Best of 2025

In a year when what is “real” became more and more obscured the dining world was not spared. From another expose regarding false manipulation of The James Beard Foundation Awards to a chain Pizzeria being ranked in North America’s “Top 50” because people isolated in Barbados get an equal vote to persons who travel far and wide almost every list proved biased, at best, and more likely bought. Now Michelin is coming back to Las Vegas? Maybe MGM can purchase a star for Netflix Bites like it wooed that carpetbagger from the local paper with a comp.

While this too is a list, it is but a snapshot in time from one person whose world got smaller in 2025. Some of that was intentional and some of it as a result of steep learning curves confined to a twenty-four hour day. For every grand opening and news article and congratulations there was at least one sleepless night, twenty e-mails and a bill from lawyers, credentialing or someone else asking for time, money or both. It was all very real and very fast which left very little residual for anything “fake” or unnecessary.

Yet time was made for the things that matter, and overall 2025 was a success. From The Buckeyes early-year title to twenty-one concerts, my most in a year since 2003, plus travel that covered nine countries I remain very fortunate. I also learned a lot about people this year, and my circle grew smaller but better as a result.

At 45 years old I’d like to think I’m now officially “middle aged,” though statistics suggest I’m closer to the end than the beginning even if I don’t feel like it. I am at a place where I’m comfortable with who I am and where I am. I’m happy with it and only willing to give time to the people and things that stand to make me better. Thankfully I’m frequently surrounded by both and will never feel the need to redact any of it.

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 ) Eliane
2 ) Restaurant ÓX
3 ) Dewakan
4 ) A.Wong
5 ) Karen Torosyan | Bozar Restaurant
6 ) Alinea
7 ) CORE by Clare Smyth
8 ) BRUNA RESTAURANTE
9 ) Thevar
10 ) 212

Las Vegas Most Memorable Meals

1 ) Michael Mina Restaurant
2 ) Amador Cocina Fina
3 ) Bourbon Steak
4 ) Scotch 80 Prime
5 ) Anima by EDO
6 ) Esther’s Kitchen
7 ) Jean Georges Steakhouse
8 ) Delmonico Steakhouse
9 ) EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine
10 ) PRIME Steakhouse

Worldwide Savory Dishes

1 ) Seroja: braised beef tripe & cheeks with white cloud & perigord truffle & rice ball

2 ) Bruna: Chile en Nogada – Poblano Pepper, Pork, Beef, Creole Peach, Milk Pear, Panochera Apple, Nogada Sauce of Walnuts, Sherry, Goat Cheese, Pomegranate

3) Bozar: Pithiviers – Duck of Gérard Burgaud, Goose liver, Meat gravy

4) Dill: Reindeer, Celeriac Caramel

5) Odette: MARUKYO UNI, Red Sicilian prawn, Mussel cloud, Daurikus caviar

6) Ikoyi: Saffron Crème Caramel, Razor Clams, Caviar

7) CORE: ‘Potato and roe’, dulse beurre blanc, herring roe, trout roe

Eliane: Buttermilk, Potato, Quail Egg, Belgian Caviar

9) JB Ah Meng: White Pepper Crab – Sarawak White Pepper, Ginger, Sri Lankan Crab

10) A.Wong: Cantonese honey roasted pork and grated foie gras

Las Vegas Savory Dishes

1 ) Anima by EDO: Hedgehog Mushroom, Yeast espuma, white chocolate, nduja XO sauce

2 ) Michael Mina Restaurant: Handmade Tagliatelle, Freshly Shaved Italian White Truffles, Beurre Echire, Parmigiana Reggiano, Chive

3 ) Bourbon Steak: Beef Wellington

4 ) Delmonico Steakhouse: RABBIT PORCHETTA, La Quercia Prosciutto, Brussels Sprouts, Pattypan Squash, Red Wine Pan Sauce

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

6 ) Esther’s Kitchen: Crab + Spinach Benedict – ‘nduja, garlic, confit, old bay hollandaise, poached egg

7 ) Jean Georges Steakhouse: Sautéed Ramp Greens – sauce of aerated Ramp Whites & Fontina Cheese

8 ) Amador Cocina Fina: DRY AGED FISH CEVICHE DEL DÍA, pico de gallo, avocado crema, fermented vuelve a la vida sauce

9 ) Scotch 80 Prime: SHRIMP TOAST – HOKKAIDO MILK BREAD, SHRIMP MOUSSE, IKURA, CHILI JAM AIOLI

10 ) Emeril’s Fish House: Mesquite Smoked Creekstone Farms Heritage Duroc Pork Loin Chop – Steen’s Cane Syrup Reduction

Worldwide Sweet Dishes

1 ) Bozar: Millefeuille – On the spot baked puff pastry, Tahiti vanilla

2 ) Canon: CA GROWN PEACH PAVLOVA, sweet tea, condensed milk, lavender

3 ) KOL: BUÑUELOS – Tunworth ice cream, English autumn truffle, sea buckthorn, ancho chilli

4 ) CORE: Pear and verbena, Poire Williams sorbet

5 ) Minyoli: Pineapple Tart à la Mode – house pineapple jam, taiwanese shortbread crust, coconut ice cream

6 ) Labyrinth: HERITAGE KAYA, BORDIER BUTTER

7 ) Fortitude: Raspberry Morning Bun

8 ) 212: Apple, apple and ginger sorbet, salted caramel

9 ) BRUNA: Corn Créme Brûlée – Crème Brûlée, Yellow Corn, Caramel Spheres, Salty Caramel

10 ) OX: Kryddkaka + toffee + duck liver

Las Vegas Sweet Dishes

1 ) Bourbon Steak: MICHAEL MINA’S BANANA TARTE TATIN – french toast, preserved citrus caramel, macadamia nut ice cream

2 ) Amador Cocina Fina: MAPLE SYRUP TARTLET, horchata ice cream, wakame chantilly

3 ) Michael Mina Restaurant: Apple Tart Tatin, Poached Apples in Ver Jus, Timut Peppercorn Vanilla Sable Breton

4 ) Rosallie: Almond Croissant

5 ) Scotch 80 Prime: TABLESIDE BANANAS FOSTER SPRING ROLLS – TURON, FOSTER ICE CREAM, WARM BANANA CARAMEL SAUCE

6 ) Friendly Donut House: Apple Fritter

7 ) Emeril’s Fish House: Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie – Chocolate Shavings and Caramel Sauce

8 ) Esther’s Kitchen: Pumpkin Pie Pancakes – pumpkin, pecans, toffee

9 ) Carson Kitchen: Lemon Bar, hazy ipa, pistachio crumble

10 ) EDO Pluot Sorbet: prickly pear tejuino, candied pepitas