It’s that time of year again! At the end of the year, I like to take a moment to reminisce over my favorite meals and dishes of the year. It’s always difficult to narrow it down, but here are my top ten for 2017:
#10: Bento boxes from Nom Nom Bento
I love the bold flavors used in Nom Nom Bento’s untraditional bento boxes. I especially can’t get enough of the mashed edamame and garlic green beans.
#9: Croissants from Herb & Eatery
The crispiest croissants I’ve ever eaten. They are wonderfully flaky and buttery as well. I also really enjoy their smoked chicken salad.
#8: Convoy Burger from Common Theory
Their version of the ramen burger is my favorite one since having the original ramen burger. It’s a fusion of so many asian flavors and ingredients with a ramen bun that is both sturdy and light.
#7: Cheeseburger at Au Cheval
While I wouldn’t wait four hours, the cheeseburger I had at Au Cheval was one of the best I’ve eaten and I hope to get it again next time I’m in Chicago.
#6: Trust Restaurant
One of our best meals in San Diego this year. The dishes are beautifully presented and the menu is full of creativity.
#5: Beef rib from Louie Mueller
My favorite bite from my Texas trip was the beef rib from legendary Louie Mueller. That bark is just an explosion of flavors. Post coming soon!
#4: Bosch Event meal with Chef Curtis
While this was a private dinner event, it did give me my first taste of Chef Curtis’ cooking, and I hope to make it to one of his LA restaurants in the future. The meal overall was memorable but I was especially taken with the veal dish (I don’t usually like veal) and the banana dessert.
#3: Souffle Pancakes from Cafe Gram
This dish made my list last year and I tasted them recently again during my recent trip to Tokyo. I was already in love with them last year but have an even greater appreciation for them now because I’ve tried making my own and have tasted other cafe versions.
The souffle pancakes here are so perfectly fluffy. The texture resembles an airy Japanese cheesecake but tastes like a pancake. Most other versions I’ve come across use far too much whipped egg whites resulting in an uneven texture and eggy taste, but the ones here show no streaks of egg whites.
#2: Girl & the Goat
Even though this restaurant has been open for several years, it’s still one of the hardest spots to get a reservation at. The entire menu is fresh and innovative and we loved everything we tried. Post coming!
#1: Den
I was ridiculously excited to finally get a reservation to Den in Tokyo, having failed to do so on my previous trip. It ended up being everything I had hoped for and more. The meal was inventive, whimsical, and heart-warming. Post coming soon!
That’s it for now! I hope you had a delicious 2017 as well.
