Jay Rayner’s favorite restaurant meals

During this time of preparing three meals a day, every day, thinking about leisurely dining in a restaurant is a nostalgic trip down memory lane that seems further in the past than it actually is. We shall dine again, although which eateries will remain standing in the next year or two is an unanswerable question. Until we can return to our most-loved haunts, we can read food critic Jay Rayner’s recollection of his favorite restaurant meals.

You might assume that a critic of Rayner’s renown would immediately recall a meal at a high-priced establishment with a world-famous chef at the helm. However, Rayner begins with a meal at a modest place where the freshness of the food and the skillful preparation make the dining experience memorable despite the rustic surrounds.

Eventually Rayner does describe a meal at a restaurant frequented by the elite and led by a famous chef: Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s flagship location. Rayner’s evocative portrayal of the food will whet your appetite, so be prepared to have a snack at the ready. This article made me recall my own favorite restaurant experiences. Since it is late in the evening as I write this, I’ll probably dream of these memorable meals tonight. I’m looking forward to it.