic sheet.  You order you shellfish. Fried or Boiled?  How many pounds?  What sauce?  What spice? Do you want to add corn, potatoes, and sausage?  They bring it out to you, in its entirety, in a big plastic bag.  You dig in.  No utensils.  Just your hands.  You do all the work. The Dexter style covered table is your work bench, make as much of a mess as you like.  Ketchup on the table. Yup!  Shells on the table. Yup!  Napkins all over! Yup! It is perfection in my mind.  The perfect meal.  The perfect shellfish.  The perfect sauce. The perfect spice.  Perfection.  

I only hate that it took me this long to find heaven.

LUKSHON

FROM BEST THING I EVER ATE AND BEST WINGS IN AMERICA

3239 helms ave. culver city, california 90232

http://lukshon.com/

This place is great and inventive and a culinary experience and a delight.  The head chef, Sang Yoon, is the same guy who brought you Father's Office gastropub, which is next door to this place.  You know, the place with the insane burger that was voted one of the best burgers in the world by Esquire magazine.  You know, the place with the insane burger that has a very strict non-modification policy, which prohibits substitutions or additions such as ketchup. There also is no-hostess or kids allowed.  This is that Chef Yoon's Asian concept.  It was wonderful.  The concept is to share a bunch of different items among a group of people (they recommend three items per person to share), but Albert doesn't share (well), so I went alone, and got the three items I wanted.  The lobster bahn mi roll, the blue crab fried rice, and the reason for coming, the spicy chicken pops.  

I was able to sit at the diner style table overlooking the open kitchen.  I watched as my bahn mi was prepared no more than a few inches from me.  I watched as my fried rice was prepared in a wok just a few feet beyond that while my spicy chicken pops fried to perfection behind that.  A wonderful atmosphere and environment.

The lobster bahn mi roll was exactly like the traditional lobster roll from the northeast crab and lobster shacks.  Lobster meat, tossed in mayo, on a butter roll.  However, the wonderful twist with this dish is that the pig ear terrine ( French forcemeat loaf similar to a pâté) added to the sandwich and the slaw added was of a spicy green papaya.  Delightful and refreshing…and demolished in one bite.

The blue crab fried rice was your classic fried rice in a bowl with a hearty and healthy portion of shredded blue crab added in. It was exactly what I had imagined it would be and it was exactly what I wanted to it to be, and many times that is reassuring, reaffirming, and comforting.  It is what I wanted and it was what I wanted.

The spicy chicken pops.  The reason for my culinary adventure to this diner table.   The title of the dish is perfection as is the dish itself.  These are not wings in any sort. They are actual pops, like a lolipop.  You hold the bone like a stick and eat the "pop" of chicken meat off the top, taking minutes for each one to ensure you get every piece of delicious meat.  It begins with marinating wings in a mixture of ginger, garlic, scallions, onions, Chinese light soy sauce and kecap manis, an intense, dark, sweet Indonesian sauce. The marinated wings are dusted with flour, deep-fried twice in peanut oil and tossed in a sauce made with kecap manis and soy sauce, black vinegar, ginger, garlic, scallions and onions. The fantastically sticky wings are then finished with Yoon’s own spicy Sichuan salt. It is a wonderful "labor-intensive reinterpretation of the buffalo wing glazed with sweet Indonesian soy sauce and Sichuan peppercorns." (Jonathan Gold).

Lukshon is great.  I highly recommend not being an anti-social freak and going alone out of fear of not being able to get in or get a good seat or get the dish you want out of a unwarranted fear they may run out, and go with friends.  Everything on the menu is delicious, so do as they suggest an try a bunch of different things, but makes sure the spicy 

Ben's Chili Bowl

Man vs. Food, 28th Best Place to Chowdown in America

1213 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

http://benschilibowl.com/

The nations capital.  Home of back door politics, scandals, espionage, back stabbing, and the most famous chili stand in America, Ben's Chili Bowl.  This place is a legend, a landmark an institution, a capital.  Standing the test of time, through riots, fires, revolution, and renaissance, Ben's has been a staple, a cornerstone, a rock of consistency and constant-cy.  No matter what has gone on in the town, no matter who is in charge, Ben's has been there.  Ben's is what is great about America, at the end of the day, after all the yelling, screaming, and aggressiveness, passive or not, everyone at the end oft he day, no matter their race, background, orientation, religion, loves a great chili cheese burger/hot dog/fries and a soda. 

Ben's is a chili landmark.  Walk up, order, sit at the bar, fill yourself, and get out.  And the food warms the soul, the heart, and the belly.  Burgers, hot dogs, fries. It is simple at its core in a town more complex as the days go by.  The half-smoke dog is the staple and the dish for which they are known, and it does not disappoint.  Sober or intoxicated.  Day or night.  Summer or winter.  Democrat or republican.  No natter what is going on or down outside the windows of Ben's, there is always a constant and consistent feeling of welcome and calm within the doors of this culinary landmark. No stress, just chili and cheese covered meats and potatoes.

Holeman & Finch Public House

From Best Thing I Ever Ate, Best Food Ever, Best Burger in America, and every single travel and food magazine to ever exist on the face of the planet.

2277 Peachtree Road Northeast Atlanta, GA 30309

http://www.holeman-finch.com/

The Burger.

"We all need to make time for a burger once in a while."- Erica Durance

That's all it reads on the menu is 'The Burger'.

"I always want to find the best burger in town."- Dennis Quaid

No substitutions. No exclusions. No add ons. 

"You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars."-Charles Kuralt

The one burger I have been waiting, basically my whole life, to try.

"I enjoy the burger joint the same way I enjoy fancy meals."- Aby Rosen

The very top of my culinary bucket list.

The Holman-Finch Burger. The most elusive culinary item in the world.  The urban legends drape this masterpiece in a shroud of mystery.  They only make 24.  They don't tell you when its available.  People get there at open and wait until they close to try and get one.  They are the most desired food in Atlanta.  Truly both a myth and a legend. An endeavour, an experience, an adventure, an expedition, a culinary masterpiece.

My beloved friend Evan Remer will tell you that I use the words "epic", "best", "game changer", "incredible", "fantastic", "favorite", "amazing", "fabulous" are often and freely as words like "the", "and", "it", and "food".  I am a overly optimistic food blogger.  I don't feel the need to crap on places like people on Yelp or food critics who get paid to do so.  I support local business and culinary genius.  I want to share the great culinary experiences with you.  I want you to be able to enjoy what I have enjoyed.  Food is meant to be loved and shared by all and thus I feel the need to only express the loves I have had in the culinary world.

And I love the great burgers of the culinary world. I love to share my stories of the great burgers of the culinary world and love to have them shared with me. And there have been a lot of them….

I called the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago "a landmark…incredible..a institution, an experience, a land mark, and a cannot miss culinary and cultural experience"

I called Fat Mo's in Nashville  "a extraordinary culinary extravaganza"

I called Pie N' Burger in Pasadena "as good as it gets without being too much.  It is simple, American, incredible comfort food."

I called Burger Up in Nashville "fantastic"

I called Rotiers in Nashville "phenomenal"

I called the White Spot in Charlottesville "perfect"

I called Apple Pan in LA "delicious"

I called Rockit in Chicago "phenomenal"

I called AJ Bomber's in Milwaukee "outstanding"

I called Sobelman's in Milwaukee "great"

I called "Terry's Turf" in Cincinnati "most unique burger experience I have ever had in my life.  This place is outrageous and outstanding"

I called Cherry Cricket in Denver "really great"

I called Kuma's Corner in Chicago a "top 3 burger of my life"

I called Hodad's in San Diego "wonderful"

I called Bobby's Burger Palace in Vegas "amazing"

I called Umami in LA "AMAZING AND A MUST GO FOR ANY BURGER FANATIC OR FOODIE! THE BURGERS ARE INVENTIVE AND PERFECTION"

I called Father's Office in LA "awesome"

I called the Grill 'Em All in LA "delicious"

I called Matt's Bar in Minneapolis "incredible"

I called the Vortex in Atlanta "amazingly awesome"

I called Thurman's in Columbus "THE BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE....TO THIS DAY...NOTHING COMES CLOSE OR EVEN COMPARES...I HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF BURGERS...ASK MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS...BUT NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO HOW AMAZING THIS PLACE IS..IT HAUNTS ME HOW INCREDIBLE THIS PLACE IS!!!

EVERYTHING ABOVE WAS, IS, AND WILL FOREVER BE 100% TRUE AND ACCURATE AND I WOULD TESTIFY TO THE LEGITIMACY OF ALL THESE STATEMENTS UNDER OATH IN THE SUPREME COURT!!!

HOWEVER, ON THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2015.  I HAVE COME TO ONE CONCLUSION. THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST BURGER IN AMERICA IS OVER BY A LANDSLIDE…

THE HOLEMAN FINCH BURGER IS LEGITIMATELY CULINARY PERFECTION.  

THE HOLEMAN FINCH BURGER IS THE BEST IN AMERICA AND THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. HANDS DOWN, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, NO DEBATE ABOUT IT.  THE BEST.  EVER!

ALL THE STORIES ARE TRUE. ALL THE RUMORS ARE TRUE. ALL THE LEGENDS ARE TRUE

THIS IS THE MOST PERFECT BURGER. PERFECT MEAT. PERFECTLY COOKED MEAT (THEY DONT ASK HOW YOU WANT IT COOKED). PERFECT CHEESE, PERFECTLY MELTED CHEESE. PERFECT COOKED ONIONS. PERFECT SAUCES.

EVERYTHING IS MADE OR GROWN IN HOUSE FROM THE GROUND BEEF TO THE BUNS TO THE PICKLES AND SAUCES.

A DOUBLE STACK BURGER. 

BUN, BURGER, GRILLED ONION, BURGER, CHEESE PICKLE.

MY HOLEMAN FINCH BURGER EXPERIENCE CAN BE SIMPLY EXPLAINED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE TV CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME, MARSHALL ERIKSEN, IN ONE OF MY FAVORITE EPISODES OF ALL TIME, BEST BURGER IN NYC, OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER"

"Just a Burger? Just a burger. It’s so much more than "just a burger." I mean…that first bite—oh, what heaven that first bite is. The bun, like a butter freckled breast of an angel, resting gently on the perfectly melted cheese and sauteed onions, flavors mingling in a seductive pas de deux. And then…a pickle! The most playful little pickle! A patty of ground beef so exquisite, swirling in your mouth, breaking apart, and combining again in a fugue of sweets and savor so delightful. This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread.  This is God, speaking to us in food."

I DOCUMENTED MY FIRST BITE, AND MY REACTION SPEAKS MORE THAN ANY WORDS I CAN SAY.  A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, BUT A VIDEO IS WORTH A INFINITY.

THE ONLY WORDS THAT NEED TO BE SAID IS THAT THIS IS THE BEST BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD AND COULD EVER DREAM OF, AND THEREFOR IT IS THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

NEVER AGAIN WILL I OR CAN I SAY "BEST BUGER EVER" BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I CAN IMAGINE ANYTHING TOPPING THIS…BUT I AM OPEN TO THE CHALLENGE

PS-THE HOLEMAN FINCH BURGER IS NOW ON THE MENU PERMANENTLY.

PPS- WE ALSO HAD THE MOST OUTSTANDING APPETIZERS AND DESSERT. PIMENTO CHEESE, DEVILED EGGS, BACON CARMEL CORN, AND PRETZEL BITES. OUTSTANDING. WE ALSO HAD HOMEMADE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES FOR DESSERT! UM, YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

PPPS- THANKS TO PHIL FOR MAKING THIS DREAM COME TRUE (I HEARD RASCAL FLATTS 'MY WISH' PLAYING IN MY HEAD AS I TOOK EACH BITE)

PPPPS-THANKS FOR JORDAN AND ADAM FOR BEING ALONG FOR THE CULINARY ADVENTURE.