The best things I ate and drank in 2023

December is the season of lists, and here I am again tackling the unnerving-yet-gratifying task of summarizing 365 days worth of food into a top 10.

Look. This journalism is hard work. Braving the harsh unknowns, walking into restaurant after restaurant to sample dish after dish, it all takes a toll on the mind, body, and soul. Capturing notes, remembering bites, taking the odd picture - I’m in the trenches of food writing here. Just to deliver a comprehensive review of my year in sips and bites.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Cheeseburger Pie - Blackbutt Bakery, Blackbutt, Queensland, Australia

Let’s start humble and work our way up, yeah? Meat pies have been called the national dish of Australia, and have become so synonymous with the country that they’ve become a favorite food of the many endearing characters of the fantastic (Aussie) kid’s show, Bluey. During a trip earlier this year, I sampled many pies, some being a bit underwhelming (looking at you Yatala) while others were fantastic.

Pies are meant to be a food on the go. Savory meats/veggies/spices packed into a flaky handheld shell, often eaten by tradies (Aussie slang for contractors) during a quick break from work. This particular pie came from a very nondescript bakery we stopped at between Brisbane and the Bunya Mountains national park. It’s sort of in the middle of nowhere, but apparently is a destination for pies and baked goods, much to our surprise.

The cheeseburger pie was just like you’d imagine - a hamburger patty with cheese, mustard, ketchup, and pickles stuffed inside a flaky shell. “Tastes just like Maccas,” a phrase I'm sure has rattled off the walls of Blackbutt many times as happy patrons wipe bits of pie from their mouth. As we sat in the Queensland harsh summer heat, this marvelous portable snack found within a town of 800 offered delicious sustenance to keep us fueled for our journey.

*The Cheeseburger Pie from Blackbutt Bakery near the Bunya Mountains*

Moreton Bay Bug Pasta with Chili - Julius Pizzeria, Brisbane, Australia

Firstly, I don’t recommend looking up a Moreton Bay Bug before eating it. It’s a shellfish, harvested in a few places around the world, however this particular one came straight from Moreton Bay near Brisbane. This “bug” is a delicious lobster/crawfish hybrid with a firm texture and sweet taste, maybe most similar to a langoustine. More commonly referred to as bay lobsters, many Brisbanites happily mow down on these bugs at every opportunity.

*Moreton Bay “Bug” pasta from Julius in Brisbane*

Julius is a bustling and stylish restaurant in the heart of Brisbane focusing on pizza and pasta. When my brother and I visited, the special was this local delicacy, and of course, my journey to try more seafood reared its nomadic head so we had to try it. Think of it like a delicious lobster, but with a little more firmness, mixed in with a tangy red sauce and a good dash of fiery chilis, tucked atop nicely chewy circular pasta. The end result is a masterfully balanced fresh pasta dish with a local Australian twist, and a perfect counterbalance to the pie above as a solid representation of everything culinary this country has to offer.

But seriously, don’t Google it before you eat it. This thing looks absolutely prehistoric.

Chef Jay’s Mom’s Cornbread - Lake Inez, Toronto

The great thing about Lake Inez is they switch up their menu on a weekly basis, bringing in seasonal ingredients to build complex flavors and craft dishes that are as whimsical as they are memorable. The bad thing about Lake Inez is that they switch up their menu on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, that means I’ll likely never be able to try this cornbread and butter again.

I love food that is simple in nature but thoughtful in delivery. Realistically, this is bread and butter. But cornbread is deceptively basic and easy to mess up. It should be able to stand alone, but also act as a vehicle for what surrounds it.

*The weekly menu at Lake Inez (because we ate everything too quickly)*

Lake Inez delivered in a big way with this. As my family and I ate our way through the entire menu for my birthday, this was the standout. The bread was perfectly moist, accompanied by a rich lobster and crab butter and Ontario corn relish. That butter was decadent but slightly briny, while the relish intensified the flavor of the cornbread and brought out the sweetness of the vegetable (as well as the shellfish). I’ve long stood by bread being my favorite food, and this dish continues to cement that decision.

Cacio e Pepe w/ Asparagus Pizza - Badiali, Toronto

Toronto’s undisputed number one pizza spot earns its stripes for a reason. You know, it’s kind of funny - if you have watched any of those TikTok videos where chefs are interviewed about their favorite pho/bakery/hidden gem/pizza etc., they almost always hesitate for a second before naming Badiali. It’s as if they know it’s so good that it can’t be ignored, but at the same time want to be cool and name something different. Just open your heart and embrace. Badiali is it.

My one gripe? This pizza isn't available for regular takeout. They do normal slices of just Cacio e Pepe (no veggies) but I’m not waiting in that line. But once a year, Badiali features a Cacio e Pepe + veggie special for four days, and this year we were graced with fresh asparagus.

*Weekly special: Cacio e Pepe pizza with asparagus at Badiali in Toronto*

After bypassing the snaking line to retrieve our order, we were greeted with a giant pie adorned with cacio sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte, pecorino, and black pepper, all bespeckled by little asparagus spears and piled on a crisp yet airy sourdough crust. The greenery brought that slightly bitter taste and woody texture, perfect to cut through a rich cheesy white sauce. What you're left with is a creamy, sharp, well balanced slice that was the best pizza I ate last year.

And always, always get the creamy pepperoncini dip. By far the best dipping sauce in the game.

Miss Vickies at Midnight - Lake Inez, Toronto

Another Lake Inez dish - can you guess this is my favorite restaurant in Toronto? Similar to the above entry, this creation was a fleeting glimpse of the majesty Lake Inez delivers on a weekly basis. Unlike the above, this dish came via the restaurant's secret mystery patio, where diners are treated to six random courses paired with wine and cocktails. During the tasting, owner/chef Zach explains each dish with a story of his past (this one involved a semi-homeerotic encounter that took place on the banks of lake Michigan, I believe), then wine is explored and it’s time for takeoff.

*Miss Vickies at Midnight from Lake Inez’s mystery patio in Toronto*

After being regaled by a kiss that shaped Zach’s life, I too had a moment where my life flashed before my eyes. We were prompted to dig into deep fried fingerling potatoes, onion kimchi, whey sour cream, marigold flowers, and chinese sausage. You have to be some kind of insane if that doesn’t sound good to you. I almost didn’t include this, because, let’s face it: it’s deep fried potatoes. But the combination of oily fats, crunch, tang, creaminess, along with the dinner club vibes of the mystery patio tasting - something had to be included from that night here. The dish does remind you a bit of Miss Vickies, but maybe the midnight part alludes more to his feelings about that fateful lakeside smooch.

Rightfully so, this is one of the tougher reservations to get in the city, and absolutely worth it. I went three times last summer, and will probably go three more times in 2024, so keep an eye out.

Breakfast Sandwich - Aube Boulangerie, Montreal

So much about what we remember and love about food can just devolve to time and place. During my friend group's annual pilgrimage to Montreal music festival Osheaga, we stayed in Viauville, a neighborhood new to all of us. It’s an old blue collar area that evokes a bit of the rougher charm of Montreal, but in an endearing, “glad he’s on our side” kind of way. Every night we’d stay up far too late as we stumbled home from the festival, and in the morning, emerge to slowly melt down our rickety iron staircase in search of coffee and pastries.

Luckily, Aube happened to be a short walk down the road. Walking in, you're greeted by a sleek interior and a roaring bakery operation in the back churning out loaf after loaf of the sourdough good stuff. With all types of savory and sweet options on the menu (highlighted by a killer kouign-amann), the breakfast sandwiches turned out to be the number one option between our group. Aube’s featured croissant bread (as in, bread made from croissant dough), cheddar cheese, gochujang mayo, pickles, and fried bologna.

*The croissant bread breakfast sandwich from Aube in Montreal*

To me, this hits every personal breakfast sammy must-have: pickles, a spicy sauce, and meat other than bacon. I will die on the hill that sausage is always better than bacon on a breakfast sandwich. However, I discovered bologna is one helluva alternative. As a package, this sandwich does it all. Buttery and flaky and elegant and messy, this dopamine hit disguised as breakfast was just what we all needed to start our fatigued festival days the right way. I’m not sure how many we collectively devoured that weekend, but my count was three, and it still wasn’t enough.

Deli Sandwich - La Bottega Nicastro, Ottawa

Out of all the entries on this list, La Bottega may qualify for the best hidden gem (s/o to Jules for the rec). Stepping in here is like entering a dreamscape for any chef-in-training. Tight aisles overflowing with Italian staples, ranging from gourmet top of the line to basic pantry essentials. Biscotti falling off the rack, pepperoncini relish spilling around corners, pasta nests cuddled up beside espresso bags — it’s almost too much. Add in the sprawling cheese and deli counter with a selection that would make any nonna proud to wander its curves every Saturday morning, and you have the perfect storm for grab-and-go greatness.

*A mortadella deli sandwich from La Bottega in Ottawa*

And for those who don’t know that greatness, here it is: head to the back, wait in a small line, utter the magic words, and receive a sandwich custom made with said spilling-into-the-aisle ingredients. The customizations are endless, but I opted for mortadella on focaccia with provolone, spicy eggplant, hot peppers, onions, mayo, and mustard. In the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing revolutionary, but at the price point ($9 for a huge sandwich in one of Ottawa’s most touristy areas), freshness, and the friendly yet hurry-up-and-order demeanor, this is something I could eat every day. It can’t all be tasting courses and prehistoric shellfish, right?

Kibbeh Nayyeh - Taline, Toronto

I love when an unexpected dish makes its way onto the list. I knew Taline would be good (who doesn’t love a dip and grilled meat based cuisine?) but I was genuinely delighted with this experience. Beef tartar is one of my favorite dishes, and there are some good ones in Toronto, including Union, Piquette, 416 Snack Bar, and many others. So when the server at Taline explained this Levantine mezze version of tartar, I was smitten.

*The kibbeh nayyeh (lamb tartar) from Taline in Toronto*

Raw minced lamb, combined with puffed bulgur and generous dollops of toum and mint soon floated to our table, and I fell in love all over again with the magic of tartar. Accompanied by bibs of lettuce and hunks of pickled turnip, the server went on to explain it was a bit of a fun take on shawarma: grab a spoonful of lamb, mix it with the garlicky toum, drop in turnip, then wrap it in the lettuce and inhale. What a contrast of texture and exuberance. I’m used to tartar being served on an eensy weensy crostini, which, while acceptable in the momentary weakness of the appetizer phase, leaves mere milliseconds to distinguish between the balance of luscious and crunchy.

Taline’s kibbeh nayyeh was fresh and spicy (but more so raw garlic spicy, which is way different than chili spicy and very welcome) and crisp and salty in so many wonderful ways. Those bites evoked feelings of running into an old college roommate and learning that they had married the girl you had a crush on in your second year rhetoric class. Nostalgia, pride, excitement, a bit of jealousy. Just everything you want out of a solid tartar.

Flat White - Patricia, Melbourne, Australia

The flat white may have been invented in Sydney, but it was perfected in an alleyway off Little Bourke Street in Melbourne. Patricia is probably what you envision when you think of hipster coffee, but sometimes if you’re a tourist, you gotta do touristy things. I believe the same thing about food and bev - you need to try what a city is known for. Sometimes that means venturing into the chemex of the beast.

*A flat white in an alleyway from Patricia in Melbourne*

You’ve got to love a coffee shop with only three things on the menu. Cortado? Get outta here. Macchiato? Macchi-shut up is more like it. Folks come here for flat whites, plain jane espresso, or drip. Choose between two different beans for espresso, then order and wait in the sun-soaked alleyway to be called. Get your coffee, perch upon a milkcrate, and chat with your friends/coworkers/phone about the next stop on your Melbourne coffee tour. At least that’s what I did. Patricia was the first stop on a six cafe tour of Melbourne, arguably the greatest city on the planet for coffee. And despite more coffee to come, it remained firmly at the top, and a must try for anyone heading to the city. BTW, total espresso shots consumed that day? 11.

Cinnamon Bun - Coco’s, Toronto

Great cafes must walk the line between criminally unknown, yet people won’t shut up about them. Enter Coco’s. With decor matching your grandma’s living room, the coffee and cinnamon buns here are one of the best IYKYKs in Toronto, and I’ll forever be thankful for a couple friends introducing me to this place.

*Cinny buns and lattes from Coco’s in Toronto*

The buns usually come out just before noon, which is great for the non-early birds like me. These pillowy treasures sit behind the counter slightly out of view in a giant pan that cakes the air in a sweet, nutty aroma Cinnabon can only dream about. You need to peer through the glass to make sure they're there, and if you see them, hoo boy. Prepare for a treat in every sense of the word.

Cinnamon buns, like many other foods, are always going to be good. If you slather my shoe in frosting and cinnamon butter, I'd probably eat it. But elevating a bun to this level takes some intricacy. They are large, and intense, but not heavy. It’s easy to eat one, and you don't feel like your day is ruined (here’s looking at you AGAIN Cinnabon). Guys. It’s a cinnamon bun. Just get one the next time you’re on College street, and do yourself a favor and pair it with a dirty chai latte.

Butter Tart - Bà Nội, Toronto

Nothing has maintained control over the last few months of my 2023 quite like Bà Nội’s butter tart. Situated right beside Christie Pits, this little bakery is easy to miss, kind of like how I missed it all these years before this past summer. Everything in here is delicious, and they’re always up to something new, whether it’s some seasonal savory edition of their focaccia, or a new oddly delicious danish. There’s always a baker kneading away in the front right as you walk in, ready to greet you with disappointment as they inevitably tell you something delicious they dreamt and baked up is out of stock at the moment. Luckily, they have enough options so you can leave happy every time.

Bà Nội’s bakery standards are the sourdough bread, chocolate chip cookie, and the butter tart. And good lord, drop everything and get this butter tart. People say they “like” butter tarts, but this is something different. It’s as if your favorite butter tart went off to college and came back hot and educated, with no mention of On the Road or The Stranger to boot.

*The amazing butter tart from Bà Nội in Toronto*

I know everyone has some weird bakery near Cobourg or run by Mennonites or something that they say makes the best butter tarts, and now they can all be wrong and just come here. This one is sticky and crunchy and gooey, and the addition of flaky salt on top makes me wonder why every tart I’ve had didn’t have salt on it before. This is probably the best version of one of the best Canadian desserts out there.

I brought these tarts to my friend's house. I brought them home for Christmas dinner. I will continue to bring them everywhere. I urge you to do the same. Do your patriotic duty and eat this, ASAP.