Illes Flavors & Seasonings

We had a most tasty time on our recent DineAround trip to Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore. We have recently taken our findings and tasting tour on the road and have received very positive feedback from customers and the media.

We’ll be adding new questions here and posts on our blog so check back often. Let’s start off with these appetizers:

1. Will we ever see Kimchi or a rough variation thereof on a domestic QSR menu board?

2. Besides Roy Choy of Kogi and Chego in LA and Bill Kim of Belly Shake and Urban Belly in Chicago who else is doing great Latino/Korean fusion food state side?

3. If you could create your own DineAround where would you go?

4. We think KyoChon in LA has the best Korean fried chicken in the country. Where is your favorite?

5. Where are your favorite 'hawker' type centers in the U.S.?  Mine might have to be The Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia PA!

Based on my current company, a BBQ dinearound would be beneficial. I know other's within the industry have done this and it was very informational.

We constantly struggle with ways to take our BBQ products to the "next level", yet remain mainstream and on trend.

The culinary team at Illes is always on the look out for the next trend in the culinary world. Without giving too much away... one thought on our next DineAround® is a look at the different regional flavors across the USA. It would be hard not to including BBQ on this DineAround. Outside the commonly known regional differences are there any cool/funky/unique things happening in the BBQ world the Illes culinary team should know about?

Thanks!

Let's not forget ethnic fusion bbq like Korean bbq on the long list of "regional" bbq flavors! Also one of my favorites, the N'awlins version of bbq with worcestershire, wine, and butter. Mmmmm.....

Check out this post from the BBC last week on Texas Barbeque. Makes me hungry: BBC take on Texas BBQ

They did mention some great places in Texas for BBQ, but left one off the list...Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano! Grew up eating there and it is delicious!!

Couldn't agree more about Cooper's. My favorite BBQ. I've only had in in Llano tx... I believe the original. I get to go there 1 once a year when I travel through. Never miss it! A great locally place here in the Dallas area is Hard 8. They've gotten much better over the past several years. Love that vinegar based sauce... very similar to Cooper's. What's 'weird' about these vinegar based sauces... they are best fresh. As they age their flavors round out, like most sauces, and they loose that sharp bit they have when fresh and at their best!

On a side note, Chef Bill Kim has partnered with none other than Michael Jordan to open a new restaurant called Belly Q here in Chicago. Asian BBQ! Hopefully it is open for the NRA Show!! I think with so much moment in the Korean/Asian food machine, we will se Kimchi on all levels of chain restaurants.

If they are open by NRA can we set a time for everyone on this blog to meet us lunch! You're buying, right!!!