[HPFGU-OTChatter] diner food, health food, food food

[Doreen]

Milz wrote:
There's also a regionalism in the US. Some regions are known for
certain foods/dishes. The best bagels are found in New York City,
according to bagel fans.

Doreen wrote:
And NYC has the best pastrami sandwiches and calzones. Their Ray's Pizza is
outstanding! I had my first-ever roasted chestnut there, in the winter, from
a street vendor.  They also have some of the best Chinese restaurants.

Sometimes you have to either *know* or search for good restaurants. I ate at
Irma's in Boston. It was down a side street and then into an alley. The
place was no bigger than my living room. Maybe 6 tables in all. Reservations
required... but the Italian food was superb!

Iowa has its Iowa Chops ... and should have a good steak, but I have only
found one place for miles around here that has a good one. *sigh* I miss my
Illinois ethnic food. When I lived in Joliet, we knew where to go for the
best chicken, or steak, or Italian food, etc. So, like Milz said ... each
restaurant often has its specialties. Ask the manager of the place you are
staying ... or the people you are visiting.

Milz wrote:
Another thing is that if you ask for sauces ,butter, dressings on the
side, most restaurants will comply.  Most waiters can tell you how
dish is prepared (broiled, fried, braised) and don't mind if you ask.

Doreen wrote:
A friend of mine told me about ordering a salad dressing "on the side" ...
when it came ... there was dressing drizzled all around the "outside edge"
of the plate. It was definitely "on the side."

Milz wrote:
A friend of mine once told me that if you see Chinese people eating in
a Chinese restaurant, then that's the place to eat. Ask the locals and
they'll usually tell you where a good place is.

Doreen wrote:
My dad used to say the same thing about good food being where the truckers
ate, one of these places being the Amana Colonies... home cooked meals with
homemade bread ... still one of the best places in Iowa to eat.