BreezyCooking
Washing Up
Absolutely impossible-to-definitively-answer question - lol!! There are just too many "bests" to just choose one. Over the years, here are a few that stick in my mind, many of which I've managed to duplicate at home, none in any order of preference:
"Crab Nachos" ("Rapture", Charlottesville, VA) - consisting of red and blue tortilla chips topped with a generous portion of lump Blue Claw Crabmeat, mozzarella and goat cheeses, and a freshly-made Pico de Gallo-type salsa - diced tomato, red onion, and jalapeno pepper; served with a small bowl of freshly-made guacamole on the side. This was FABULOUS, and frankly easily could have made a light meal in itself.
"Lobster Wontons" ("It's About Thyme", Culpeper, VA) - pieces of Maine lobster tail & claw piled on a large fried flat wonton skin.
"Baked Oysters with Arugula Pesto" ("It's About Thyme, Culpeper, VA) - A dozen gorgeous LARGE oysters on the half shell, generously topped with a delightful garlicy arugula pesto and an equally generous amount of parmesan cheese - all baked/broiled into hot ooey gooey goodness. So rich - almost a meal in themselves.
"Antipasto Caldomisto Con Frutti Di Mare" ("Lucio", Culpeper, VA) - described as "Assorted Hot Antipasto with Shrimp, Stuffed Mushrooms, and Oysters Casino". It was, in a word, fabulous. Two huge fresh oysters on the half shell with just a sprinkling of breadcrumbs & some fresh bacon strips, 2 large broiled shrimp, & 2 mushrooms stuffed with, of all things, lobster (although I thought it was crabmeat until the waitress mentioned the lobster stuffing later - lol!.
"Shark Bites" ("The Lobster Inn" , Shinnecock, NY - out of business a long time ago, unfortunately) - cubes of fresh shark dredged in seasoned flour & sauteed until perfectly done inside; crispy outside. Served with lemon wedges.
"Baby Softshell Crabs" ("The Lobster Inn", Shinnecock, NY (closed)) - two tiny little (barely 4" - the minimum legal limit) softshell Blue Claw Crabs sauteed in olive oil & garlic until "just" cooked; served with lemon wedges.
"Mozzarella en Carroza" ("Orsini's", Manhattan, NY - again, closed a long time ago - sad) - fabulous fresh mozzarella, breaded & perfectly fried, served with an absolutely wonderful extra-virgin-olive-oil/butter/anchovy dipping sauce.
My grandmothers Spanakopita (done strudel style - not little triangles), as well as her chicken livers sauteed in an obscene amount of butter, caraway seeds, & fresh lemon juice, & served on little frilly toothpicks.
"Crab Nachos" ("Rapture", Charlottesville, VA) - consisting of red and blue tortilla chips topped with a generous portion of lump Blue Claw Crabmeat, mozzarella and goat cheeses, and a freshly-made Pico de Gallo-type salsa - diced tomato, red onion, and jalapeno pepper; served with a small bowl of freshly-made guacamole on the side. This was FABULOUS, and frankly easily could have made a light meal in itself.
"Lobster Wontons" ("It's About Thyme", Culpeper, VA) - pieces of Maine lobster tail & claw piled on a large fried flat wonton skin.
"Baked Oysters with Arugula Pesto" ("It's About Thyme, Culpeper, VA) - A dozen gorgeous LARGE oysters on the half shell, generously topped with a delightful garlicy arugula pesto and an equally generous amount of parmesan cheese - all baked/broiled into hot ooey gooey goodness. So rich - almost a meal in themselves.
"Antipasto Caldomisto Con Frutti Di Mare" ("Lucio", Culpeper, VA) - described as "Assorted Hot Antipasto with Shrimp, Stuffed Mushrooms, and Oysters Casino". It was, in a word, fabulous. Two huge fresh oysters on the half shell with just a sprinkling of breadcrumbs & some fresh bacon strips, 2 large broiled shrimp, & 2 mushrooms stuffed with, of all things, lobster (although I thought it was crabmeat until the waitress mentioned the lobster stuffing later - lol!.
"Shark Bites" ("The Lobster Inn" , Shinnecock, NY - out of business a long time ago, unfortunately) - cubes of fresh shark dredged in seasoned flour & sauteed until perfectly done inside; crispy outside. Served with lemon wedges.
"Baby Softshell Crabs" ("The Lobster Inn", Shinnecock, NY (closed)) - two tiny little (barely 4" - the minimum legal limit) softshell Blue Claw Crabs sauteed in olive oil & garlic until "just" cooked; served with lemon wedges.
"Mozzarella en Carroza" ("Orsini's", Manhattan, NY - again, closed a long time ago - sad) - fabulous fresh mozzarella, breaded & perfectly fried, served with an absolutely wonderful extra-virgin-olive-oil/butter/anchovy dipping sauce.
My grandmothers Spanakopita (done strudel style - not little triangles), as well as her chicken livers sauteed in an obscene amount of butter, caraway seeds, & fresh lemon juice, & served on little frilly toothpicks.