I am a huge fan of lists and rankings (especially the year-end ones). A symptom, no doubt, of my mind's natural bent towards science and analysis in general. So while others have been posting about their favorites from the past year, I thought I would try a list related to the best (and worst) food and drink I had in 2014. Overall it was a good year in, but not a truly memorable one eating out. I just seem to remember more great meals during our travels in 2013.
Favorite meal out:
Cafe Heaven, Provincetown, MA. I can't remember exactly what I ate, but I remember loving the whole experience: including the wine, the company, and the food. It's one of my favorite spots in the United States and just represents everything I feel about how food should be prepared and served. If you ever make it to P'town, try breakfast or dinner there, I guarantee it won't disappoint.
Honorable mentions:
Jakes in Palm Springs, CA. The food is very traditional Californian but done extremely well. It's also an institution in Palm Springs, which made the experience very unique and fun.
Alphonse Italian Osteria, Washington, DC. Totally surprised by this place, the food was a step above the red-and-white checkered tablecloth Italian-American eateries (which I love for different reasons) you find in most cities. When you go, sit at the bar, and just ask for Justice (Justus?). Seriously, if she is working just ask her what to drink and eat. She steered our party into directions we never would have gone on our own. She made the experience a hundred times better.
Favorite meal in:
The Middle Eastern meal I did for our second You Pick Two in January. It took a little over two days to make all the food, which is a lot I realize. But the entire meal, company and guests included, was worth all of it.
Favorite thing I cooked:
The strangozzi in tomato bacon sauce I made for our Umbrian You Pick Two dinner. I also made it again in September with my mother when my parents visited - one of my favorite moments in 2014. The fresh pasta takes a little time, but on a lazy afternoon it's the perfect thing to make.
Favorite sandwich:
BBB at Deli Board, San Francisco, CA. Hands down the best sandwich I have had in years. The bread was soft, the meat was tender, and the accompanying sauce was amazing. And this coming from someone who doesn't care for aioli or mayo very much at all. Highly recommend this place if you get a chance while in San Francisco.
Most disappointing meal out:
Birba, Palm Springs, CA. Between the reviews I read, the online menu I looked at, and the photos I saw, I was really excited to eat here. But with the rude service we experienced (we waited 15 minutes for a server to come to our table), the live band BLARING jazz the entire meal (making it impossible to have any conversation), and the so-so food, this was easily the most disappointing dining experience I had all year. Save your time and just go straight to Tropicale.
Honorable mention:
Doi Moi, Washington, DC. I went here in 2013, soon after it opened, with my sister and parents and had a fantastic dining experience and meal, one of the best of 2013. The server was amazing, answering all of our questions and providing great recommendations, and the food was light, spicy, and very well done. I went back this year and had the complete opposite experience: rude server and mediocre food. I wonder what happened? On the plus side, the dining room is still a beautifully decorated place.
Favorite beer:
Stiegl Radler. I realize most beer experts and purists will scoff at me for picking this since it's mostly fruit juice with some beer in it, but please hear me out on this one. Mixing the radler with some hefeweizen and sipping it on the fantastic outdoor patio of the Dacha beer garden several summer afternoons in 2014 made this my favorite. Dacha eventually became overrun by the end of the season, but those afternoons in June were some of my favorite times in the last few years here in DC.
Favorite wine:
Iron Horse Winter cuvee. Yes, it's a sparkling wine but frankly this vineyard is just amazing. It's located west of Napa/Sonoma and has none of the corporate, "what's it going to take to put you in this wine," vibe of Napa. The tasting area is outdoors with a spectacular view of the vineyard. And, frankly, all of the wines (sparkling and otherwise) were fantastic - this one just had a unique flavor to it I have never had in a sparkling wine before.
Favorite cocktail:
The Orange Crush at Bar Charley, Washington, DC. Yes, it was served in a plastic cup, but it tasted so good on a warm, Sunday afternoon brunch that Kevin and I went to over the Labor Day weekend. It literally tasted like a more balanced, less sweet version of an orange cream soda. Their cocktail menu is seasonal, hopefully they bring it back next summer.
Honorable mention:
This cider punch Kevin made for Thanksgiving. It was the perfect accompaniment to our Thanksgiving meal. And from what I understand, it was easy to make too.
Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you the best in 2015!
