5 Things To Eat Before You Die

Julie at Kitchenography tagged me for a meme devised by Melissa over at The Travelers Lunchbox.  Inspired by a BBC poll of 50 things to eat before you die, Melissa has whittled the question down to a more manageable query for her fellow bloggers. What five foods have you eaten in your life that you think everyone should eat once before they die?  At first, it seemed difficult to narrow my choices down to only five foods, but I soon realized that five very predictable (for me) choices had rushed to the fore in my mind.

1.)    Seafood Filé Gumbo

There are many versions of seafood gumbo, and all aficionados have rules about how it should be made. Some use okra, others use filé, the ground leaves from the sassafras tree. I come from a filé gumbo family.  The gumbo we eat is dark as swamp water, made with a roux cooked until it's the color of bittersweet chocolate.  We don't put sausage in our gumbo. Or fish. We put pounds and pounds of freshly shelled shrimp and freshly caught blue crabs into the witchy brew.   This version of seafood gumbo can be found along the gulf coast in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana (and a smidge of Alabama).  Some restaurants in New Orleans will have it, but it's often best when made by an ordinary person in their home. Cozy up to one of those people if you're in gumbo country and finagle a bowl out of them.

2.)    Oysters and Pearls, The French Laundry, Yountville, California

Just thinking about this dish makes my taste buds start to tingle. I've read the recipe and it doesn't seem that difficult to prepare. It's just two exquisite butter poached oysters in a sabayon-tapioca puddle topped with a huge spoonful of the best caviar.  Oh wait.  The quality of the ingredients might be a bit hard to obtain for poor little me.  I've had so many wonderful meals at The French Laundry, but I always anticipate eating this signature dish the most.  On my last visit, it wasn't on the menu and seeing my crestfallen face, the waiter had it made specially for me. 

3.)    Huckleberry Cobbler, made with real huckleberries

When I was a child my grandmother would send me off to gather huckleberries from the wild bushes scattered around her land.  My grandmother didn't have a yard, she had land.  Acres of it. And it was the job of the grandchildren to reconnoiter and come back with a coffee can full of berries. Real huckleberries look like small blueberries, but they are different. Many blueberries are sold as huckleberries, but they aren't the real deal.   It took me hours to pick enough of the tiny little huckleberries for my grandmother's amazing cobbler.  It was just a simple cobbler, but the huckleberries had such an intense wine-like taste, you couldn't help but make little moans of appreciation as you ate it.    

4.)    Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie, Mustard's Grill, Napa, California 

Diners usually freeze, mouths open when they first see this signature dessert of Mustards Grill.  It's enormous and any sane person would share it with 2 or 3 people. But, no one does. Instead they all plow into it with abandon, reveling in the tart lemon-lime flavor, the mound of Italian meringue, and sugared lemon peel. You'll reel out of the restaurant swearing you'll never eat a whole slice again.  But, you will.

5.)    Tomato Sandwiches made with vine ripened tomatoes

I dream about vine ripened tomatoes when they are out of season. And when I finally pick my first tomato, I make a tomato sandwich with it. Good bread, excellent mayonnaise, (homemade if possible), fresh tomatoes, a little salt and pepper--what could be better?   

Now, the difficult part.  Tagging only 5 people.  I had 15 people in mind, but realized it would be unseemly (and greedy ) to tag so many. But, if you are reading this, consider yourself tagged, and please share your thoughts on this subject. 

Glenna at A Fridge Full Of Food
Shannon at The Westering Hills
Aria at Passionate Nonchalance
Christine at Christine Cooks
Gattina At  Gattina

Comments

[coffeepot]

It is so fun reading these lists.

The tomato sandwich would have to be one of mine too although I didn't list it.

In reality it isn't fair because I would need at least 100 things and not just 5.

[Alanna]

These are so interesting ...

[Lisa]

Yay! I consider myself tagged. I'll give this some thought, when my head clears a bit (martinis last night) and put something up. Everything on your list sounds delish. I wish I could taste "Oysters and Pearls" -- so unusual. I've never had a huckleberry in my life, and after reading about them here, I fear I've really missed out!

[Jeff]

Huckleberries....always sound so interesting :)

[Christine]

Thanks for the tag Sher. Your 5 items are wonderful. Mmmm, huckleberries. My yard is full of them, getting ripe as I write this!
I'll do my best for this meme.

[Mae]

The oysters and pearls sound delectable! And the seafood file gumbo!!!

Delicious list, Sher. Wonderful.

[Kate]

I'll have to think about this one too. It may be a while!

[Shannon]

I'm tagged! Gotta give this some thought as well! . . .

[Norma]

Sher,
I just got back from extreme heat, arizona.I just read what you said about Jay's chips and Rosen's rye.
Oh no, I still think about that fabulous rye bread.That was the best. That is ashame if it's not the same. I guess nothing stays the same.

[Julie]

Great list.

Your family's file gumbo sounds amazing but the thing on your list that really got my attention was the lemon lime meringue pie which sounds phenomenal!

[Kalyn]

The oysters and pearls sound most fascinating. I'm quite sure I've never eaten anything like that. My list is going to be pretty boring compared to some of the others.

[Char Buckley]

Sher, I also miss Rosen's rye, I bring it back in my suitcase!! i also yearn for a really good Italian beef sandwich with good old Gonella bread! I have tried many that are called Italian beefs here in San Diego, but they fall very short. Also the good old tomatoes off the vine! Yum, ate them like apples. One last thing, a good pot roast with the round bone in it! There is no such thing here!

[Glenna]

I would love to taste your gumbo some day. It does sound to die for or eat before you die or die when you eat it or some such sh** like that.

[aria]

i'm so very jealous of the oysters and pearls, it just sounds and looks so delicious! and then there are your tomato sandwiches that make my mouth water jsut the same :) i accept your challenge and am compiling my list!

[sher]

Wow! I've been really busy, so it's nice to check in and see so many comments.

CoffeePot,

Yes, my list could go on and on. It was a little hard to narrow it down. And if I did it again, it would be a little different I think.

Alanna,

I loved looking at the others that did this meme.

Lisa,

I'm looking forward to seeing your list. A huckleberry looks like a tiny blueberry, but it has a stronger flavor, a bit more tart. And they are firmer. Oyster's and Pearls--it's heaven!

Jeff,

Huckleberrys are wonderful. They can be very touchy, abundant one year, but sparse the next. I think next year will be an abundant one down South.

Christine,

Aww, you're so lucky to have huckleberries. I'd like to grow them here, but it's too hot to do that. I researched it and there aren't a lot of places that sell real huckleberry plants.

Mae,

Everyone should have Oysters and Pearls at least once. Ack, I want some right now!

kate,

Take your time, we're patient! :)

Shannon,

I have confidence in you! Whatever you come up with be very interesting to read. :)

Norma & Char,

Here they are folks. Let me introduce my partners in crime, so to speak, from High School. What a time we had! My best food memory with Char and Norma is a party I had where we wound up throwing cake at each other. An entire cake wound up in our hair and face. I can't believe we abused an innocent cake like that. Yes, Rosen's rye bread was fabulous. Gonella bread--yes! Italian beef sandwiches--yes! Now that's Chicago. And Da Bears!

Julie,

Oh, it is just fabulous--the lemon-lime meringue pie. The sugared lemon peel that they decorate it with is the best I've ever eaten.

kalyn,

I bet your list is going to be great! Can't wait to read it.

Glenna,

Well...if I die while I'm eating gumbo, that's not too bad a way to go. I just hope I finish my bowl of gumbo before I keel over.

Aria,

The good thing is that while I rarely have oysters and pearls, I can have a tomato sandwich about 5 months out of the year!

[gattina]

I'd come back to live... just want to eat that oysters again and again! Sher, thanks for tagging me, it's a fun game!

[ann]

someday, yes, one day, i WILL eat oysters and pearls, you mark my words Sher! i will do it!!!!

[CHELSEA DELOCH]

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO EAT 5 THINGS BEFORE YOU DIE.

[w45te]

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