20 Best Dishes in Louisville

I stumbled across this article/blog entry today and thought it would be fun to do the same thing for Louisville. In a nutshell, the writer is asking people to name their favorite dishes in New York. Not favorite restaurants but, favorite dishes from whatever restaurant, food cart, cafe, pub etc. I took the number down to 20 to make it a bit more manageable. Have fun!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/443609

Here are mine. These are not listed as number 1 being the very best, just my 20 best:

rack of lamb-Saffrons
leg of lamb-De La Torres
lamb in sweet potato cup-Asiatique
sweetbreads-Corbetts
sweetbreads-Equus
shrimp and grits-Cafe Lou Lou
shrimp and grits-Jack frys
tacos de carne asada-La Tropicana
carpaccio-Volare
pork salbutes-Mayan Cafe
liver and onions-Club Grotto
spicy tuna roll-Hikomon
Tuna with watercress and ginger soy butter-Basa
hacked chicken salad-The Tea Station
chicken soup-Shalimar
posole-La Tapatia
burgoo-Marks feed store
chimichurri-Palermo viejo
corned beef and liver sandwich-Stevens and Stevens
octopus-Proof

Anthony, you are too modest! Seviche's Chini-Latino Tuna ceviche and skirt steak chimichurri have got to be on that list.

Other plates I have found exceptional:
-Caramelized scallops over orzo - Cafe Lou Lou
-Shredded pork in black bean sauce - Liang's
-Paella & guacamole with plantain chips - Mojito
-pizza - Steve O's Italian Kitchen (Buckner)
-mushroom fume & parmesan sea bass - Equus
-provoleta - Palermo Viejo
-wild mushroom, truffle & goat cheese scramble - Wild Eggs
-any fresh pasta - Volare
-wienerschnitzel, red cabbage & spaetzle - Gasthaus
-shaking beef - Basa

I vote for Duck Confit Strudel at Bourbons, the Tuna seviche at Seviche, Fish Tacos at Ramsis, Black Bean Cakes at Uptown, Calamity Kate's Border Benedict at Wild Eggs, Grand Marnier Beef at August Moon, Spicy Girl Roll at Oishii, Fish and Chips at Irish Rover

Tough call as there is lot's of good food in this town. This list could easily change based upon my mood:

Carnitas Tacos - Las Gorditas
Veal Chop - Le Relais
Toro Hand Roll - Tokyo
Crispy Duck - Red Pepper
Sweet Breads - Corbett's
Paella Valencia - De La Torre's
Parmesan Encrusted Sea Bass - Equus
Beef Combo Sandwich - Lonnies
Grits - Proof
Nav Ratan Korma - DakShin
Skirt Steak with Chimichurri - Seviche
Roasted Pork - Mayan Cafe
Neopolitan Pizza - Boombozz
Any Noodle Soup - Vietnam Kitchen
Lamb Shank - Saffron's
Banana Ice Cream - Graeter's
Shrimp & Grits - Jack Fry's
Mojito - Mojitos
Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers - Mojitos
Quail Drumstick Appetizer's - 610 Magnolia

Favorite guilty pleasure - Big Boy, Fries, Slaw, and a Coke at Frisch's

CRÈME CARAMEL - Jack Frys

BUTTERNUT SQUASH ENCHILADAS - El Mundo (seasonal special)

WALU BUTTER FISH - Z's Oyster Bar & Steakhouse

SALMON WITH TOMATO CONCASSE - Asiatique

Might not be the best for others, but hey, tastes are personal:

1. Son of Jade Dragon roll @ Maido
2. Chile Relleno @ El Mundo

20 of My Favorites:

Shaking Beef - Basa
Lobster Mac 'N Cheese - Avalon
Steak Au Poivre - Z's
Super Combination - LaBamba's
Lemongrass Medallions - Asiatique
Italian Beef Sandwich - Lonnie's
K8 - Vietnam Kitchen
Chipotle Potatoe Gratin - Caffe Perusa
Paella Valencia - De La Torres
Antipasto Wontons - Comeback Inn
Southwestern Corn Chowder - Whole Foods
Caesar Salad made Tableside - Equus
Cajun BBQ Chicken Pizza - Wick's
Smoked Turkey on Wheatberry w/ Colby & Horsey - Morris Deli
Chicken & Dumplings - Thornberry's
Vaca Frita - Havana Rumba
Burrito Especial Combo w/ Fish Taco - Bazo's
Chicken Pad Thai w/ Spicy Green Sauce - Simply Thai
Queso Fundido w/ Chicken - El Nopal
Chino Latino Tuna - Seviche

I completely agree with Andrea. The skirt steak at Seviche absolutely, positively has to be on that list.

As does the pork chop at Jack Fry's, the falafel at Shiraz, the pecan and brie salad at the Corner Cafe, the Papas a la Provenzal at Palermo and the beef brisket at Jucy's. Can we put Naja's chocolate chunk cookies on that list too? They aren't really a dish, but I crave them fortnightly.

[Robin Garr]

Can we put Naja's chocolate chunk cookies on that list too? They aren't really a dish, but I crave them fortnightly.

Unless it's got to be chocolate for you, Chris, you really ought to try Najla's new alfajores, possibly available only at Caffe Classico. Rich coconut cookie filled with just a dab of dulce de leche ... amazing! I could eat 'em by the sack, but really one little cookie is plenty.

... but really one little cookie is plenty.

unless you are part Cookie Monster, like me!

[Robin Garr]

... but really one little cookie is plenty.

unless you are part Cookie Monster, like me!

Okay, two, then. Or maybe three!

C3 (Spicy Lemongrass Beef and Noodles in Broth) at Vietnam Kitchen
Shaking Beef at Basa
Fish and Chips at L&N
Ribs at Smoketown
Upside-Down Pizza at Rich O's
Guacamole at Mojito
Short Ribs at Mojito
Lasagna at Le Gallo Rosso
TJ Roll (with added cream cheese) at Saporro
Parmesan Crusted Sea Bass at Equus
Cheeseburgers at the Granville
Chorizo and Potato Quesadilla at La Rosita
Parillada de Bifes (with the fries of doom!) at Palermo Viejo
Dragon Won Tons at Red Pepper

That's all I've got off the top of my head.
The Radda pizza at Primo would be on the list if they had not closed.

Eggplant- Shiraz
Seared Scallops with Green Pea Puree- Volare
Ahi Tuna Seviche- Seviche
Lemon Sunshine Cake- Cafe Lou LOu
Shrimp amd Grits- Jack Fry's
Catfish Hot Pot- Basa
Chocolate Orange Gelato- Gilberto Gelato
Lotus Unfolding Roll- Maido
Smoked Squid Salad- Maidp
Unique Flavor Chicken- Ped Pepper
Lobster Mac and Cheese- Avalon
Blue Cheese Polenta- Cafe Lou Lou
Duck Flat Bread- Mojito
Moqueca (Brazilian Fish Stew)- Seviche
Lemongrass Rainbow Trout- August Moon

In Memorium:
Whole Fried Catfish- Azalea's
Fried Fish with White Anchovy Aioli- Primo

These may not be the 20 "best" but they are my favorites.....

Parillada de Bifes - Palermo Viejo (I sub sweet potato fries)
Duck Confit Strudel - Bourbon's Bistro
Duck Confit and Fig Flat Bread - Mojitos
Vaca Frita - Havana Rumba
Shrimp and Grits - Bourbon's Bistro
Pork in Clay Pot - Vietnam Kitchen
Sizzling Vietnamese Crepe (with tofu) - Vietnam Kitchen
Mac. Nut Encrusted Seabass - Seviche
Linguine w/ Sesame Chicken and Broccoli - Uptown Cafe
Black Bean Cakes - Uptown Cafe
Crepe with dulce de leche and banana ice cream - Palermo Viejo
French Onion Soup - Ditto's
Fish and Chips - the Rover
Ribs - Smoketown USA
Stawberry Soup - Butterfly Garden
Salt and Pepper Prawns - Red Pepper
Catfish in Clay Pot - Basa