Prometheus

Two some-odd years later I just wanted to thank Bernie for a great recommendation. On a recent trip back home to the Cape and Islands, my wife, mother, and I took a day trip to Nantucket. Being unfamiliar with the food scene I read what my fellow food nerds (a good thing I assure you, I'm one after all) had to say. After reading Bernie's reco of the Brant Point Grill I decided that would be our lunch stop and what a pay off! It's directly opposite the Steamship Authority's pier. (if you come in on the Eagle, just look to starboard for the canopy) It's inside a luxury hotel (what one on Nantucket isn't?) but they were kind enough to seat us for lunch despite my casual attire. With a great view of the harbor, we had what was easily the best meal in a while. I'm a born, bred, and proud Cape Codder and I still have to say they boast the best clam chowder I've ever tasted. It was so buttery, rich, and filled with fat clams I almost needed a moment alone. Equally good was their lobster roll with a few leaves of arugula, whose slight bitterness complimented the sweetness of the lobster perfectly. By far though, the dish that takes the cake was Skillet Roasted Clambake. It comes in a small cast iron pot and has local clams, mussels, corn, and chorizo. The shellfish broth it was steamed in was so utterly, mind-numbingly good I wasn't sure whether to keep slurping it up after everything else was gone or to roll around in it naked! If you're in Nantucket, do yourself a favor. Check out the Brant Point Grill

Well, even though the last post was several months ago, I'd like to chime in on this topic. I'm afraid I have to respectfully disagree with those who dislike sexual references to food and the term "food porn". Food, to me, is a very akin to sex and sensuality and the comparison is sometimes very appropriate. How many other things do you put in your body that bring you such pleasures or intense feelings? If you are the cook, or the one putting food into other's bodies, doesn't someone raving about what you've created make you feel as good as if you'd been the one to bring them to orgasm? No, I'm afraid I'll have to use sex as a comparison, after all, in what other art form other then food and sex, do you get to enjoy it with each and every sense? The best experience of each is the one that teases and pleases all the senses. "Food porn" is only the image or sight of a dish or bit of cuisine that stirs desirous feelings similar to viewing actual porn. My actual contribution to this thread echoes Dante's post, I have come to hate the word "gourmet". What does it actually describe, what does it mean? In my experience, to the public at large, it gets used to describe food that's different or better then the stuff you make. To advertisers, it's slapped on a package containing food stuffs that are anything but.

Is that the Opus 39 in St. Augustine? I took my wife there while on a day trip for her birthday. Every course looked like it was incredibly good, in fact, I'm told it was. I, unfortunately, had a cold and could not taste a thing properly! Someday soon we'll return, when my tastebuds can fully appreciate it!

Peter, Feel free to butt in, another view or opinion is always welcome. (and gathering from Pc's opening post, your's comes with quite a bit of cred. Mine? not so much.) First, I'll say...WHEW! That's better news then I had envisioned, however, umm...a theme park? Why do I forsee some hapless employee in a mascot suit that sports disturbingly enormous eyes but is oh-so-adorably-cute and perky, being daily assaulted with random fish parts whilst frolicking through the market? Maybe that'd just be my reaction, (swear it only happened once) the Japanese, generally, seem too polite for such skull-duggery. Prawncrackers, Thanks for the heads up about that, I'll also jot down "Ginza-sumptuous food halls" as an idea while there, oh, and hotaru ika/firefly squidlings. Again, great thread! Thanks to the both of you for quick replys! I was worried Mecca wouldn't be there when I went to bask in its glory!

Great , great rundown of your culinary "sprint" through Tokyo. I came across it while reading up on Tokyo and Japan for a trip next April. My wife is Japanese and has plenty of recomendations for food and places to visit but I want to be well prepared. Of course, at the top of my list is Tsukiji fish market, a veritable Hajj for any self-respecting foodie! My question is, what is happening there? You alluded to an upcoming move and an ominous forecast. When will this happen and will it happen before April of next year? Will it move nearby and be just as big and beautiful? and...and..and...It'll still be there, right? For a food enthusiast, that'd be like going to Disney and finding out they laid-off Mickey! I even printed out your picture of Iwasa Sushi in order to keep an eye out for it! Oh, with my luck, by the time I get there something so gorgeous will no longer exist and will have been replaced with an American style food court with two Starbucks right across from each other and a McDonalds padded play pen in the middle. At that point, I believe seppuku will not only be justified but necessary, utilizing, of course, the plastic spork conveniently provided with the McGriddle breakfast. Don't toy with me, man, what's going on at Tsukiji?

Fischer's Fritz? I wonder if I could have gotten a discount for sharing their name? (no, not Fritz). One of the great things about Germany was that everyone spelled my name right! Of Course, they would then begin conversing with me in German, to which I could only grin dumbly and reply "Ich spreche nicht deutsch". They were very forgiving!

John, That issue was in my mailbox when I got back! I wish I'd seen it before we left, I'd give a review of it!

Thanks for the recomendations, it's appreciated but I didn't catch them until we got back. However, we had a great, great time throughout the whole trip. Someone in another thread had suggested the "Kleinmarkthalle", a large indoor market in Frankfurt, which we very luckily happened across. It was one of the most beautiful things I've seen in my travels and would suggest it to anyone in the area. Whatever you could possible desire, it was to be found, and usually in its freshest and most vibrant form. Germans do take charcuterie and sausage making to a whole other level and it was well represented there. I don't think they appreciated my desire to crawl into the sausage case to suck my thumb. It was meant as a complement! As for Berlin, I really loved that city much more then I thought I would. Strangely enough, we had Turkish food twice while there but it makes sense when you consider that it has the second highset population of Turkish people outside Istanbul. (one was Hasir, I can't remember the other) While in Kreuzburg, we came across a Turkish bakery where I decided, if I had the choice, I want to die to the smell wafting from that lovely place! We did have some Currywurst and it was pretty decent but it was more of a "have to try it once while we're there" sort of thing. We tried to get to Ka De We for the exact reason you mentioned (our freind living in Berlin echoed your sentement) but were unable to. Thanks again for the suggestions, I love reading from others who love food and travel as much as I do. Keep up all the good work!

Hi all! My first post so please forgive any mistakes I may make but, I'll be in Germany this April with Frankfurt and Berlin as definite stops. While I've loved food longer then he's been famous, I'll describe myself as a foodie of the "Bourdain School" My big thing is street food and markets, trying to avoid the tourist hordes. I don't care what's in it, I'll try anything, as long as it's authentic and the local folks are lining up for it too. I'm also woefully versed in my germanic dishes but want to try it all and I fear no ingredient! What are some innapropriate-in-some-company-groan inducing mother dishes that I can't leave Germany Without having? Bring on the suggestions! I'll also be traveling through The Netherlands (Maastricht for sure), Belgium (Brussles), and the U.K. (Huddersfield and Edinburgh) if anyone is familiar with those areas also, I'm all ears! Jeremy