Weber Grill Restaurant, Chicago

What are the chances that an equipment manufacturer would start-up a hit restaurant chain? One taste of their 100 percent Black Angus Burgers will tell you how it happened. These babies are 10 ounces of the juiciest, most tender beef imaginable, broiled over live coals in, yep, you guessed it, giant Weber grills. If you are getting them for take-out ask for extra napkins.

Selected by: Mark Crowell
Principal culinologist, Culinex,
a Seattle-based consulting company,
Formerly director of food product
development for Starbuck’s

Check out the entire list of Clean Plate Award winners. 

Native The legendary Bloody Mary was introduced at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis New York 75 years ago. Last October 5th, each St. Regis location celebrated by serving its signature version. New York offered up the original Red Snapper made with tomato juice, vodka, salt, pepper, Worcestershire and lemon.

At the new St. Regis Atlanta, director of food and beverage Megan Gray gave the cocktail a Southern spin. “Pickling has always been big in the South, so I added pickled okra juice. “To garnish, I selected tomolives— tiny pickled green tomatoes that are a regional favorite.”

On the drink’s actual birthday, the West Paces Mary, as it is called in Atlanta, went for 99 cents, but the usual price is $12.