I’ve been reading a lot of people’s best meals over the past year, and it made me stop and think about a few of my favorites. Interestingly, most of the places I ate in 2024 were affordable and the food was accessible with not too many ingredients.
Looking back, I had my share of fantastic experiences. As you probably have heard or seen, I am very food obsessed, but I have to save it for weekends since I live a very healthful experience during the week. That’s not to say that I don’t make my healthy meals enjoyable, but I can’t go for broke like I used to when I could enjoy whatever I wanted without the consequences!
Here are a few of my favorites from some travels in 2024. All showcase that simple is truly best! If you find yourself in any of these places in 2025, I recommend a trip!
10. Nachos from El Camino (Delray Beach, FL): The nachos at El Camino, a small Florida-based chain, with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach are a thing of beauty. Made with smoked beef brisket, Monterey Jack cheese, pinto beans, pico de gallo and guacamole and piled high enough to create an obstacle for seeing your dining partner, this is an appetizer to dream about. In fact, it’s so substantial that you don’t need to eat anything else! And even better, it’s economical - $17 a plate combined with a nice happy hour with fresh tasting margaritas, and you will feel like you are on cloud nine!
9. Cubano Sandwich from Sanguich (Miami, FL): Sanguich is small shop in Little Havana in Miami serves up the best Cuban sandwich I have ever had bar none. It has won a Bib Gourmand from Michelin for good reason. They marinate the pork for a week in garlic and spices, then they press the perfect pork between expertly grilled house made bread topped with swiss cheese and pickles and slathered with mustard. Washed down with a homemade milkshake made with mangoes and you might just be in heaven! If you get the chance, high tail it over to this fabulous shop, I assure you that you will not be disappointed!
8. Gelato from Siciliansk Is (Copenhagen, Denmark): Stopping in Siciliansk Is as I walked around Copenhagen last Summer was like a dream. The people working in the shop were so friendly and delightful. I honestly felt like I was home. And not just because the shop was owned by Sicilians! Th flavors were unique and so fresh. I didn’t know what to order and ended up having licorice, which was delicious and rhubarb cream, which sounds bizarre, but was perfect. The two people working were so sweet and asked for my advice on how to market the new brioche that they were selling. I know a bit about the brioche due to my family and suggested they offer something about missing breakfast and being able to enjoy it all day! I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Copenhagen and wished that I had spent more time there in the end!
7. Pizza from Mama’s Too (New York, NY): The bite I ate at Mama’s Too was actually my nephew Patrick’s pizza slice since he opted to have the vodka slice which was my favorite! I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did, since the famous slices at Mama’s are square and Sicilian style, like the kind my mom used to make, which tend to be a bit heavier. But this slice was magic, and we all rated it at 9 out of 10, even above L’Industrie which is known as one of the best slices in town. Every slice we had was delicious, but the vodka slice is the one I want to have when I go again, hopefully soon!
6. Burger from Au Cheval (New York, NY): I have had this burger once before at the original Au Cheval in Chicago and was excited to hear that a new outpost opened in New York. Admittedly, I have been dying to try the infamous version from the same owners at 4Charles Prime Rib, but good luck actually getting a reservation! I just have no patience for dealing with the nuttiness that it requires, so I had the same thing and loved it! The burger comes on a toasted brioche bun with dijonaise spread on the bottom with thinly sliced pickles, minced red onion, and melted cheddar cheese. If you order the crispy bacon, expect a very thick slice which you can also request on the side as I did. A runny fried egg can also be added if you desire!
5. Chicken Borek from Ammoora (Baltimore, MD): Out of the many memorable items we enjoyed at Ammoora, the standout was the Mousakhan chicken roll which is made with braised sumac chicken, caramelized onions and topped with a sumac labneh dip. It is a delicious, light bite and the perfect precursor for what is to come. If you haven’t had a Dubai chocolate bar, they serve one here for dessert and I dare you to take just one bite! This sceney restaurant seems to draw the crème de la crème and rightly so. They get everything right – especially the service which was personal and delightful. There appeared to be a number of VIPs there the evening we visited, and we felt like we might as well have been stars ourselves from the way we were fawned over!
4. Albacore Tuna Crudo from Sap Sua (Denver, CO): I had not planned to visit this restaurant when I was out in Denver on a business trip, but a colleague invited me to dine with her and I was glad I did. I read about Sap Sua before I arrived in Denver and its reputation is well deserved. The menu has a number of unique and delicious items on it, but the crudo made with coconut, lemongrass, ginger, and chili is fabulous and lingers in your mind long after you leave. I wish I lived close enough to this gem of a restaurant so I could have the crudo more often!
3. Swedish meatballs from Pelikan (Stockholm, Sweden): On my first visit ever to the birthplace of my grandfather, I wanted to go to a place with excellent Swedish meatballs, which I happen to make and enjoy. Pelikan is a fun, lively spot in a great part of town, Sodermalm, that is well over 100 years old. You can tell that you are in a place that reveres traditional Swedish food and isn’t afraid of butter or cream! The kottbullar as they are called in Swedish come with a side of lingonberry jam, mashed potatoes, and peas. Perfection in every bite and a lot better than what they serve at Ikea!
2. Canele from Un Je Ne Se Quoi (Washington, DC): I have tried canelés all over and not too many are memorable and tend to be fairly unremarkable. But this one at Un Je Ne Se Quoi made me understand what all of the fuss is about. It was light, airy, and had a custard center with a burnt sugar caramelized exterior. It’s what the folks in Bordeaux must be so excited about in the first place! If you have never tried this unusual thimble shaped treat, I suggest a trip to this delightful and perpetually packed bakery!
1. Lahmucun from Imren Grill (Berlin, Germany): I wasn’t very happy when I happened upon this no-nonsense grill in Kreuzberg the famous area filled with Turkish restaurants. I took an Uber by myself specifically to visit one of the famous places and after walking around and trying several places only to find that no one had room for a single person, I decided to try this spot and I’m very glad I did. The staff made food exactly like I had when we lived in Ankara and for a fraction of the cost of what others were charging. I can still taste it, and it tasted exactly as I remembered it like it was yesterday. The heat of the peppers, the tang of the ground lamb mixed with spices all spread on a very thin pizza like dough. It’s fabulous and to get that and many other dishes with a real carbonated Diet Coke was a dream.
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