2017 Food & Bev Highlights

I thought last year's thread was really fun and useful, and I mined the posts for many places to try. Anyone have a list of their local restaurant/bar highlights from 2017?

=R=

I've gotten into the habit of ranking all the restaurants I eat at. Here's my 2017 top 10

Alo - Toronto
Raku - Las Vegas
Monteverde
Oiji - NYC
Dancen
Nico Osteria (Prune takeover)
Morel - Milwaukee
Uncle Boons - NYC
Fat Rice
Cafe Marie Jeanne

These were my best of the year. All were very good, but furthermore, in each category, the one I've ranked number one (in bold) absolutely blew me away!

Chicago-area lunch/brunch:
1. North Pond
2. Shaw's Crab House
3. Crosby's Kitchen
4. RPM Steak
5. GT Fish & Oyster

Chicago-area dinner:
1. Next (World's 50 Best)
2. Oriole
3. City Mouse
4. Giant
5. Band of Bohemia
6. Ruxbin
7. Inovasi
8. GT Prime
9. Remington's
10(t). Campagnola
10(t). Libertad

Out of town lunch/brunch:
1. Le Diplomate, Washington
2. Jill's in the St. Julien, Boulder
3. Nate 'n Al's, Beverly Hills
4. Blue Point Grille, Cleveland
5. Bette's Oceanview Diner, Berkeley

Out of town dinner:
1. The Modern, New York City
2. Sanford, Milwaukee
3. Daniel, New York City
4. Lola, Cleveland
5. Kinship, Washington
6. Suwanee, Kearney Nebraska
7. Baker Street, Fort Wayne
8. Plume, Washington
9. E.P. Asian House, Los Angeles
10. Third Coast Provisions, Milwaukee

In town, we were wowed this year by Oriole, Proxi, Kai-Zan, and Monteverde.

Out of town, we had incredible food at Blackberry Farm.

At home, we impressed ourselves with a whole goat we roasted for 40, a whole pig we did for 80, and a really fun poké night for 12.

Working backwards (through my posts):

Christmas Eve at Chengdu Impression: we had a huge feast that barely scratched the menu, but for me the highlight was Pork Belly with Black Fermented Leaf. Rich, tender, not too sweet, not to five-spiced -- a perfect balance.

Boston Fish Market continues to make every meal special (and enormous) -- a birthday dinner of an enormous platter of fried calamari and shrimp was wonderful. I think they need a special award for best table service for a counter-order restaurant.

Iliana Regan knocks it out of the park again and again - a meal at Kitsune was more than just interpreted Japanese; Alice in Wonderland at Elizabeth combined flavors and textures in amazing ways... but if she did nothing but bread and mushroom tea out of a food truck she would still be one of Chicago's gems.

Route 66 was a parade of pretty-good-but-not-amazing burgers, fried foods, and sweets, but the best memories are of the huge platters of foods (and more pass-arounds) at Lambert's outside Springfield MO, and eggs benedict with brisket and red chile hollandaise at the Teahouse in Santa Fe. Oh, and a special shout-out to the Slammer at the Hickory Hut in Salinas, KS.

Perfect pasta everywhere in Rome and Naples (even at a cafe outside the train station), but L'Asino D'Oro is a gem among gems, especially the cinghiale (wild boar) with cocoa, rosemary and pine nuts.

Can't resist a list!

All categories listed chronologically–

City:

Pho dac biet- Pho 5 Lua
Lamb fahsa- Mandi Noor
Injera, lentils, beef & potato wot- Tesfa
Shish kabob sandwich- Mr. D's
Pork chop baked rice- Fat Rice
Italian beef, fries- CaPo's
Frontier chicken, naan, bhindi, haleem, goat stew- Pakeeza
Pomodoro & Mortadella bianca slices– Bonci
Roasted pig feet w peanuts, wonton in broth, & soft tofu in chili oil- A Place by Damao
Chicken katsu, Aloha pork- Aloha Wagon
Mohinga, tea leaf salad, noodle salad, chicken satay- Family House
Flip burger- Flip
Porchetta sandwich- Marisol

Burbs:

Lao sausage, som tum, beef lap- White Pearl, Elgin
Banh mi chicken burger- Fareways Grill (Cantigny), Wheaton
Edomae tendon tempura- Hannosuke (Mitsuwa)
Asada quesadilla- Pollo Vagabundo
Kifta kebab sandwich- Naf Naf, Naperville
Spicy chicken ramyun- hanbun
Tacos de cecina- La Quebrada, Cicero
Italian beef pretzel- Gnarly Knots, Winfield
Filipino ribs (sizzling pork)- vendor Kane County Flea Market
Inahaw na liempo, chicken inasal- Hong Ning, Carol Stream
Pepperoni & mushroom pie- Barnaby's of Northbrook

Elsewhere:

Pork 'n beans, brisket– Greenbush, Sawyer, MI
Goat roti- Mona's Roti, Toronto
Star burger- Shooting Star, Huntsville, UT

My list was made a bit early and does not include the last couple weeks of 2017 which I spent in SE Asia leading up and into the New Year. I'll just have to include the best of that trip in my 2018 round-up. In the meantime here's my 'best of 2017' with a small rule being only one or two things from each trip taken. Lot's of good stuff left off but these are the items I most often think about. Feel free to click HERE for pics etc. Happy New Year.

Best of Chicagoland

Dry Chili Fish Filet at New China Station
Texas Chili Mac at The Texican
Thai Egg Creme Soda at Spinning J
Yukon Fries at Roister
Huevos Motuleños at Con Huevos
Stracci at Daisies
Hot Tamales at The Delta
Beef Empanadas at ArePA George
Beef Shawarma at Roxy Kabab (now closed)
Pizza al Taglio at Bonci
Cevapi at Balkan Grill Company
Korean Wings at Sol's on Sheridan

Best of Beyond Chicagoland

Pastrami Platter at Pieous (Austin, TX)
Mexican Donburi at Arroces Del Babyface (Mexico City)
Tete Roulee Pistachee at Reynon (Lyon, France)
Japanese Beef Curry Donburi at Red Light Ramen (Milwaukee, WI)
Unagi Donburi at Donburi (Washington DC)
Soba Noodles with Duck at Abri Soba (Paris, France)
Huevos Rancheros at Con Huevos (Louisville, KY)
Wiener Schnitzel at Buja Disznók (Budapest, Hungary)
Frites at Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx (Amsterdam)

Best Tacos

Carne Guisada Taco at Taco-Mex (Austin, TX)
Ricos Taco de Mixiote at the Tianguis Condesa Market (Mexico City)
Tacos de Canasta at Los Especialas (Mexico City)
Taco de Surtido at Los Cocuyos (Mexico City)
Taco Arabe at El Taco Azteca (Chicago, IL)
Potato Taco at The Laughing Taco (Milwaukee, WI)
Taco Campechano at Mi Tocaya (Chicago, IL)
Lamb Tacos at Nixta (St. Louis, MO)

Best Burgers

Original Cheeseburger at P. Terry's (Austin, TX)
Bad Wolf Burger at Little Bad Wolf (Chicago, IL)
Double Cheeseburger at Basil's II (Denmark, WI)
Cheeseburger at Joe Rouer's Bar (Luxemburg, WI)
Double Cheeseburger at Mac's Local Eats (St. Louis, MO)

Best Sandwiches

Carne Asada Torta at Torta Haus (Chicago, IL)
Hot Salami Sandwich at Gioia's Deli (St. Louis, MO)
Lamb Skewer Sandwich at Urfa Durum (Paris, France)
Steak Sandwich (w/ cheese) at Bia's Cafe Marianao (Chicago, IL)
Meatloaf Sandwich at The Grand Sandwich Stand (Chicago, IL)
Meatball Sandwich at MozzaPi (Louisville, KY)
Torpedo Sandwiches at Bors Gasztrobar (Budapest, Hungary)
Broodje at Broodjeszaak 't Kuyltje (Amsterdam)

Best Meals of 2017

Barbacoa Spread at El Hidalguense (Mexico City)
Lunch at Takao Takano (Lyon, France)
Lunch at Hanbun (Westmont, IL)
Dinner at HaiSous (Chicago, IL)
Dinner at Rose's Luxury (Washington DC)
Lunch at Clamato (Paris, France)
Dinner at Borkonyha Winekitchen (Budapest, Hungary)

Joe Rouer's - Duvall, Wi
Zaffiro's - Milwaukee
Crazy Water - Milwaukee
Laughing Taco - Milwaukee
Tomken's - West Allis
Tofte's Table - Waukesha
Ishnalla Supper Club -Wis Dells
Five O'clock Steakhouse - Milwaukee
Mr. B's Steakhouse - Brookfield, Wi
Johnny Manhattans - Richfield, Wi

Roughly chronological:

Chicago
Chickenjoy - Jollibee
Special kung pao chicken, cumin lamb - New China Station
Double cheeseburger - Redhot Ranch
Prosciutto plate, salt-crusted whole branzino - Nico Osteria
Baked pork chop rice - Fat Rice
Aged cheddar rillettes, whole chicken & chamomile, Yukon fries - Roister
Pork cutlet, frogs legs, cod nuggets, hush puppies - Troha's Chicken & Shrimp
JBL Special - Lem's BBQ
Fried chicken sandwich - Big Jones

Boston
Aged beef tartare, gnocchi with caviar, pastrami smoked salmon - Saltie Girl

Tokyo
House special tsukemen -Fu-unji
Egg salad sandwich - Lawson
Okita Kurobuta tonkatsu set - Maisen Tokyu Toyoko
Sayonara soup - Sasamoto, Omoide Yokocho
Tonkatsu curry - Curry House 11 Imasa
Paitan ramen - Kagari
Bake cheese tart - Bake Cheese Tart

Kyoto
Sukiyaki - Negiya Heikichi
Inarizushi, sabazushi (pickled mackerel), hakozushi (grilled pike eel), makizushi (shittake mushroom, kanpyo [gourd], Mitsuba [Japanese wild parsley], omelet), hamo (pike eel) - Izuju
Tsukemen with hoso (beef small intestine) - Wajoryomen Sugari

Osaka
Pork and beef okonomiyaki -Ajinoya
Kushikatsu set (cheese, tsukune, fish sausage with cheese, sweet potato, rice cake, beef, tonkatsu, shrimp, asparagus, sausage, karaage, and quail eggs) - Ganso Skewers Daruma
Toro (fatty tuna) x3, sake (salmon), ikura (salmon roe), tekka (tuna roll), hamachi (yellow tail), tai (sea bream) x2, anage (sea eel), tamago (omelet), sayori (halfbeak), tachiuo (hairtail) - Endo Sushi
Melon pan ice cream sandwich - Melon pan ice cream truck

2017 was a dope eating year

gnarchief wrote:Roughly chronological:

Chicago
Chickenjoy - Jollibee
Special kung pao chicken, cumin lamb - New China Station
Double cheeseburger - Redhot Ranch
Prosciutto plate, salt-crusted whole branzino - Nico Osteria
Baked pork chop rice - Fat Rice
Aged cheddar rillettes, whole chicken & chamomile, Yukon fries - Roister
Pork cutlet, frogs legs, cod nuggets, hush puppies - Troha's Chicken & Shrimp
JBL Special - Lem's BBQ
Fried chicken sandwich - Big Jones

Tokyo
House special tsukemen -Fu-unji
Egg salad sandwich - Lawson
Okita Kurobuta tonkatsu set - Maisen Tokyu Toyoko
Sayonara soup - Sasamoto, Omoide Yokocho
Tonkatsu curry - Curry House 11 Imasa
Paitan ramen - Kagari
Bake cheese tart - Bake Cheese Tart

Kyoto
Sukiyaki - Negiya Heikichi
Inarizushi, sabazushi (pickled mackerel), hakozushi (grilled pike eel), makizushi (shittake mushroom, kanpyo [gourd], Mitsuba [Japanese wild parsley], omelet), hamo (pike eel) - Izuju
Tsukemen with hoso (beef small intestine) - Wajoryomen Sugari

Osaka
Pork and beef okonomiyaki -Ajinoya
Kushikatsu set (cheese, tsukune, fish sausage with cheese, sweet potato, rice cake, beef, tonkatsu, shrimp, asparagus, sausage, karaage, and quail eggs) - Ganso Skewers Daruma
Toro (fatty tuna) x3, sake (salmon), ikura (salmon roe), tekka (tuna roll), hamachi (yellow tail), tai (sea bream) x2, anage (sea eel), tamago (omelet), sayori (halfbeak), tachiuo (hairtail) - Endo Sushi
Melon pan ice cream sandwich - Melon pan ice cream truck

2017 was a dope eating year

Fuunji was so damn good and I crave it all the time. Want to go back to Tokyo soon!!

From the 'better late than never' files. These are in reverse chronological order. Repeated entries signify multiple visits . . .

Sausage & Peppers, Grilled Calamari, Creamed Spinach, Chicken Vesuvio - Mirabella

Mohinga, Mee Goreng w/Shrimp, Noodle Salad, Papaya Salad - Family House

Falafel, Chicken Kofta, Beef Shawarma, Torshi, Hummus, Lentil Soup - Larsa's

Dry Chili Fish - New China Station

Boudin Balls, Gumbo - Pearl's/LTH Holiday Party

Fava Bean Escabeche, Burtternut Squash, Sichuan Breakfast Tofu, Arroz Gordo - Fat Rice

Seoul Burger, Tokyo Dog - Boba Burger

Zinger Burger - Mr. Broast

BBQ Brisket, Hand-cut fries - Big Ange's Eatery

Reuben Sandwich - Stormy's Tavern

Ricotta Dumplings, Porchetta - Cellar Door Provisions

Coctel Verde, Caldo, Birria - Zaragoza

Chilli Clams, XO Noodles, Potstickers - Fat Rice

Beef Koubideh, Chicken Koubideh, Chicken Tawook - Kabobi

Moonlighter, London, Queso, Tacos, Wings - Moonlighter

Bread & Snacks, Pork Belly- Cellar Door Provisions

Chana Masala, Dal Makhani, Palak Paneer - Spice Room

Meatballs in Salsa Verde - Jonathan Zaragoza @ Mexico In A Bottle

Grilled Calamari, Sausage & Peppers - Mirabella

Quail & Rice - Cellar Door Provisions

Seared Tuna, Spicy Shrimp - Ruth's Chris-Northbrook (Bar Bites)

Red Chili Pork Empanada, Green Chili Pork Black Bean Empanada - Cafe Tola Loncheria

Meatballs - Pizzeria Serio

Chicken Sikh Kabob, Chapli Kabob, Broast Chicken, Chicken Boti - Khan BBQ

Chengdu Dumplings, Black pepper ribs, Szechuan Pickled Vegetables, Chengdu dried beef with Szechuan chilies, Szechuan Green Beans - Asian Bistro

Sausage & Onion Pizza, Pepperoni, Sausage & Jalapeno Pizza - Barnaby's NILES

Scrambled Egg Fonduta (uber cheesy scrambles, zucchini/blossoms, tomato bruschetta) Ragu alla Napoletana - Monteverde

Papas Bravas, Paella, Shishito Peppers (onion and dill creme fraiche, lemon) - Salero

Sausage & Onion Pizza, Pepperoni, Sausage & Jalapeno Pizza - Barnaby's NILES

Big Baby - Nicky's Hot Dogs

Smoked Shrimp - Calumet Fisheries

Sausage Pizza, Italian Beef & Hot Gardeniera Pizza - Vito & Nick's

Spicy Tuna Roll, Tuna Hand Roll (spicy), Saba Negiri - Ora Sushi

Pork Belly Bao - Kitsune

Ragu Napolatana, Orechiettini with Pesto, - Monteverde

Tri-Tip - Cellar Door Provisions

Tasting Menu - Oriole

Cherry Tomatoes (grilled haloumi, nasturtium-walnut pesto, radish), Cherry wood-Smoked Duck Leg (cherries, charred kohlrabi, basil), Scallops & Clams (summer squash, angelica butter), Chicken Fried Veal Sweetbreads (button mushrooms, cauliflower, cashew) - Lula Cafe

Cemita Atomica - Cemitas Puebla

Smoked Sturgeon-stuffed Squash blossoms, Roasted Chicken, Chicken Sausage and Greens - Daisies

Wedge Salad, Strip Steak, Hash Browns - Ruth's Chris Northbrook

Burger, Fried Pickles, Fries - Scofflaw

Leek Chawanmushi, Baked Feta, Quesadillas, Turkey Sandwich, Crispy Roasted Chicken - Lula Cafe

Roasted Pork Jowl - Cellar Door Provisions

Lamb Vindaloo, Chana Masala, Dal Palak, Palak Paneer - Spice Room

Soft Shell "Shelter" Crab (chilli, garlic, black bean, lemon aioli), Stir Fried Nettles (spring onion, swiss chard, queijo fresco, butter), Bacalhau De Vovo (olive, chilli, mint, bread), Acorda (fried bread, garlic poached egg, clams, prawn broth), Dry Fried Klug Asparagus (linguica, peixinho frito, preserved lemon, chilli), Arroz Gordo (best take on this ever - curried chicken, char siu, linguica, chilli prawns, clams, olives, chicken fat crouton), Egg Tart - Fat Rice

Asparagus with Morels & Eggs (manchego fonduta, crispy polenta, fried duck egg), Ragu Alla Napoletana, Cacio Whey Pepe - Monteverde

Special Custom Shrimp Sandwich (shrimp, special sauce, lettuce, pickles, grilled onions) - Redhot Ranch

Radicchio Salad, Paella - Not Castle Door

Asparagus (shrimp, deviled eggs, knob onions, grainy mustard, pickle vinaigrette) - Publican Anker

Tacos Al Pastor - Carniceria Guanajuato #3

Lamb Vindaloo, Dal Makhani, Lamb Biryani, Saag Paneer, Chicken Korma - Spice Room

(Braised, Poached, Fried) Chicken & Chamomile, A-5 Wagyu Beef (uni butter togarashi), Shrimp & Grits (key west pink shrimp, crab curry, Thai basil), Smoked Oysters (garlic butter, breadcrumbs), Wedge Salad (bacon bits, 7-minute egg, smoked tomato), Yukon Fries (soy dusted, bonito flakes, tofu mayo), Chicken Liver Toast (onions, dill pickles cilantro) - Roister

Chicken Koubideh, Lamb Koubideh, Chicken Taouk, Dill Rice - Kabobi

Chana Masala, Dal Palak - Himalayan

Sweet Soy Eggplant, Braised Octopus, Bacon Morcelo with Ramps, Sunny-Side Egg, Romesco - Fat Rice

Grilled Ramps with Potatoes, Egg, Mushrooms and Romesco, Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Asparagus Salad - Best Intentions

Ponderosa Salad - Parsons Chicken & Fish

Fideos Secos Chintextle, Peanut Butter y Lengua - Mi Tocaya

Coddled Egg with Ramps and Lamb Sausage - Lula Cafe

Lomo Encebollada Torta - Carniceria Guanajuato #3

Okonomiyaki, Crab & Radish Chawanmushi - Kitsune

Ramp Polenta pickled ramps, egg - Cellar Door Provisions

Al Pastor Tacos, Carne Asada Burrito, Salsa - Carniceria Guanajuato #3

Al Pastor Tacos, Carnitas Torta, Carne Asada Burrito, Salsa - Carniceria Guanajuato #3

Grilled Scallops (sweet potatoes, chorizo, pil pil), Pulpo Gallego (papas fritas, romesco), Root Vegetable Remoulade (pink peppercorn aioli, mustard greens), Grilled Porchetta (red pepper polenta, broccolini, salsa verde) - Income Tax

Hot (3x) Fried Chicken, Greens, Biscuit - Budlong

Burger, Pepper Jack Hash Browns - Scofflaw

Thai Wings, Grilled Pork Neck Salad, Chou Chi Ground Pork - Aroy Thai

Dinner Tasting Menu - Cellar Door Provisions

Tacos de Crispy Tripas, Campechano, Lengua, Suadero and Longanisa - La Chaparrita

Beef Tendon, Spicy Pig Ear, Pork & Garlic, Mapo Tofu, Chengdu Dumplings - Bite of Szechuan

Gumbo Shooter, Pork Rind Poutine, Red Beans & Rice, Crawfish Etoufee, Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich - Pearl's Southern Comfort (LTH dinner)

Special Parsons Hot Chicken Sandwich, Hash Browns, - Parsons Chicken & Fish

Momo & Soup - Himalayan

Beef Tendon, Spicy Pig Ear, Pork & Garlic, Beef & Tofu, Chengdu Dumplings, Tofu & Preserved Egg, Dry Chili Fish - Bite of Szechuan

Baby Arugula Salad - Coda Di Volpe

Gam Ja Tang - San Soo Kab San Glenview

Palak Paneer, Lamb Karahi, Bindi - Thali Spice

Lunch Menu (entire thing) Han Bun

Aguadito - D'Candela

Omakase+ - Ora Sushi

Meat Pierogis, Mushroom Soup, Hungarian Style Pancake - Smak Tak

Orzo with King Crab and chili butter, Lasagna - Giant

Arugula, Manchego, Kohlrabi & Local Apple Salad, Beef Short Ribs (red and green chimichurri), bone-in Salmon Steak with Dill Salsa Verde, horseradish cream and fried capers, Thin-Cut Pork Chops with Coleman's spicy mustard, grapes, herb salad and peanuts, Cauliflower Gratin, Alfajor ice cream sandwich Maizena cookie with dulce de leche ice cream - El Che Bar

=R=

I'm rarely jealous of people's eating adventures, but hot damn that's an impressive list!

Guess i need to try harder!

And those are just the highlights!

Folks, we have a winner!

Provisions

Tri-Tip - Cellar Door

My wife and I had this. The kitchen quick-seared it and served it with some salsa verde, although my memory fails me as to the other accoutrement.

Inedible when we had it. The quick sear seized the protein structure and it was tough. Not sure if you were able to enjoy a different preparation.

vinyl endive wrote:Provisions

Tri-Tip - Cellar Door

My wife and I had this. The kitchen quick-seared it and served it with some salsa verde, although my memory fails me as to the other accoutrement.

Inedible when we had it. The quick sear seized the protein structure and it was tough. Not sure if you were able to enjoy a different preparation.

LOL, I guess so.

=R=