Yes, you can cast your vote for the best sandwich in town here if you’d like, but I want to tell you about the best sandwich that I DIDN’T eat last week–and talk about entree envy. When the people seated at my right and left were served these incredible BLTs with fried oysters at Cochon in New Orleans last week, my rabbit and dumplings seemed pretty weak. Luckily the whole group was the sharing kind, so I was able to get a bite or two of the one pictured here. Wow!

I just came across a wire story about the great sandwiches in New Orleans and it’s po’ boy, muffaletta, po’ boy. I’ve got nothing against either, but I don’t think any of them could take this one.

I know it’s not May, and I know it would make sense to hold the best barbecue forum until then. But I’m heading out on a culinary tour of Louisiana tomorrow and I’m going to take a week off from the “Best of” lists. I’ll be posting about my trip, the Thursday night wine tasting will proceed without a hitch, but I’m going to be working 16-hour days and something’s gotta give for a bit… So enjoy this week to discuss barbecue, from your favoriute sandwich to the best chicken. Barbecue bologna. Best sauce. Best beans. Pulled or chopped. Ribs. Go crazy if you want to and talk brisket. But keep coming back, because like I said, I’ll be sharing Louisiana stories and pictures with you.

(Photo credit to our own barbecue guru Dave Darnell for this plate at Ray’s World Famous in West Memphis)

Every now and again someone will call and want to know where they can get a nice piece of pie. Not something whipped a mile high in a factory and stored in a restaurant freezer, but a piece of pie like mom made. Let’s start this week sharing what we know about good pie in and around town.

I don’t know if it’s my upcoming trip through Louisiana or just the change in weather, but I’m craving seafood and feel a trip to Costco for king crab legs in my immediate future. I’m confined to my house taking care of my recovering dog, so I won’t be eating out this weekend. But tell me where you’d go for the best seafood–and what you’d order. Best oysters? Best grouper sandwich? (Pearl’s has a mighty good one). We know the sea bass at Tsunami is hard to beat. Let’s leave sushi out, and clearly we can’t even begin to address catfish here. Seafood only; we’ll find a place for sushi and fresh water fish down the road.

Ah, the steak. We know the outrage of ordering medium rare and getting well done, but there are places that can serve up a fine cut of meat. Tonight we’ll be eating beef (or grilled sausage–I’m going to call around today and see if I can find lamb sausage), so let’s salute the good–and great–steaks around town. And while we’re at it, tell me where you buy your beef.

While we’re casting our votes for the best cornbread in town, let me know where I can find cracklin’ cornbread. We never made this in my family and I’ve only tasted it once. I’m sorry to say that particular piece didn’t offer much to write about, but I’d love to try good cracklin’ cornbread.

I love hot pepper sauce on my greens and a bite of onion on the side, but I have to say this picture of greens with tomatoes and onions looks mighty tasty, too. Who’s serving up the best in town? Time to spill it.

And don’t post it today, but go ahead and start thinking about it if you want to: Tomorrow I’ll be asking about cornbread.

We all have our favorite breakfast joints from back when–I was a Ferguson’s devotee. Most of us love Brother Juniper’s, and some are lucky enough to know that the Shelby Forest General Store does a mean fry-up if you’re willing to make the drive. But where else? Where’s the best breakfast in and around town?

It’s Friday. Let’s go where controversy and strong opinions are bound to lurk. Best pizza in town or the vicinity, and because we like nostalgia, I’ll open this one to pizza past and present… Thin crust, thick, Chicago deep dish, New York style–have at it!

I love, love, LOVE the salsa at Maya’s on Macon Rd. in Berclair (the place I reviewed a couple of months ago that many of you tried the night of the review and got REALLY mad at me because they weren’t prepared). Again, I urge you to give it another try, but meanwhile, tell me who you think has the best salsa in town. I’m also going to mention R.P. Tracks, which several of you mentioned earlier for good vegetarian food, too.