Favorite Meals of 2014

For the last two years we’ve asked our podcast guests about their favorite meals of the year. Since we didn’t record any podcasts for the first ten months, we decided to ask some friends about their favorite meals in 2014. For the next five days we’ll be posting those meals to make you jealous and hungry.

Robbie Gianadda, owner of Flat 12 Mushrooms: 2014 was my Jeff Goldblum year, as I slowly transformed into the quirky hunk I always thought I would be in my mid/late 30’s. I owe this exclusively to the many hour I put into the cultivation of gourmet mushrooms. Construction in the sweltering mid-day sun, harvest in the frigid evening rain, lunch among the spores with a pullman loaf and some cultured butter, in 2014 I have been living the life of a romance novel. This is why it is fitting that the best meal I ate this year involved a tiny Chinese lady belittling me in front of my family while I sweat profusely trying to order off of a menu that I could not understand. Her heavily accented screams still haunt me… WHAT YOU WANT!?! WHAT YOU WANT!?! I’ll tell you what I want. Soup dumplings from Shanghai Deluxe on Mott St. in Chinatown NYC is what I want from now until next years best meal ever.

Chef Luci Levere from Elm Street Bakery: The best meal of the year was at Bourbon and Butter. Bruce had just joined the team and it was in celebration of my 12th wedding anniversary dinner with my husband. The service and food were exceptional, every dish completely balanced, creative and finger licking good. I think what makes that evening stand out the most in my mind was the treatment we were given by fellow chefs Chris Daigler and team. Extra dishes were sent out, some hand delivered by Chris. I love this, I miss this. In NYC, we would do this all the time. Above restaurant critics, you cared most what your fellow chefs thought and gave them top VIP status, often comping their whole meal. It was the ultimate in respect and a small but awesome perk in this grueling field.

Jeff Biesinger, food critic at Buffalo Spree: When food is your hobby it’s a double edged santoku. You get three or four (five?) times a day to think about your hobby, but it can be consuming, constantly seeking out your best caloric options, and, to be brutally honest, often the lengths we go to impress ourselves can seem excessive. This summer, my wife Lisa and I spent a bit of time driving around on the wrong side of the road of the tiny island paradise of Anguilla, perpetually lost and dodging goats and chickens. Our last day, we pulled out all the stops to try to find the elusive, and poorly named, local delicacy: crawfish (Anguillians have an odd habit of repurposing names). Spoiler alert: we never ate them but they are actually smallish, warm water lobsters that, given their scarcity, seemed to be nearly fished to extinction. Our all day quest resulted in more goat dodging, lots of rejection, and lots of Presidentes to negate said rejection. But that’s how it happens, our best meal of the year. Full of liquid calories, and not much else, we buy ribs from a guy on the side of the road and a few more Presedentes from an improvised bar and eat. Hungry, sweaty and sandy on a ramshackled stool across a plywood table from the one person you like best, pulling charred and smokey ribs out of a puddle of Matouk’s hot sauce in the bottom styrofoam box is how you have your year’s greatest meal. Endangered marine crustaceans were no match for humble ribs that afternoon.

Chef Mike Andrzejewski, Chef/Owner of Seabar, Cantina Loco, Bourbon & Butterand Tappo: When I was asked by Buffalo Eats to name my best dining experience in 2014, it took a couple moments to sink in… the year went by so quickly, did I really have time to savor a great meal? Then I remembered how lucky I had been, getting some reservations at notoriously hard to get tables over the past twelve months. I immediately began reflecting on what experience was the top, and why. Chalking up huge tabs at Roberta’s tasting restaurant Blanca, Jose Andres’ MiniBar, another epic dinner at Daniel and reconnecting with one of the chef’s I admire most, Susur Lee, I realized it was a pretty good year!

But after thinking about what I most enjoyed, from the food to the service and atmosphere, I have to say the dinner my wife Sherri and I enjoyed at Fore Street in Portland, Maine took the top spot. What was so exceptional about the experience was the fact that each plate, and we had many, was really just a wonderful example of great ingredients, being treat as great ingredients. Just a cook, coaxing the best of each flavor, texture and aroma out of the food that was served. As a cook, I know how easily one can be tempted to try too hard, or worse, take a shortcut when composing a dish or creating a menu. Fore street really impressed me with it’s confidence, from the way the kitchen was the center of the restaurant, literally, a rustic fire pit, nearly mid-evil looking rotisserie set up and work stations and larder inter-spaced with dining tables. All together heightening the excitement and senses, yet at the same time creating a warm, familiar and picturesque atmosphere. It really captured a sense of place and purpose.

The bartender who was serving our food and making us very comfortable, even though we had no reservation, which is why we ate at the bar, was not only well versed in the restaurant, but had a great insight to the Portland food scene. Informing us of local farms, tradition and restaurant history. We ended up being the last guests to leave, wandering through the kitchen on our way out as the younger cooks were cleaning, writing prep lists and restocking. I felt very satisfied and at home.

Chef Ross Warhol from The Pelican Club: I have not had much time to go out and check out as many places as I would have liked, the opening of the restaurant has taken up much of my time….but in good return, business has tripled since opening and we are starting to become booked a couple weeks out on the weekends, we are in the black every single week making a nice profit. Below I have included a few meals that were memorable this past year that I had the pleasure of having:

Underbelly (Houston, Texas): I had been once before (back in 2013 when visiting Texas) but I went back a few months ago with an invite from Chef Chris Shepherd himself. He sat me at the bar and personally cooked for myself and delivered each dish. He would join during each course answering any questions I had about the dish from cooking procedures to seasonings…he did not hold anything back. The food was well thought out and I enjoyed his cooking style even more so in 2014 then 2013. A lot of Vietnamese influence is beginning to become more apart of his flavor profile while staying true and cooking Texas Gulf fare. The most interesting course for me during that night was his vinegar pie. He explained that years and years ago when lemons or lemon juice were not readily available, they would use vinegar to make their “lemon curd” with. In this case Chef Shepherd used apple cider vinegar….what a surprise. And of course his dumpling and braised goat dish is superb and a must try when ever dining in his restaurant.
Eculent (Kemah, Texas): This restaurant had just opened about a month ago with an amazing and unique concept. The restaurants focus is on using local products presented in a progressive and artful way. They have their own hydroponic garden, miracle berry bushes that are producing berries, and to top it all off….a shipping container that has been finished into a lab that every chef dreams of having. The equipment, from roto distillers to freeze dryer, centrifuges and an ingredient library with more than 500 ingredients they have documented and used, some of which they created themselves. The dining room was very earthy with unique aspects. As the dinner progresses the atmosphere in the dinning room changes slightly, from the lighting, music, pictures on the wall, and fragrance. They inject the dinning room with scents that they created in their lab…my favorite was the Cabernet smoke that they released just before our main entree arrived. The staff of 4 were extremely hospitable and kind…they took us on a tour of the lab where I became a kid in a candy store. My hands were on everything, made myself at home and sat down and flipped through Christopher Kostow’s new book along with the incredible seven volume El Bulli catalog that had been released a few months prior. The dinner was a good solid meal, having experienced a few new things I have never had most notable was the ostrich egg. My pre-dessert took me by great surprise…blue cheese custard with beef belly lardons, extremely rich but incredibly delicious. But in the end, the experience from the lab tour, to the ever changing dining room atmosphere is what made this dinner special. And to have experienced this with my young sous chef was such a treat for me…seeing his expressions, smiles, laughter, but more importantly deep thought which in turn will generate his creativity into some of his own dishes.
T-Bone Tom’s (Kemah, Texas): This restaurant has quickly become my families favorite restaurant when they come down to visit. My father makes sure we go the very first night in town and the very last meal he has before leaving. The restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives for some of their items….but the one that we go for is their chicken fried steak. I had never had this dish until moving down here to Texas, wishing I would come across this earlier in life.
Franklin’s Barbecue (Austin, Texas): If you are ever in the area, this in the MUST go to place for BBQ, but make sure you are in in line by 8:00am….even though the place does not open until 11:00am. The atmosphere outside the small restaurant reminds me of Buffalo Bills tailgating, people bring chairs, coolers of beer, and snacks to enjoy while waiting 6 hours to possibly get a chance to eat there for that day. They sell out of food before they even open their doors, starting to take orders at 9:30am walking down the line one by one. If you are one of the last in line that is guaranteed food, don’t expect to getting it until 3pm. The hype and long wait is DEFINITELY worth it, they say it is the best BBQ in the world…and I surely do believe that. Their brisket in breath taking, pulled pork so juicy, flavorful, and clean with no sauce added to it, and their smoked beef sausage is life changing.

Jeremy Horwitz, Creator of Buffalo Chow: This was a really different year for my family, food-wise. In past years we’ve dined out a lot, traveled a bunch, and enjoyed a lot of crazy/fascinating experiences. We spent the first half of this year working very hard to put Mercado together, so we weren’t traveling much. When we pushed pause on Mercado, we went equally deep into another project that’s been occupying most of our free time. Both projects have kept us anchored very close to home.

Our favorite meals this year were mostly local. We fell completely in love with the world-class pizzas at D’Avolio in Williamsville, and had some delicious, authentic homemade Mexican food from a family we’re hoping to hear more from in 2015. Elm Street Bakery delivered some of the best baked goods and wood-fired dishes that have ever been served in Western NY. And we had more of Lake Effect Ice Cream’s El Guapo sundaes than we’d care to tally up.

If we had to pick a single standout meal for the entire year, it would be a dinner we had at The Nightbell, a new restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina. Nightbell is offering el Bulli-influenced avant garde snacks alongside a craft cocktail bar, a seriously challenging concept that only works when the snacks, drinks, and environment are really excellent. It all works at Nightbell because the chef (Katie Button) and her husband/co-owner/beverage director (Felix Meana) are el Bulli-trained, so when they drop something off like “Caesar Salad” in the shape of jicama tacos, or a “Canadian Waffle” made with foie gras poutine, duck confit and cheddar mousse, you’re literally giddy while you eat because the food is so familiar, different, and delicious all at the same time. Katie and Felix are seriously great people, turning out Michelin star-caliber stuff in a city that’s in the process of becoming a real food destination. Nightbell, and the large collection of new restaurants opening up around Buffalo, make me very optimistic about the future of dining here.

Chef Tony Martina from Blue Monk: It’s gotta be an oyster brunch in New Orleans at the bar hanging out with the shuckers hungover beyond all belief with some Bloody Mary’s and my lady by my side. Can’t get much better than that.

Chef Bryan Mecozzi from Black Iron Bystro: My mother-in-law’s house for her husbands birthday (Lebanese) dinner.. Traditional mezza (hummus, roasted nuts,pickles, peppers, etc. along with beer) then the spread. Whole Roasted Red Snapper stuffed with pine nuts, cilantro, cayenne & allspice. Pan Fried Fog Legs drizzled in lemony garlic olive oil. Chicken Thighs marinated and roasted in a yoghurt-mustard concoction. Roasted red potatoes that were rolled in garlicky oregano oil. Tahini sauce to drizzle on whatever you like. Faatoush (as always) Arak (that’s pretty much ouzo. as always) Standard dessert spread with Turkish coffee.

Game. Set. Match.

Lizz Schumer, Author and Cocktail Reviewer at Buffalo.com: This year has seen a string of fantastic restaurant openings and, by association, some truly awesome meals. One of my most-anticipated was Buffalo Proper, which we’d been watching since Jon Karel announced it, or really, since he left for Rochester’s Revelry. Our opening night meal, crafted to near perfection by the inimitable Ed Forster, did not disappoint. We ordered every starter on the menu (go big or go home, am I right?) with the local vegetable salad and roasted chicken thigh especially standing out. Forster elevates chicken to something transcendent, and the rabbit terrine that followed, while not exactly glamorous on the plate, was an interpretation on the humble Thumper we just don’t see elsewhere in the 716. Behind the pine, Karel mixes up a darn good drink, on the menu or otherwise. There’s some good eating in Buffalo right now, and Proper lives up to its name, and its staff’s reputations, with a truly fabulous addition to our local culinary options.

Keith Buckley, Singer for Every Time I Die: When I was asked to write about my favorite meal of 2014, I immediately thought “ok well where was the last place I ate crab legs?” The answer I came upon was a tourist mecca in Seattle called The Crab Pot on November 19th, but truth be told even if I hadn’t ordered a bloody mary that was easily a foot tall, two pounds of snow crab legs and one pound of king (which I did), it would have been my favorite meal because of the situation itself. It was my birthday and as a present, my wife surprised me by having a very close friend of mine (who I hadn’t seen in years) pick me up and take me to a dinner that she had also paid the bill for in advance. When you’re away from home as much as I am, what you do matters so much less than who you do it with, even though smashing crab arms open with a wooden mallet they provide for you was fun as hell. Most memorable meal of the year as well as one of the most memorable birthdays of my life. Minus, of course, the part about me shitting my brains out like 20 seconds before we had to be on stage later that night.

Jason Wulf, Co-owner of Lake Effect Ice Cream: As the amount of amazing restaurants in Buffalo increases, I find myself with a lot of meals to choose from. My wife Heather and I love to eat out, and Buffalo offers endless choices. When thinking of a few of my favorite meals from this year I first I have to go with the Charcuterie plate and the Smoked T-Meadow pork chop at The Black Sheep. If your familiar with the Buffalo food scene, everyone knows that Gedra + Pork = freaking amazing. Then, uber creative Chef Ed Forster’s Egg and Potatoes and Spatchcocked Oles Farm Chicken at Buffalo Proper was outstanding, not to mention I drank one of the best Manhattans I have ever had in the city. Last I can’t forget to mention the duck with pumpkin gnocchi and pork belly I had at Bourbon and Butter. Chef Bruce Wieszala is starting to really get into his groove at this beautiful restaurant, alongside Chef Chris Daigler, and I am patiently waiting for the cured meats to be ready.

Erik Bernardi, Co-owner of Lake Effect Ice Cream: Bistro Tallulah in Glens Falls, NY. By the end of the meal, we committed to going back next time we are out east. We actually selected it because it was #1 on Tripadvisor in Glens Falls. The night before we hit the #1 on TA in Lake George called Bistro Leroux. It paled in comparison to Tallulah.

Michelle’s meal…Cochon de Lait (whole roasted suckling pig)… it was awesome. We didn’t talk much during the meal about food other than “mmmm… and wow….”
My meal…Duck Two ways pan roasted breast & crispy leg of duck confit… and I’m a sucker for trying duck when it’s on a menu. Greens had pulled pork in them, puree was like butter, breast perfect to a turn and the leg fell off the bone.
Anthony and Paloma’s shared meal… Southern fried all natural chicken.. probably not at the top of a typical kids list, but they enjoyed it, (and so did we…)
This came out as an app…House made frites … wicked hot, and the garlic aioli was a huge hit with my 7 year old son who finished the aioli (including the whole cloves) with spoon.

The restaurant and service were outstanding and stands out as the best meals we’ve had this past year. It’s not a restaurant that would necessarily elevate the food scene in Buffalo, but instead it would fit in perfectly.

Nate Peracciny, Filmographer/Photographer: I love the food scene in Buffalo for its diversity, sense of community and connectivity, and its active commitment to localism. Dining out in our city really means something.

Early this month I had an amazing dinner at CRAVing with my girlfriend Lydia. It was the night of the Hertel Holiday Walk. Hertel Ave. was packed with foot traffic. Throughout the night we ran into numerous outstanding Buffalonians, there are a lot of amazing people in this town. Each store was decked out with holiday flare. Living downtown I don’t visit North Buffalo as much as I should. It was great to see North Buffalo alive that night.

It just seemed right to grab dinner on Hertel after the Holiday Walk. We crossed our fingers and hoped that Craving would be able to accept a walk-in. I thought we were screwed. The place was packed but Jen graciously offered to get us a table when one became available. At that point the evening just got better.

The service was outstanding. We started with a bottle of Sangiovese. For apps we enjoyed the T-Meadow Farms pork terrine, pickled Arden Farms swiss chard, pork vinaigrette and the T-Meadow Farms pork meatballs, Arden Farms greens, pork reduction, carrot top pesto. Rich and family produce amazing pork. Chef Adam and team really honor the quality of the T-Meadow Farms products.

For our entrees we had the Short Rib (root beer braised, feta, and cherry tomato panzanella, root beer jus) and the Flank Steak (spice rubbed flank steak, potato and leek hash, fried onions, house pancetta, natural jus). The short rib was fucking huge and cooked to perfection. At one point during our entree course we both looked at each other, laughed and smiled in awe at how perfect the night was. Lydia described the meal as “emotional”. From beginning to end our time at CRAVing was amazing.

Jon Karel, General Manager of Buffalo Proper: I am cold, wet, and generally frustrated after finally finding parking off one of the many cramped side streets adjacent to College Street in Toronto. When I push my way through the unassuming Front entrance, I am rewarded with a warm gust carrying the reassuring sent of fresh baked bread and charcuterie. Already well into their fifth turn, now 12.15am on a Tuesday, Bar Isabel is just getting warmed up.

The first course is one that I did not even order. A tightly packed tapas with one handsome piece of fish, sun-dried tomato, shaved pink salt, Spanish olive oil, and gossamer thin shavings of frozen foie gras torchon. That went by in a blink. By the time I actually make a food order with my bartender, I notice in my general state of excitement I have already downed two fairly strong Negronis, and I’m beginning to feel slightly drunk. I’m absolutely starving by the time my whole Spanish Sole arrives (Head on, skin on, tail on, bone in, a la plancha with pil pil sauce) I tear into it like an escaped convict shredding his first meal on the outside. Neither water, nor wine, nor social media are considered during this course.

When I order a bottle of Tempranillo (Briego, Fiel, Gran Reserva, 1994 Ribera del Duero) to go with my next course, my bartender grins and gives me a high five. At this point in my meal, I’m feeling real good about life. I look down at my watch and notice it’s 1:00am.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the whole grilled octopus served at bar Isabel is eerily reminiscent of the antagonist in 10,000 Leagues under the Sea. The steak knife jetting straight out of it towards the heavens is like a obelisk; reminding you that someone captured this prehistoric sea creature for your King-like pleasure.

There was desert (housemaid chocolate with more ridiculously expensive Spanish olive oil and sea salt) a vast array of after dinner drinks including various amari, followed by fine Spanish brandy. But all paled in comparison to the blissed out feeling shared by my dining guest and myself as we lingered over coffee and brandy and excellent conversation with strangers and bartenders and whoever else happened to pass us by.

I left that night a better man for having had that meal.

Kerry Quaile, Co-owner of Queen City Shaken & Stirred: Alright, so I’ve thought long and hard about this and I have to say my best meal of 2014 has to be from Toro in Boston. Talk about impressive, holy crap. We went there on a Tuesday night, there was a two hour wait, and this place has been open for almost nine years now. I was not only impressed with their amazing food, but the entire vibe of the restaurant was dark, loud and bustling. All the food was too share and it was magnificent. We got house made cured meats and baby octopus among other things, but the piece de resistance was the Paella. It was absolutely amazing, steaming hot served in a large metal skillet to share for the table. I must say the entire experience was fantastic. I will definitely be visiting there again!

Chef Brad Rowell from Elm Street Bakery: Here they are..

Leon’s Fine Poultry and Oyster (Charleston, S.C): My wife Caryn and I ate at Leon’s after a day at the beach in Charleston. We had a bunch of good beer, fried chicken and oyster. It was pretty much perfect. They have a great space with cool music and a great staff.
The Black Sheep: I’ve eaten at Black Sheep a couple of times but my favorite experience was eating at the bar after the big fuss. I had the olive loaf sandwich on rye and patatas bravas washed down with a few glasses of Steampunk. I love Steve, Ellen, and their whole crew.
Chef’s Night at Buffalo Proper: Ed and Jon put on a really awesome night (soft opening) with great food and awesome cocktails. They are doing it right in a super cool space.
Bar Isabel (Toronto): Bar Isabel was on my list last year as well. I went up to Toronto with a couple of my kitchen crew guys and we got after it. We had our second dinner at Bar Isabel. It was packed at 11pm on a Sunday night and I was ridiculous. Super tasty simple food and great service. We brought the chefs a growler of CBW The IPA and got a little extra love for it.
Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore): I spent some time at Woodberry before starting the dinner service at ESB. They were so generous and really spent a lot of time teaching me about the wood burning oven. On my last night the sat me at the bar and sent out a ton of food. They are doing it right there and taking the local movement very seriously.

Mac McGuire, Editor-in-chief of buffaBLOG: My favorite meal: I was kind of stumped on this answer when Donnie first asked me a couple weeks ago. Of course, that was before I had dinner at the Black Sheep. The former BIstro Europa may have lost a touch of its DIY feel in the move, but it certainly did not lose any flavor. I went all in at the restaurant and ordered the bonkers Steak Frites. The plate was nearly too big for my setting, filled with a perfectly cooked steak, fresh cut fries, and complimenting greens. It was as decadent as it was delicious. While I don’t think my body could handle the meal on a regular basis, if I really want to indulge and eat my sorrows away, the Steak Frites is my dish.

My favorite drink: For my first foray at Ballyhoo, I was surprised to see they tossed the bitters and mixed my spirit with jam. My main man, Joey Dyno-mite from Soul Patch, was behind bar and pulled out his special jalapeno peach jam (not a regular jam to the menu) to mix with my bourbon. The drink had a great bite, with just enough kick and sweetness to keep all of my taste buds interested. If you catch Joey behind bar there, just have him roll with whatever jam he snuck in for the night and you are good to go.

Teddy Bryant, Sous Chef at Lloyd Taco Trucks: Last month the OG Lloyd crew and I traveled to L.A. for a little business, a little fun and a lot of R&D. We ate at some really good spots out there, Pete and Chris really did their homework. We checked out some fish tacos at Wahoo Tacos, and one of the first spots we hit was, of course, In-N-Out burger. It was just as good as I remember. We had amazing fried chicken and burgers from Plan check, a ridiculous feast from Animal and some awesome fresh-made pasta from Osteria Mozza. We really went to go check out Roy Choi’s Kogi Truck….it was everything it was built up to be. It was a sweet experience to be there and tag the truck with a Lloyd sticker.

BUT!….the best meal we/I had was at Roy Choi’s POT Restaurant at the Line Hotel. It’s his family style Korean food spot. It was F@$*ing phenomenal. There was a trio of different kimchis they started us with that we had to ask for another round. (because it was that good, but you got to eat quick around Pete or there wont be any left) They had this iced white kimchi with melon, it was so unique and refreshing, I’ve never had anything like before. We had a calamari dish that was great, and a dish with Uni that really rich and well balanced. Everything we ate was perfectly seasoned and it was spicy, for me it was great. Every table had a built in induction burner sunk into the table for the large hot pots (hence the name of the restaurant…I think). So the meal was amazing, but the best part was that it was about 10pm on a Saturday night so the music was turning to hip hop and the vibe was changing. Next thing you know a break-dance battle breaks out in the middle of the dining room between a customer and a busboy. It was one of the coolest thing I’ve ever seen haha. Best part was that I looked over and saw Roy Choi standing in the doorway loving every minute of it. It took a lot of trying to convince Pete to go talk to his legend to no avail, so I had to go talk to him and tell him how much we love him and got him to come take a picture with us! I think L.A.’s food scene is amazing, but I feel like Buffalo has some outstanding restaurants that can rival anyone around, and I still have a lot of places here to check out. Its been another wild year for Lloyd, with probably the biggest year coming up with about 3-4 HUGE announcements. Stay tuned, happy New Year and god bless.

DJ Cook, Sous Chef at Shango Restaurant: My favorite meal of 2013 once again was in my favorite city just north of us in Toronto. The meal was a culmination of great, and what now will always be a very special and important day for me. The day started off at at 11 A.M. At McGradys Tavern with 200 of my closest Manchester United supporter friends watching Man U thrash QPR. Next I headed down to the Distillery District with my girlfriend Diana. After a solid lunch at Elcatrin Destileria and some pints at Mill St., I left the district with a fiance. An unforgettable moment in one of our favorite spots in the city. Diana and I celebrated our engagement at Bar Isabel that night. We didn’t have a resy but the staff couldn’t be more accommodating. While we waited we have some great pints of local Toronto beer and a server offered us to a small plate of house cured olives, charcuterie, and cheese. A very nice gesture by Bar Isabel. We were seated at the bar where the service again was excellent. My now fiance is a vegetarian and the server seemed genuinely happy to help navigate her thru the menu. I started with the bone marrow dish. An unbelievable portion of food. Four massive bones with a tremendous amount of warm soft marrow. The house bread was perfectly charred and a great accompaniment to the dish. Di and I shared the house bread selection and grilled anchovies with piqullo, jalapeno peppers and chips, a terrific dish. Di had the whole grilled octopus for an entree. Another perfectly cooked dish served with fingerling potatoes and mustard greens. The bitterness of the greens were outstanding with the octopus. I now know why this dish is a staple of the Bar Isabel menu. I had the cornish hen special of the night. A butterflied roasted whole hen served with a house chili sauce that rival sriracha sauce as sacrilegious as that sounds. The moist bird with the heat and sweetness of the sauce was outstanding. The whole experience at Bar Isabel was impressive. A very courteous and intelligent staff combined with the unpretentious yet genius food of Chef Grant van Gameren set a very high standard that all chefs and restaurant owners should strive for. A perfect end to truly memorable day for Diana and I. We will absolutely be returning to Bar Isabel as often as we can.

Rich Tilyou, owner of T-Meadow Farms: My most memorable meal of 2014 was easily the opening night feast at The Black Sheep. Steve and crew had their hands full with the entire restaurant ordering at the exact same time, but pulled it off well. From the appetizer plates shared with friends, the amazing smoked pork chop main dish, to the sticky toffee pudding for dessert, all was delicious and put most of us into a food induced coma. We each ordered something different and shared just a little. It was truly a great night with fantastic food and good friends.

Chef Michael Dimmer from The Black Market Food Truck/Marble + Rye: My favorite meal in 2014 came from a bachelor party trip I was a part of in Montreal. One night, we ate at Buona Notte, a modern Italian restaurant where we had a prix fixe menu of Roasted Beets, Octopus, House Burrata, Eggplant, Lasagna, Lamb Shank, and House Gelato. Everything was super simple, as in three ingredients simple, but the quality of the product and skill of the Chef made for an incredible meal. Dinner included some really great wine, but the most memorable thing about the night took place around 10:30 (towards the end of our meal). Throughout the last half an hour of our meal, you could notice the lights getting dimmer, people starting to stand up at their tables and things becoming a little more raucous. Add in the service staff changing outfits into “school-girl” attire, a DJ starting to play dance music, and bottle service being delivered to our table, and you have Buona Notte; where dinner becomes a night club. Now, all of this being said, let me say that I am not a night club guy by any stretch of the imagination……….BUT, the experience of how it all went down, along with an amazing rustic but modern Italian dinner, great wine and bottle service made it easier for me and my buddies to shake our asses on the dance-floor with beautiful Montreal women who did not speak English or have any desire to dance with us.

Chef Christian Willmott from The Black Market Food Truck/Marble + Rye: The best meal of the year for me was, without question, from Chef Bruce Wieszala at Tabree. We had an eight course tasting menu, paired with drinks made by Ed Forster, and truthfully each dish was better than the last. Timing, presentation, and execution were about as close to perfect as it gets. I still can’t decide whether I liked the Flat #12 Mushroom Broth, or the T-Meadow Pork Belly better. I have looked forward to my next meal from Bruce since then, and it can’t some soon enough.

Second on the list for 2014 has to be Carmello’s. I ate there twice this year and both meals were outstanding. The first was in the beginning of the summer and the second was just a few weeks ago. It was great to see how the menu changed from summer to winter. My first meal focused heavily on bright, citrus flavors that highlighted the freshness of each ingredient, while the most recent trip was a perfect ode to cold-weather dining and preservation techniques.

Showing his versatility and skill, Ed Forster has to be on my list again for the tasting meal he offered prior to the opening of Buffalo Proper. I was lucky enough to try some of the items that are currently on his menu before they officially opened, and I can’t wait to have them again soon. I also made a stop at The Black Sheep shortly after they opened, and ordered a selection of small plates that were outstanding. It’s no surprise that Steve and Ellen have been successful at their new location. I am actually writing this while I wait to head there again for my second meal, which I’m sure will be one that should have made this list.

Christa Glennie Seychew, founder of Feed Your Soul Productions and Food Editor at Buffalo Spree: I traveled far less in 2014 than I usually do, but I managed to have a couple of really fantastic meals outside of Buffalo.

I took my daughter to her first arena show in the spring. Arcade Fire wasn’t nearly as impressive as the quick meal we had at OddSeoul before the show. We plowed through the appetizers, which I think are the most exciting part of this little joint’s menu. The dishes were simple, perfectly executed, full of great flavors, casual, and really affordable. Can’t recommend the place enough, really.

I was in Toronto again in May for Terroir Symposium. Three chefs and I enjoyed a bit of a feast at Fat Pasha. It’s great modern Middle Eastern fare, similar to what you’d expect to find at one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s restaurants. It’s owned by uber-chef and
restaurateur Anthony Rose, but chef Kevin Gilmour is at the helm. He turned out a really fun and delicious meal for me and my fellow conference attendees Ed Forster, Paul Vroman, and Ryan Jennings. It’s exciting comfort food, I really wish we had a place like that here in WNY.

I was in Rochester a bunch in 2014, and while I had several really good meals, the best meal I had was at Cure, a little Frenchy place located in the public market. Chuck Cerankosky owns it, so the cocktails are divine, but I was really impressed with the food we had. Most memorable was the ouef en gelée (pictured above), a classic offering I’ve never seen on a menu before. It was expertly prepared and utterly delicious.

Chef Adam Goetz from CRAVing: My most memorable meal of 2014 was in Toronto at Momofuku Noodle Bar. Owning a restaurant and being a father of three leaves very little time for my wife and I to go out to eat. This past year though, we made time to attend a food symposium in Toronto and actually spent the night in a hotel without the kids. After the symposium we walked around Toronto, stopped in a bunch of cool places for a drink and a bite to eat. We took full advantage of the lack of constant questions and distractions that every parent and small business owner is very familiar with. It felt like we hadn’t been able to have a normal conversation, just the two of us, in years. We finally decided to check out Momfuku for dinner, especially since David Chang was one one of the key note speakers from earlier in the day. We sat down at the bar, still chatting away, and proceeded to order the entire left hand side of the menu and a couple of ramen dishes as well. The poor server told us that was way too much food. As soon as the food started to arrive all conversation stopped except for sounds of moans ands holy shit did you try a bite of this yet. I think that a meal that can make conversation come to a screeching halt is more than worthy of being dubbed my most memorable meal of 2014.

Nina Barone, Creator of BuffaloFoodie.com: I love Eric Ripert. I admire him or maybe you could say I have a celebrity crush on him because he’s incredibly talented with fish and seafood, which I adore, and he’s filled with what appears to be sincere charm. The problem is, I sometimes feel like I know him because is so incredibly personable every time he’s on TV or joking with Anthony Bourdain on Twitter. My husband and I may have also recently considered changing a vacation destination so we could eat at his restaurant in the Caribbean. But back to the meal…

The top restaurant I’ve pined after for some time is Le Bernardin. Last time we visited NYC, it didn’t work out in our schedule to dine there, so we were determined to make it there over the summer when visiting for our friends’ wedding. The meal was beautiful. I wanted a thoughtfully prepared meal, focused on perfectly cooked (or uncooked) fish and seafood and that’s exactly what we got. We were not disappointed with anything we experienced from the first moment setting foot in the restaurant to the moment we left and I floated down West 51st Street, giddy. The meal was exquisite. The “almost raw” first course and the “barely cooked” second course were especially memorable. Caviar, oysters, white tuna, striped bass, hamachi–this is the stuff of food dreams. Calamari, scallop, octopus, bacalao–I actually giggled through several courses. Each plate was dotted with drips of bright, creamy sauces and paired with seasonal complements.

Executive Pastry Chef, Thomas Raquel deserves recognition as well. The desserts were inspired, from flourless cakes and sorbets, to spicy and sweet pairings and no frills needed petit fours. The restaurant’s ambiance made me feel like I was in Paris and NYC, which was unexpectedly awesome. The waitstaff’s timing and attentiveness was flawless. The meal provided one of those rare dining experiences where you feel completely content and calm. There’s nothing you wish for, nothing you would change and you want to remember how every dish made you feel. Dining at Le Bernardin was a reminder that food can be both simple and complicated. The dishes were straightforward and innovative. I was excited and reassured. Can food do all that? Absolutely. The experience was precious and worth every cent (and the slight pain and persistence to get a reservation). So, back to where I started: Eric Ripert is a culinary genius.

Seamus Gallivan, Owner of The Good Neighborhood: My single favorite meal of 2014 was definitely at The Black Sheep, where It seems unanimously agreed that the Gedras have stepped up their game from the already awesome Bistro Europa. The Larkin Square team chose there to celebrate another successful Live at Larkin season together, allowing us to go family-style and get everything on the menu – BBQ pork nuggets stole the show, best duck I’ve ever had by far, fried chicken, steadfast favorite T-Meadow pork confit pierogi, charcuterie, fried Maine belly clams (pictured above), beets 5 ways, mushroom & zucchini salad, peach caprese, Ellen’s breads, and of course, her famous sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Their cocktails are great, too, had an Old First Ward that night – small-batch Irish whiskey, chartreuse, maraschino & lime juice.

Speaking of Larkin successes, gotta give a nod to Buffalo’s growing fleet of food trucks – working with them for 26 straight Food Truck Tuesday as well as around town has been a blast. I do well to play the field, might catch guff for naming favorites but I usually side with those who source locally.

MVP: The Whole Hog – While I crave their BBQ pulled pork mac & cheese and often get the featured taco – favorite is cilantro chicken with guac, pico & queso – I can safely ask them to serve me whatever they want and know it’ll be good. Their beans & greens are a mainstay, while their seasonal quinoa salad with feta, asparagus, tomato & lemon is my favorite Healthy Option as certified by our sponsor Independent Health.
Rookie of the Year: Betty Crockski – they’re fun and raising the bar for Polish food – love their ginger-kicked kielbasa, favorite pierogi is the pulled pork, which has a good tang to it; my mom has friends who come to FTT solely to get their Betty bites – mocha brownie w/orange truffle frosting in a milk chocolate shell.
Favorite single item: Lloyd’s Dirty South Burrito – the quarter-Southerner in me craves this hard – buttermilk fried chicken, baby kale, bacon aioli, waffle crisps, local maple syrup. Reminds me of my Georgia-native Grandma’s fried chicken, gone gangsta a la Lloyd.
Props to the Rochester trucks who truck up to Buffalo for FTT – Marty’s Meatsdoes it right, could live off of their Carolina & Frisket BBQ; and I can still taste The Meatball Truck’s Bangkok Ball, haven’t had anything else like it – pork, ginger, soy/fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic scapes, curry, coconut milk.

Beyond Buffalo, two meals stand out this year… Tamale House #3 (Austin, TX) – one of my go-to’s when I lived a few blocks away on the North Side, their huevos rancheros were my favorite hangover meal – a five-dollar flotilla of eggs, cheese, bacon, refried beans, guac, salsa, and tortillas. During a springtime stay, shared a table with an old bicycle buff who admired mine before regaling with stories of picking up girls on 6th Street in the 70’s with a sidecar on his bike. A truly classic Austin moment; the next day, word hit that Tamale House owner Bobby Vasquez died, and without him the family lost their will to keep the old spot open – sad as that is, I’m fortunate to have been a regular and had that last meal.

Jacques-Imo’s (New Orleans) – my favorite city that I’ve never lived in, thanks in great part to the food. Went there for a wedding in November and had at least six memorable meals, highlighted by this one, such a funky spot Uptown. They make waves for their savory shrimp and alligator cheesecake, which lived up to the hype along with boudin balls, fried rabbit tenderloin, and another personal favorite, fried green tomatoes. The fried chicken that my friend got was legit, as was my waiter-suggested blackened redfish, another favorite from when I lived further down the Gulf on the Texas Riviera.

Chef Corey Siegel from The Vintage Club: We had been training for over a year and the time had finally come. The opportunity to represent the USA and compete in the Culinary World Cup held every four years in Luxembourg. Our team of 6 entered the kitchen to prepare a 3 course dinner for 120 people. Everything is to be prepared from scratch in 6 hours and then there is a service window as the orders ring in course by course. The judges will randomly come and select 4 plates from each course at different times. They are testing flavor, temperature, textures, creativity and consistency. One hour before our cook time, the kitchen judges come in and inspect. They taste the stocks, look over the mise en place, ask questions and write notes on their clipboards. When the clock starts, there is no break until the ten-hour cook off is completed. There are cameras flashing, fans chanting, competitors on-looking, clocks ticking, timers ringing, and nothing but action packed excitement executing the most meticulous tasks under pressure. There is no greater feeling than cooking side by side with your teammates, representing the USA and bringing home a two gold medals. The team placed 3rd in the world out of 30 competing countries. Certainly one of the craziest experiences of my life and by far the best meal that I was a part of this year.

Jill Gedra Forster, owner of Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile: My favorite meal of 2014 was cooked by my son Drew last winter. Santa gave his sister, Maeve a cookbook and Drew decided he was going to cook us steak with mushrooms and st. agur blue cheese, mashed potato and creamed spinach. This kid, at 11 years old, cooked those ribeyes medium rare, seasoned everything on point and made his sister do all the dishes. As a parent and a cook, it made my heart swell with pride that cooking wasn’t a chore for him as it can be for most people and that he was aggressive with seasoning. He is currently experimenting with egg cookery, making the perfect scramble is serious business.

Sean Wrafter, owner of Wrafterbuilt: The most memorable meal that I had this year was on a Wednesday night last spring at Gene McCarthy’s down in the First Ward. Hot Chicken Wings, Fresh Cut Fries, and pitchers of beer that they brewed themselves. The satisfaction that I felt at the end of that meal was the real deal.

Allison Ewing, co-owner of BreadHive: I ate the best meal of the year in my yard. Backstory: my husband and I have been living in a busted old house while fixing it up (he’s the one who knows how to fix a house, I was helping until the bakery opened.) For a while we didn’t have heat or a shower or a kitchen. Those were dark days. And once we opened BreadHive I didn’t really cook anything for a few months. We were pulling some crazy hours, and walking into the kitchen at home felt like I’d turned around and gone back to work. But! Over the summer my sister and her husband Cris were visiting from Brazil. Cris is an excellent cook, one of those guys who can turn a handful of scraps into an exquisite soup, someone who cooks to show love. He took over our kitchen and prepared us a feast: green salad, roasted pork loin with cherry sauce, brussels sprouts wrapped in bacon, baked yucca with cheese, and passionfruit mousse. We ate together on a picnic table in the yard and watched the summer sun set. It would have been great food anywhere, but that evening felt like he’d reclaimed the kitchen for the powers of good and that made the meal outstanding.

Emily Stewart, co-owner of BreadHive: During the first couple of months of BreadHive, I came home everyday emotionally and physically exhausted. Often the most social interaction I could muster was watching Woody Allen movies with my boyfriend, Phil. After becoming aware that my lunches typically consisted of zebra cakes and fritos from the corner store, Phil would cook dinner so I could remember what real food tasted like. One night he cooked a masterpiece I will never forget.. organic lemon chicken on a bed of linguine drowned in alfredo sauce, complimented by sautéed kale and garlic from his garden. The chicken was perfectly seasoned with fancy salt he bought off ebay and a blend of spices he crafted himself- peppers grown in his garden. The alfredo sauce melded the chicken to the kale and garlic, sautéed together til brown, all over perfectly cooked linguine. That meal alone might have gotten me through the entire month of July.

Tori Kuper, co-owner of BreadHive: My husband and I are both really busy, so one thing we always commit to is making epic dinners at home together at least once a week. My favorite dinner was definitely one of those. It was sirloin steaks grilled and served with a demi glacé made with a Smith and Hook Cabernet. It was our first stab at making a demi glacé and it came out delicious. We ate the steaks with sauteed asparagus and bruschetta, made with our West Side Sourdough, and the rest of that delicious Smith and Hook.

Tom Jablonski, Business Manager of Lockhouse Distillery: As I get older and busier, I’ve discovered that I’m becoming a creature of extreme habit. I eat roughly the same breakfast and lunch every day, I have a good half dozen pairs of nearly identical grey dress pants, I generally listen to the same Spotify playlist on repeat, and the bulk of my television consumption for as far back as I can remember has been comprised of “The West Wing” reruns – a show that has been off the air for nearly a decade. I tell myself this is because I’m trying to “simplify my life”, but really it is a function of laziness, exhaustion, and a profound lack of personal creativity when it comes to my day to day routine. Or possibly that I am losing my mind.

Did I eat a dynamite meal this year that blew my mind? Probably. But I’m too addled to remember it, because my life has been consumed by one meal obsession that I now eat weekly at a minimum (and usually more): pho tai and a banh mi from Pho Dollar. Is there better pho in Buffalo? Likely. Is there a better banh mi in Buffalo? Certainly. Do I care? NOPE.

Pho Dollar is inexpensive, delicious, convenient, and utterly addicting. And merely by virtue of frequency, they’ve produced the best meal I’ve had in 2014. Read about Tom’s favorite meal from 2013 here.

Sam Scarcello, Co-owner of Public Espresso + Cafe: “DISCLAIMER #1: After reading Parts I & II, it’s clear I am severely outranked and under-qualified, so please take everything I say with a huge grain of salt (see what I did there?).

DISCLAIMER #2: I’ve had to exclude every meal cooked by my Mom this year, because each of those have been my favorite meals of 2014.

This year was an interesting one for me because I really started to get invested in the local food scene by participating in farmers markets, festivals and the like. Not only did it give me the opportunity to meet a lot of the restauranteurs and chefs in the City, but I also got a chance to form relationships with growers and producers that provide a lot of the ingredients that show up on the plate in a number of establishments.

So it was pretty cool to sit next to the farmers from Golden Hour Farm at a market on a quiet Friday afternoon, and then enjoy an appetizer of their produce at Buffalo Proper.

As for my favorite meal, it’s definitely hard to narrow it down to one singular evening. A lot of great restaurants opened in Buffalo this year, on top of an already impressive lineup. Having said that, I think my favorite meal came from a place that would technically qualify for both categories.

The first time I ate at Black Sheep is the meal that sticks out most prominently when I think back on all of the food I consumed in 2014. I ate at Bistro Europa rather frequently, so to finally see Black Sheep open on Connecticut Street was really exciting. I think everyone knows how talented they are, so I don’t have to get into the specifics of the meal. But, I will say, I survived off of the leftovers of that pork chop for three days. (It makes a fantastic pork ragu on Day 2).

To say I’m looking forward to 2015 is an understatement. The amount of talented people working to add their flair to Buffalo’s culinary scene is really incredible to see.

Chef Ed Forster from Buffalo Proper: 2k14 was a pretty fun year for me and I ate very well. The ones that stand out would be BBQ’ing foie gras in a red wood forest with my twin brother in California, where its banned. I taught him how to cook it over a camping stove, while we ate cowgirl creamery cheeses, had charcuterie from Chris Cosentino’s Boccalone, and I drank a few Russian river brews that make even the nerdiest of beer snobs j in their p. All that in what can only be described in California jargon as “epic bra” views with my really awesome twin brother whom I don’t see often enough.

Jess joined us on that trip and we just lived. We had oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company at their oyster bay, we had lunch at Marin Farms on an outdoor tree sliced in half that had to be 25 yards long made into a table, had an entire meal of burgers and veggies from their farm, went to Mission Chinese and sweated more than I care to admit, and had beers and sausages at mikkeller bar. Epic brah.

I also had great meals at Bar Isabel in Toronto twice, and had great roasted cauliflower, arak, and other middle eastern delights at Fat Pasha with a two live crew. Seal, horse, and Cuban rum. We all tried and thought, eh, keep it Canada.

At home I don’t know of a better place to be than Lombardo’s. Tommy Ten Plates and Mr. Tommy Lombardo do an awesome job with wine and service, with Mike doing killer food. I have never left without trying a new pasta type/dish- the semolina gnocchi thing where its one piece, or having a new killer wine, orange or not. Oh. And goddam I miss Tony Rials’ saz. That thing is perfect and the chestnut and thyme cocktail. Man. It’s a good time to be alive my friend.

Meals I’ve had the honour to cook… something that I love more than what I’ve eaten are the meals I have been able to cook for people. We had a small group of Buffalo Chefs in before we opened Buffalo Proper and showed them some of the stuff we were looking to do out of the gate. It was a night that I was able to cook for friends, colleagues, and some mentors. It was really special. I had a fucking blast doing a pop up dinner with the amazing and generous Deb Clark at her (sadly now closed) pastry shop Delish!. The best part of that night was watching total strangers leave the party together to grab drinks together as new friends. Food and drinks brought those people together. Every single birthday, anniversary, job promotion, and “I was hungry on a Tuesday meal”, you’re the reason we get out of bed. Every time we’re in the weeds, head down and focused, when a sixty five year old lady grabs you and just wants to say thank you to our open kitchen for a truly remarkable meal, it still crushes us. We cook the food we love to make people happy. So to all the people that came in and let us share our food with you, thank you more than words can say. Read about Ed’s favorite meals from 2012 and 2013.

Tom Burtless: For the last two years, Tom (our Web Designer and Podcast Producer) has written about his favorite meals. As part of our 2014 Year End Coverage, we had Tom sit down and think about his five favorite meals from 2014.

La Palapa. This year I traveled outside the country for the first time (not including Canada). My girlfriend Katie, with her insane amount of luck, won a contest that gave her a free trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with a guest. I just so happened to be that lucky guest. Our first meal was at La Palapa, a small restaurant near the resort we were staying in. The combination of sitting on a patio next to the Caribbean Sea and eating fresh Red Snapper with plantain chips was great. I was in heaven. It was the start to a great vacation filled with other fantastic meals, but this topped them all. Photo source: edenroccapcana.com

Ristorante Lombardo. I just moved to North Buffalo this past year. Being somewhat close to Ristorante Lombardo and given my brother’s recommendation, Katie and I decided to go there for dinner one Friday night. First and foremost, the service at Lombardo’s is the best I’ve ever experienced in Buffalo. Second, our food and drinks were terrific. I had ordered a duck special they were serving that day along with oysters and my drink of choice, a Sazerac. The duck was so unbelievably delicious I could’ve eaten an entire second helping. Hands down my best food experience in Buffalo this past year.

Carmelo’s. Donnie, Alli, Katie and I went to Carmelo’s in Lewiston for Donnie’s 30th birthday. I had only been there once previously to record an episode of Eat It Up with Chef/Owner Carmelo Raimondi but it was early n the morning, before the restaurant opened. On this visit I ordered a steak that came with a side of sweet potato puree that was insane. The dessert was an ice cream sundae with house made potato chips that put the meal over the top. It’s a bit of a drive to Lewiston, but the restaurant has such a wonderful atmosphere to compliment Carmelo’s food that it’s well worth the drive.

Kuni’s. Before dating Katie, I’d say the bulk of my experience with sushi was in the form of Wegman’s California rolls. Then I was introduced to Kuni’s. Katie I go there on a somewhat monthly basis at this point. We have our usual orders, but on this particular day we ordered two specials they were offering along with a scallop sushi piece. I’ll be honest, I can’t remember the names of any the specials. Both the tuna dish and scallop entree were outstanding. We’ve been back several times since and always have a great meal.

Buffalo Proper. Since opening in August, I’ve been to Buffalo Proper more than almost any other restaurant in 2014. Whether its for drinks or for food, each time has been fantastic. My first meal there was alongside Donnie, Alli and Katie. The highlights of the meal were the half chicken, corn soup (holy shit, that soup) and the vegetable plate. Ed’s food paired with Jon’s drinks are a match made in heaven. Every time I’ve gone back I have enjoyed whatever I’ve ordered from either Ed or Jon. Shit, I might just go there again tonight.

Donnie Burtless & Alli Suriani: It doesn’t seem possible, but we might have eaten better in 2014 then any year prior. Thanks to Buffalo’s restaurant scene exploding in 2014 and some great culinary adventures, we had a great year. Here’s the five best meals that we had in 2014 with a bunch of honorable mentions (because there are never just five).

Buffalo Proper. The big question was not IF Buffalo Proper would make this list but WHICH meal from Buffalo Proper would make this list. Since they opened in August, we’ve eaten there at least ten times (probably more). The first ‘proper’ meal we had was outstanding but every other meal has been just as great. We’ve visited and gone all out with large plates (the Tomahawk Steak and Oles Farm Chicken are ridiculous) but there have been many times where we’ve just ordered all small plates (soup so hard) and then plenty of times we’ve just had a couple snacks at the bar. Each time we walked away from the restaurant happier than when we walked in. We love the drinks and the party atmosphere too but if we are just talking about food, there’s no other restaurant in Buffalo where we’d rather sit down for a meal. So, back to the original point. We can’t pinpoint just one meal at Proper, and maybe its a cop-out but we are just going to go ahead and say every meal we have had there has been our favorite of the year.

Elm Street Bakery. We’ve always loved Elm Street Bakery and would gladly make the trek for their excellent pizza and baked goods. But when Chef Rowell was brought on to start a dinner service earlier this year, Elm Street Bakery truly found a special place in our heart. The menu is creative comfort food done well, with seasonal quality ingredients executed perfectly in their wood fire oven. Shortly after Chef Rowell took over, we headed down for dinner in March and grabbed seats at the bar. Since the “kitchen” is open and the bar surrounds the brick oven, we were able to enjoy our meal while watching the chefs at work. Of course we ate way too much (as always) but every last piece was insanely good. Nothing makes us happier than watching great food be made by enthusiastic and talented people. You can read a full recap of our meal here. This place is in our top three favorite places to eat in WNY. In fact, we may just head there tonight.

Salt Yard (London, England). The fact that this little food blog has given us the opportunities to travel to places like London is just mind-blowing. So every time that happens we make the most of it and visit as many amazing restaurants as we can, even after 10 straight hours on a plane. What’s so impressive about our meal at Salt Yard was how great the food was even as we were jetlagged beyond belief. We don’t really remember what the restaurant looked like or even walking to the venue, but we remember the food. This Spanish Tapas restaurant had everything we were looking for. Iberico Ham? Check. Potatas Fritas? Check. Fried Squash Blossom with Honey? Check. It was an amazing meal and like last year’s trip to Italy, we were happy that we found our way to a great “non-touristy” restaurant that was filled by locals and truly showcased London’s farm-to-table cuisine.

SoLo Farm to Table (South Londonderry, Vermont). What are the odds that Alli’s sister Lauren randomly moves to a small ski-town in Southern Vermont that just happens to be down the street from a restaurant with a James Beard nominated Chef (whose wife was the Maitre D’ at Thomas Keller’s Per Se)? Apparently pretty good and during a visit this summer we finally visited SoLo Farm to Table. We had been looking forward to this meal for months and somehow it still lived up to and even surpassed the hype. Every detail of the restaurant and our meal was near flawless. The service was some of the best I’ve ever had. The menu was an all-star tribute to local seasonal ingredients, presented creatively and executed perfectly. Every time we make the trip to visit, we will also make a reservation at SoLo.

Donnie’s 30th Birthday/Crawfish Boil Extravoganza: Back in May, we put together the best birthday party ever. Best. Ever. It’s a fact. We were lucky enough to share Donnie’s 30th birthday celebration along with James Roberts’ (Toutant) annual Crawfish Boil. Somehow we fit ~75 people in our backyard and served an insane lineup of food. Every attendee brought a side dish and a bottle of whiskey, we had two kegs of Community Beer Works and James served a shitload of crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage and more. At night we burned a large wooden bench that has permanently ruined some of our grass, but it was worth it. At one point Steve Gedra may have peed in my neighbors yard. Donnie ended the night on our back deck with awesome friends and a glass of Pappy. It was a perfect day filled with a bunch of my family and friends and was a great way for Donnie to say goodbye to his 20’s.

Honorable Mentions.

Our Last Meal at Bistro Europa: a week before they closed, we had one final meal at Bistro Europa. We went all out and ate as much as we could. It was a bittersweet farewell, but we couldn’t be happier with The Black Sheep.
Cure (Pittsburgh, PA): This was literally our last meal in Pittsburgh and it was as relatively short one. But the combination of their large charcuterie plate and one of the best negroni’s I’ve ever had, was too great to not mention.
Central Provisions (Portland, ME): A great small plates restaurant that’s also beautifully designed with a fully open kitchen. We got there early for lunch, sat at the bar and ordered way too much food. The smoked carrots and bread and butter were outstanding.
Duckfat (Portland, ME): When a restaurant serves Belgian frites that are fried in duck fat, it’s basically impossible to ignore. Do you know how much Alli loves fries? We’d go back in a heart beat, well worth the wait.
Meat & Potatoes (Pittsburgh, PA): This was a spur of the moment meal and we luckily grabbed a seat at the bar on a busy Saturday night. We decided to work down the small plates menu and engage in some conversation with the bartenders. The duck liver pate, pork belly tacos, fried brussel sprouts and charcuterie board are worth checking out.