The 10 Best of Everything, Third Edition An Ultimate Guide for Travelers

by Lande, Nathaniel; Lande, Andrew

• ISBN13: 9781426208676
• ISBN10: 1426208677
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-03
• Publisher: National Geographic

Summary

This blue-chip bible for globe-trotting connoisseurs, completely revised and updated for 2012, is as extravagantly entertaining as the bestselling previous editions. In addition to "top ten" lists in dozens of categories and a 21st-century Grand Tour to more than 20 fabulous places, award-winning authors Nathaniel and Andrew Lande have included their latest discoveries in this third edition. The book offers five brand-new "top ten" lists - the Top Ten Spas, Ten Best Theatrical Events, Top Ten Irresistible Restaurants, Top Ten Literary and Historical Homes, and dispatches for 10 new cities around the world. Amazing and amusing personal accounts called "snapshots" appear throughout the delightfully deluxe volume. Studded with colourful illustrations, cosmopolitan sidebars, and savvy tips, this sophisticated book awakens yearnings for exotic travel in readers everywhere.

Author Biography

NATHANIEL LANDE logged more than four million miles, circumnavigating the globe a dozen times as he led a staff of 100 correspondents for TIME. He was an executive at CBS, NBC, and BBDO Worldwide Advertising, taught at UNC and Duke, and is the author of nine books. ANDREW LANDE is co-author with Nathaniel Lande of The Cigar Connoisseur and co-writer of the award-winning A&E Biography special, Bob Hope: America's Entertainer.

Excerpts

Ten Best Hamburgers
 
In the words of Charles Kuralt, “You can find your way across this country [U.S.] using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.”
 
1. The Apple Pan ( Los Angeles, California)
Counter seating is the only kind available at this Westside joint. The signature steak burger is a juicy, medium-thick patty on a seedless bun piled high with all the fixings—mayo, sweet relish, crunchy dill pickles, crisp iceberg lettuce, and a slice of half- melted Tillamook cheddar. For an extra wallop, the hickory burger comes drenched in barbecue sauce. Come prepared to get messy. And leave room for apple pie.
 
2. In-N-Out Burger (California, Arizona, Nevada )
In-N-Out franchises—a California institution—are known for their eye-catching yellow-arrow logo and red and white interiors. Bucking the diversification trend of many fast-food chains, In-N-Out serves only fries, beverages, and three types of hamburgers. These all-beef burgers are topped with fresh vegetables and Thousand Island-like dressing and served on
griddled buns with optional American cheese. Fries are freshly cut on-site.
 
3. Big Nick’s Burgers and Pizza (New York, New York)
This wildly popular Upper West Side burger and pizza joint is a New York classic: loud, fast-paced, and full of character. The big, juicy hamburgers are among the best in New York.
 
4. Lotaburger (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
On July 9, 1952, Blake Chanslor opened a simple little hamburger place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Serving excellent food at reasonable prices‚ the restaurant soon expanded to 75 locations in New Mexico. The green chile cheeseburger is the best in the world.
 
5. Burger Bar on Macy’s Sixth Floor (San Francisco, California)
Master chef Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys has inaugurated Burger Bars in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and St. Louis, giving connoisseurs the opportunity to build their ultimate burger with an amazing variety of condiments and sides. Kobe beef, sweet potato fries, caramelized onions, blue cheese, and farm- fresh vegetables are among the offerings at Burger Bar.
 
6. Gott’s Roadside (St. Helena, Napa, and San Francisco, California)
Gott’s Roadside (formerly Taylor’s Refresher) offers a slice of roadside heaven for burger aficionados. It’s a classic burger- and-fries stand, with shady picnic tables out back, screened-in windows for ordering, and parking. The juicy burgers here are messy affairs, complete with lettuce, tomato, and lots of Russian dressing-style sauce. The French fries and onion rings are fresh-cut and golden fried. For a twist, try the ahi tuna burger or the garlic fries. It truly is “Tray Gourmet.”
 
7. Burgermeister’s (San Francisco, California)
This family-owned and -operated business in the San Francisco Bay area uses only local ingredients, including the finest quality organic beef, to make its hamburgers. One taste of the avocado cheeseburger and you’ll be a fan for life.
8. Rare ( New York, New York)
This favorite haunt of the office crowd (now open in Chelsea as well) serves up a flavorful beef patty on a toasted brioche. Upscale burgers include the pesto-mozzarella burger or the Mexican topped with black-bean spread and guacamole. Experiment with a basket of “frickles”—deep-fried pickles.
 
9. “21” Club (New York, New York)
Celebrities and captains of industry like to take friends to the exclusive Bar Room. The “21” Burger, with its special sauce and pommes soufflés, is one of the best around.
 
10. Shake Shack (New York and beyond)
Danny Meyer’s famed Union Square Hospitality Group— home to some of New York’s best restaurants—has established an exclusive chain serving classic favorites. Using the very best local ingredients, Shake Shack features cooked-to-order burgers, flat-top dogs, Yukon Gold fries, and frozen custard at locations on the East Coast (and in the Middle East).