Am wondering if you had ever gone to a restaurant and ordered something
on the menu that was real delicious, but when you asked for the recipe,
they would not reveal it? Maybe you've even been at a potluck, or buffet
meal, and tasted something that was very good, but you had no idea who
brought it, so couldn't ask them for the recipe?
Did you go home and try to recreate whatever it was, going by taste, and
the ingredients you remember seeing in this particular food item? Were
you satisfied with the outcome of the finished product?
Many years ago I had a piece of apricot pie at an airport restaurant,
that I recall as being absolutely delicious. Over the years I have made
many apricot pies, that I thought possibly could be a duplicate, only to
be unsatisfied with the flavor. They were all 'GOOD', but nothing
special.
The same thing happened with a baked halibut dish at a brunch in a hotel
in Anchorage, AK. in 1987. It was heavenly, and I asked the waitress if
I could possibly have the recipe, or even what ingredients were used to
prepare it....to no avail.

However, eventually I did find a recipe in
a cookbook that was very close to what I remember the flavor of the fish
to be, and was most pleased.
One down.....one to go! ^o-o^
Judy