Ten Best of 2008

In order to head off a developing (and annoying) Internet message board argument, here are my top 10 meals/things I ate in 2008 (Chicago and beyond).

In no particular order...

1. Alinea - dinner to celebrate my first anniversary in August. Highlight: Black truffle explosion and hot potato/cold potato served side-by-side
2. Avec - pre-Bulls game one night. No special occasion or circumstance, but they really knocked it out of the park the night we were there.
3. L2O - two dinners, both outstanding
4. Cru (NYC) - 7 course menu in their private dining room. Mmmmm, pork shoulder ravioli with shaved white truffles
5. Sushi Yasuda (NYC) - What sushi is meant to be
6. Sun Wah BBQ - The GNR dinner absolutely blew me away
7. ronnie_suburban's pastrami/smoked salmon (tie) - If you've had either, no additional comment is necessary
8. Avenues - under Curtis Duffy, a meal that some at the table compared favorably to French Laundry
9. Schwa - I totally forgot about this in the other thread. So great to have this restaurant back
10. Sweets & Savories - white truffle dinner. Three words: Bone. Marrow. Risotto. Okay, three (or four) more words: White. Truffle. Ice Cream

My best 2008 meals were eaten at home, but you're not all invited to my house, so here's a list that might be more useful:


10 Most Memorable Chicago Restaurant Dishes, 2008

Grilled swordfish at Sol de Mexico
Roast chicken at The Bristol
Carpaccio at Gaetano's
Bone Marrow Risotto at Sweets & Savories
Nãem khâo thâwt at Spoon
Crispy on choi at TAC
Peking duck at Sun Wah
Red wine caramel ice cream at Sola
Garlic fried pork at Sun Wah
Sweet corn cake with blueberry ice cream at Frontera

Just in case anyone fears that I type at supernatural speed, I had this lengthy thing ready for my blog, but might as well post the salient portions here since there's a dedicated, non-Vettelian ten best thread:

10. Cherry doughnut hole from Sweetwater's in Kalamazoo, eaten (two or three of them, actually) at the Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance program on desserts, with a nod to the peach donut from Mel-O-Cream in Springfield, Illinois.



9. Beans at Mercat a la Planxa. What beans? Any beans, apparently— both times I went, I had a dish in which ham and beans had combined into something intense and magical, rich with deeply comfy porky flavor. The first time it was a side with the suckling pig; the second time it was a warm bean salad. Either way, wonderful, and hardly the most expensive thing on the menu, but certainly the most comforting.

8. Copa, with a side of raw beets in a kind of mustardy sauce, at Mado. Yeah, I made a podcast about their headcheese, but this is the housecured meat that wowed me, and so did those crunchy-fresh oh-so-local beets.

7. Great Lake pizzeria calls it by its ingredients— prosciutto, onion, some cheese, I forget what all— but to me it’s a tarte flambee, the best one since the lost lamented Alsatian stand at the Christkindlmarkt a few years back, which arrives trailing a cloud of miraculous flavor hot from the oven.



6. Grapes from Klug Farms, Green City Market. There was that whole silly debate about local eating last fall, pose or pretension, and all you would have needed to get past it was one taste of the amazing tiny gooey wine-like, no, first-growth-Bordeaux-level, grape varieties they were selling, which were all the justification local eating could ever need, and made further argument superfluous.  Oh, and hey, as long as we're talking locally grown, how about that arugula I grew in my Earthboxes? That was pretty wonderful too, delicately peppery, it grew like mad and we ate it with joy as long as it lasted.



5. The uchepos gratinados at Mixteco Grill, the dish we've ordered more than any other there, with its delicious combination of comfy cornmeal and sharp roasted corn...



And as long as we're talking tamales, would it really be fair to let this list go by without mention of the fantastic ones, creamy and rich and delicious, served at Chuck's BBQ during his monthlong Cinco de Mayo fest, which remains one of the greatest, least heralded culinary events of the year in Chicago?



4. Sauerkraut pierogi at Smak Tak, and the whole terrific feast that went with it and pleased my mom no end with its authentic evocation of the tart, comfy Ukrainian varenyky dished up by our Mennonite forebears in Kansas.

3. Peking duck at Sun Wah, the dish that heralded the ascension of an old favorite to new heights under the second generation.


Photo by Eatchicago

2. Pulled pork at Neely's in Memphis, the meal where I finally got why Memphis barbecue isn't about unvarnished hunks o' meat, like Texas barbecue, but about the interplay of pork, sweet cole slaw, fluffy bread, all playing off each other like the Guarneri String Quartet or Messrs. Howard, Howard and Fine.



And hey, while we're talking my Tennessee trip, how about those amazing greens at Arnold's in Nashville, huh?  What was it I said about them here— "it was the threes that made the leap toward greatness— especially the greens, whose pot likker was Bordeaux-complex in its depth of flavor, smoky, porky, cognac-y."  (Whoops, I already used that analogy in this ten best.)



But as long as I'm saluting the greens at Arnold's, fairness insists that I also mention the incredible greens at our own Chuck's BBQ at the LTHForum holiday party, even at the risk of mentioning one amazingly versatile place twice.

1. The mulefoot pig dinner at Blackbird, particularly two outstanding dishes, Vie's cotechino full of gamey meatiness, and Justin Large of Avec's headcheese ravioli in an amazingly porky and lemony consomme, though that's not at all to slight a meal that was absolutely top-notch all the way.  Obviously I had a somewhat unique perspective on this meal (well, unique to me and Sula), given the days and days I spent chronicling it and seeing it all behind the scenes, but besides being boundlessly impressed by the chefs I watched in action (and not a little jealous, frankly— I sure never saw people work together so well and at such a high level in any ad agency I was in), I came away convinced that for all that Chicago is a world capitol of conceptual dining and foams and gels, its real distinction is in a small collection of superb restaurants who source carefully and prepare in an Italian-inflected modern style that brings out the flavor inherent in a dish and then some.

Wow! Great lists so far. I'm really going to have to give this some thought. Between the home-cooked meals, LTH events and travel -- not to mention local restaurant meals -- this could take some time

=R=

jesteinf wrote:In order to head off a developing (and annoying) Internet message board argument, here are my top 10 meals/things I ate in 2008 (Chicago and beyond).

Here are my ten best restaurants/meals of 2008 in the Chicago area.

(Within this group, number 1 is best.)

1. Michael (Winnetka) - I ate there several times and every dish was superb. Foie gras lovers should not miss the sauteed foie gras over foie gras strudel. Also an excellent value.

2. Chef's Station (Evanston) - Another excellent dinner at this unheralded bistro nestled underneath the train station.

3. David Burke's Primehouse (Chicago/River North) - Their "American dim sum brunch" on the weekend is a tasting menu on steroids, just wonderful (and unique). Also an excellent value.

4. one sixtyblue (Chicago/West Loop) - Ate there for Mother's Day brunch, the only brunch they serve all year, before Chef Noguier left. Just wonderful. Am looking forward to trying both Café des Architectes under Chef Noguier and one sixtyblue under Chef McDonald in 2009.

5. Between (Chicago/Wicker Park) - Ate brunch here twice and loved it both times.

6. Carlos (Highland Park) - Dined as part of the "Appetite Stimulus Plan" bargain (although they were also offering a similar bargain menu throughout their anniversary month of November). Excellent and also an excellent value.

7. Mundial Cucina Mestiza (Chicago/Pilsen) - My best Mexican dinner of the year, beating out Mixteco Grill and Fonda del Mar for the honor (although both of those were very good as well). Returned to Flamingo's which seems to have slipped a bit in quality (with formerly-wonderful sauces now blander and served in too-small quantities).

8. Campagnola (Evanston) - Had a terrific dinner at this small Italian bistro. Also an excellent value.

9. Carson's (Deerfield) - Still my favorite barbecue ribs in town. (Tried Smoque at the end of 2007, and Honey 1 at the end of 2008, wasn't particularly impressed by either one.)

10. Giordano's and Lou Malnati's (tie) - The best examples of Chicago's delicious deep-dish pizza, each in its own way (Giordano's for the "stuffed" double-crust pizza subcategory, Malnati's for the "pan" single-crust pizza subcategory). I love this stuff every time I go.

I was very tempted to put Custom House (Chicago/South Loop) on the list; I LOVED their sweetbread appetizer and short ribs main. But the desserts were too big a disappointment for me to include it.

And here is my list of my best meals out of town in 2008:

1. Margaux (Sheboygan WI)
2. Craft (New York NY)
3. The Table (Sarasota FL)
4. Crush (Seattle WA)
5. Fresco (Madison WI)
6. Leo's (Grand Rapids MI)
7. Sycamore Farm Buttonwood Inn (Terre Haute IN)
8. Elements (Indianapolis IN)
9. R Bistro (Indianapolis IN)
10. (tie) Rustic Grill (Sarasota FL); Derek's (Sarasota FL)

I haven't eaten at enough deserving places to really make a ten best list, but I have to nominate that pulled pork at Morris Grocery in Eads, Tennessee, as one of the tastiest bits of pork I've ever eaten in my life. Plus the sliced barbecue mutton at Old Hickory in Owensboro, KY. An honorable mention goes to the ribs at Cozy Corner in Memphis. Oh, while we're at it, the Germantown Commisary's pork sandwich (Germantown, TN) deserves to be up there, too. Other than that, it's been a lackluster year as far as food finds go.

I took some time to review my year in eating and it's hard to believe that I actually ate anything I didn't like but I swear that I did.

In any case, I narrowed my very favorites down to 11 (yes, mine goes to 11 ) and then also listed some of my other favorite bites in the 'Honorable Mention' category.

In general, I really do hope to get out to eat more often in 2009. Once I'm out, it's always a ballet trying to balance out returning to reliable favorites and trying unproven new places but I really want to try more new places this year.

In any case, here are my Top 11 from 2008, in no particular order . . .


Thomas Keller's "Calotte de Boeuf Grillee" with Brisket & Cabbage Dumpling, Horseradish pudding & Sour Cherries - Alinea, Chicago, IL
It feels kind of weird to single out a non-Achatz dish that I enjoyed at Alinea but this plate, served at the mentor-protege dinner back in early December, made me feel like I was tasting beef for the first time.



Lobster Roll on Toasted Brioche with Duck Fat Fries from Noca Restaurant - Phoenix, AZ
A fantastic plate because of the supremely high-quality ingredients and expert preparation by chef Chris Curtiss and crew. Noca is owned by a friend but I would happily pay a stranger a small fortune for another one of these awesome sandwiches.



LTHForum.com member dansch's pate at the LTH picnic (photo courtesy of fifille)
As an amateur charcutier and huge fan of the craft, I can say that this was possibly the best example I tasted this year. Even if it had been served in a fine restaurant, it would have stood out as excellent. I had pates/terrines from chef Roland's kitchen this year that weren't as good as this one.



Bratwurst from Ream's Elburn Market - Elburn, IL
I didn't even think I liked brats until I tried these, which Randy Ream made for us while we watched. Everything I tasted at Ream's was delicious but these brats were transcendent and made me realize that I actually love brats.





Pepperoni, Sausage and Hot Giardiniera Pizza at Vito & Nick's - Chicago, IL
I ate a lot of great pizza this year but none of it blew me away and compelled me like this one. Definitely my best trip ever to Vito & Nick's and I've been thinking about this pie a lot since the day I had it.



Lamb Barbacoa from El Huarache Azteca #1 - Los Angeles, CA
Erik M took us to this glorious spot, which we would have never found on our own. The flavors here were explosive and complex. You could really taste the fatty lamb and the spices in which the meat was cooked. I've spent a lot of time trying to re-create this dish and while the results have been great, I haven't come close to matching it.



Pastrami from Kenny & Zuke's - Portland, OR
I had this smokey, spicy and tender pastrami in numerous forms at K&Z's and it was all great, as was the house-made corned beef, house-made chopped liver, house-made latkes, house-made salads, house-baked breads, house-pickled vegetables . . . you get the idea





Dry-aged Prime Rib roast from Zier's Prime Meats - Wilmette, IL
I bought and cooked this roast for our Christmas dinner and it was nothing short of spectacular. It was dry-aged in-house by Dave Zier for 21 days. It carried a nice, mineral tang and some absolutely delectable fat.



Ribs by Gary Wiviott (aka G Wiv)
I don't intend to be a suck-up (honestly ) but there's a reason this man is being paid to write a book on BBQ. These were quite possibly the best ribs I've ever eaten. They were moist, smokey and the meat tugged away from the bone with satisfying amount of resistance.



House-made Mortadella from Vie - Western Springs, IL
I had a lot of great food at Vie this year -- and a lot of great charcuterie all over the country -- but this delectable sausage was one of the best and it epitomized the dedication, talent and artistry present in their kitchen.



Cemita Atomica from Cemitas Puebla - Chicago, IL
Arguably the best sandwich in the Chicago area.


Honorable mention: (also in no particular order)

Yuba with Shrimp, Miso & Togarashi
and
Foie Gras with Salsify, Chestnut & Quince at Alinea - Chicago, IL
House-baked breads from L.20 - Chicago, IL
Dolsot Bibimbap at Kang Nam - Chicago, IL
French Baked Goods & Cheeses brought back from Paris by LTHForum.com member Louisa Chu
Butter-glazed Radishes by gastro gnome at the LTH 1000-recipe Potluck
Pissaladiere by Kennyz at the LTH 1000-recipe Potluck
Grilled Octopus at Greek Islands - Chicago, IL
Mulefoot Whole Hog dinner at Blackbird - Chicago, IL
Lake Superior Whitefish with Cucumbers & Chili Oil at Mado - Chicago, IL
Fried Chicken at Izola's Restaurant - Chicago, IL
Coca de Costillas de Ternera at Mercat a la Planxa - Chicago, IL
Everything I tasted at The Brown Sack - Chicago, IL
Baklava, Family-estate-pressed Olive Oil and House-made Feta at Captain Porky's - Beach Park, IL
Fried Chicken and Waffles at Lolo's Chicken & Waffles - Phoenix, AZ
Egg, Sausage & Cheese Roll - Patty's Diner, Skokie, IL
Paletas at Paleteria a la Michoacana - Los Angeles, CA (thanks, Erik)
La Quercia Prosciutto sliced by proprietor Herb Eckhouse - Green City Market BBQ Festival
Toad In A Hole - Prairie Grass Cafe, Northbrook, IL
Mikeska's Sausage at Smoque BBQ - Chicago, IL
Charcoal-Roasted Baby Pig at Sun Wah BBQ - Chicago, IL
Jibarito at Papa's Cache Sabroso - Chicago, IL
Double Chocolate Cookies - baked by my friend Michael
Homemade Caramel Corn - made by my step sister-in-law Jonna
Huevos al Bajio at Mixteco Grill - Chicago, IL
Tagliatelle with Oxtail Ragu' at Osteria Mozza - Los Angeles, CA
Spicy Tuna Roll i/o with Masago at Renga-Tei, Lincolnwood, IL
Dim Sum at Sun Sui Wah - Vancouver, BC, Canada
Green Lipped Mussels with Red Curry & Basil at Phnom Penh - Seattle, WA
Thai Meal at Jitlada Thai - Los Angeles, CA (thanks again, Erik)
Pastrami at Langer's - Los Angeles, CA

and last, but certainly not least, as they were undoubtedly the very best fries I ate in 2008,

French Fries at Wiener & Still Champion - Evanston, IL

Happy 2009, everyone!

=R=

Ten Best nudges from LTH that improved me as a cook, not necessarily in any order:

1.) Cathy2, romancing the canner – so far, we have picked-at-their-peak garden tomatoes, apples, pears, strawberries, and carrots at our disposal in January.

2.) Pucca and MincyBits for taking beer and dessert and running with it.

3.) Brigestone’s Leverpestj – hey, when you’ve got 5# of cow liver in your fridge, you start to get desperate, there’s only so much terrine you can make.

4.) ronnie_suburban and stevez for their guidance on the care and feeding of rib roasts.

5.) JSM and Jay K for pushing me to new depths, so to speak.

6.) nr706 and LAZ for conjuring up Kentucky.

7.) YourPalWill for graciously reuniting me and a long-lost favorite.

8.) G Wiv for a push in the right direction with CFS

9.) ChgoMike for bringing new life to an old appliance

10.) MAG for making me re-think the use of herbs and seasonings

Of course, these are just 10 of the many, many lessons learned on LTH - some cooking-related, some eating-related, some people-related. Thanks to all, here's to more good food and good company in '09!

Wow, that prime rib photo up above is terrifying.[i][/i] It will surely haunt my dreams.
I'm a newcomer, but I can't resist making a list, so here goes, in no particular order:

Bulgogi Pork Belly w/ Kimchi at Tallulah: I know this was in Chicago magazine's Top 100, and therefore needs no further attention, but damn. Pretty hard to beat a Snickers-bar sized log of probably the tastiest meat product I had all year. Given that I live around the corner, and this dish is only like $10, it will be had again, soon, and frequently thereafter.
Duck Leg Confit and Roasted Breast at the Gage: had this dish a few times this year, but the fall preparation is the best, with gratinee of celery root and (I believe) an apple reduction. Never had duck cooked so perfectly. Thanks, Dirk.
Huevos Benedictos at Sola: Sola has been the beneficiary of my forgetfulness that Mrs. Murphy's only has Sunday brunch on multiple ocassions. Still, its not a loss by any means, because putting chorizo, poached eggs, and pico de gallo hollandaise on a sqaure of cornbread is brilliant.
Tamales from the tamale guy of Logan Square: this guy has unbelievable timing again and again. Even when I don't want any the first time, he'll essentially follow me till my hunger/inebriation warrants the purchase of his wares, which are nice and doughy and moist, and a little overcooked around the edges (in a good way). See you at Quenchers, friend.
Onion tart hors d'oeuvres at Anteprima: "Hey, what is this plate the server just brought over? We didn't order these. *Shrug* I guess I'll give 'em a try." Holy jeez, good thing these little inch-square tart bites that Anteprima serves ocassionally are a) complimentary and b) limited in quantity, because they are like fine-dining Pringles - once you pop, you can't stop. Onion, goat cheese, and buttery crust perfectly combined.
Pork belly and Pineapple rice at Urban Belly: as if this place hasn't gotten enough good press. The udon soup was excellent, the dumplings were great (if not as great as I'd heard), but the rice is what draws me back. It is a constant battle to not get off the train and Belmont and take the bus every day coming home from work.
Egg and muenster cheese bagel sandwich at The Bagel: Spent a good deal of time at the Apartment People this summer, and when there wasn't adequate time for Stella's, the Bagel was there. I don't know what they did to make such an incredible sandwich with such simple ingredients, but I hope to God they keep it up.
Everything at Mado: their defiant simplicity in dish construction at Mado is their major accomplishment. Sitting at the big central table with eight others and five bottles of wine, we shared pork, chicken, cured meats, and especially, vegetables, all of which were basic, good food. Now that the buzz has moved on to other places that have similar sensibilities, I hope Mado continues to succeed.
Yellowtail Ceviche at Wakamono Though I've been to Wakamono more than just about any place in town, I hadn't ventured too far into the small plates until me and the girlfriend elected to make a concerted effort to do so. The yellowtail has a little slaw of cilantro and jalapeno and I believe some jicama, and is absolutely soaked in soy sauce and lime. It is the saltiest dish I've ever truly loved, though sadly, its relatively expensive.
Guacamole at The Local Option: This Lincoln Park bar has no right to be as good as it is in any real way - 20-some beers on tap, awesome Wednesday trivia, and mind-blowing chips and guac. The chips are served hot, freshly toasted and oily, made from thick-as-hell tortillas, then perfectly salted and perhaps even a little sweetened. They are the ideal vehicle for the guac, which is straightforward but has just the right amount of red onion. Best bar food I can imagine, outside of Hopleaf's frites.

honorable mentions: peppered salmon club at the Gage, lobster deviled eggs at Tallulah, caramel bread pudding at Chelsea Grill, quail at Tizi Melloul, orrechiette with boar ragu at Anteprima, the YOB at Kuma's Corner, beans and rice at El Charo, chocolate beignet with vanilla bourbon ice cream at Primehouse, and homemade pork chops with rosemary sage butter.

So, I guess on the whole I erred a little on the cheap side. Oh, well. By the way, hanks for the visceral descriptions of L20, Blackbird, etc., guys - saves me a few hundred bucks.

For me, this was certainly the year of LTH Forum. Almost every new restaurant I ate at this year was inspired by an LTH threat. For that my stomach certainly thanks you all. Looking back at my posts, there have been very few negative or critical ones. At first I thought maybe I was being too generous, or that I was afraid to talk sh*t - but in all honesty, I've had so many damn good meals this year that there just haven't been many reasons to complain.

Anyways, here is a list of my top ten for the year the majority LTH inspired.

1. Mee Goreng and Papaya Salad at Bali in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mee Goreng isn't Cambodian, but this little place in the capital serves up some mean Indonesian food. Their takes on Khmer stuff is great too - the best papaya salad I had in Cambodia was at this place.

2. Ma Po Tofu at Lao Sze Chuan. Universally loved by everyone on this thread. Thanks for the heads-up LTH!

3. Adana Kabab at Cafe Orchid. As a life-long Kofta Kebab devotee, this Turkish version of the ground beef/lamb torpedo kabab greatly expanded the vocabulary of the genre in my eyes. Spiced with loads of paprika and chopped red peppers among other things, the flavor profile is unique and a nice change of pace from the familiar kofte spicings (allspice, parsley, onion).

4. Chicken Biryani at Bismillah. Best I've ever had. Ridiculously flavorful, filled with savory, nearly burnt pieces of vegetal or meat matter (who knows, who cares) this plate of chicken and rice is some serious soul food and spicy as all hell to boot.

5. Margherita pizza at Spacca Napoli. The pizza I have been looking for my whole life. Wow.
5a. The Manabrea Italian beer at Spacca - some damn good, crispy beer. Perfect with the 'za.

6. Doubles at Ali's Roti on Flatbush in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. This should be number one now that I think about it, but I am too lazy to reorganize this post. I may just move back to New York to be closer stuff. For those who don't know a double is a Trinidadian snack consisting of a spongy pocket stuffed a mildly sweet and very spicy lentil curry.

7. Just about everything I ate in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Even the MSG-laden stir-fried from the package ramen noodles. Even that stuff.

8. Fried Chicken at Harold's. Didn't eat much Harold's before this year. Let me tell you that amongst the urban fried chicken specialists that do business in different cities in the US, Harold's is the best, hands-down.

9. My Aunt's chicken musakhan. Haven't eat at Chickpea yet, but I can safely predict their version of the Palestinian "national" dish is nowhere near as good as my aunt's. Halal, natural chicken stewed with too much onion, some turmeric, sumac and allspice. Dumped on fresh baked bread (my aunt has a crazy little electric tandoor from Palestine that looks like it was made by a car-mechanic) and baked till the chicken is browned. Ridiculous. My own version doesn't yet hold a candle this this but I am working on it. Again, this should probably be number 1.

10. Papaya salad with preserved blue crab at TAC Quick. As good or better than what I had in Cambodia. Stunning, funky, so spicy and perfect with sticky rice and some grilled/fried chicken.

There is much more that I can't remember that should probably have made this list. Basically, these are ten great dishes that I ate this year, not necessarily the best, but perhaps the most memorable because they came to me as I sit here.

Peace LTH!

Habibi wrote:For me, this was certainly the year of LTH Forum. Almost every new restaurant I ate at this year was inspired by an LTH threat.

Geez, are we really that intimidating?

Seriously though, great list.

=R=

6. Leo's (Grand Rapids MI)

Now I'm stumped, what is so great about Leo's? I'm from GR and was just there for the holidays and I've never heard of Leo's. I generally don't eat out a lot when I'm there since my dad and I both love cooking and the quality of the restaurants usually falls far below Chicago, but now I'm intrigued. (We did eat a perfectly good meal at The Green Well in Eastown.)

The end of 2008 coincides with more or less the end of my first year participating in this wonderful forum.I am extremely grateful for the information I've gotten here and the recommendations for places I'd never otherwise have paid attention to. So here is my list of the ten favorite new places that I've been turned on to through the LTH Forum in the past year, in no particular order. (This doesn't include any place I knew about from other sources, nor is it a regular "ten best of the year" list, just my ten favorite new places I wouldn't have gone to without LTH).

1. The namesake Little Three Happiness. I've been walking past it for literally decades, going for years to Hong Min, thinking that LTH was related to big LTH which I never really cared for. Big discovery, and one of my destinations now in Chinatown. The chow fun makes me forget the versions at Hong Min.

2. Double Li. Another place I never would have stopped without the discussion here. Superb.

3. Taqueria el Asadero. Again, a place I ignored for years even when I lived a scant few blocks away, now our go-to taco/burrito place with quality and prices that can't be beat.

4. Cemitas de Puebla. Off of my beaten path, but well worth the trip. I've been to Puebla, but Cemitas is terrific, as good as anything I had there.

5. Fonda del Mar. Another in the burgeoning list of dynamite upscale Mexican restaurants in Chicago. I already knew Sol de Mexico from other sources, Salpicon, La Quebrada and Frontera too, but Fonda holds up very well.

6. Casa de Isaac. Well worth the drive up Sheridan Road. Isaac and Moishe have a good thing going.

7. Captain Porky's. Speaking of a drive up Sheridan Road, Captain Porky's is even further from the Trpt abode, nearly to Wisconsin, but well worth it. The best fried oysters I have ever had, including New Orleans, and estimable BBQ and out of this world fried shrimp. And I'd definitely never have ventured there without the hearty recommendations on the list.

8. Cajun Connection. Further than Milwaukee from my location, but am I ever glad we went. Best Cajun food I've had north of the Mason Dixon line.

9. Weiener and Still Champion. Best burger joint ever. Fried pickles? Yeah. Dipping dog? The best. Burgers as good as I've ever had, and even better fries. The epitome of a neighborhood joint run by someone who not only knows what he's doing but does it as well as it can be done, with care and imagination.

10. Mixteco Grill. I'd never have stopped in that first week had it not been for the rave reviews. It quickly has become my favorite Mexican place in Chicago (including Bayless's locations), and Raul has done a stellar job. I nominated it for a GNR.

Thanks to everyone on LTH who has pointed me in directions I'd never have gone otherwise. I love eating, and though my doctor shakes her head whenever I go in for a checkup, LTH has greatly widened my horizons for great places in the Chicago area.

Mhays wrote:Ten Best nudges from LTH that improved me as a cook, not necessarily in any order:

I love this list. It would take me about a year to be able to articulate a similar one (oh the ways LTH is always nudging me!), but I wholeheartedly share your overall sentiment.

ronnie_suburban, your list ain't bad either.

My Less Than 10 and Then Some of 2008 (in no particular order)

- One night, nine dessert courses at Takashi: Catherine Miller, Pastry Chef at Takashi, is a friend from high school. Early this past fall, I had dinner at Takashi. What followed was a dream (too lazy to embed my fuzzy phone pictures here)...
* Caramel sauce dots, caramelized filo, vanilla bavarian, passion fruit sorbet
* Chocolate lines, caramelized filo, vanilla bavarian, yuzu sorbet
* Pineapple tapioca, caramelized filo, creme fraiche cheesecake, almond pound cake, cinnamon ice cream
* Cider poached apple, green apple sauce, puff pastry, vanilla semifreddo, apple cider sorbet, salted caramel
* Pecan crumb cake, kabocha squash custard, pomegranate granite, brown butter ice cream, caramel-pumpkin seed tuile
* Sticky mango cake, yogurt coulis, tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, kiwi), peanut nougatine, cardamom ice cream
* Baked dark chocolate ganache, coconut caramel, caramelized almonds, tropical fruit mousse, coconut sorbet
* Milk chocolate and peanut butter cremuex, peanut rice crunch, vanilla bavarian, black currant puree

- Lamb at Graham Elliot: I've never been much of a fan of lamb, but I will be looking for this dish again my whole life.


- Galbi at Shabu House, Niles: I'm somewhat surprised myself that Shabu House is making my top 10 list, but looking back on 2008, I still think about that galbi--the best I've ever had.


- Fresh apricots from Green City: Yes, in 2008, at the age of 29, I tried fresh apricots for the first time in my life. Thank you Kennyz for the nudge. I ate the entire quart before leaving the market.

- Mona cheese from Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Co-op: I tried this on the recommendation of the cheese guy at Fox & Obel, and it surprised the heck out of me--one of the most unassuming and complex cheeses I have ever met. It would probably pair very well with fresh apricots.

- Brown sugar with red Hawaiian sea salt cookies made by me courtesy of Mark Bittman in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: I eat a lot of cookies, and this was the best I had (and just happened to make myself) in 2008. The inclusion of semolina and the resulting melt-in-your-mouth texture was a revelation.

- 2004 Caparone Sangiovese at Webster's Wine Bar: This past fall, I had a major hankering for Sangiovese that went unsatisfied until one snowy night last month when I happened into Webster's and discovered that Sangiovese was their December feature. The 2004 Caparone was the standout from the flight I had that night. I never knew a Sangiovese could have so much character.

- Giro del gelato: Bikes, sun, LTHers and a whole lot of gelato. Heaven.

I was already elbows deep in a Top 10 food experiences of 2008 for a friend's blog when this thread popped up. Its a rather unconventional list, ranging from foraging, to shopping and cooking, with a couple of LTH favorite haunts thrown in, to food in film, to people I like to eat with, and an homage to this site itself. If you have a moment, check it out. Enjoy!
Jefe (Eric)

Best things I ate this year, in no particular order:

BBQ Brisket at Black's in Lockart, TX
BBQ Sausage at The Salt Lick, Dripping Springs, TX
Muhamarra (red pepper/walnut dip, recipe from Bon Appetit, about the only thing useful in this last year's subscription)
Sweet Potato Angolotti with Sage Cream (recipe from French Laundry Cookbook)
Stuffed Dates, Avec
Taleggio Pizza, also Avec -- and passed to us from neighbors at the table
Jamon Iberico all over Barcelona
Xocolate Caliente alsoBarcelona
Chef's Special Filet of Sole with Tofu, LSC, JXEiC
Pork and Duck Chow Fun at Sun Wah for the LTH GNR Award Dinner

In no particular order:

1. Momofuku Ssam Bar NYC. We had two great hams, brussels sprouts, steamed pork buns, banh mi, duck, more. Everything was fantastic.

2. Bread and butter course at Eleven Madison Park, NYC. The other courses were good too, particularly the suckling pig, but this is the one I think about months later. Mostly it was just the two butters.

3. Green Zebra nailed it.

4. Poppy bagel with cream cheese at Absolute Bagel, NYC. It made my day.

5. Unknown ham at a crappy restaurant in Bayonne, France. The ham was just wonderful -- it tasted like apples. The rest of the meal was wasn't.

6. Baguette ancienne from Baguepi, Paris. It was crusty and a bit salty on the outside, cool, creamy, smooth on the inside, delicious.


7. Red sauce pizzas from Coalfire, white pizzas from Spacca Napoli -- they got me back excited about making pizzas again, and inspired many good for a home oven pizzas.

8. Several wonderful homecooked Chinese meals, inspired by Fuchsia Dunlop's two fantastic cookbooks.

9. Sol de Mexico. I had a great mole, thanks LTHforum!

10. Flank steak tacos with homemade tortillas inspired by the recipe in Jeffrey Steingarten's It Must Have Been Something I Ate.

2008 was for me, also my first full year as a LTH poster. Boy was it a delicious year around town. From this time a year ago, I have moved to a new foodie paradise off Argyle, gotten hired to do several regular food writing jobs, hosted many a wine tasting around town at the freshly minted age of 21 (toot my own horn), and have had the thrill of following my food writing mentors and LTH guides lead me around the city to some of the tastiest and most memorable dishes in memory. Allow me to try my best and narrow down:

1). Beef tender at Double Li. (although not called so on the menu, it is actually beef tendon. The dish is served rather chilled and tastes like spiced, shredded beef jerky).
2). Vegetable tagine at one sixtyblue (I tasted it before it officially launched on the menu, handmade by new head chef Michael McDonald. What a cornucopia of winter vegetables and legumes that was!)
3). Rosemary potato pizza at Pizza Metro (I know I am somewhat late in coming to this pizza gem and trying the aforementioned crown jewel on the menu... but it's delicious)
4). Shark fin dumplings at Shui Wah (this is my favorite go-to dim sum dish. The ground shark tastes like cooled baked pork, mixed with a pleasing concoction of spice and vegetation)
5). Boursin frittata at Meli (I obsess over this Greektown brunch haunt. Of the many, many, many dishes I am torn between, I have had the most memorable meal from this- the gigantic, fluffy, creamy boursin cheese frittata).
6). Melanzanne sandwich with sweet potato fries at Uncommon Grounds (it's near impossible to narrow down the dishes I have had from here, one of my fave restaurants. But the tempura-like orange fries, and the perfectly fried, meaty eggplant wedges topped with succulent and rich red pepper aioli is just divinity. Alas, only lunch)
7). Pomagranate ice cream fritters at Sura (I am always shocked at how criminally overlooked this Thai Bistro is. I have always had impeccable Asian dishes at this Jetson's like dining room. Amazingly, one of the greatest dishes I have had has been one of their desserts: the massive scoop of pomagranate ice cream, encased in crispy shell, plopped atop sweet yellow sticky rice, and drizzled in chocolate and cherry sauces)
8). Veggie Cabra sandwich at Panes (My old 'hood haunt. I constantly, even now far away, find myself making the trek to this quiet little jam-packed sandwich shop. I find the Cabra, a heaping pile of squash, spinach, and peppers served neatly inside a huge sourdough, to be their supreme)
9). Blackberry blisscakes at m. Henry (it takes a lot to get me out of bed early on a weekend. The stack of fluffy-as-hell pancakes sandwiching blackberries, marscarpone cheese, and oatmeal-brown sugar streusel served at mmmm Henry and named "blissful" are truly that)
10). Finally, the crystal cake at Feida's Bakery (judging from my selections, it may be easy to denote my sweet tooth preference. However, I have preference to this type of Chinese dessert made from pulverized sweet sticky rice and encasing strips of creamy red bean paste. Yummier than the most decadent chocolate torte).

Here's to '09!!!
-Matt

A nice birthday steak dinner at Keefers
Sauerbraten at Lachets
Dan Dan Noodle Soup at Katy's
Mencef at Steve's Shish Kabob
Mushroom Pierogi at the Pierogi Festival
Chicken Enchiladas with Mole at Real Techolatlan
Cheeseburger at Firkin
Popsicle Chicken legs at Great Seas
Burt's Pizza
Onion Soup and Steak Quesadillas at Cafe Winberie‎ (oops, two items )

Top 10 in no particular order

-Gene and Jude's dogs minus the relish
-Polish Sausage- Jim's Original
-Coalfire sausage
-Greek Islands Gyros
-Little Joe's Italian Sausage Hot and Sweet
-40 day aged ribeye from David Burke's Primehouse
-Caprese salad- tomato from my mom's garden, Basil and Traders Point Creamery mozz from the Green Grocer a nice splash of Olive Oil and a couple drops of good balsamic.
-Cemita Milanesa- Cemitas Puebla
-Zaffiro's sausage pizza
-Albondigas from Amanecer Tapatio

First, let me say another 7 have hit my mind now but this is a lot like asking me what my favorite food is, I really cannot answer that. So, this is a list of lovely tasting items that popped into my head when I read this, I know some of the things I have raved about are not on this list, but I am trying to follow instructions.

Top 10 for 2008 in No Particular Order

1. Each and Everything Consumed at Green Zebra, The "BLT" and truffle fries rock, and the housemade pink peppercorn soda and root beer!

2. Spacca Napoli's everything, just everything. Mushroom Pizza, Marghareta Pizza, House Salad, sampling baby cannoli's, need I say more.

3. The Brown Sack, BEST VANILLA MILKSHAKE EVER!!!! Best Vegetarian Sandwich, plantains, black beans, it sounds bizarre but yum.

4. Graham Elliot- Gnocchi with egg and carrot cake!

5. Blended salads/Green Smoothies- Who knew healthy could taste so wonderful all mixed up. Try a bit of arugula, romaine, pineapple,coconut water, a fruity(unsweetened tea), mango, and blueberries (Vita- Mix, or other powerful blender preferred).

6. Mongolian Seitan, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Vegetarian Won Ton soup, Mango Lychee (non-dairy) Bubble Tea!

7. Dahl Mahkani and Garlic Nan from Indian Grill, they deliver and you do not have to head to Devon for Indian

8. The Latina omlette and breakfast bread pudding from M Henry

9. Any and everything I have ever eaten at Lula Cafe, the sweet potato pie most recently comes to mind a long with the gimmelean(vegan sausage) and pancakes with Maple Syrup.

10. Portabello Sandwich with house-cured pickles, fries, house-made spicy ketchup, fresh cole slaw and the 2nd BEST VANILLA MILKSHAKE EVER!!! at Marcus Samuelson's Burger at Macy's on State Street


PS I did sacrifice my persimmon experience for Graham Elliot.

I posted my most memorable FIG and non-FIG food items of 2008 on our blog. Here's the non-FIG ones.

1. Hendricks Gin "Salad" at Schwa (a cucumber gelee that somehow captured the essence of summer, refreshing, but also very flavorful. The other components on the plate corresponded to typical gin botanicals including juniper and pine.)
2. Gorditas in San Miguel
3. Headcheese Ravioli @ The Reader's Mulefoot Dinner at Blackbird (If you visit the Reader's blog please read about more than just the dinner. This event was really about more than what was on our plate. About how it got on our plate and this rare breed of pig and producer that were the highlights of this wonderful night.)
4. Mac n Cheese by SteveZ at the LTH 1000 Recipe Potluck
5. Uru Swati (I can't pick out a favorite dish, but the entire menu is really, really good. My favorite vegetarian restaurant...anywhere.)
6. Lil' Hotties at Take Me Out (They suffered a fire half-way through, but thankfully they're back now. The most addictive chicken wings you'll ever eat.)
7. Go Xoai (Mango Tofu Salad) @ Lemongrass in Seatlle
8. Michael Altenburg's burrata @ Chicago Gourmet
9. Restaurant Week meal at Naha (It was too long ago that I'm forgetting what I ate, but I remember enjoying the whole meal including the superb service and sparkling wine. Hmmm, maybe that's why I don't remember.)
10. Catfish Custard @ Spoon Thai

I'm too lazy to copy all of the links so you'll have to look them up or visit the blog if you want more information.

This is an amazing thread. I am incredibly jealous.

i would have to say for me...
1. Avec - since I ate there like once a week in the early part of 2008, nearly everything is good
2. bone marrow dish at blue ribbon in NY
3. Dim sum brunch at David Burke is great but so is the dry aged beef
4. I had the Shige, the chef at Sushi Samba prepare me a special dinner (off the menu) I couldn't tell you what anything was but it was so incredible, I gave him a few days notice he brought in his own ingredients and prepared me an amazing meal.

I am stumped at this point...I'd have to pull out my "notes" But this is a great thread to refer back to for my next dining extravaganza!

Not so much in Chicago, owing to the infrequency of our visits, but here are my ten (in no particular order):


Mushroom Fritters
JFX Farmers Market - Baltimore
With crumbled feta, mesclun, basil and a squirt of hot sauce. Welcome, spring!


Steamed Whole Duck Stuffed with Sticky Rice
Grace Garden - Baltimore
Deboned, stuffed with sticky rice, lotus seeds, bamboo and chunks of Chinese sausage, then steamed until the meat is fall apart tender and the fat melts into the rice.


Kobe & Foie Slider
Salt - Baltimore
With onion marmalade and truffle aioli. What the DB Burger should have been.


Steamed Blue Crabs
Hard Yacht Club - Baltimore
I will miss these guys (the crabs) when we leave this summer.


Fish Noodles
Grace Garden - Baltimore
Made by extruding a seasoned fresh fish paste into simmering liquid of some kind. Amazing texture and flavor on their own, but tossed with a delicate yet mature sauce with heavy ginger accents, and mushrooms, chives and slivers of Chinese sausage.


Peruvian Ceviche
Rinconcito Peruano - Baltimore
Always wonderfully fresh and light, and I dig the Peruvian angle of adding sweet potatoes and corn, both fresh and crispy fried (cancha).


Kuy Teav Chha Kreoung Tek Trey Phem
Phnom Penh - Cleveland
Kinda Thai, kinda Vietnamese, kinda Indian... Cambodian, actually. Bun-like noodles with fish sauce, but with a creamy coconut-based light curry that was heavy on turmeric, plus basil, peanuts and spring roll. I seriously need to try some more Cambodian.


Berkshire Crispy Bacon
Lola - Cleveland
If I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. Chunk of crispy pork belly atop grilled halloumi, with pickled green tomato, mint oil and a number of other flavors I'm forgetting. Explosive in every possible direction. Awesome, awesome dish.


Miso Marinated Foie Gras
Sea Saw - Scottsdale
Marinated with miso, sake and mirin, grilled and served with peaches sauteed in foie butter. Yowza.


Pierogi
Smak-Tak - Chicago
One of the few places in Chicago I got to this year... thanks, guys. One of my best meals of the year. I note the pierogi, but really, everything I had was just spectacular. Anxious to return.