Dec 2010

The Year in Delicious: Top 10 Savories of 2010

Year in Savories 2010

It’s hard to believe that after all these years of blogging, this is my first time posting a year-end retrospective. From coast to coast and to Spain and back, I ate like a champion these past 365 days. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing many more meals in this space.

Without further ado, here are the ten best savory dishes that I ate this year…

MARISCOS CHENTE

Camarones Aguachiles from Mariscos Chente in Los Angeles, CA

Magdalena Garcia, the restaurant’s owner, takes a bus down to the Mexican coast several times a month to bring back fish and shrimp for the restaurant. While that initially struck me as a lot of unnecessary work, one taste of the camarones aguachiles and it was clear that the extra effort was worth it. Flash marinated with lime, salt, and jalapeno, the raw shrimp were supple and crazy delicious.

Little Ethiopia Food Tour - Washington D.C.

Ethiopian Kitfo from Zenebech Injera in Washington, D.C.

The kitfo (raw ground beef) was mildly spiced so that the meat’s natural flavor was front and center. It was accompanied by a mound of dulet (lean minced beef), a tomato salad, house made cottage cheese, and a bit of mitmita (ground African Birdseye chili peppers, cardamom seed, cloves, and salt) for dipping.

AKELARRE - SAN SEBASTIAN

Porous of Foie Gras with Toasted Peanut Bread from Akelarre in San Sebastian, Spain

I’m not sure how Chef Pedro Subijana did it, but he managed to transform a fatty lobe of liver into an airy sponge that melted on the tongue. The foie gras was so light that it could be eaten straight up and in large quantity without feeling overwhelmed. Highlighting the magnificent foie gras were dots of hibiscus, a pretty pink begonia flower, and peanut butter bread.

Neptune Oyster - Boston

Connecticut-Style Lobster Roll from Neptune Oyster in Boston, MA

Neptune Oyster constructs both traditional lobster rolls tossed in mayonnaise, as well as “Connecticut-style” specimens that are drizzled with hot clarified butter. We ordered ours Connecticut-style and it was incredible. We couldn’t get over how much lobster meat was piled into the grilled brioche bun. Every bite was a glorious mouthful of tail, knuckle, and claw meat. The entire sandwich was amazingly decadent. And the side of fries was perfect too.

Lotus of Siam - Las Vegas

Drunken Noodles with Crispy Duck from Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas, NV

I ordered the drunken noodles with crispy duck based on an Ohio blogger’s recommendation that I randomly stumbled upon. He promised me a “life changing” experience, and sure enough, it was spectacular! We were warned by our waiter when we placed our order that the duck would be fatty, but what he failed to mention was that the skin would be taut and crisp, while the meat would be juicy as heck. The goodness of the duck was further enhanced by the fresh chili sauce, fried Thai basil, and pan fried noodles.

sugarFISH by sushi nozawa

Nigiri Sushi from Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa in Los Angeles, CA

In Chef Nozawa’s book, there is no greater offense than serving mayo-laden rolls heavy with bells and whistles. Instead, he prepares pristine fishes, minimally fussed and buttery on the tongue. Each slice of fish was presented on warm, loosely packed rice. I preferred to eat each piece with my fingers to avoid a crumbly mess.

Mercat De La Boqueria - Barcelona

Jamon Iberico de Bellota from Casa Marta in Madrid, Spain

Feeling a bit indulgent, The Astronomer and I ordered a plate of jamon iberico de bellota to start before delving into our pre-fixe menu. We had eaten bits and pieces of the famed black-footed ham throughout our Spanish stay, but this was the first time digging into an entire plate of the stuff. Jamon iberico comes from free-range, black Iberian pigs that are finished on a diet of acorns.

Shaved off in paper-thin slices, the ham arrived at the table glistening and fragrant. I found its texture amazingly supple, while its flavor flooded every corner of my mouth. Each slice brought an intense hit of salty, fatty goodness, and I was a little heartbroken when the last piece disappeared.

DAIKOKUYA RAMEN

Pork Gyozas from Daikokuya in Los Angeles, CA

A ramenya experience is incomplete without a few plates of gyoza to start. The ones at Daikokuya are filled with pork and vegetables, wrapped in thin papers, and pan fried. An order includes five dumplings that arrive in a raft-like mass, accompanied by a mild dipping sauce on the side. After carefully peeling a dumpling from its mates, my friend Andrew declared the gyozas the best he’s ever tasted. I would’ve shouted out in agreement, except that my mouth was occupied by a plump little dumpling.

SERIOUS PIE

Chanterelle Mushroom Pizza from Serious Pie in Seattle, WA

When the pizza arrived at our  table, the distinct aroma of truffles filled the air. The rectangular pie was presented on a slate and studded with chanterelles galore, gooey pools of truffle cheese, and a sprinkling of fresh parsley. Topping it all off was a dousing of olive oil and Murray River salt.

El Celler de Can Roca Restaurant - Girona

Steak Tartare with Mustard Ice Cream (2009 Adaptation) from El Celler De Can Roca in Girona, Spain

Dotted with capers and mustard ice cream, the steak was topped with a plethora of flavors including a Bearnaise sauce and airy chips dusted with chives, lemon curry, paprika, and Szechuan peppercorn. This course tasted like five different dishes in one.

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10 thoughts on “The Year in Delicious: Top 10 Savories of 2010

  1. Mmm it all looks spectacular. I’ve only been able to try three of these (drunken noodles, nigiri, gyoza) but I can totally see why they’d make the list. Also – really good variety on this list too!

  2. Haha, if there was ever any doubt that we both had great minds that think alike…

    Great list! I wamt to swap some of my items with yours! Crispy duck with drunken noodles? Yes, please!

  3. Love it! I’ll add these to my must eat of 2011. I concur on the ham in Espana. There are a couple of other eats in Esapna that I loved. Roasted suckling pigs at…???? Crap, forgot and Paella at La Barracs. Mmmmhmmm.

  4. I need read no further than “Dotted with capers and mustard.” Anything with such items would be on a top 10 list. At some point, you want to try the tartare at Pierre Gagnaire. It is well worth the trip.

  5. Crispy, crunchy, chewy, salty, oniony–the gyoza at Daikokuya is to die for! Some people say this place is overrated, but they obviously haven´t dipped one of those babies and dropped them in their mouths!

  6. While The Gastronomer’s 2010 Top 10 would have changed little if human beings had never discovered fire, mine relies more on heavily on stoves, ovens, and the like. I certainly can’t argue with the quality of any of her choices, but it’s interesting to look back on the year and reflect on how our tastes differ. In no particular order, here are my Top 10 Savories of 2010:

    – Japanese Kuroge Beef with Marrow Toast, Matsutake Mushrooms, and Bordelaise Sauce from The Dining Room at the Langham in Pasadena
    – Goat Tacos from Birrieria Teqpeque in Huntington Park
    – Drunken Noodles with Crispy Duck from Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas
    – Sole, Olive Oil, and Mediterranean Flavors from El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain
    – Escargot Served Atop Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Red Mole, Cold Tofu, and Cilantro from Ludo Bites 6.0 at Max in Sherman Oaks
    – Meat-Stuffed Agnolotti with Butter and Sage from Osteria Mozza in West Hollywood
    – Roasted Pigeon with Mole and Cocoa from Akelarre in San Sebastian, Spain
    – Rouleaux (Cambodian Egg Rolls) from The Elephant Walk in Boston
    – Wok-Roasted Mussels from Myers+Chang in Boston
    – Vadouvan Naan with Salted Coconut Butter from Ludo Bites 5.0 at Gram & Papa’s in Los Angeles

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