2024 was quite a year for yummy food due in large part to our epic two-week visit to Mexico in February and multiple trips to the food mecca that is the Big Apple. Local eats and homemade bites round out the list, now in its EIGTH year! I hope you enjoy this delicious trip down memory lane.
#14: Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce, Basil and Burrata, La Pecora Bianca, NYC
No trip to New York is complete for me without Italian food. This dish was everything I look for in pasta – perfectly cooked noodles, a well-seasoned vodka sauce, fresh herbs and a plus-up with creamy burrata. So good!
#13: Rosemary Shortbread cookies, Made at Home
After trying these amazing cookies for the first time in Mexico from Sean’s stepmom, we made them several more times at home this year and they were always a hit. They’re *barely* sweet making them an interesting addition to a dessert tray or cookie party. The rosemary keeps the flavor bright and fresh against the buttery shortbread. Such a treat, especially with a cup of tea. 
#12: Skillet Spanakopita, Made at Home by Sean
Quality ingredients were key to this “easier” spanakopita dish from Milk Street that Sean made this year. Spinach, kale, leeks, garlic, feta and homemade fresh ricotta cheese came together underneath that gorgeous crackly phyllo for a meal that was oh-so-satisfying. 
#11: Orange Beef, Jade Palace, Indian Harbor Beach, FL
Jade Palace is one of our favorite restaurants to eat at when we’re in the Melbourne area. This year I ordered the orange beef and it was the hit of the table – everyone wanted to try it and then kept coming back for more. The beef was crispy on the outside but still tender and had a luscious and tangy orange sauce with bits of rind for a bright burst of citrus. Yum!
#10: Marinated Hamachi with Truffle Salt, Nonono, NYC
Gorgeous and delicious! The yellowtail was fresh and soft, topped with truffle salt for an umami kick and citrus and pomegranate for sweetness and tang. A wonderful dish alongside our yakitori and cocktails. 
#9: Matcha is Life, Multiple locations, U.S. and Mexico
I’ve long loved matcha, the green tea super power powder from Japan. It’s earthy, comforting, and can be used in a multitude of ways. I loved the lattes I had at numerous cafes in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico including one with coconut milk that was divine. The matcha soft serve from Cha Cha Matcha in NYC was very tasty. 
#8: Clams in White Wine and Garlic, The Cockeyed Clam, Buxton, NC
Obviously one must order clams from a restaurant called Cockeyed Clam and these certainly live up to the name. Fresh and briny in an addictively good sauce, these are also served with crusty bread for sopping up the juices. YUM!
#7: Strawberry Margarita, Made at Home
I made these in the spring with fresh local strawberries that I macerated and mashed, then strained to get a vibrant, sweet, berry-forward margarita. Strawberry, lime and tequila are a match made in flavor heaven. Cheers!
#6: Buffalo Cauliflower Wrap, Johanna’s at the Wanchese Tiki Hut, Wanchese, NC
I didn’t think our local summer season haunt would end up having one of my FAVORITE dishes of the entire year but I’m so glad it did. It may not be much to look at but when I tell you this is absolutely crave-worthy, I mean it. Crispy yet light cauliflower tossed in both buffalo sauce and Johanna’s green goddess dressing, this hits BIG with flavor and texture. Missing it in the off season, that’s for sure!
#5: Al Pastor Tacos, Brasimix, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Kicking off the top 5 on my list this year are these terrific al pastor tacos from a very local spot in San Miguel. They’re so popular and incredibly inexpensive – less than $1 each! The meat is roasted and then shaved onto fresh corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro. Simple and great street food. 
#4: Tandoori Lamb Chops, Ghar Restaurant, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
At this Indian restaurant that uses Mexican ingredients like corn, cactus, etc. we had these fabulous tandoori lamb chops with mashed potatoes tempered in mustard seeds, ginger, and onions. It was served with ginger herb dressing and crispy onions. A flavor bomb of roasted, earthy flavors brightened by ginger and the slight spice of the mustard seeds. A unique combination that I loved trying. 
#3: Crab-stuffed Tiger Prawn appetizer special, Valbella at the Park, NYC
Before this dinner on a recent work trip to New York, I’d never had a stuffed prawn. WOW! After my first bite, I knew this was going on this list. It was immediately one of the best things I ate this year. The crab was buttery, sweet and soft and the prawn had a touch of char that brought in a bit of smokiness and depth. An excellent showing of how just a couple of high-quality ingredients prepared simply and with precision can deliver an incredible tasting experience. 
#2: Korean Fried Chicken, Seoul Bap, NYC
I’ve had KFC before but this was next-level. So, so memorable. Easy to eat, super crunchy, tangy, sweet, spicy and umami all at the same time, and perfect for sharing with friends (which I did). The yuzo mayo dip was a great accompaniment. I usually go to new places when I visit NYC for work a few times a year but I will be returning here for this dish on a future trip. This was *almost* my number one dish of the year. 
#1: Luang Prabang Lemongrass Sausage, Bida Manda, Raleigh, NC
After more than ten years I returned to this Laotian restaurant in Raleigh (with Sean this time) to celebrate my 40th birthday and our 10th wedding anniversary. I remember it being amazing and am happy to report that not only is it still wonderful, their lemongrass sausage is the top thing I ate in 2024! This is a true flavor bomb and we were impressed with each bite at the quality of the meat, the use of bold fresh herbs like dill, and the way lemongrass added an almost exotic flavor. Unique, fresh and memorable for the top spot.
I’m thankful for all the new flavors I got to experience this year. Next year we’re planning to return to Mexico, visit family and friends in London, travel to Scotland, and make some trips to Ohio and Chicago to see family at some point so I’m anticipating 2025 being a BIG year for food. Exciting! Always remember – for each new flavor you experience, you live an additional 88 days. Happy new year!