3. Braised Leeks at FnB
There are few dishes in the Valley with as much of a cult following as Charleen Badman's braised leeks. For years, food lovers have impatiently awaited the return of the seasonal dish, dreaming of the tender vegetables that come topped with melted cheese and smothered in egg yolk. It's become so popular it's even earned its own hashtag (#leekapalooza) — and a spot on Food & Wine's list of 10 Best Restaurant Dishes back in 2010.
It's a simple enough creation in theory, but the layers of flavors make it the kind of dish you don't easily forget. Badman braises leeks in lemon and thyme before broiling the vegetables under a blanket of creamy mozzarella. When the cheese is bubbling and brown, the leeks are removed from the heat and topped with a mustard breadcrumbs and fried egg; the yolk is broken only once the dish arrives at your table.
Sounds easy enough, but, as with pretty much everything we've eaten at FnB, Badman manages to coax the fullest amount of flavor out of each ingredient in a way we can never quite replicate. We've got a few months to wait until the famous leeks return, and when they do, you can bet we'll be heading to FnB to get some.
The 100 Favorite Dishes so far...
100. Waffle at Matt's Big Breakfast
99. Pacific White Fish Taco at La Santisima
98. Beef Roll at Taiwan Food Express
97. Zinc Burger at Zinc Bistro
96. Goat Biryani at Khyber Halal
95. Key Lime Doughnut at Welcome Chicken + Donuts
94. Chicharrón Prensado Quesadilla at La Merced
93. Moist Succulent Pork Chop at Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe
92. Deep Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper from Nee House Chinese Cuisine
91. Coconut Raspberry Brownie at Karl's Quality Bakery
90. Fried Chicken at Phoenix Public Market Cafe
89. The Tyler at Cheese 'N Stuff
88. Hurricane Popcorn at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
87. Ceviche at El Chullo
86. Date Shake at Couscous Express
85. Red Bean and Rice Burger at Liberty Market
84. Banh Thit Nguoi at Da Vang
83. Breakfast Sandwich at Ollie Vaughn's
82. Crispy Pig Ears at Crudo
81. Parillada at Asadero Norte De Sonora
80. Warm Jar of King Crab and Butter at Little Cleo's Seafood Legend
79. Pumpkin Spice Macaron at Essence Bakery
78. Falafel Sandwich at Al Hana Restaurant
77. Sheng Jian Bao at DingHao Shanghai
76. Baked Vegetable Pesto at Oven + Vine
75. Pollo Guisado at FrinGo's Kitchen
74. Aloo Paratha at Tahoora Grill
73. Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry at Cowboy Ciao
72. Otro Cortado Salad at Otro Cafe
71. The Standard with Cheese at The Stand
70. Kimchee Bokum Bap at Hodori
69. The 301 Pizza at Forno 301
68. Green Chile Burrito at Rito's Mexican Food
67. Aloo Tikki Chaat at Little India
66. Oysters Rockefeller at The Salt Cellar Restaurant
65. Bún Thit Nuong at Hue Gourmet
64. Pistachio Chicken Liver Pate at The Gladly
63. Fried Green Tomato Sandwich at Welcome Diner
62. Crawfish at Angry Crab Shack
61. The Lady at Short Leash Hot Dogs
60. Torta Ahogada at Tortas Paquime
59. Baiynchaiv Crepes at Reathrey Sekong
58. The Straw at Miracle Mile Deli
57. Fresh Shattered Potato Chips at Ingo's Tasty Food
56. Southern Fried Chicken at Bobby-Q
55. Buffala Verace at Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana
54. Baklava at Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli
53. Tri-Tip Sandwich at Grassroots Kitchen at Tap
52. Fig, Cheese, and Caramel Empanada at Republica Empanada
51. Cauliflower Pizza at Forge Wood-Fired Pizza
50. Bandeja Paisa at La Tiendita Cafe
49. Footlong at Ted's Hot Dogs
48. Chettinad Dosai at Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen
47. Sticky Buns at El Chorro
46. Wood Grilled Artichoke at Central Bistro
45. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings at New Hong Kong Restaurant
44. Carne Adovada Enchiladas at Los Dos Molinos
43. Mac n' Cheese at Lux Central
42. Carolina Dog at Joe's Farm Grill
41. Whole Chicken at El Pollo Supremo
40. Fried Saimin at Aloha Kitchen
39. Hummus at Princess Market
38. Xiaolongbao at Chou's Kitchen
37. No. 6 Crepe at Jobot
36. Lo-Lo's Special at Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles
35. Banana Cream Pie Trifle at The Parlor Pizzeria
34. Bean & Cheese Burrito at America's Taco Shop
33. Butterfish Tatki at Roka Akor
32. Pan Seared Scottish Salmon at Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse
31. Peking Duck at Hong Kong Asian Diner
30. Vic's Meatloaf and Eggs at Dick's Hideaway
29. Arizona Super Taco at LuLu's Taco Shop
28. Zucca Chips at North Italia
27. Haemul Soon Du Bu at Café Ga Hyang
26. Salmon "Yasu Style" at Yasu Sushi Bistro
25. Pineapple Li Hing Mui Ice Candy at Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
24. Mixed Grill at Copper Kettle
23. Super Colossal Shrimp Cocktail at Steak 44
22. Egg Tart at Great Wall Cuisine
21. The Pittsburgher at Wimpy's Paradise
20. Beignets at Southern Rail
19. Ricotta Gnocchi at Rancho Pinot
18. Ika Kare Age at Hana Japanese Eatery
17. Pork Belly Pastrami at Citizen Public House
16. Pig Face Dumplings at The Clever Koi
15. Grand Prix at Crepe Bar
14. Hoppin' John at Yard Bird + The Larder
13. Churros Rellenos de Cajeta de Cabra at Barrio Cafe
12. Pig's Feet at Christopher's Restaurant and Crush Lounge
11. Tsukuri Six at ShinBay
10. Salted Butter Caramel Ice Cream at Sweet Republic
9. Oaxaca Special Burro at Carolina's
8. French Fries at Bink's Midtown
7. Brisket at Little Miss BBQ
6. Grilled Octopus at Virtu Honest Craft
5. Sandwich at Noble Eatery
4. Goma Ramen at Posh Improvisational Cuisine
