What was the best dessert or meal you've ever eaten? And where were you when you ate it?

Hot toast and dripping with salt and pepper! When younger son visits, he always tempts me. I never ever buy it as it is so unhealthy and I could eat the whole pot.

I like cooking but I am not a desert person, neither is OH.

I do like cooking for friends and a few years ago had a lot of folk round and did several puds, including a lime and passionfruit cheesecake which I have to say was absolutely fantastic (and no that's not just me say that). The base was made with Lidl's ginger nut biscuits and the topping featured a lot of lime and a lot of passionfruit.

I am a bit nervous about trying it again as I don't think it would ever be quite as good.

I would second this went last September superb seafood!!

BBQ in a small restaurant in Famagusta before the war between Greece and Turkey in 1974. The kebabs were amazing, it was my first time living out of the wee island, and set me up for life.
I can still remember the taste and smell all these years later, in fact I could probably find the place.
Unfortunately not allowed now, pity, even more of a pity they cannot talk even now.

A delicious carrot salad that was served to us as an appetiser in a restaurant in Spain while we were waiting for paella to be prepared. I could have just eaten carrot salad all night. Never been able to replicate it.

The Pineapple nr Tadley used ti di memorable Sunday lunches. Enter at 12 and stagger out at dusk. Huge FRESH portions and ALL made from scratch on site. Want more custard with your sticky toffee pudding? One large jug-full coming right up - no extra charge. Roaring fire, dominies played in a corner, newspapers a- plenty.
I think it's the place as much as the meal though my heart will be forever touched by youngest son working hundreds of miles away from home, who, when I visited, made me cheese on thickly sliced toast with sliced tomato on top. Manna from heaven.

Oh dear! to do, dominoes.

What's Cullen skink Gillibob?

Best meal I ever had was in a long gone, tiny French restaurant in Whippany, New Jersey (US), called 'La Delice'. It was a Filet of Wild Pacific Salmon with winter vegetables and Spinach seasoned with herbs and bacon. Outstanding!

Another memorable dish happened some years ago, just outside of Zurich, Switzerland where H and I stopped for lunch (pre fix?). The special was a generous platter of sausage and potatoes smothered in beer gravy......accompanied by a huge mug of ale on tap, of course!

Best dessert I ever had was in a genuine (converted) castle in Burgos, Spain; I ordered the 'Oef's a la Niege' (Floating Islands). Snowy Meringues over warm custard encased in a freshly baked puff pastry cup and the entire thing drizzled with Caramelized sugar!

......Heaven!

Chicken satay in a small Malaysian restaurant off the beaten track in Paddington,.25 years ago....my husband has perfected his satay recipe over the years which is absolutely delicious!

In Tunisia a few years ago the hotel food was awful. There was a restaurant on the beach. We went there one evening. Not a soul in the place other than staff and us. What a culinary treat!! Croque monsieur appetizer, steak that melted in my mouth followed by a chocolate dessert (I licked the plate ?). I asked to marry the waiter!! Michelin star food for £20 each!! We ate there twice! So sad Tunisia is off the menu now ?

Forty-five years ago - in a restaurant in Swindon!!! Birthday celebration meal of snails in garlic butter followed by lobster thermidor. Very exotic for the time and place .....

Baked mussels, in a restaurant near Oxford called the Elizabeth, over 50 years ago. I was young and in love so that may have coloured my judgement, but it was memorable.

About 45 years ago we had supper at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park before the show. Clement Freud was in charge of the catering in those days and we had home made Tomato soup and poached salmon with home made mayonnaise. I can still taste them now.

Any night that I came home cold and wet on a winter's evening from school/work and had Mum's steaming lamb stew with the most amazing soft, mouthwatering dumplings placed before me. I've had quite a few restaurant meals here and in other countries ( mostly so so- even the very pricey ones) but nothing touches my Mum's stew. Mmmmm. I can taste it now.

Sitting by some Roman ruins in Jordan, some fresh hot flatbreads from a nearby bakers, some soft cheese and really fresh ? tomatoes. 10yrs ago but can still taste it!

Chicken salad sandwiches in a curry mayonnaise with small gerkins bought at a takeaway booth by the lake in Geneva and eaten outdoors. Also a creme brûlée served warm at a restaurant in Lille. Both many years ago.

On a camping holiday in France,St. Jean du Monts, when th e children were small. After a long day on the beach we stopped at the side of the road and enjoyed a spit roasted,herby chicken with tiny new potatoes which were cooking in the juices.
Also the simple Greek salads which just cannot be emulated back home.

If we're just talking food, not setting, it was probably a saffron risotto in an Italian in Richmond town centre. I had nothing else with it - perfect on its own.

If we're talking setting as well, it was probably saganaki (fried cheese with lemon juice) and a simple tomato and cucumber salad, at a perfect, old fashioned beachside taverna in the Pelopponnese (sp?) with the most beautiful views and wonderful, warm clear, calm, sea to swim in.

Oooh Love seafood, and Cancale is the best place for it lovebeigecardie!

Piri piri chicken sitting in an outside café up in the mountains in Portugal .

Flo's Filet ( fillet in English ;-)) steak, at The Longhorn Steakhouse Cape Coral, Florida. Have it every time I go back , served with a fully loaded baked potato ( a jacket potato to you and me with sour cream, chives and crispy bacon) and saluted mushrooms.

I don't know what they season their steaks with but its perfect and so tender you could cut it with a fork.

mmmm heaven !!

My Mum used to make the most gorgeous Cottage Pie when I was a child.
Mum used to mince up the left over beef joint, with any leftover vegetables in an old fashioned tabletop mincer.
It was piled into a pyrex casserole dish and liberally topped with mashed potato.
It was simply the best meal ever.
I have tried to replicate it, but no-good. It never tastes the same. Thank's for the wonderful memories Mum.

silverlining47 You reminded me...when I was an 18 year-old au pair on a farm near Chambery on the French Alps, freshly dug new potatoes, tossed in butter. I've never forgotten them! They had a Hazel nutty taste and SOOO different from shop potatoes.

Oh I shouldn't be on this one.

Anniebach, superb choice. Marmite & lettuce sarnies take a lot of beating.

Not counting anything made by my Mum or Nana, because that wouldn't be fair ...

There used to be a restaurant in the King's Road called the Hungry Horse. It was perfect. Everything there was perfect. Everything about it was perfect. The kedgeree & spotted dick ... I still dream about them. Literally, I dream of them. If I were a posh Brigadier I'd've licked the plates!

All of this is making me want to cry. The New Piccadilly in Denman Street ... there was something about their egg & chips. Mum always said mine were better but I don't believe her.

Cooke's Pie & Mash in the Goldhawk Road ... oh help, I can't bear this ...

The Cafe Figaro in Lower Regent Street (round the corner from the BBC Studios) did the loveliest cappucinno ...

The Cafe Fleur-de-Lys (not certain I'm spelling that properly) in Gloucester Road ... cheese and tomato baps ...

The Ceylon Tea Centre was perfect for a lovely, unpretentious tea ...

There was an Uxbridge Road chippie, just near the market ... I still dream of them, too ...

Hot chestnuts from a brazier ...

Winkles & whelks from stalls ... Morecambe Bay shrimps ...

and oh, someone please let me into the Tardis & take me back to the days of being able to buy a pork pie in almost every street ...

I understand there has to be change in life but I'll never understand why perfect things have to change. Who in his right mind would want a burger instead of a pie? I knew the inmates were running the asylum when Wimpy bars, McDonald's etc. took over from pie stalls.

And oh, heaven help me but I miss bloater paste. Doesn't count, not exactly from a restaurant! Right, gal, pull yourself together:

Fresh fish from almost anywhere. Oysters from almost anywhere. Boiled potatoes on the Isle of Aran ... I'd no idea potatoes could taste like that (I've conducted a life-long love affair with Potato Pete, of course - potatoes are man's second-best friend). They were heavenly.

Incredibly grateful that Il Portico, High Street Ken is still around. Everything there's marvelous. Can't afford it these days but it's wonderful that the family's still running it.

A cream tea anywhere in Devon or Cornwall ... bliss.

A fresh-caught Melton Mowbray pork pie with broad beans & a bottle of stout!