I’m tired as I write this. I’m not sure if it is “good tired” or exhausted, but 2022 was full and I’m feeling it. Full of work. Full of friends. Full of music. Full of travel. Full of loss. Full of love. Full of “once in a lifetime” moments that potentially weren’t, because what does that really mean?

Platitudes are as useful as stereotypes. Time savers and a touch of truth, at best, with “once in a lifetime” generally reserved for desirable events like a meal at The French Laundry. My third. Or a trip to Vienna that could be booked again next week were it not for four other overseas trips planned for 2023.

I’m fortunate.

But what if everything is “once in a lifetime?” I mean, I’ll probably never sit in the VIP Box watching Jack White again. I’ll probably never enjoy a pre-dawn run from Kobarid to the Italian border again. I’ll probably never dine in Scotch 80’s PDR with the same thirteen friends again. I’ll also never pet BonBon again, or get to banter about food with my accountant.

Life moves fast and so far I feel like I’m keeping pace, but I know at some point I won’t. None of us do. I’m grateful for where I am, who I know and the path that brought me here. The last year flew by and I hope the next feels slower, I think. Or maybe not considering all the unforgettable moments, “once in a lifetime” and otherwise.

What follows is a list of the most memorable meals and bites over the last 365-days, many of them literally “the best” while others may have shined brighter than they normally would have due to the circumstances. Thanks to all the Chefs, GMs and Servers involved and equally as much to those who I was fortunate enough to break Bread with. As with last year, only one item per Restaurant in each category.

Worldwide Most Memorable Meals

1 ) Alchemist
2 ) Restaurant Jordnær
3 ) Carte Blanche
4 ) Steirereck im Stadtpark
5 ) The French Laundry
6 ) ernst
7 ) Restaurant Silvio Nickol
8 ) Mother Wolf
9 ) Hisa Franko
10 ) noma

Las Vegas Most Memorable Meals

1 ) Scotch 80
2 ) Delilah
3 ) Bardot
4 ) daGemi
5 ) EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine
6 ) Esther’s Kitchen
7 ) Anima by EDO
8 ) Le Cirque
9 ) Carson Kitchen
10 ) Al Solito Posto

Worldwide Savory Dishes

1 ) Restaurant Jordnær: Asparagus, Grapefruit, Lobster

2 ) Alchemist: Omelette – Egg Yolk Membrane, Egg Yolk and Comté Cheese Cream, Lardo, Black Truffles, Brown Butter

3 ) The French Laundry: Bread and Butter – Whole Wheat Brioche Kugelhopf, Crispy Parmesan, White Truffle Mousse, Alba White Truffles

4 ) Carte Blanche: Kristal Caviar, Scallop, Seaweed Broth

5 ) Meierei: Veal Beuscherl with Lung, Heart, Tripe, Chive Dumpling, Majoram

6 ) Julius: Milkbread, Ricotta, Eggplant Agedashi, Nori, Chili Oil

7 ) Birdsong: Cornbread & Tsar Nicoulai Golden Osetra Caviar, Kelp Cream, Cultured Butter

8 ) Joule: Shrimp and Chinese Sausage Buns – Black Vinegar

9 ) Steirereck im Stadtpark: Osetra Gold Caviar, Beluga Lentils, Banana, Bacon, Mushroom, Pistachio, Mace, Pine

10 ) Restaurant Silvio Nickol: Mimolette, Perigord Truffle, Champagne Ice Cream, Quince, Black Walnut

Las Vegas Savory Dishes

1 ) Le Cirque: Kaluga Caviar, Corn Bavarois, Popcorn Tuile, Bottarga, Onion Blossom, Vermouth

2 ) Esther’s Kitchen: Jimenez Farms Goat – Swiss Chard, House Ground Polenta, Spicy Fennel Jam

3 ) Anima by EDO: Raviolone – Dungeness Crab, Ricotta, Soft Egg Yolk, Baby Corn, Brown Butter

4 ) Delilah: Wagyu Beef Wellington – Snake River Farms Filet Mignon, Herbed Crepe, Porcini Mushroom Duxelles, Puff Pastry, Madeira Wine Jus

5 ) Jean Georges Steakhouse: Tempura Butternut Squash, Black Truffle-Wildflower Honey Butter, Black Truffle

6 ) Metro Pizza: 86th Street Square Pie – Mozzarella Cheese, Tomato Sauce, Romano Cheese, Olive Oil, Old School Pepperoni, Basil

7 ) Scotch 80: Seared Foie Gras – Brioche, Orange Marmalade, Prune Armagnac Ice Cream, Duck Confit Cigar

8 ) Bardot: Chilled Foie Gras – Confit Duck Leg, Smoked Strawberries, Pain de Provence

9 ) Al Solito Posto: Lasagna Al Forno – Handmade Pasta, Bolognese, Herbed Ricotta

10 ) EDO: Duck Fat Financier – Ibérico Ham Mousse, Rhubarb Jam

Worldwide Sweet Dishes

1 ) Gusto Bread: Nixtamal Queen – Heirloom Masa Caramelized Sweet Bread

2 ) Restaurant Konstantin Filippou: Quince, Salted Almond, Chocolate, Vanilla

3 ) Remi Patisserie: Crispy Salted Yolk Financier

4 ) Automat: Candy Cap Brick Toast – Candy Cap Mushroom Custard, Whipped Cream Cheese, Fuyu Persimmons, Candied Walnuts

5 ) Restaurant Jordnær: Chamomile, Milk, Honey

6 ) Fox in the Snow Cafe: Biscuit

7 ) The Flora Bakehouse: Bakehouse Blondie – Butterscotch Chips, Chocolate Chips, Potato Chips, Pretzels, Pecans

8 ) Brammibal’s Donuts: Bienenstich Donut

9 ) La Bise Bakery: Salted Caramel Canele

10 ) Albatross Bakery: Crème Brulee Viennoiserie

Las Vegas Sweet Dishes

1 ) Delilah: Grandma’s Gooey Butter Cake – Harry’s Berries Strawberries, Lemon Verbena, Whipped Creme Fraiche

2 ) PRIME: Baba Au Rhum, Macallan Harmony Collection Whiskey, Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Shaving, Soft Whipped Cream, Orange Zest

3 ) Rosallie: Almond Croissant

4 ) Bardot: Baba au Rhum – Brown Butter Sage, Caramelized Maui Gold Pineapples, Appleton Rum Flambé

5 ) EDO: Foie Gras Torchon – Hazelnut Ice Cream, Almond Praline, Pineapple Brulée

6 ) Purple Potato: Young Coconut Pie – Young Coconut Meat, Custard, Coconut Streusel, Butter Crust

7 ) Carson Kitchen: Tres Leches – Cereal Milk, Amaro

8 ) Valencian Gold: Marcona Almond Tart – Dulcey Chocolate Ganache, Sherry, Orange, Sour Crema

9 ) Scotch 80: Lemon Lime Pavlova – Citrus Custard, French Meringue, Zested Yuzu

10 ) Esther’s Kitchen: Pine Nut Tart – Rosemary Ice Cream, Crumble