The best things I ate and drank in 2021

As with everyone, I’m someone who enjoys a nice meal and a couple of drinks. Maybe unlike others, I go out of my way to extensively search for my next meal out, whether that means following dozens of food writers, asking everyone I know for recommendations, or searching extensively through Google Reviews for that sweet spot of 4.6 to 4.9 stars.

Here is a collection of the best meals, drinks, and snacks I ate in the last calendar year. Pictures are not mine — that’s something I’ll try to improve in 2022.

Pepperoni and basil pizza - Conzo’s, Toronto

In a city defined by great pizza that regularly makes its way into my weekly rotation (Maker, Descendants, North of Brooklyn), the best new pie this year comes courtesy of famed American-Italian restaurant Sugo’s spinoff, Conzo’s.

This pie is a mix between thin and thicker style (so, regular?) with a slightly-oversized perimeter crust that somehow defies doughiness while still remaining crispy and crunchy. The pepperoni is of the addiction-forming Ezzo variety, meaning it cups and chars into an oil-filled paradise. Torn basil adds a freshness that rips through the oily richness. Structure-wise, the pizza has a welcome flop to it, forcing you to pay even more attention as you attempt to shove it into your mouth as fast as possible. This is a destination pie, so make it a mission to pick it up…and definitely get some of the ceasary, anchovy dipping sauce too.

Chicken boti wrap - La Rosh, Ajax

I have to shout out CBC food writer Suresh Doss for turning me on to this gem. I grew up in Pickering, and it seems like the suburbs I roamed in high school are contributing more and more to the food pantheon than ever before.

Situated in a nondescript plaza surrounded by medical offices and pharmacies (so you know it’s going to be good), La Rosh’s small takeout space serves up delicious Pakistani and Indian staples. Be warned: this place is busy, with the phone ringing off the hook and the tireless cooks writing every order into a neverending yellow notebook, so phone in your choices 30 minutes ahead of pickup.

The wraps are your best bet here, with the Boti variation coming out top. Juicy, tender chicken thigh marinated in tandoori masala spices lovingly tucked into a buttery, made-to-order paratha. Try and spot staff rolling out each wrap in the back for that added street cred. Make sure you order your wrap spicy, because the housemade yogurt sauce concisely balances out the heat, resulting in a savory blend of creamy and spice. Add some pickles and onions to the final product to round it all out, and you’ve got the best lunch in Ajax for under $9.

Croissant and flat white - Mallo, Toronto

A dark horse for best cafe in the city, Mallo does not receive the recognition it deserves. Located near the Honest Ed’s-less Bloor and Bathurst, this cafe-that-turns-bar-at-8pm freshly bakes its croissants every morning, so you’re greeted by a blast of buttery air as you enter. The barista/bartenders are incredibly kind, sparking up a conversation about books, beer, or a weird painting on the wall every time you step forward to order.

In terms of the croissant itself, well, it’s perfect. Mountains of flaky layers pull apart with ease, with a softness that squishes and bounces back easily — everything you want in a pastry you scarf down in seconds. The coffee is great too, with expertly pulled espresso shots and frothed milk that doesn’t overpower the tastefully bitter, smooth beans. Everyone is always looking for a new cafe to try. Put Mallo at the top of your list.

Night Moves Gamay - Rosewood Winery, Beamsville

I didn’t drink a lot this year. In fact, this is likely the least I’ve ever drank in a year since I turned 19. Despite the dry theme of 2021, I did try some great alcoholic bevvies this year, led by a bottle of red from Rosewood.

I’m not going to pretend to understand tasting notes in wine. I barely know what a Gamay is, and Night Moves’ listed tasting notes of “raspberry leaf, cherries, sweet tomatoes and bay leaf” are unfound and unappreciated on my lowly palette. What I do know is that my love for reds has deepened over the years, and that was cemented in 2021 by Night Moves. Bright and drinkable and with a nice finish, my roommate introduced this wine to me early in the year. We drank a few bottles, and it showed me that I can truly appreciate a winery like I would a brewery. Rosewood has now become a favorite, and at $35 a bottle, this is definitely a red you should add to your rotation.

Anna sandwich with Calabrian chili - Flora’s deli, Toronto

One of the only enjoyable aspects of the pandemic was the rise of popup resturaunts around Toronto. All kinds of people found success by serving food out of their houses, cars, shuttered bars, and more. Flora’s was no different, first popping up in Mahjong then moving to Grapecrush to serve its excellent deli sandwiches.

Bar none, the spicy Anna is the best thing on sliced bread in Toronto right now. Chicken cutlet, sweet pepper relish, pesto aioli, provolone, and Calabrian chili combine to make a tangy, sweet, spicy, crispy masterpiece of a sandwich. I could eat this every single day and not be tired of it. In fact, I’m sad right now, writing about it without eating it. This place is so good, I bought a Flora’s sweater to show my support and spread the gospel of Anna. I brought friends here. I brought my dad here. If I know you, reach out to me and I’ll bring you here, because I want one of these right now. If there is anything you take away from this piece, let it be this: go eat at Flora’s, ASAP.

Everything in Flora’s Anna sandwich. (Toronto Life)

Carne Asada Torta - Torta Boyz, Ottawa

Torts Boyz is an unassuming food truck tucked away at the back of a lot on Preston Street, right beside the Trans-Canada highway that snakes its way through Ottawa. If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying one, a torta is a Mexican take on a pretty simple sandwich, and this one is stuffed with grilled steak, sliced avocado, curtido (a cabbage slaw), and chimichurri.

Firstly, this thing was massive. Coming in at $16 for the sandwich, you’d expect it to be big, but this is truly a “split in two” kind of meal. On top of that, a common complaint I have with steak sandwiches is overly-tough meat that pulls out of the sandwich with every bite. Not this time. The steak is tender and breaks off easily, offering a flame-licked touch to every mouthful. The avocado balances the charred meat and oily chimichurri, and the bun itself is crispy on the outside yet soft in every possible way.

Unfortunately, I think Torta Boyz is temporarily closed, but when this place reopens, I could see it likely returning as a brick-and-mortar restaurant, so stop by the next time you’re in Ottawa.

The Carne Asada torta from Torta Boyz (Yelp)

Rotisserie chicken with sides and local appetizers, - Taverne Bernhardt’s, Toronto.

Bernhardt’s is a gorgeous bistro located on an unassuming residential street, with a beautiful facade and front/back patio. They do one thing really, really well: chicken. So, that’s what we ordered.

Get yourself a whole chicken as I did, and it will come with potatoes (fries or roasted), slaw, buns, pickles, and an honest-to-god gravy boat. This is Swiss Chalet, elevated. The chicken is incredibly juicy thanks to a perfect brine, and the gravy is not really traditional, but more like Chalet sauce turned up to a million. The fries were just okay, to be honest, and the soft buttery buns mean you get to DIY a little chicken sandwich after you finish pulling every morsel of meat off the bone.

Bernhardt’s also features rotating apps that highlight every local ingredient in season around the province. We had a simple yet unbelievably flavorful corn and tomato salad (made with Ontario sweet corn and heirloom tomatoes harvested the day prior, according to the server), along with a cucumber, jalapeno, bacon and ranch dish, plus some deep-fried duck confit to balance the vegetable intake.

A lot of places promise “simple ingredients, simple preparation, exquisite taste,” but Bernhardt’s is a place that truly proves great preparation can elevate local fare to astronomical levels.

Red snapper filet with rice and beans, patacones, and a coconut sauce - Astorga, Liberia, Costa Rica

After not being able to travel for essentially two years, I wrapped up 2021 with a trip to Costa Rica. I went with family and saw some friends there too, and this was the best meal of the trip. Costa Rica isn’t necessarily known for its food — the national dish is usually listed as casado, which is essentially rice, beans, plantains, and a protein – but this was a standout.

Astorga served up an elegant take on casado, and it delivered. The snapper was fresh, flaky, and pan-fried perfectly, covered in a slightly sweet coconut sauce that, along with the rice and beans, evoked a more Caribbean vibe than anything. Along with the patacones (fried plantains), it was a substantial meal that proved chefs in Costa Rica absolutely know how to elevate simple, local ingredients and deliver world-class results. Oh, and best yet? Three excellent entrees, two sizeable appetizers, and two beers came to just $61 USD all in. Not bad.

A bag of freshly cut pineapple - Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

After finishing a relatively intense and incredibly rainy hike to see the stunning Rio Celeste waterfall, we emerged from one of Costa Rica’s most notable national parks to the sound of a local vendor shouting “Coco, Coco, Piña” from a stand near the entrance.

By this time in the trip, we’d already eaten a fair amount of local fruit along with one starchy vegetable we thought was fruit. But after the combined 500+ stairs to and from the waterfall, plus an hour or two extra spent hiking in the rain, a reward was in order. The piña man, as I’ll call him, sliced up a massive pineapple and slid it into a plastic bag for ₡1500, or roughly $2.30 USD, a steal compared to the dainty $5 cored pineapples found in Loblaws.

My family stood in the parking lot beside our dusty, battered rental Hyundai and devoured the treat in its simple glory. It was the sweetest pineapple I’ve ever tasted. Normally, if one were to consume an entire pineapple in one sitting, they may be left with bromelain-induced ulcers, as the pineapple wears down your mouth bite by addictive bite. But this pineapple seemed like it was all sweet with no fight. I might have even thought it was covered in sugar if I didn’t see it chopped up in front of my eyes. Though it was barely a meal, it may have been the most memorable thing I ate all year.