What was your Best Meal of the Year?
#121
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,839
Two meals stand out personally, amazing antipasti and cappelletti in brodo in an osteria in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy, and the best ceviche I’ve ever tasted in Gaston Acuria’s La Mar in Lima (which far outshone our meal in the much more storied Central).
#122
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 873
I've dined at 36 Michelin-starred restaurants this year, some of them a few times (7 3-stars, 13 2-stars, and 16 1-stars). It's very hard to say what my best meal was! I might actually give the honor to The Araki, the newly 3-starred sushi counter in London. Though I believe this is largely because it was my first omakase experience and so this was something new for me. Never before have I had sushi at that level. Come to think of it, some of the most fun I've had dining this year has been at counter-style restaurants; I also had amazing experiences at Atera and Blanca in NYC. While I was celebrating a friend's birthday at Atera, my meals at The Araki and Blanca were the most fun I've ever had dining alone.
I'd say my top ten this year were:
1. The Araki (omakase)
2. Azurmendi (classic tasting menu)
3. Atera
4. Blanca
5. Jean-Georges (signature tasting menu)
6. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
7. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (classic tasting menu + white truffle/cep linguine)
8. Helene Darroze at the Connaught (set lunch, believe it or not)
9. The Modern (a la carte lunch)
10. Claude Bosi at Bibendum (a la carte lunch)
Biggest disappointments this year were Sixteen (2 stars) and Grace (3 stars) in Chicago.
I'll also throw in my best and most memorable wine pairings this year, the premium pairings offered by the following restaurants:
1. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
2. Sketch (Lecture Room & Library)
3. Atera
I'd say my top ten this year were:
1. The Araki (omakase)
2. Azurmendi (classic tasting menu)
3. Atera
4. Blanca
5. Jean-Georges (signature tasting menu)
6. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
7. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (classic tasting menu + white truffle/cep linguine)
8. Helene Darroze at the Connaught (set lunch, believe it or not)
9. The Modern (a la carte lunch)
10. Claude Bosi at Bibendum (a la carte lunch)
Biggest disappointments this year were Sixteen (2 stars) and Grace (3 stars) in Chicago.
I'll also throw in my best and most memorable wine pairings this year, the premium pairings offered by the following restaurants:
1. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
2. Sketch (Lecture Room & Library)
3. Atera
#123
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Free Republic of Florida
Programs: LH Senator, CX Diamond, UA Prem Plat, Fans of MO Elite
Posts: 589
#124
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Best meal of 2017: My leaving San Diego dinner with @SANdEhGo had his father.
Steak, shrimp, red wine, 30yo scotch and the company of two of the best people in my world.
Steak, shrimp, red wine, 30yo scotch and the company of two of the best people in my world.
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,288