Nacho Love
Normally, when a chef or a menu notes "love" as an ingredient, the most appropriate response is either an eyeroll, or to walk out. If the person making your food claims there's "love" in your food they're either being phony, or they've done something with the food that they should get sued for. Given the chef's last name, you have to allow Love Shack an exception to this rule. And they take full advantage. The menu is full of jokes and puns: the Dirty Love burger, the "Amore Caliente" (hot love) burger, the section called, "Love on the Side." But there's serious flavor too, and that goes double for the nachos.
The best nachos are those with as much, or more, toppings as chips. At Love Shack, they've got this figured out. The chips are crisp and fresh, and there's an even, gooey, coating of cheese. It almost seems as though they layer it on the bottom before creating the chip layer. You won't find yourself in that situation where you reach the bottom and there's no cheese. And how often can you say that? There's shredded lettuce, guacamole, fresh and spicy jalapeños — these are nachos to contend with. And for these reasons this dish made my list of most memorable meals of 2011.