the perfect last bite.

I'm here today to talk about something dear to my culinary heart. Something that shapes every dining experience I've ever had.

The perfect last bite. 

It's when you are enjoying a particularly good meal and you make sure your very last bite of said meal is nothing short of flawless. It could be just the right amount of sauce on a french fry or the perfect bun-to-meat ratio on a burger. It's that last bite you take that makes you close your eyes with pleasure. The last bite that leaves you absolutely satisfied.

It's essential you don't eat anything else after the perfect last bite. You might have the perfect last bite of your steak and then be tempted to pick at those last few mashed potatoes, but this invalidates the perfect bite. The perfect last bite must be just that: last. It's the last bite of your favorite thing in the meal.

The last perfect bite I had was at Crawford's in Sioux Falls.

Every January, downtown Sioux Falls businesses compete in the Burger Battle, which is a freaking delight. The burger at Crawford's had a pretzel bun, tomato pepper jam, jalapeno bacon, and black truffle cheese. It was phenomenal. And the last bite? Nothing but perfection.

I'm wondering if this is something just I do, or is it a universal thing? James hadn't thought of a perfect last bite before I told him it was something I do, and now he is a sworn believer.

Clearly, I am of the "live to eat" variety versus "eat to live." Eating delicious food is pretty much my favorite thing to do - the best part about going on vacation is all the new and exciting food options. 

As the great Sophia Loren once said: "I'd rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size zero."