2025 was one for the books. Navigating the aftermath of the Eaton Fires while rejiggering life beyond a nine-to-five was immensely challenging at times. I remember more than a few middle-of-the-night wake-ups and lots of wandering in the sun without a destination in mind. Displacement was especially disorienting, and my heart goes out to my Altadena neighbors still in the muck. I’m fortunate to be on the other side now — and grateful as hell to be here.

Through all of the year’s ups and downs, communing with close friends and family over shared meals kept my spirits high. I have always believed in the healing and connecting powers of food, and this year really drove it home. Thanks to all the homies who showed up and out.

Without further ado, I present to you my top 10 dishes of 2025, well into January 2026. (What is time but a tool of colonizers?) Check out the archives for all my favorites since 2017, when I started keeping track: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Happy New Year, Gastronomy gang.

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Duck Liver, Pear, Cilantro at Ki in Los Angeles, California

One of the most memorable tasting menus of the year was at Ki in Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo. My favorite course was served near the start of the meal in a whimsical glass hen vessel. I couldn’t get enough of the liver’s richness balanced with the juicy sweetness of the Asian pear. I took my time savoring every bite.

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Black Metal Pappardelle at Estrano pop-up in Los Angeles, California

Twas the night before Halloween when chef and homie Diego Argoti and his crew took over the sidewalk in front of Alma’s Cider in Virgil Village for an Estrano pop-up. The best dish of the night included wide-as-a-belt squid ink pappardelle paired with soy sauce tripe, confit chicken gizzards, ma la butter, tarragon, and furikake dukka. I found a quiet spot around the corner, festively outfitted for dia de los muertos, and slurped in peaceful bliss.

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Venison Tartare at Seline in Santa Monica, California

When I think back on my dinner at Dave Beran’s Seline in Santa Monica, I can’t help but smile. Yes, the food (Upper Michigan memories with a California sensibility) is delightful, but the highlight is seeing the chef in his element — cooly steering the ship in a cookbook-filled open kitchen. My favorite course of the night consisted of a preserved cherry and pistachio one-biter paired with venison tartar and savory granola —playful and delicious.

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Uni Waffle at Backbone in Montrose, California

The Foothill dining scene in Northeast Los Angeles keeps getting better. With Betsy going strong in Altadena, Cannonball making a splash in South Pasadena, and Backbone holding it down in Glendale, it’s possible to dine extraordinarily well not too far from home. Dinner with colleague and homie, Gab Chabran, at the bar of Nathan McCall and Karen Yoo’s long-gestating Backbone was a feast of thoughtful and intricately plated dazzlers. The three-bitter uni served atop two dainty waffles with nori honey butter and yuzu cream exceeded all expectations.

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Bánh Xèo at Gia Vỹ 2 in Quy Nhon, Vietnam

Banh xeo is a quintessential Vietnamese dish, but it wasn’t one that I swooned over until sampling Quy Nhon’s regional take that’s crispier and thicker. I loved them topped with baby squid, fried eggs, and sliced marinated beef. Served with rice papers, mixed greens (a blend of lettuces and herbs), and unique sauces, I wrapped until my stomach was content.

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Lamb Shank and Ribs at M Joy in San Gabriel, California

For fans of lamb, it doesn’t get any better than a meal at M Joy. Originally from Hangzhou, China, with locations in the San Gabriel Valley and Anaheim, the restaurant serves a tight menu featuring only lamb shanks and ribs sourced from New Zealand. The lamb shank fell off the bone and paired perfectly with the carrot rice, while the grilled lamb ribs knocked it out of the park with a killer dried spice blend.

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Foie Gras Pastrami at Vetri in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After patiently waiting two decades to dine at chef Marc Vetri’s seminal Philadelphia restaurant, I was prepared to be taken aback by the pastas. It turns out that the foie gras pastrami appetizer served atop toasted brioche with mostarda was the star of the Spruce Street show. California’s foie gras ban took effect in 2012, and while I don’t miss the fatty duck liver, it is a treat to encounter it now and again. A cool glass of Passito di Pantelleria 2022 “Bukkuram” Sicily made for an incredible pairing.

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Bún Thái at The Lunch Lady in Vancouver, Canada

One of the highlights of 2025 was a mother-daughter trip to Vancouver over spring break. I loved the oysters at Fanny Bay and gelato at Passione Gelato, but my favorite bite of the trip was the wonderfully slurpable bowl of bún Thái at The Lunch Lady. Though the restaurant’s muse, Nguyen Thi Thanh, passed away unexpectedly in 2025, her spirit lives on in the soulful cooking in Vancouver. Rest in peace.

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Tripe, Trotter, and English Pea Soup at Cafe 2001 in Los Angeles, California

I didn’t know what to expect heading to Cafe 2001 in the Arts District for lunch with DTAB. But as soon as I spied the filled brioche doughnuts behind the pastry case, I was transported to St. John in London. It turns out that chef Giles Clark trained at the iconic restaurant and bakery, whose influence is apparent in his craft. The tripe, trotter, and English pea soup captured springtime in a bowl. The brightness of fresh peas and leeks balanced the heft and chew of the trotters and tripe. I loved it all, even the potatoes.

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Cơm Tấm Bì Chả Thịt Nướng Trứng Ốp La at Com Tam Kieu Restaurant in San Gabriel, California

One of the most comforting meals during my displaced days was at Com Tam Kieu with my friend and former colleague Kat Thompson. The fires impacted both of our lives, and this tremendous trough of broken rice healed a part of our broken hearts. The yolk-topped pork loaf is something I still think about.