Think back to the special meals you’ve had in your travels. What made the meals so memorable? Was it simply the quality of the food cooked to perfection? The unexpected delight of tasting new flavors? Or perhaps it was the company who shared your table and the conversation that flowed between you.
Though I had many memorable meals in 2011, a luncheon that stands out is one I shared with my tour guide, Giovanna, for all the reasons above. I had just arrived in Ecuador the day before and we were wrapping up our excursion to the Equator Monument, about 15 miles north of Quito. Before leaving, Giovanna suggested having a bite to eat at a small, nondescript restaurant on site. We were shown to a table in the back.
With my first bite of the traditional Ecuadorian food I had ordered, I smiled. Mmm . . . The combination of pork, potatoes, corn, avocado and fried bananas made for a perfect midday meal. The setting far away from home, the ambiance of the restaurant, Giovanna’s wonderful company, all made for a most unforgettable meal.
What memorable meals have you had in 2011, Wanderboomers?
Yum! I wish I could say I’ve had food like this this year.
I admit, this was a great one, Kelly! Here’s wishing you memorable meals in your travels in 2012 ~
I truly think my most memorable meal for 2011, amongst a whole host of meals in a number of different cities and countries was just a week ago at the stunning Redesdale Hotel – just 27 kilometres from Kyneton along the Heathcote Road; so just over an hour from Melbourne. A small country pub but wow – Chef Phil Gaby has got it dead right; great food, emphasis on local ingredients, superbly and thoughtfully presented, well cooked and offering great value. A small dining room but with quite country charm, fantastic service and a chef who will come out and chat with his guests about the food he has cooked. Number one for me in 2011 – try it if you get a chance!
Because I’ve written about the year my husband was hospitalized, I have devoted a lot of space to my craving for comfort food that year. Mostly the food was a smoothie and large cookies. I gained weight as he lost weight.
Great idea! This year my kids wanted to visit several of the restaurants featuerd on ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’…we had an amazing meal at the Tee Off in San Francisco!
The one that first jumps to mind was just last month at Cinq Sentits (5 ( 5 senses) in Barcelona – truly a multi-sensory experience!
Thanks, Anne! I’m going to check it out for future reference. Best to you in 2012!
Smart kids you have there! I’ll be sure to check out the Tee Off on my next visit to S.F. ~ Happy New Year!
That makes perfect sense to me, Thelma. Best wishes as you continue your healing journey. Thanks for your comments ~
Mmm . . . Sounds wonderful, Peter! One more reason for me to visit Australia soon – as if I needed another :-). Thanks for commenting & all the best to you in 2012!
Not just a meal but a memorable evening at Bulou’s Eco Lodge in Fiji. Starting with a welcoming kava ceremony, then the meal of fresh fish and vegetables from the local market prepared by Bulou, followed by everyone sitting around on a woven mat on the floor learning about traditional Fijian culture in the remote village of Navala. Wonderful!
I haven’t made it to Fiji – yet – but when I do, I’m adding this to my list! What an unforgettable experience, Greg. Thanks for stopping by ~
We happened to visit an Italian country-house (masseria) in Puglia, Southern Italy, just when its proprietor Alessandro was about to give a huge reception. We got lucky and he showed us to a table.
What a luncheon! We enjoyed around 5 or so courses depending on how you count the amuse-bouche and starters… And it took us around 4 hours 😉
How wonderful, Walter! I love the unexpected memorable meals even more than the ones I anticipate . . . Thanks for commenting!
A seafood tasting menu at the Marine Room in San Diego. So good that my companion who claimed he didn’t like seafood at the start of the meal was singing its praises by the end!
Mmm . . . I’m a big fan of seafood, Dena. Thanks for this restaurant tip for my next visit to San Diego – a city I love as much as seafood!
Hi! One of my best meals of 2011 was the Madagascar tofu at Nil in Berlin, Germany. This was my first time trying Sudanese food and it was delicious. All of the flavors came together perfectly and the prices were affordable. I was lucky enough to eat there a few times.
I’d love to know about Sudanese food, Heather. Wish I had photos for all the yummy meals that readers like you have shared as their most memorable ones for 2011. Thanks for commenting ~
My most memorable meal was on the patio of Rolando’s on the little island of Kea in Greece. I was with a group, and we ordered a lot of appetizers to share–little fishes, olives, an extremely pungent local cheese that most of my group couldn’t quite enjoy, and several other dishes before an entry of goat. The drawn-out meal must have taken at least three hours, and the eccentric owner visited our table several times to chat. We had walked up the mountain to it from a boat, and then we walked back down around midnight.
Sounds heavenly, Marcy! I love the entire image: sitting among a group of fellow travelers in an exotic location, dining on the local fare over a leisurely three hours, chats with the owner – and the fact that he was eccentric is a bonus 🙂 ~ Thanks for sharing with us here ~ Wishing you more happy travels in 2012!
One of my most memorable meal in 2011 was had right in NYC. I had gone out with friends the evening before to a Spanish restaurant and ordered paella, one of my favorite Spanish meals. But it wasn’t like I’d had it before at the same restaurant. Something was ‘off’ though I couldn’t quite put my finger on what. Thankfully, we had ordered other dishes. The next evening, I went out with another group of friends and they picked a Mexican restaurant. Someone ordered the Mexican paella — we were sharing — and when it arrived, my eyes almost popped out of my head. It was a feast for the eyes – colors, textures, and the smell — all made it very appealing. When I tasted it, it was heavenly. I wondered if it could have been so because the disappointment of the previous night’s still lingered on my taste buds but it didn’t matter. I did go back to the same restaurant a few weeks later fully intending to order the Mexican paella but unfortunately, the restaurant was closing. When I walked in, workmen were taking out the fixtures and furniture. I was so disappointed as I had my taste buds ready for a treat.
But as you state, food is about company, conversation, ambience and taste – though probably not in that order. Here’s to more memorable meals in 2012!
Why am I not surprised that NYC ended up as first on your list of places for most memorable meals in 2011? On my last visit to the Big Apple, I gravitated toward Brazilian restaurants. I love paella, too, Marcia – and I second your toast: Here’s to more memorable meals in 2012!
I’ve been to “La Midad del Mundo” a few weeks back and I really enjoyed how the guide tried to explain why it in fact isn’t really the middle of the world. I also went to the Galápagos Islands and was amazed by the biodiversity.