Best of 2005

As the year draws to a close (remember that they’re adding an extra second for free! What are you going to do with it?), here are a few of my favorite food things from 2005.

Favorite recipe for a first course: Warm Leek Salad with Fresh Walnuts. Contender: Artichoke and Goat Cheese Mille-Feuille.

Favorite recipe for a main course: Asparagus and Strawberry Tart.

Favorite recipe for dessert: Blueberry Yogurt Cake. Contender: Peach and Apricot Compote with Poppyseed Cream.

Favorite Paris meal: a sparkling lunch at Les Ambassadeurs in the Crillon palace, where Jean-François Piège officiates. (Weekday lunch menu at 70€.) Contender: Gaya, Pierre Gagnaire’s new seafood restaurant (44 rue du Bac in the 7th).

Favorite meal elsewhere in France: Chez Gianni in the Luberon. Contender: Manechenea in the Pays Basque.

Favorite meal abroad: Blue hill in NYC. Contender: a tapas bar in San Sebastián.

Favorite new tool: without a doubt, my cast-iron cocotte. Contender: my immersion blender.

Favorite sandwich: El Bocadillo. Contender: dessert sandwiches.

Favorite new condiment: Pimentón de la Vera. Contender: Spirulin Gomasio.

Favorite make-your-own discovery: homemade ricotta. Contender: homemade canelés.

Favorite food-related book: L’Art Culinaire Moderne. Contender: M.F.K. Fisher‘s The Gastronomical Me (I know, I was probably the last person on earth who hadn’t read it).

Favorite personal news of the year: a book deal, naturally. Contender: we have a reservation for El Bulli next summer!

Wanna share some of yours?

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