Eating My Way Through USA

(The Cheesecake Factory, Madison)

After watching The Big Bang Theory, visiting this restaurant has been one of my life's goals (I'm only half joking). Checked off my list, and probably not coming back especially for this. Way too sweet, & I've had better cheesecakes elsewhere.

(The Old Fashioned, Madison)

Never was huge on cheese but USA's very own Dairyland made me a convert.

Creamy, salty cheese deep fried and then dipped into your choice of interesting housemade sauces. Paired with your choice of poison (I highly recommend Wisconsin's Spotted Cow Beer) and this is golden. I heard from my buddy Sarah they even have a cheese curd crawl!

(Westowne Mall, Madison)

I dont know if it was because of my crazy hunger, or the relief that I got my phone fixed but my first bite into this had me letting out a soft mmmm...

My first experience with a USA lamb gyro that had me ordering one everytime I see it (that or falafel). Lamb that doesn't taste like lamb (probably a mix of other meats I dont wanna know) on top of super soft pita bread and mayo. I'll never get tired of this.

(Sonney's BBQ Shack Bar & Grill, Lake Tahoe)

I know, I know, who comes to a BBQ joint without ordering ribs right? I wasn't feeling it today though, so I had chicken as my choice of protein, but thankfully someone else did and he claimed it was one of the best ribs he's had (& he's a hardcore fan).

My chicken sandwich was a great sandwich too (& i'm a sandwich fan). Juicy chicken thigh in between perfectly toasted bread and slathered with an addictive creamy sauce. I loved their homemade BBQ concoctions, all of them were pretty legit.

Smoked vanilla truffle, Nougat with pumpkin seed and lemon, mint lime and rhum pâte de fruit

And with that our meal came to an end. What an outstanding menu by a team of talented, young chefs. Their creativity really shone through, while doing each ingredient justice with perfected cooking techniques and a successful myraid of flavours. With every course it made our stomachs fuller, but we never wanted the experience to end.

Corn with black tea ice cream, lemon cordial with burnt lemon peel

Peach with bee's wax crème and marigold, pollenated toasted oats

Warm chickpea bouillon with lemon oil;

Something that feels like it has been cooked/nurtured lovingly by the chef for hours

Grilled lamb and summer beans enriched with goat's butter, lavender and grass;

Again, the protein was beautifully cooked. I usually love my lamb in a rich aromatic curry, but this was a perfect unadulterated slice of lamb.

Ocean trout with a sauce of cow's milk whey, shiso and young ginger;

The fish was the star, and rightfully so. It was cooked to perfection- gorgeously translucent.

Sourdough bread & homemade butter;

I've had better sourdough, but there's something fun about eating warm fluffy bread fresh out of the oven.

Slow poached egg yolk with smoked dates, alliums and malt;

I am a self proclaimed egg purist (my favourite way to have them is a simple sunny side up) but this... this was nothing short of incredible. The creamy interplay from the yolk with the sweetness of dates and unimaginable flavours from the rest of the concoction. My favourite dish of the night; this was amazing and if I daresay, life changing.