I sometimes chuckle at how everyone is convinced they have the inside scoop on the "best" of some type of food. It is like how every fisherman is convinced he has the best fishing hole that nobody else has discovered.

Take for example Los Tacos #1 near Times Square. I've eaten there twice--it is delicious and for NYC standards, very cheap. I wholeheartedly recommend it as an option. But to be perfectly honest, there is a taco cart in SLC in front of the Federal Building that is just as good. Food is the same. It isn't like being in NYC gives the Mexican proprieters some magic way to make their tapas that tons of other Mexicans all around North America haven't figured out.

Or BBQ joints. Look, I know the best is not in Utah. I am not going to argue that. But is BamBams 90% of what you can get in any other BBQ joint in America? Probably. I grant that a real connoissour of BBQ can point out the differences. Fair. But I love how some people become snobs about it and would call BamBams "crap" or "garbage" when it is most of the way there compared to other places around the country. And I love how every Texan/Oklahoman/Tennessean/Missourian all have cracked the code and are convinced THEIR joint is THE best. And even funnier that someone was on vacation and happened to try some place once and now are convinced that they hit the lottery of best restaurants.

I think part of it is the desire we all have to know or be a part of something special. It feels good to believe we know something that others don't, whether it is some lame eyeballs basketball rumor, or whether it is the best pizza joint in Manhattan. I'm guilty of it too and it makes me laugh.

Also, we attach fond memories to good experiences and taste is a powerful sense. I assume that we go somewhere, find it delicious in the midst of great ambience and good company, and we make the mistake of concluding that no other restaurant could match or exceed. I am also guilty of this.

My opinion--there is a lot of really good food out there. If you are going to Texas for work, my advice is--just find something nearby. There are probably hundreds of great BBQ restaurants around any of the big cities and any number of hole-in-the-wall joints in the countryside that are good. If you are in NYC and want pizza--just walk for a few minutes and you will find something delicious. The place is full of great pizza.