The 14 Best Bites of 2020
I think most people will agree with me when I say that the only pleasure received from 2020 came from what was on the other side of a fork — and no, I don’t mean stabbing yourself with it! The 14 best bites of 2020 were sweet and savory and mostly consumed at home — but they sure helped make this year palatable.
Mazeman from Saikai Ramen
This was the first time I had the “brothless ramen” and now I’m hooked for life! Saikai in Koreatown does it with temomi noodles and ground pork that’s all made in house and perfected with a few drizzles of vinegar ($11.95).
Many Pizza Pickups from L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
Other than one seated dineL.A. back in January, I was a monthly regular for pick-ups of the famed Neapolitan pie ($20) and very appreciative of their early COVID carry-out discounts. While not as good as when you’re eating it hot out of the oven, my husband has a pan-fry reheat system down that’s pretty close to the real thing.
Spiny Lobster at Maude
Served as part of the Taste of South Australia at Maude, this dish on the tasting menu was a real standout for me that I can still taste months later. Just thinking about it makes me long for the days when we could escape for hours to restaurants. While I know that’s not in our immediate future; I hope that Maude and other fine dining establishments can weather the storm.
OG Pancakes at Breakfast by Salt’s Cure
People say you can’t buy happiness, but they’ve never had the OG Toasted Cinnamon Griddle Cakes at Breakfast by Salt’s Cure. Perfectly sweet, a little chewy, with just the right amount of butter–it turns out happiness only costs $8 a plate.
Bang Bang’s Biang Biang Noodles
There’s nothing more L.A. than waiting in line for something, which I try to avoid at all costs, but I did it for these noodles in Highland Park. Hand made and pulled to order; it’s part spectacle, part FOMO, and all delicious. Choose between wet or dry, pick your protein, and you’re good to go! It’s basically a one-man band situation, so understandably he’s taking a break until 2021. More details are on the Bang Bang Noodles Instagram.
High Tea at the Langham Huntington Pasadena
This was my last meal out before the shutdown and had I known that I would have sat there until the evening and savored the best bites of 2020. Afternoon High Tea the Langham is a 140-year-old tradition that began at the Langham Hotel in London and continues in Pasadena. There are several menu options to choose from but if you’re going big then The Royal Tea ($85) is for you. It begins with a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne and ends with Strawberries and Cream with Grand Marnier. In between you’ll have Finger Sandwiches; Scones; and Towers of Sweets.
I’ll see you there in 2021 🙂
Republique’s Mary Roasted Chicken
This was my first Tock to Go of the pandemic and it has a savory taste in my memory tinged with excitement at this new way of eating fancy food out of paper containers in your own home.
The original per person price was $32.50 (with enough food for 1.5 meals). Highlights included Mary’s Rotisserie Chicken with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and an Almond Brown Butter Cake with blueberries and lemon curd.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie from Levain Bakery
The best bites of 2020 echo the longing for sweet escapes and this New York City bakery is testament to that. Over the past couple of months cross-country shipping rates have gone from astronomical to fairly reasonable due to the demand.
Levain Bakery is known for its Chocolate Chip Walnut but the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter is out of this world and worth $6.50 a cookie (plus $19 shipping for).
Foccaccia Pizza from Antico
Anyone else consume more pizza than usual this year as part of their best bites of 2020? Well, thanks to the “pivoting” of Italian sit-down restaurant Antico, they made pizza and ice-cream an elevated experience. During my first visit, I had the massive Pineapple Express with tomato, mozzarella, pineapple, bacon, and pickled jalapeno on thick focaccia bread ($35). It will take you several days to finish this pizza! Complete your visit with a pint of Freshly Spun Ice-Cream with flavors that change weekly ($14-$20). You’ll have to stop yourself from eating this one in one sitting.
Jicama Salad and Corn Flan from Chef Ale Guzman
Alas, this was just a summer jam–part of the menu from the Fabby’s LA popup from Chef Ale Guzman. I rarely get excited about a salad, but I could eat the Jicama Salad with Tamarind Vin Dressing for the rest of my life. The Corn Flan was also the perfect texture, creamy while not being porous or gelatenous. I can’t say enough good things about this Chef and am grateful to see what looks like a new restaurant on the horizon.
“Oysters and Pearls” from Vespertine
Enjoyed as part of The French Laundry Menu at Vespertine, this Cauliflower Panna Cotta with Ostera Caviar and Oyster Glaze was one of the many standouts in this 10-course menu.
A meal from Vespertine at home is definitely special occasion dining, but if you don’t mind playing sous-chef, you’ll get a taste of one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles at a fraction of the cost.
Cheeseburger from For the Win
I love a menu with minimal choices because chances are it means they do everything well! For the Win is the casual daytime spinoff from nighttime French bistro Papilles. As I mentioned, they have about six things on the menu, but no matter if you go with the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($9) or the 1/4 pound smashed grass-fed Cheeseburger on Martin’s potato bun ($9), you’ll have chosen well.
Bufala Alla Caprese from Bianca
I waited all year for the simple pleasure of a perfect mozzarella. The Bufala Alla Caprese with Buffalo Mozzarella from Battipaglia is served with heirloom tomatoes, pesto, and a drizzle of olive oil ($16). Honestly, everything I had from the Italian/Latin fusion restaurant Bianca was wonderful. I hope you’ll read about it in the original post–but sometimes all you need in this world is a great cheese.
Anything from Boulangerie Creed
One of the most positive byproducts of the stay-at-home lifestyle forced upon us by the pandemic has been the rise of the Instabakery. Whether you tried your hand at a sourdough starter or nurtured your inner mixologist, a lot of us honored our inner foodie creator and then posted about it. The mother and daughter behind Boulangerie Creed though have turned it into a legit Instabusiness. While everything is good, their Cinnamon Babka is moist and unforgettable. L.A. residents can benefit from pick-up or localized delivery, but national shipping is also available.
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