This is one that I generally prefer at home, but some restaurants in the past 10 years or so have started putting care and attention in their potato salad. McEwen’s comes to mind right away, and Mantia’s also has a nice potato salad. My mom and my mother-in-law make the best potato salad and though they’re both mayo-based, they’re very different. I’ll see if I can get them to share a recipe. For now, who’s the potato salad master in the restaurant world?

Oh my. Are we ready for this yet? We’ve been on our lists for less than a week and I’m pulling out big guns like pimiento cheese–without a doubt one of my favorite things in the world. Let’s take our votes on this, and later this spring (it’s just a couple of days until spring is official), I’ll go conduct a taste test like I did with chicken salad last year. My rules for good PC: It has to be made with sharp cheese, and it must be made with good mayo–never Miracle Whip. Of course, you might prefer Miracle Whip, and that’s OK; I promise not to delete your nomination.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and while we’re not really a big corned beef and cabbage town, we sure know how to put a head of cabbage to good use. Today let’s vote on the best cole slaw.

There are some mighty fine mac and cheese dishes around town. As I wrote in my review of Mollie Fontaine Lounge this morning, right now I don’t know of any better than theirs–including those of the best home cooks I’ve known, my aunt and my late grandmother. I think it was Carole H who wrote under the fried chicken post that Barskdale has good mac and cheese. Let’s hear what you think.

I told you today would be easier. But let’s dig deep on this one and come up with some places that are off the beaten path, along with the usuals. Tell me who’s got the best fried bird…

OK, our first category is Asian restaurants. Give me one or up to 10. Read the preceding post if you don’t know what in the world I’m talking about…

You’ll read about it tomorrow in the Whining & Dining column, but here’s a headstart. Soon we’ll be changing a few things at the CA, and restaurant coverage is certainly among the changing. We’re going to build a strong Web presence with clickable links to restaurant reviews (from reviewers and readers–you’ll even get to give your own stars), maps, pictures, tours, interviews and so on. A large component will be a feature that I like to see when I’m traveling: Top 10 lists.

And I’m going to need your help (it comes with incentive). Each day for the near future, I’ll post a heading and everyone who responds–you can give me one choice or up to 10–will be eligible to become a guest restaurant reviewer when we launch our new format. I’m not talking about just posting your thoughts on a restaurant on our list, but someone who gets to go out–with a budget!–to an assigned restaurant and write an original review for publication online and possibly in our print edition.

We’ll also be running lists each week of Top 5 picks that might range from favorite cocktails around town to the best bread pudding, and I’ll post those here, too. Again, contributors are eligible to be reviewers.

It’ll be fun, and we’ll start right away. Check out the next post.