2017 was an incredible year filled with travel, family, friends, a new job, and lots of delicious food and drink! From the Far East to the Caribbean and across the US of A, tasty and memorable bites filled many days. I was going to list out some honorable mentions but it felt like a cop-out – it’s tough to narrow it down! Here are my top 14 dishes of 2017.

#14 Raspberry Ricotta Cake (recipe adapted from Bon Appetit)

Light but still moist and bursting with flavor, this cake is perfect for afternoon tea, dessert or even breakfast. After making it for the first time in February 2017, it went into rotation in my house.

 #13 Ceviche at home

My first time making ceviche was a success and I attribute much of it to a blend of citrus flavors for the snapper to cook in. Looking forward to making more with citrus in season now.

#12 Duck with Rhubarb-Strawberry tart at Local 11Ten, Savannah, GA

There’s always a standout dish when we dine here and this year was no exception. For our 3^rd wedding anniversary dinner in the same restaurant where we had our wedding reception, we tasted this delicious combination and loved it.

#11 Spring in a bowl – Ricotta Gnocchi with lemon, garlic and asparagus

Adapted from both a Bon Appetit recipe and a Serious Eats recipe, this one went on repeat because I seriously crave it. So. Good.

 #10 Halal Sirloin over tahini dressing with smashed beets + tangy-sweet chili vinaigrette

Lots going on here but somehow it all works. Kept this mostly in tact from Bon Appetit but used Halal sirloin (done sous-vide by Sean) and was very happy with the results. A satisfying combination of flavors and textures – soft beets, chewy steak, melty tahini sauce, and a slight crunch from red chilies.

#9 Cuban mojitos (and the ability to replicate them at home)

Ah, Cuban rum. An old friend from my days in London when this could be easily acquired. With our trip to Cuba in June, I could once again enjoy Cuba’s superior rum – and bring some home! It’s fantastic in a mojito and we made several over the summer with mint from our garden.

#8 Hummus from Zahav, Philadelphia, PA

I make hummus that is really good. It’s Greek-style with lots of lemon and more chickpeas than tahini. The Israeli-style hummus I had at Zahav was the best I’ve ever tasted. Focused on high-quality tahini, it’s velvety and smooth with a light texture and nutty, tangy flavor. Sean has re-created this at home for us since we can’t get up to Philly to satisfy every hummus craving!

#7 Aged Sake, Kyoto, Japan

I didn’t know this was a thing until we popped into a “standing bar” after an afternoon of shopping in Kyoto. We had a 10-year old sake that was by far the best I’d ever had – rich, full-bodied, smooth and comforting on a rainy, chilly evening. A fantastic experience – even the part where Sean spilled his completely full cup all over the floor. Oops! 😉

#6 Everything we had at Pinch of Spice in Agra, India

I know I should choose, but if you eat Indian food often I think you’ll agree it’s hard. Everything on the table is meant to be had together and it feels cohesive, even if it’s a mix of veg and non-veg. We had butter chicken, vegetable basmati rice, garlic naan, chutneys, pickles, and a sizzling, char-grilled tandoori paneer that I’m still obsessed with. Washed it all down with Kingfisher beer alongside my mom and one of our travel companions, Sarah.

#5 Mixed Peruvian Ceviche at Cvi.Che 105, Miami, FL

Be still my heart. What a great dish. As soon as we finished it, I wanted to go back the next day to have it again (we didn’t). Incredibly fresh, bursting with bright citrus and deepened with a yellow pepper cream sauce that added that coconut flavor, this was heaven in my mouth.

#4 Marine Soil – Sean Urchin, Jicama, Cucumber, Goat cheese foam, Surf Clam, Next Restaurant, Chicago, IL (by way of Central, Lima, Peru)

The 5^th course of our extravagant dinner at Next Chicago for their take on the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” was my favorite. Briny, soft, crunchy, tangy and sweet, this small dish packed a mighty punch of brilliant flavors and textures.The wine pairing of Chateau Simone, Palette Blanc, Provence, France 2009 certainly had something to do with it, too. It delightfully and effortlessly extended that briny flavor in my life. Wow.

#3 Tagliatelle with Saffron, King Crab and Chili Butter, Giant, Chicago, IL

This town wasn’t named best food city in the US in 2017 by Bon Appetit for nothing! It’s home to two of my top 5 dishes of 2017. I still think about this dish regularly – nothing short of divine.

#2 Sushi from Omakase and the Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan

I went to Japan this year so it’s a given that I ate sushi AND that it was incredible, right? Honestly, every piece of sushi I had at our omakase, the fish market, and the conveyor belt sushi restaurant was amazing. However, if forced to choose it has to be the HUGE and stunningly fresh pile of uni (sea urchin) from our omakase, and the toro (medium fatty tuna) and otoro (fattiest tuna) we ate out of the package at the Tsukiji Fish Market. We walked up to the stall, picked out that package and paid for it, then waited while the staff added the wasabi and a drizzle of soy sauce. We moved out of the way then ate the freshest and best-quality sushi I’ve ever had in my life on the sidewalk. What a memory!

#1 Lemongrass Chicken Soup with Soba Noodles and Fresh Wasabi, Osaka, Japan

I didn’t think a soba dish would be the best of 2017 but as soon as I tasted that chicken-lemongrass soup with a deep umami flavor, I knew this was it. I’m still uncertain what all was in it and I’m sure that’s part of what made it so special. Rich, complex, hearty yet bright – this was the perfect thing with which to eat the soba noodles. The addition of fresh wasabi didn’t hurt, either. 😉

2017 was an amazing year for food. I know there will be plenty more new tastes and food experiences in 2018. What were your favorite eats of 2017?