2012 - Best (and worst) of the Year

Every year Mr. Pie and I write up best and worst of the year list for movies. This year, he suggested I write one for food. Since we all eat out a lot, let's keep it to a limit of 5 each. What are your best and worst dishes or events this year?

BEST (not in any particular order)
▪ Galway Bay Mussels – Moher Public House
▪ Eggplant with Garlic Sauce, Shanghai-Style Soup Dumplings – Ed’s Potsticker House
▪ Salmon Tartare, Cauliflower Purée, Octopus Confit, Samoa Pot de Crème – Elate
▪ Eel, Chicken Wings, Thai Basil Ice Cream – Yusho
▪ DLT and Millionaire Pie – Honeypie Café

WORST (these are the only ones that made the list)
▪ Cobb Salad – Moher Public House
▪ Kids’ Pizza with Mushrooms – D’Agostino’s (Wrigleyville)
▪ Everything – Ing’s China King

BEST

• Vie "Preservation Kitchen" book release event. Wow.
• Sai Ua at Aroy Thai. My cooking goal for tonight is to reproduce this.
• Lake Perch at The Grand Mere Inn, Stevensville MI
• Leaf lard biscuits at Big Jones
• Torta Ahogada at Xoco

WORST

• Gyros at Droopy Dogs in Winthrop Harbor. Memorably awful.
• Lunch options near my Lake Forest consulting gig (it's more than 3 miles to anything other than the cafeteria or the Costco hot dog stand
• The closing of Bogie's in Mt Prospect

BEST:

Roasted Duck Breast, Blackbird
I know, quelle surprise. I can't help it - classics are classics for a reason. I've never had a bad duck breast, but the one I had at blackbird managed to elevate itself by avoiding the trap of pairing it with a sweet glaze. This one doubled down on the fatty and rich and savory, and I friggin' loved it.

Fromage Blanc Island Cheesecake, Chikalicious Dessert Bar, NYC:
I'm really not a dessert person, so the fact that I'm listing it here over all those entrees I've had this past year should tell you something. In fact, I'm not even sure the cheesecake was the standout from that night; it was the most distinctive, though, which is why I give it the nod here. Chikalicious totally ruined desserts for me - I can't help compare it to everything I eat from now on.

Duck Sausage with Kimchi, served on Steamed Buns, Perennial Virant at the GCM Summer BBQ
I really, really, really wish I took a picture. Because it was absolutely brilliant - my favorite dish on a day of favorites.

WORST:

Weiner Scnitzel, Mader's, Milwaukee WI:
I had the exact same dish a year ago and loved it; on our return trip, it was greasy, dry, underseasoned, and generally just plain bad. I can't really say it was the worst thing I ate, but it was easily the worst relative to expectation.

Here, in no particular order, is my list of favorites of Chicago-area restaurant eating in 2012 -- some dishes, some meals. I've provided links to reports and pictures, where available . . .

Yusho
One of my very favorite spots of the year, I enjoyed meals and snacks here at least a couple of times a month. In January a meal that included Hama Hama Oyster, Salmon Belly, Oxtails with Shishitos, Peekytoe Crab, Kindai Kampachi and Grilled Short Ribs blew me away and established Yusho as a place to which I would return over and over again.

Nightwood
This has been a favorite of mine for the past couple of years and a business dinner I had here back in August was a complete throw-down. Several dishes we ate at that meal -- Foie Gras, Spaghetti alla Chitarra with 5-Animal Bolognese, Pork Skin & Chick Pea Stew -- stand out near the very top in a year packed with great eating. Other Nightwood meals, also documented in the thread linked above, were some of my very favorites in 2012.

Inovasi
I had a couple of phenomenal meals here in 2012, including my 2 first ever, which are documented here.

Cho Jung
I probably ate here more times in 2012 than at any other restaurant. There isn't a soup here I don't love and the panchan are among the best I've ever enjoyed. Much of what I ate at Cho Jung in 2012 is documented starting here.

Publican
I always love it here but my favorites in 2012 were New Year's Day Brunch, which included the Grand Seafood Collection and a dinner in April that included Chicken Liver Toast, Blood Sausage, Chicken Gizzard Sausage and Frites with Egg. Another meal in October at which we had Beef Heart, Boudin Blanc, Boudin Noir, Sweetbreads and 2-week dry-aged ribeye was a knockout.

Scofflaw
With apologies to Nightwood, Maude's Liquor Bar and the Publican, chef Mickey Neely's fries at Scofflaw are my very favorites in town. I had them over and over in 2012 and they were sensational every time. Their power ballad of a sandwich, the Guapichosa, also ranks right up there as one of the most glorious concoctions I ate in 2012. In November, iirc, chef Neely rolled out his thoughtfully considered and carefully executed Pollo en su Jugo, which was also one of the best things I ate in 2012. Not bad for a place where the cocktails are also among the very best in the city.

Acadia
The meal we enjoyed here in April was spectacular, and my favorite fine-dining meal of the year. It really reinvigorated my enthusiasm for fine dining.

GT Fish & Oyster
I was so pleased by a fantastic dinner I had here back in August. The whole meal was excellent on several levels (ingredients, preparations, bar, service) but the Coramandel oysters and PEI Mussels were among the best of each of those foods I enjoyed in 2012.

Avli Estiatorio
Considering how close it is to my house, I don't get here as often as I'd like. The menu is filled with some of my all-time favorites but the house-made gyros that Louie rolled out in 2012 would be worth a trip from just about anywhere in Chicagoland.

Gaetano's
At a September meal here, we were wowed by several dishes, including Shrimp Risotto, Scallop & White Beans, Skate Wing stuffed with Crab and wrapped with salmon carpaccio, mango salsa.

Fat Rice
My meal here in December was a real game changer. I was thrilled by the uncompromising, assertive flavors of the dishes we tried, all of which were truly distinctive. The signature Arroz Gordo with its crispy rice and generous portions of perfectly cooked proteins was nothing short of spectacular. Other great dishes included Linguica, Smoky Tofu, Sour Chili Cabbage, Wintermelon Soup with Sichuan Bacon, Dried Scallop and Scallion.

Pizzeria da Nella Cucina Napoletana
I'm not a huge fan of Neapolitan-style pizza but I think Nella's is easily the best representation I've had in Chicago. Back in June, I had a tuna and pepperoni pizza there that was fantastic and definitely the best pizza I had in 2012.

Publican Quality Meats
A great lunch here in March included a bowl of hearty, delectable Ribolitta, which is pictured in this report.

Psistaria
The takeover of this restaurant in the Spring of 2012 by long-time veterans of Greek Islands converted it from an afterthought to a destination. Throughout the second half of the year, I ate here regularly and enjoyed it immensely. There are several dishes here that really stand out but their Spanikopita is pretty much the best version I've ever had in a restaurant.

Avec
After not dining here in over 2 years, I finally made it back in December and had a great meal. Unctuous Pork Shoulder Ribollita and complexly-flavored Squid Amatriciana were the highlights of our dinner.

Au Cheval
After months of enviously reading about it, I finally made my first trip to Au Cheval in late November. We had an enormously enjoyable meal. The much ballyhooed cheeseburger lived up to every bit of the hype and the fried bologna sandwich was a lot of fun, but what may have stood out the most for me was the Crispy Potato Hash with Duck Heart Gravy. At another meal, the matzoh ball soup featured one of the best matzoh balls I've ever had in a restaurant. Oh, Cheval!

Vie
As much as I love Vie, and as many times as I've had fantastic meals there, the Preservation Kitchen Cookbook launch party meal I had there in April stands out as one of my all-time Vie favorites.

Isla Pilipina
Crispy Pata, Pancit Palabok, Kare-Kare and several other dishes shown here made this meal we had in June one of the most enjoyable of 2012. Who says great Filipino food can't be had in restaurants?

Premise
This short-lived Andersonville fine-dine burned brightly and closed way too soon. During the months it was open, chef Brian Runge thrilled me with his approachable, comforting, high-wire dishes, many of which are documented here in words and pictures.

Big Jones
I ate here several times in 2012 but a group lunch in April was just out of this world. The fried chicken and burger with pimento cheese stood out on a table filled with irresistible dishes.

La Chaparrita
This spot, with its charola and master taquero Cesar, remains my favorite place in Chicago for tacos. Tacos de Lengua, Cabeza, Longanisa and Trippa are all phenomenal, as are the salsas and several other items.

Some Other Stand-Outs:
Birrieria Zaragoza-Melrose Park - Birria, Tortillas, Guacamole, Pozole, Salsas (December, LTH holiday party)
Reno - Pizza, Rigatoni, Bagels (December)
Next/Kyoto - Corn Husk Tea, Japanese Maple Forest, Sashimi (November)
Mini Hut - Fried Chicken (November)
Longman & Eagle - Chicken Liver Mousse, Buffalo Sweetbreads (November)
Gilt Bar - Steak Tartare (November)
Prairie Grass Cafe - Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Garlic-Basil Mayo (November)
Bavette's Bar and Boeuf - Tongue, Bacon, Hashbrowns (August)
Sticky Rice - Catfish Larb, Fried Fish Larb, Sartor Beans with Ground Pork, Northern Larb (August)
Next/Sicily - Seafood Attack, Gnocchi w/Botarga, Chickpeas 2 ways, Pork Shoulder (July)
Dragon Ranch - Crispy Pig Ears, Mac & Cheese (July)
Smoque BBQ - St. Louis Ribs (June)
Owen & Engine - Lamb Bacon, Head Cheese, Burger (oh, that burger!), Scotch Egg (June)
Dancen - Ribs, Skin, Gizzards (June)
Udupi Palace - Sambar (May)
Balena - Tripe Stufato with Marrow, Pancetta & Ceci Beans (May)
Monti's - Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, Wedge Salad (May)
Schmaltz Deli - Maccabeast, Short Rib Sandwich (May)
Nha Hang Vietnam - Red Crab (April)
Pleasant House Bakery - Fish & Chips, Royal Chips & Gravy, Scotch Egg (April)
Next/el bulli - Crackers, Tortilla Espanola, Carrot Foam, Cepes, Nasturtium, foie flan, chocolate (April)
Ada Street - Southern Fried Quail, Pasta w/poached egg and Duck Confit (April)
Chief O'Neill's - Fish & Chips, Burger, Beef Tallow Fries, Cashel Blue Cheesecake (April, while chef Alan Lake was still there)
Diner Grill - Slinger (February, I was drunk )

=R=

Would there be a second part to your post coming, Ronnie, indicating your worst of the year?

Cinnamon Girl wrote:Would there be a second part to your post coming, Ronnie, indicating your worst of the year?

Nah. That's not really my bag.

=R=

Lake perch at Grand Mere is frozen. Bet that dish would have been super good with fresh!

ronnie_suburban wrote:Scofflaw
With apologies to Nightwood, Maude's Liquor Bar and the Publican, chef Mickey Neely's fries at Scofflaw are my very favorites in town. I had them over and over in 2012 and they were sensational every time. Their power ballad of a sandwich, the Guapichosa, also ranks right up there as one of the most glorious concoctions I ate in 2012. In November, iirc, chef Neely rolled out his thoughtfully considered and carefully executed Pollo en su Jugo, which was also one of the best things I ate in 2012. Not bad for a place where the cocktails are also among the very best in the city.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one. Definitely became my favorite bar in 2012 and the fries are among the best I've ever had (I can't imagine going without at least 1 order). Outstanding stuff.

TooHot wrote:Lake perch at Grand Mere is frozen. Bet that dish would have been super good with fresh!

Give me a suggestion for a place with fresh lake perch in a 100-mile radius, I'm there. But hey, frozen was still pretty awesome, and they came from Canada, not Vietnam (the source for lake perch at some supermarkets),

Oh good, I thought the opportunity to do a "best of" got buried on another forum. I also could't reduce my list to just 5 and prefer not to recount the worst of times. 2012 was great, I ate a ton of new stuff. As usual, the best bites were at the mom and pop joints- I'd say the doorsteps I darkened most often last year were Nha Hang Viet Nam, Pleasanthouse, and Go 4 Food. I checked off a handful of old school GNRs for the first time this year which totally floored me, as you will see below. I tried a few critically lauded higher end spots that I found to be pretty hit or miss for the price. That said, two places that I think show ton of promise in 2013 are (neighbors on Diversey) Fat Rice and Masa Azul (shouts to my boy, JZ).

These were my faves:

Pepito @ Tor­tas Fron­teras
Bun mam @ Nha Hang Viet Nam
Gin­ger scal­lion lob­ster @ Go 4 Food
Ribol­lita @ Pub­li­can Qual­ity Meats
Pajeon @ Cho Jung
Any dish with fried clams @ Pub­li­can
Ban­gus @ Uncle Mike’s Place
Carne en su jugo @ Los Gal­los
Muthawama & chicken shawarma @ Al Mawal
Ital­ian beef with hot mix @ Pop’s
Beef noodle soup @ Katy’s Dumpling House
Baja shrimp taco @ Masa Azul
Haleem @ Khan
Bread @ Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf
Dou­ble fatso @ Phil’s Last Stand
Heavy cake @ Pleas­an­t­house
Braised ox-tails with broad beans @ Pleas­an­t­house
Sausage pizza @ Vito & Nick’s
Bir­ria @ Bir­ri­eria Reyes de Ocotlan

For what its worth, my best of out of town:

Pan fried dumplings @ Dumpling House, Toronto
Cumin chicken bones @ Shen Yang, LA
Monk­fish liver @ Hama, LA
Al pas­tor @ El Camino Real, KC
Dumplings & niu rou mien @ Super Taste, NY
Fried chicken, greens, mac n cheese @ Daddio’s, Hol­land, MI
Rueben @ Baumgartner’s, Mon­roe, WI
Cat­fish Pontchar­train @ Lagniappe, Mar­quette, MI

BEST

Next - Sicily/Cassata Kyoto/soup rice pickles

Baume and Brix - Octopus fun dip style

Nellcote - Radiatore

Sunda -Crab crusted ahi tuna sashimi

Au Cheval - Cheeseburger

Moto - Carbonated orange with lobster

WORST

Paris Club - just an overall disappointing meal

Sorry, I could not limit myself to five for the "best" cateogory!

Best:

Balena: Bread/Cheese/Meat Plate

GT Fish & Oyster: Fried Oyster Po Boy

iNG: Jack's Lament (Octopus course with Steamed Bun)

Socca: Seafood Stew

Goosefoot: Just about everything, but Chestnut Soup was my Favorite

Nellcote: Brunch Pizza with Fontina Cheese, Egg & Shaved Black Truffle

Next Kyoto: Fish Skeleton

Elizabeth: Venison Course (Deer Menu)

El Ideas: Wagyu Beef, Thai Soup, and Lobster/Foie/Truffle in a Baby's Bottle

Sun Wah BBQ: Pekin Duck

Moto: Crab Cone, Toastada & Baking 101

EMP @ Alinea: Picnic Basket Course, Savory Black & White Cookie & Carrot Tartare

Tru: Cheese Cart

Alinea: White Chocolate Pinata Dessert, Hot Potato / Cold Potato & Black Truffle Explosion

Little Goat: Pork n Toffee Milk Shake (Technically Early 2013)

Sixteen: Mignardises

Boka: Weston Cocktail

Worst:

Piccolo Sogno: Duck Course (Dry, Overcooked, Bland)

Acadia: Halibut Entree (Underwhelming)

Schwa: Sweetbread Course (Unpleasant Taste & Texture)

Table 52: Shrimp & Grits (OK but Below Expectations and Skimpy Portion)

Mindy's Hot Chocolate: Chocolate Souffle Tart (Way too Rich and Disappointing)

JoelF wrote:

TooHot wrote:Lake perch at Grand Mere is frozen. Bet that dish would have been super good with fresh!

Give me a suggestion for a place with fresh lake perch in a 100-mile radius, I'm there. But hey, frozen was still pretty awesome, and they came from Canada, not Vietnam (the source for lake perch at some supermarkets),

Thirsty Perch in South Haven, if that's not too far. Also, most Meijer stores.

http://www.thirstyperch.com/

Chicago:

1) Soft and crispy, respectively, tripe tacos at Chaparrita

2) Zaragoza Zaragoza Zaragoza

3) Natural casing Vienna dog with all the trimmings (no cucumber) and fresh cut fries at Murphy's

4) Som tam at Andy's Thai Kitchen

5) Spinach pies from Sanabel

New York:

1) Coco bread and patty from Christie's Jamaican Patties in Prospect Heights

2) XLB and dai lu noodle from Shanghai 456 in Manhattan's Chinatown.

3) Everything at Sakagura in Midtown

4) Chicken ramen at Minca (that's right you "purists", NOT the pork)

5) Steak at Luger

Elsewhere:

1) Spicy braised liver sandwiches in Cairo; stuffed pigeon and pigeon broth in Cairo

2) French fry and egg in a baguette in Algiers; homemade lamb couscous in Algiers

3) Grilled, pole caught tuna in Costa Rica's Pacific coast; cheese-stuffed potato croquettes also in Costa Rica

Favorites this year were mostly old favorites;
Cemitas Pueblas
Everything at Freddy’s but especially the fruits of the forest gelato
Al’s & Mario’s (peach – OMG!)

A few new ones that really hit home;
Zaragoza – I’ve been telling everyone who will listen that you have to try goat at least once and if you honestly don’t like it lunch is on me
Dim sum @ LYJ - The great food and exceptional company made that a real treat
Katy’s – the beef noodle soup is just amazing and the dumplings aren’t too shabby either

Real misses in 2012 - pizza from everywhere. I haven't had a decent pizza in forever.

fropones wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Scofflaw
With apologies to Nightwood, Maude's Liquor Bar and the Publican, chef Mickey Neely's fries at Scofflaw are my very favorites in town. I had them over and over in 2012 and they were sensational every time. Their power ballad of a sandwich, the Guapichosa, also ranks right up there as one of the most glorious concoctions I ate in 2012. In November, iirc, chef Neely rolled out his thoughtfully considered and carefully executed Pollo en su Jugo, which was also one of the best things I ate in 2012. Not bad for a place where the cocktails are also among the very best in the city.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one. Definitely became my favorite bar in 2012 and the fries are among the best I've ever had (I can't imagine going without at least 1 order). Outstanding stuff.

Interesting. The one time I had fries at Scofflaw, they were so over-salted that they were rendered completely inedible. I'm never one to scoff (see what I did there?) at salty fries, but these were disgusting.

It's hard to keep it to 5, but I'll try:

Longman & Eagle: A number of things, but the Pot au Feu and Buffalo Sweetbreads really stand out in my memory.

Yusho: Loads of great things, but I really love the chicken skin and the grilled short ribs.

Arturo's: Fill me up with booze and give me their Al Pastor at 2:30 AM - while I'm sure this choice doesn't really hold up to scrutiny, it is a recurring epiphany for me. I usually buy two at a time.

Great Lakes Pizza: Predictable choice, but really good. Really really really good.

Craigie on Main (Boston): I need to make this a regular pilgrimage. Did the full tasting menu with beer pairings, really outstanding.

Butcher & Larder: I had a few great sandwiches, but my favorite meal of the year was a pork collar that I got here early in the year. I roasted it over cherry wood, but it tasted great even before cooking. Some of the best pork I've ever tasted.

epicFades wrote:

fropones wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Scofflaw
With apologies to Nightwood, Maude's Liquor Bar and the Publican, chef Mickey Neely's fries at Scofflaw are my very favorites in town. I had them over and over in 2012 and they were sensational every time. Their power ballad of a sandwich, the Guapichosa, also ranks right up there as one of the most glorious concoctions I ate in 2012. In November, iirc, chef Neely rolled out his thoughtfully considered and carefully executed Pollo en su Jugo, which was also one of the best things I ate in 2012. Not bad for a place where the cocktails are also among the very best in the city.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one. Definitely became my favorite bar in 2012 and the fries are among the best I've ever had (I can't imagine going without at least 1 order). Outstanding stuff.

Interesting. The one time I had fries at Scofflaw, they were so over-salted that they were rendered completely inedible. I'm never one to scoff (see what I did there?) at salty fries, but these were disgusting.

Just curious--did you TELL them? Maybe ask for some with less salt? Doesn't seem like that would be a big deal and that everyone makes a mistake once in a while. Just a thought...

BEST

Longman & Eagle — Sweet corn risotto w/ vegetables and one-hour egg
Gaetano's — Sequential Gaetapas sashimi-style apps
Publican Quality Meats — Tuna muffaletta sandwich
Autre Monde — Pork chop
Copper Rock Steakhouse — Lobster bisque soup

Honorable mentions: New Year's Eve at Vie (great overall), Avec's amazing little Nutter Butters and Greg Hall's super tasty Red Streak Cider.

WORST

Gibson's — Salad. Cheeseburger. Steak. It kept getting worse.
Urban Q — Edamame & cold noodle dish @ Taste of Randolph. Yikes.
Three Aces — Overall a massive disappointment.

BEST

Next - Kyoto menu; Dashi with wagyu beef (mind blowing).
Schwa - June menu; quail preparation and raviolio (the two standout courses of an revalatory meal).
Cafe Amelie (New Orleans) - seared duck breast with butternut squash and wilted greens (simply the best duck I've ever eaten).
Pelican Club (New Orleans) - whole crispy flounder (a superb, citrus-y Asian-like preparation).
Mastro's - ribeye steak (simply perfect).

WORST

Central Grocery (New Orleans) - muffaletta (the sandwich was pre-made, the sesame roll was bone-dry and the fillings were skimpy; only the olive salad saved this from being a complete fail).
Trencherman - short rib (dry throughout; when I complained to the server, he responded that it had been braised for a long time - didn't seem like that was the case, however; they ended up comping me for the entree).
White Fence Farm - fried chicken and mashed potatoes (the chicken seemed more like broasted with its batter coating, the potatoes obviously came out of a box).
Three Forks (Valentine's Day menu) - ribeye (thin and dry; this also ended up being comped).
D'Amato's (take-out) - Sicilian-style pizza (had this at an NFL play-offs party last year; it was identical to the kind of pizza served at my high school in upstate New York and just as inspiring; Pizza Rustica does a much-better rendition of this style).

D'Amato's bakery pizza on a "worst" list? That had to be a bad batch, or you possibly were expecting something much different from childhood experience. As has been documented here ad nauseum in the past by luminaries such as Hungry Rabbi (RIP) and Antonious (neither being Chicagoans and neither giving much quarter to Chicago pizza otherwise), D'Aamato's pizza is usually considered an exemplar of the bakery sheet pizza style (if not always cited as the best example here). I've recently set my barometer for this kind of thing with pies in Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa (yes, it's very much a "thing" there based on the dense local Sicilian population, da Alessandria della Rocca), and NY. D'Amat's holds up (for me). The avowedly Roman-style cuts at Rustica are not the same species, so apples and oranges (though I like oranges better too). Give em another shot. Sausage or plain only. I find the other toppings don't work.

epicFades wrote:

fropones wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Scofflaw
With apologies to Nightwood, Maude's Liquor Bar and the Publican, chef Mickey Neely's fries at Scofflaw are my very favorites in town. I had them over and over in 2012 and they were sensational every time. Their power ballad of a sandwich, the Guapichosa, also ranks right up there as one of the most glorious concoctions I ate in 2012. In November, iirc, chef Neely rolled out his thoughtfully considered and carefully executed Pollo en su Jugo, which was also one of the best things I ate in 2012. Not bad for a place where the cocktails are also among the very best in the city.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this one. Definitely became my favorite bar in 2012 and the fries are among the best I've ever had (I can't imagine going without at least 1 order). Outstanding stuff.

Interesting. The one time I had fries at Scofflaw, they were so over-salted that they were rendered completely inedible. I'm never one to scoff (see what I did there?) at salty fries, but these were disgusting.

Where's you list, epic?

=R=

I'm a simple guy with simple tastes. 5 should be easy:
Best:
La Chaparrita Tripas
La Chaparrita Longaniza
Tierra Caliente Campechanos
Del Seoul Sambal Fish Taco
Smoque - Brisket
(These are prolly rehashes for most, but I only got to these for the first time in 2012)

Worst:
I won't bag on any of the pricier joints as being bad, but I swear, Hardee's or whatever place has a "ThickBurger." I tried one on a road trip on a few friends' recs. Worst burger I ever bit into. Listen, I'll eat those frozen hockey pucks that come in boxes of 50, I'll eat a Boca Burger, turkey burger, whathaveyou. I think I got through about three bites of a "ThickBurger" before tapping out. It was hardly recognizable to me as beef, and furthermore, it was a BIG patty, so it was like an extra thick super bonus sized patty of a non recognizable substance. My wife was ASTONISHED that I gave up after a few bites. She asked if I was full. Nope, just completely "weirded out." Strange, grainy texture, and I'd bet my life it was over 90% of some form of tvp. Other than that, well, Smoque's mac and cheese might qualify, but the meats are so damn good that who cares about the sides, I got nothing else to gripe about.

BEST

Cauliflower @ Girl and the Goat
Best overall meal all year, shocks me that this vegetable was the finest course of the night, but it was. Extra points for Blenheim extra hot ginger ale, great alternative for someone who no longer imbibes in the fun stuff.

Fat rice @ Fat Rice
Another great meal as a whole. This dish popped in all directions.

Spicy tuna on crisped rice @ Sushi by Chef Soon, Lisle
Seems kinda pedestrian but I cant get enough, rice "cracker" adds flavor and great texture.

Polish and Butter and Garlic fries @ Big Guys, Berwyn
Great char on Polish (add giardinere to the grilled onions). Must be eaten in the tavern next door or the fries will become sodden.

Pork Chop @ Hog Wild, Oak Forest
I know it brined, so what. Tasty and tender at a ridiculous price point.

Ginger Beef @ Fabulous Noodles, Lisle
Would make my list every year. Salty, Sweet, Crunchy. Does this exist at any other eatery?

BBQ Pork @ Hon Kee,
Was meeting a bunch of people at Sun Wah on a Thursday. Closed on Thursdays WTF. Had to tape a note to front window directing people to Hon Kee around the corner. Great meal, Pork moist with shards of crispy pork skin. Again almost a joke price point.

Italian Beef @ Carm's, Tinley Park
The beef of my childhood. IMHO better than Johnnies. It moved around from Berwyn to Westchester to West Chicago for a cameo. Now open in Tinley. Maybe childhood memories, but I find this the best overall beef in chicagoland.


WORST

Cannot recall any true bombs, but two places stuck out as ok food at high prices for a terrible value.

Egg Nog Pie @ Bang Bang Pie Shop
$26 for a so so pie, maybe one more try. (btw I love Hoosier Mama pies which cost nearly as much)

Cheeseburger @ DMK, Oak Brook
Don't recall which one I ordered, refusal to change toppings, overcooked, blah blah blah. Ton of money. Go across the street to Labriola bakery, way better.

As I look back, I fondly recall a great year of dining in Chicago. In no particular order:

Lazza Pizza - There are a lot of places doing thin crust, wood oven-baked pizzas these days. This one is my favorite newcomer.

Monti's - Chicago waited a long time for a great cheesesteak, but the wait was worth it. Monti's cheesesteak is better than almost all I've tried in Philly, and the Rocky delivers real hot pepper heat.

Outstanding in the Field - A traveling nationwide dinner series, that travels from farm to farm. This particular event I attended was in Columbus, Wisconsin at Sassy Cow Creamery and prepared by chef from L'etoile in Madison. Great food and maybe the most enjoyable dinner experience I've ever had.

Bang Bang Pie Shop -Their biscuits are beyond words, almost life changing.

Elizabeth - Excited to see how this newcomer progresses, but the celery root soup, homemade bread and charcuterie and lamb and fall fixings already were some of the best restaurant food I had all year.

Lao Hunan - I love this newcomer. My two favorite dishes might be the seemingly simple Jade Tofu and the Famous Prawns in Hot Wok.

Acadia - One of my first meals of the year, and yet I still remember so fondly the Yukon Gold "Risotto" and the Lobster Pie.

Pierrot Gourmet - The best French macarons in Chicago.

Katsu - Absolutely stunning Omakase menu delivered at sushi bar, the only (I repeat, only) way to dine at Katsu.

Next - I particularly loved the Childhood menu (where the PB&J opener was my favorite), and the El Bulli menu even more. At the El Bulli menu, I had so many favorites, but to keep things simple, I just mention the cauliflower couscous, the trumpet carpaccio, and the foie gras caramel custard.

Vera - Mediterranean/Spanish cuisine is near the top of my favorites list, and Vera has now joined Avec as one of my very favorite spots in town. Foie gras custard, uni toast, chorizo and squid ink fideos and Crema Catalana all shined so bright.

Avec - Squid ink linguine with octopus, chorizo breadcrumbs and flatbread with chorizo, sardines and arugula . . . ho hum, just your usual amazing meal at Avec.

Merlo on MapleSometimes I just want great pasta, and the Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese is probably my very favorite pasta dish in Chicago (also thanks to the best Bolognese in Chicago).

Arami - My one meal at Arami did not impress much, but the robata-grilled Santa Barbara prawn with miso butter was spectacular in every respect.

Pleasant House Bakery - A lot of great items, but my favorite is the steak and ale pie.

Rosded - Kuai tiao kang - Thai food may be my very favorite food, and this was a new dish for me.

Andy's Thai Kitchen - The nam tok really stands out here.

El Ideas - many excellent items, including veal with parsnip, marrow ravioli and macadamia with pineapple, banana and coconut.

Sepia - I don't know why this place flies under the radar, but it's sensational. My lamb loin, lamb neck and chickpea panisse was outstanding.

Fork - Perhaps a strange addition here, and the only dish I'll mention is their poutine. The fries were nicely done, and served with delicious duck confit and an excellent gravy. If you love poutine, this is the one you need to try.

Big Jones - The Boarding House Lunch . . . if you haven't had it yet, you need to take a weekday off of work.

Hot Chocolate - The very best burger I had all year.


Many items I loved out of town too, but I'll limit myself to Chicago. While I might have initially been willing to take the blame perhaps for preparing the worst thing I ate all year (I like to experiment), my recent trip to Tanzania saved me . . . some good bites, but largely terribly cooked meat and fish, equally poorly cooked vegetables, and a lot of unseasoned food (and an ant sandwich - yuck!!!). Tanzania, I've met Ethiopia and you are no Ethiopia.

JeffB wrote:D'Amato's bakery pizza on a "worst" list? That had to be a bad batch, or you possibly were expecting something much different from childhood experience. As has been documented here ad nauseum in the past by luminaries such as Hungry Rabbi (RIP) and Antonious (neither being Chicagoans and neither giving much quarter to Chicago pizza otherwise), D'Aamato's pizza is usually considered an exemplar of the bakery sheet pizza style (if not always cited as the best example here). I've recently set my barometer for this kind of thing with pies in Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa (yes, it's very much a "thing" there based on the dense local Sicilian population, da Alessandria della Rocca), and NY. D'Amat's holds up (for me). The avowedly Roman-style cuts at Rustica are not the same species, so apples and oranges (though I like oranges better too). Give em another shot. Sausage or plain only. I find the other toppings don't work.

My wife disliked the D'Amatos pie more than me, but that wasn't a surprise given her preference for Chicago-style thin crust. We both though D'Amato's bakery sheet style pie was too bread-y and the sauce too sweet, which is why we both prefer Roman-style pies such as Pizza Metro or Pizza Rustica.

ld111134 wrote:[b]Central Grocery (New Orleans) - muffaletta (the sandwich was pre-made, the sesame roll was bone-dry and the fillings were skimpy; only the olive salad saved this from being a complete fail).

I just filed a piece about Central Grocery muffaletta (among others), and I came to the conclusion that in most cases, it's all about the olive salad.

BEST:
chicago
Schwa - Everything from the soda amuse to shots in the back with the boys.
Fumare Meats - Montreal smoke meat on rye, schmear of mustard. Perfection
Honey 1 - Wing plate. Hand breaded to order, fried to perfection. With a side of tips naturally...
Embeya - papaya salad, garlic chicken, sticky rice, wonderful service
Burger Boss - Ultra-consistent neighborhood burger joint, but their Dec. special - Fried Bologna was stacked with ribbons of fried bologna, a perfectly cooked egg, dijon, american on shiny brioche bun.
Jim & Petes - A Medium Sausage and Giardinera pizza - ratio's where just on point and it wasn't a greasy mess. Crispy crusty from edge to middle.
Gibsons - Oak Brook - I admit that I enjoy the atmosphere here more than anything, but their new bone-in Wagyu Rib Eye was one of the best steaks I've ever had. So rich and perfectly cooked to temp. I split this with 3 others and still had leftovers.
Brown Cow Ice Cream - Turtle Sundae with a side of Chocolate Soda. Not my proudest moment, but definitely one of my most sinefully indulgent. In house made vanilla ice cream, salty roasted pecans, fudge, caramel, whip cream. Their chocolate soda brought me back the Cock Robbin days, and just like Cock Robbin, you gotta order extra chocolate.


Elsewhere
Morimoto NYC - Chef Morimoto was there that night and the meal was magical. Sashimi,rock shrimp trio, Angry Chicken, and more Sashimi for dessert. Enchanting atmosphere and unprecedented service.
La Borrtega - This place is in the Maritime hotel in the Meatpacking District and their bolognese is the best I've ever had. The do room service too!
Gansevoort Hotel Meatpacking - The now defunct Tanuki Tavern in the hotel served a whole fried baby chicken. When i stay there, I order this for room service and I sit at a tiny hotel table and devour it like a madmen at Medival Times. Crispy, spicy, mega moist with a dunk in thai chili sauce, best room service in America.
Artichoke Basille's on 2nd Ave - A slice of their Vodka Sauce Sicilian. I ate this before the camera's where rolling, and normally I try to control my food intake when I'm shooting, but I devoured the whole slice in minutes. Dark, caramalized edges, oily and pillowy crust, and the sauce is slightly creamy. No meat needed.
Sonora Gril - Minneapolis - Sonoran-style hot dog. Homemade sausage, turkey chorizo, homemade bun, bacon, all in the bustle of the midtown global market.
Danny's Deli - Cleveland - Corned beef hash, extra crispy. Best I've ever had.

WORST

Cant't think of anything and I don't want to force it. I've had many ungodly meals on airplanes but, really, no shit?
Maybe....the fried Maple Leaf at Next Kyoto - I understood what they were attempting, but it just wasn't palatable. It tasted like a chore.

David Hammond wrote:

ld111134 wrote:[b]Central Grocery (New Orleans) - muffaletta (the sandwich was pre-made, the sesame roll was bone-dry and the fillings were skimpy; only the olive salad saved this from being a complete fail).

I just filed a piece about Central Grocery muffaletta (among others), and I came to the conclusion that in most cases, it's all about the olive salad.

You should try Cafe Maspero on Decatur. Their take on the muffuletta is great - made to order, individual round 4" rolls, an olive salad equal to Central Grocery's and (most of all) a huge amount of meats which include pastrami...an utterly insane sandwich.

ld111134 wrote:

David Hammond wrote:

ld111134 wrote:[b]Central Grocery (New Orleans) - muffaletta (the sandwich was pre-made, the sesame roll was bone-dry and the fillings were skimpy; only the olive salad saved this from being a complete fail).

I just filed a piece about Central Grocery muffaletta (among others), and I came to the conclusion that in most cases, it's all about the olive salad.

You should try Cafe Maspero on Decatur. Their take on the muffuletta is great - made to order, individual round 4" rolls, an olive salad equal to Central Grocery's and (most of all) a huge amount of meats which include pastrami...an utterly insane sandwich.

Second that. Been going since the early 80's--was actually the first meal I ate in the French Quarter as a freshman. Tried and true. And a much better muffuletta than the tourist trap that is Central Grocery.