C. Paul Luongo: American's Best

he memo on my desk read, "Please be sure that the manager of the hotel sees to it that my deluxe room, with no less than a queen size bed, has six feathered pillows and six large bath towels delivered daily by him personally." That was my second introduction to America's self-proclaimed "gentleman of infinite taste," C. Paul Luongo.
    C. Paul was scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee for a press blitz for his recently published book, "America's Best 100."
    While in Milwaukee the previous year to research a story on America's Best Roller Disco Roller Skates, C. Paul heard of the Excalibur Automobile Corporation. Being the diplomat that he is and having an interest in furthering his career in Press and Public Relations, C. Paul felt it wise not to name America's Best automobile, beer or any other topic that could be highly disputed. But America's Best Luxury Sports Automobile? . . . the Excalibur, of course!
    That was how we met and the excitement surrounding the man, C. Paul Luongo, continues today.
    C. Paul explains he began his quest after discovering that what is supposed to be the Best often is not the Best. Therefore, an impartial "esthete" (as he refers to himself) was necessary to make these judgments and he appointed himself. He crisscrossed the country for four years in a relentless search that cost him $250,000.
    According to C. Paul, the Best has to be very specific in order for the project to have integrity. Like the woman in Alaska who does America's Best octopus ink paintings, or the woman in California who creates the Best three dimensional paper sculptures, or the couple on Nantucket Island who make the nation's Best kites.
    Luongo, as well as Ronald Reagan, has found Jelly Bellies to be America's Best jelly beans. They are produced in a hidden location in Oakland. The nation's Best adult dessert can be found in San Francisco (a Grand Marnier cake that "boggles the mind"), and if you're looking for America's Best chili, it also is in California.
    Before   coming   to   Milwaukee,   C.

Paul called and asked that I make arrangements for him to appear on some local radio and television shows . . . and also, "Please, Miss Nancy, see that I have the opportunity to taste some of Milwaukee's finest cooking."
    He had only to ask . . .
    As I look at my calendar to review the events during his stay, I remember how his energy and love of the Best was passed on to me, and I was soon wrapped up in a relentless search for the Best... for The Best.
    C. Paul was right when he said he should weigh 500 pounds by now, after sampling America's Best food all across the United States. But, he is a man conscious of his appearance, so along with all his other requests, I had to be sure to find him an indoor track for his daily four mile jog. This I found at the YMCA in Milwaukee, which C. Paul says is the cleanest of all the Y's he ever visited.

    Our first meal was at the Auctioneer's Inn in Burlington, Wisconsin. Our host for the evening was Colonel Hope Waldecker. The Auctioneer's Inn is in a very rural setting on a plot of land nestled between two corn fields. The decor is all antiques, with the likes of merry-go-round horses and large brass pots hanging from the ceiling. Colonel Waldecker had brought some of her antique Imari china from home which further enhanced the setting.
    Nestled over in the corner was a small fireplace with a tin filled with marshmallows and long metal sticks to roast them on.
    Our first course was a fresh oyster chowder with oysters the size of fifty cent pieces. This was followed by a large tray filled with breaded veggies that had been deep fried. Also included on the tray were deep fried scallops and calamari.
    Then   came   the   fresh,  just  cooked