Best Food 2012 by LifeSauce

Another year has allowed me more remarkable and unique dining experiences. In myriad ways, culinary adventures in Miami, New York, Chicago, Washington DC and New Orleans standout in my mind. Some restaurants are long-standing local favorites that have endured over the years, serving-up goodness to fill bellies and warm hearts, while others are establishments of trained chefs who have earned prestigious accolades. A couple of restaurants in the list tug hard on the pocket strings, but prove to be worth the cash if possible. A handful are easy on the wallet and out of this world—a little something for everyone.

Chicago
Spiaggia Cafe's polpette, or meatballs, are airy and hearty. In a cooking class hosted in the restaurant's ballroom overlooking Lake Michigan, a special few of us had Chef Tony Montuano walk us through preparing meatballs like his grandmother used to. The cafe is a more casual scene than the award-winning Spiaggia known for it's high-end Italian cuisine.








Miami
Yardbird, just off Lincoln Avenue in South Beach, has been praised by The New York Times and GQ for its exquisite Southern cuisine. Bon Appétit magazine listed it as one of the Fifty Best New Restaurants of 2012. Yardbird Executive Chef Jeff McInnis was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef, South. Surrounded by historical Art Deco architecture, hipsters and trendsetters, it's easy to enjoy the decadent, wholesome menu items.




The deviled eggs with smoked trout roe are extraordinary, not too salty and a soft texture. The fried chicken on a biscuit sandwich has been, clearly, practiced and made to perfection. After the dozen or so biscuits I tried in the South, the lightness of the middle and easy crust on the outside 'takes the cake', if you will. Typically I'm not one for fried chicken. And of course I've tried a few recipes in my time, so I can tell this: the chicken at Yardbird will make you want to dance out of your seat, or run chicken run, as they say at this flourishing hot spot. The breading is thick around the bird, seasoned right with a touch of spicy punch and moist on the inside. It's served with homemade pepper jam, which I think puts the 'cherry on top' of this quality sandwich giving a Southern belle-like sweetness to the entire dish.












New Orleans
Mother's has been around for all of this Southern city's ups and downs, serving blue and white collar clientele regularly. The Ferdi is fantastic. A little much for me, but a great big sandwich of slow cooked pulled beef and sliced ham make this one palate pleaser. The atmosphere of the place is slow and easy, just like The Big Easy. Be prepared to wait at most times of the day. Get there early for the famous black ham.




Chef John Besh offers an innovative take on a traditional étouffée that simply melted me at his restaurant Lüke in New Orleans, his home town. With a touch of saffron and cream served over pasta and shrimp cooked perfectly, the dish is Su-perb. I haven't tried putting this one together at home yet, but will in 2013.




New York City
Vezzo in Midtown proved to make delicious pizzas, so delicious in fact that I returned in my few short days in Manhattan - yes, even with so many other options around the island. Here's why.




Vezzo has a small individual sized pizza on the menu that is just the right size without having much leftover. There's an organic Malbec on the menu that's $8.00 - a bargain in the concrete jungle (I had a hard time finding a Sauvignon Blanc for under thirteen).




The Caesar salad is simple, clean romaine lettuce and cool creamy dressing, not a lot of anchovy or garlic. Pepperoni at Vezzo is big and crisps nicely in the oven. The spot offers all of my favorite toppings—broccoli, feta, jalapeños and sun-dried tomatoes. I think it just might be my favorite pizza in the world now.












San Diego
Slater's 50/50 has fast become a hit in San Diego and its newest location in Pasadena. Started by a duo of UCSD grads, the signature patty is a combination of ground beef and ground bacon. There's a plethora of toppings to choose from including the house bacon ketchup and over one hundred beers on tap.




Washington DC
Proof in Washington DC came highly recommended by my hosts who explained the charcuterie boards to be exquisite. Again, I tried the deviled eggs here. They were great with the smoked fish. My favorite discovery though ended up being the side dish of broccoli bagna cauda. Bagna cauda is a sauce made with butter and anchovy paste in northern Italy typically used for dipping raw vegetables. Executive Chef Haidar Karoum of Lebonese descent has created a perfect spin on this old traditional dish by tossing the veggie in the sauce with crisped garlic slices.




Best view: Cape Town's Salt in South Africa, an excellent place for a local, crisp Sauvignon Blanc




Experience(s) of the Year: Chicago's Moto and Tru.






I am truly grateful for each experience listed here. Cheers to a wonderful 2012 and a happy and healthy 2013—and more!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

America's Parade of Roses 2012 - a New Year's Tradition

The University of Wisconsin earned a spot to play in the Tournament of Roses' official football bowl held in Pasadena, California on January 2, 2012 for the twelfth time. The launch of this first-ever post season college football match is attributed to the Parade of Roses, originally hosted by the city's Valley Hunt Club in 1890, a group of Midwest and East Coast folks that had taken up residence in the gorgeous state. 


In its early years, after the parade peculiar events like an ostrich race, and a race between a camel and elephant entertained a mere 2,000 attendees, hence the title of tournament. A football match was eventually introduced, but was scrapped for chariot races when the University of Michigan squashed USC in the first match. It wasn't until 1916 that the foundation reintroduced college football. 




The parade and football game are held annually on January 1st, except when it falls on a Sunday like this year, a day that started as a crisp forty degrees and sunny. Historically, rain has only fallen on a few days' festivities. 


Broadcast internationally in Belgium, the Philippines, Peru, India, Japan, Fiji, Mexico, China, Guam and more, the world 'wow'ed together at the complex float designs using only flowers, vegetables, seeds, herbs and other natural products. Professional float engineers work for a near year-in-advance to keep the audience buzzing in the tall 3-story bleachers raised beside the parade route streets. 


Our favorite float was 'Dinosaurs in L.A.'s Backyard' sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The float featured a life-sized Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex named Thomas. 'T the Rex' had a head covered in green brussel sprouts, dark green galyx leaves, lime green romanesco, parsley flakes and whole split peas.


Professional float firms with productions in the Rose Parade included Artistic Entertainment Services, Fiesta Parade Floats, Downey Rose Float Foundation, and Phoenix Decorating Company. Still, a good handful of entries were self-built.



We watched the floats glide by us on Colorado Boulevard just after their first right turn from Orange Grove Boulevard. 100,000 people squished between the sun and the street - a mix of regular attendees wise enough to bring bleacher cushions and first timers with wide eyes, cameras out and on - felt the excitement of the tradition step-up our hearts' beat. At the same time the temperature crept up to the mid-seventies.



The Natural Balance Pet Foods float featured Tillman  the surfing and skateboarding bull dog. This is one hip pooch that takes life by the horns.


The Girl Scouts of America float had 'all natural' Caramel Delight and Shortbread cookies. They look like a real, giant cookie!


The Good Year blimp repeatedly floated the route from above while other metal birds popped in for a peak too, and to wish the world a Happy - prosperous and healthy - New Year!


B-2 air power stealth bomber with a wingspan half thr size of a football field.


Marching bands, including Wisconsin's and Bucky Badger, revved our spirits in anticipation of the big game against Oregon. We really enjoyed the peppy step in the Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band from Ktoto-Shi, Japan. First time participants, the group had been one of the Japan's oldest female bands until recently going co-ed.



The Parade of Roses holds true to its original intent: making us momentary migrants jealous of Pasadena's enchanting views and climate in the middle of our winter. By the time the last drum could be heard our sweatshirts were off. Not bad for January second. Taking in the city's character really is a great way to kick-off a new year.

Hong Kong

Reflection of Hong Kong street in cab rear view mirror

Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42), was occupied by Japan in during WWII and controlled again by the British until 1997. The Programme for International Student Assessment ranked Hong Kong as one of the top education systems in the world.







Traditional Chinese tea house - Lin Heung

At the historical tea house we shared a pot of wonderful Jasmine tea and took in the every day people that surrounded us reading the paper, discussing politics and playing crosswords. I discovered Pu Erh tea on this trip which tasted much like my favorite African Roobios (Red Bush).




Old Street leading to Hollywood Rd, one of the first streets built in the colony, on Hong Kong Island.

You can see that a florist on Hong Kong Island has a store packed with tangerine trees. Tangerines in Chinese tradition are supposed to bring luck into the new year; Oranges are to bring wealth. Both have evolved from a language pun since the Chinese words for luck and wealth are similar to that of tangerine and orange.




I discovered this amazing store in the city called Initial: The Unusual Experience that is armed with super classic cuts with determinedly pimped-out detail. One of my personal favorites was a longer white flowy blouse with a small fur detail just on the collar.
Photo from: http://www.allabouthongkong.com/?p=169

The decore is inviting although a sculpture at the front literally shocked me so into the unusual that I almost walked right back out...thankfully I didn't! The website is fancy, but I can't see anywhere that I can do some real shopping; makes me wish I had done more while there!

We also checked out S.T.P. who became popular with its edgy lines of gift and leather goods, and is now growing an name for its clothing line.


Busy merchant street on Hong Kong Island



After some adventuring through the busy streets, wandering through the occasional sale, we made it to Cafe Landmark for a truly brilliant lunch. My host had the lobster linguine pictured on the website. I enjoyed a small kobe steak thinly sliced served aside wild greens with aged balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was the most classic, comforting decadence.

For desert we tried a few scoops of ice cream - get this - rose petal and ginger flavors. The were rather different and nice to try, but I'll touche with my Kopps's chocolate custard any day, time or place.

All of these views are in Kowloon near the Harbor City mall