13 Best Meals of 2013

Everyone is putting together lists of their past year, reflecting on what has happened the past 365 days. I wanted to something slightly different and since I spend so much time thinking about food, writing about food, looking at food and dreaming about what I’m going to eat next, it is only logical that I talk about food! So I present to you: the 13 best things I ate in 2013.

Ki Sushi // New Westminster, Canada

You know the saying “wanting something you can’t have”? That describes my relationship perfectly with sushi. Budapest, which offered plenty of delicious delicacies, sushi isn’t one of them. Sushi was a constant craving so it was appropriate that my first meal back home was sushi. There are so many sushi joints in the Vancouver area, but this one stands out because it was the first one in years.

The Acorn // Vancouver, Canada

When I found out this was a vegetarian restaurant I was doubtful. I like my vegetables, but I also like my meat. But, boy was I surprised. I didn’t even miss the meat. Everything was really hearty and delicious. Foods were organic, and locally sourced. The best part was the amazing dessert called ‘Pumpkin’ which was a semifreddo of pumpkin with amaretti crumble, crème fraiche, and sage crisps. They’ve since taken it off the menu (put it back!), but maybe they’ll bring it back this season.

Chicken Haryali – Siddhartha’s Kitchen // Vancouver, BC

I generally don’t like Indian food, but this place made me change my mind. I originally was there to check out a set menu that they were offering, but have since gone back multiple times. I especially love this dish, the Chicken Haryali, because the chicken is so tender and flavourful and the spinach is super smooth and tasty. Definitely worth the visit.

Alaskan King Crab // Richmond, Canada

Chinese restaurants turn the Alaskan king crab into a massive multi-course meal which utilizes all the parts of the crab. We generally get two courses with the first being all the legs, split in half and generally we get them cooked in garlic butter. The second course uses the shell of the crab to bake a crab fried rice. You can also opt to get noodles or the crab knuckles as a third or fourth course. It’s a great meal to share with family and friends.

Salted Caramel – Ernest Ice Cream // Vancouver, Canada

I love salted caramel. Anything with that in it, on it, near it, I must have. So it does without saying that I took home a pint of this good stuff.

Richmond Night Market // Richmond, Canada

The Richmond Night market is such a great place to go to try a variety of cuisines from the various stalls set up. You can essentially eat your way around Asia. A must have is the Taiwanese popcorn chicken and washed down with some bubble tea.

Beef Sliders with Potato Salad – Little Straw Vineyard // Kelowna, Canada

I’ve previously mentioned this amazingly fresh meal I had in the middle of my vineyard tours. It really was tasty and I still think of that delicious potato salad.

Everything Bagel with Salmon Spread – Absolute Bagels // NYC, USA

Honestly, I’m pretty indifferent to bagels. On occasion, I’ll really crave one with cream cheese, and that is about it (again massive cravings in Budapest because you can’t get them there). But this bagel was different. Freshly baked, pipping hot, I sprung for the salmon spread instead of plain ‘ol cream cheese and boy was I in heaven. I picked the everything bagel (normally I’m a plain bagel kinda gal), and I loved the hint of poppy and sesame seed flavour with a bit of salt. And the salmon spread? More please!

Pastrami Sandwich – Katz’s Deli // NYC, USA

I’ve already named this meal to be the best thing I ate while in NYC, and it definitely was one of 2013 as well. So so good.

Birthday Dinner – Tom’s Kitchen // Vancouver, Canada

For my birthday, I had a private chef put together a menu for me and a few of my friends: Rustic Fall Vegetable Soup with Smoked Bacon, Mixed Green Salad with Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette, Risotto of Wild Mushrooms, Fresh locally caught soho salmon with potatoes and vegetables, and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Raspberry Coulis. It was delicious!

Eggs Benedict – Jam Cafe // Victoria, Canada

Victoria, BC is a city of brunch. There are so many delicious options to try and I visited a place that was new to me. I thoroughly enjoyed my pesto and prosciutto benny with a side of hash browns and sun-dried tomatoes. The cafe is small, but houses some pretty cool decorations. Get there early or be prepared to wait!

Christmas Dinner // Chez Moi

I love to cook and take any opportunity to experiment. Lately, I’ve been trying to perfect my roast chicken and I think I might have done just that for my Christmas dinner. In my house, instead of roasting a turkey, we make a chicken. It came out perfectly brown and crispy. It was tender and flavourful. Now, if only I can replicate it.

Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings // Pok Pok, Portland, OR

You go to Portland and everyone tells you that you’ve gotta try these wings. They were everything that you would expect wings to be. Sticky, sweet, salty and garlicky.  You can opt to make it spicy as well for that extra pop. The rest of the meal was just average, but those wings are too good. I’m going to try to make them at home!

So there you have it. Have you eaten something this past year that was mind blowing? Share it with me!

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