Top 10 Bites of 2014

Below we’ve compiled our top 10 mouth dancing, tastebud bulging, instant instagramming, blow our minds, bites of the year. Some obvious. Some unexpected. All worth going back for. You guys know we love our bites BUT we’d love to hear about your favorite, delectable, OMG-moment, bites of the year. So, as you peruse our top 10, think of your fav and drop it in the comments, tweet or insta with #bestbiteof2014. Here’s a simple equation to follow. Bite (at) Place (in) City = Link (if you have one) Here’s an example based on our first pick: Spaghetti at Carlo e Camilla in Milan bit.ly/1HbmDpG. We can’t wait to hear what you guys found outstanding this year.

10. Milan, Italy

Carlo e Camilla in Segheria’s spaghetti

The whole meal was a treat. Bite after bite and sip, of paired cocktail, after sip, they made my tastebuds dance like in an Italian techno club. But, the bite of the night was this simple spaghetti alici with cipollotto lime and caffe. The fresh anchovies were incredible mixed with the fresh pasta.

9. San Francisco, California

Anchor Oyster Bar’s cioppino

A big bowl of seafood in broth with fresh, crusty bread. How do you go wrong with this bite? You don’t but be careful not to miss it. It’s not even on the menu.

8. Cincinnati, Ohio

Smoked Grapes at Metropole

Not the only thing that comes on the plate but so good that I ordered more on the side. Such a simple thing that I would never have thought to do. I love when you discover bites like this. Pairing it with the beef filet made it that much more genius.

7. Austin Texas

Sausage and pancakes at The Odd Duck

We ordered the whole menu. No joke. That happens often they say. Of the 14 courses, this andouille sausage served on a cornmeal pancake with coffee mayonnaise had just enough wrong that tasted soooo right, we inched it past all the other delectables to make it number 1.

6. Manhattan, New York

Rack of lamb at Resto

Not just any roasted rack, but a dorper lamb rack with minted pea salad and pickled red onion. These were bold in flavor and as tender as you could imagine. Part of a much larger “full format dinner” that has become quite the tradition amongst the boys. Year three will be big and we’ll untuck the story of the trifecta soon enough.

5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mozzerella at Garces Trading Co

It comes out warm. It’s surrounded by just olive oil or a simple fresh compote. You cut it with a butter knife. Need we say more?

4. Cusco, Peru

Burger at Papachos

This bite is on the list for the beef. It doesn’t matter what burger you pick of the extensive combination menu or with what fixings are part of it. The 100% veal patty in every burger is done to a juicy, incredible medium rare. This rivals American burgers. Yeah, we’re not kidding.

3. Lima, Peru

Ceviche at La Picanteria

2. Lake Como, Italy

Linguine and clams at Ristorante Barchetta

I am a sucker for a linguine and clam sauce. I always have been since my parents took my to Lenny’s Clam Bar when I was ten. The one I slurped down during a delightful, mid-day lunch on the island of Bellagio was maybe the finest, and freshest (both pasta and clams), I have ever had the privilege of tasting. A carafe of house wine also influenced my delight with this bowl of amazing. As it should be I say.

1. Staten Island, New York

Scungilli at Denino’s

Everyone raves about the pizza but it was the scungilli marinara that is the star. It was also a time machine back to when I was 7. Back then the dinner table had lots of loud mouths around it shouting in conversation as they passed plates of sausage, bracciole, rigatoni and scungilli across my eyes. They would, no-look, hand over fist, serve and talk simultaneously. After the porcelain plate parade, my dish would be filled with goodies and I couldn’t wait to bite into that conch and marinara. Denino’s is as close to my aunt’s version of the dish as I have ever tasted. Well worth the trip to SI I promise.