Top 10 of '11

It's that time of year again - time to review everything I've eaten or sipped in 2011 and determine which of the 1000 or so dishes (3 meals/day + beverages + treats - reheated repeats = ???) rose to the top of the food chain (ha!) and will make my Top Ten list.

Decisions are difficult enough for me when I merely have to sort through the myriad varieties of orange juice. Truly, these types of endeavors make my brain hurt because of all the permutations!

So imagine how overwhelming this annual project is, narrowing everything down to only ten selections while simultaneously remembering a couple of disappointingly bad meals (which I'm too nice to talk about publicly) and lingering deliriously over the particularly stellar ones ... well, I nearly become catatonic.

But enough of the meandering preamble! You want to know what made the cut, don't you? (Some of you may already have scrolled down without even bothering to read the introduction!) You want to reject my choices or cheer along with them.

Without further babbling and in no particular order - with the exception of the #1 spot, which I knew would be the winner the very moment I tasted it this summer (even announcing this to my dining companion, who heartily agreed) - here is my Top 10 list for 2011:

10. I was only permitted one taste of the Chocolate Hazelnut French toast at the Bomber, with thanks to Jeremy for treading that fine line between wanting to share the joy and wanting to hoard the goodies all for himself! But that one taste was enough to know that this was an absolutely luscious and decadent treat. Of course, how can you go wrong with divine Nutella, warm and gooey as it oozes out of golden toasted, battered bread? I'm not even sure I would put syrup on my own serving - I might treat it as the dessert-like creation that it is and douse it with whipped cream instead. Either way, this was a fabulous breakfast!

9. The Garlic Parmesan Fries at Chicago Reds are amazing! Here's what I wrote about them in my original post: "These were as close to perfection as fries might possibly come - golden, crisp, hot, salty, garlicky, cheesy, but none of these attributes was overdone. The consistency was ideal, and the flavorings were exceptional." And I wouldn't change a word of it.

8. My Curried Rhubarb Chicken is one of the very best dishes I've made. I debated whether to include any of my own recipes here; but I'm very proud of this, so why not? I also received some lovely compliments from those who tried the dish after it was posted: "I made this tonight and it was awesome! The brown sugar caramelized on top of the chicken and the rhubarb dissolved into a super-yummy sauce." "(We) had your Curried Rhubarb Chicken. I felt like it was a dish from a fancy restaurant .... We loved it!" I'll look forward to spring not only for the warmer weather, the flowers, and finally seeing grass once more when the filthy remnants of snow melt, but also because rhubarb will be in season and I can make this dish again.

7. Whether using Flip Flop Wines Moscato to glaze a cake, enjoying it with a light dinner, or sipping it after a meal, I think it's just lovely. And I'm not alone: Wine Enthusiast magazine has named Flip Flop Moscato one of its "Best Buys." I originally tried the Moscato because it was sent to me for marketing purposes, with no promise of a review but assurances that it would be mentioned whenever I used the wine in a recipe. (I never want anyone to think I'm endorsing an item only because I've received a freebie, so I refuse to do product reviews.) But I like this wine so much that I now buy it for myself ... how 'bout that?

6. I attended a fabulous wine tasting sponsored by The Produce Station and hosted by the Alley Bar. Some wonderful foods were provided to accompany the wines and to help cleanse our palates between tastings. At my table, the charming offering was a plate of sliced baguettes from Detroit's Avalon International Breads and a really lovely cheese. In my post about the event, I described the Pyramid Pointe goat's milk cheese from Evergreen Lane Farm & Creamery as "slightly tart and creamier than butter." The creamery's website gives further detail: "Pyramid Pointe is a soft-ripened cheese made from pasteurized goat's milk. It has a pyramid shape with a natural grey/white rind which is blackened with ash .... The flavor is mild with a sharp lemony finish." It was wonderful!

5. I spoke at Temple Beth Emeth's annual Sisterhood DAMES Dinner, and had a fabulous time! I made new friends, and ate an extraordinary meal prepared by chefs Burt Steinberg and Ron Philipp. The Asian cole slaw, with a light cilantro-lime dressing, was lovely; the brownies were rich and decadent. But the Chicken Franchese - a lightly breaded chicken breast topped with a sauce comprised of beurre blanc and Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, red peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms - shone beyond any of the other delicious dishes. The flavors were explosive and vibrant, some more prominent while others added depth; the sauce was slightly tart, creamy, and an exceptional enhancement to the fork-tender chicken. I wish I could simply send you to a restaurant and tell you to order this dish; instead, you'll just have to hire Burt and Ron to cater a party for you!

4. I haven't written about this one yet, because Jeremy and I visited just 3 days before the place closed for the season (it will reopen on February 1). But the root beer at Bill's Drive-In, on Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti, was exceptional and simply had to be included here! The soda is homemade, and is reminiscent of previous incarnations you may have enjoyed; but it is so far beyond any others in taste that you'll hardly believe that they can all be called "root beer." There's not too much fuzz or fizz, and the flavor is incredibly rich. Jeremy's initial reaction says it all: "Holy s---! This is, like, the best root beer I've ever had in my life! It's amazing!" (With many thanks to the wonderful Mary Catherine Smith of WEMU for the recommendation.)

3. The chocolate-glazed orange cake that I adapted from a recipe on the back of a note card I'd bought at The Andy Warhol Museum was just exceptional! It was unbelievably moist, the flavor was bright and vibrant, and the rich chocolate glaze was utterly decadent. It would be an ideal dessert to serve in winter, when oranges are plentiful as we wait for the return of berries and other summer fruits. And how perfect would it be with a cup of cocoa, particularly on a cold, snowy day? I absolutely loved this cake!

2. The pierogi at my BFF Wendy's family Easter feast represented a 3-day labor of love, and were truly extraordinary! There was an enormous pile of the beautiful, golden treats which were filled with either sauerkraut, cheese, or prunes. And I can personally vouch for each variety, although the prune pierogi were my absolute favorites with their sweetness and a hint of spice. Not one of those measly 3" pierogi that you find in the grocery store was anywhere in sight ... pfffft! Each of these was at least twice that size, and the fillings were all homemade in addition to the dough having been mixed and rolled and formed by hand. I have already invited myself back for next year's holiday celebration, and would love to join in the pierogi-making party, too!

And who won the top spot?

What is the very best dish I've eaten all year long, the one that makes me smile and sigh with longing just to think of it???

1. The Churro Sundae at Frita Batidos, the Cuban-influenced eatery run by Eve Aronoff.


I can still conjure the fragrance of the beautiful fried pastries - slightly citrus, mingled with warm spices. I vividly remember the contrast between the slight crunch of the churros' exterior, coarse with a coating of sugar crystals, vs. the tender softness of the interior. The churros themselves were extraordinary, and yet they were remarkably enhanced when dipped into the creaminess of melting ice cream. The aromas, the textures, the flavors ... truly, this dish was superlative.

So, that's it for 2011. On Sunday, a brand new year of eating begins!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine Tasting for Dummies

Last week, I won two tickets to (un)Corked, a fabulous wine tasting sponsored by The Produce Station (a lovely gourmet market and wine shop here in Ann Arbor) and hosted by the Alley Bar. The focus of this month's event was The Many Faces of Sangiovese -- Italian wines lovingly produced with grapes "named after the blood of Jove" (according to the promotional copy).

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I don't drink -- the last glass of wine I had was a half-glass of Asti at Tom's niece's wedding in July. When one spends 18 years married to an alcoholic (who spent 13 of those years sober, much to his credit!), one kinda loses a taste for anything with even a hint of alcohol to it. You learn to cook without wine, so as not to have it in the house. In fact, that's how I got started with my hobby of entering cooking contests -- by submitting a non-alcholic drink I'd developed after my ex's stint in rehab (a white chocolate cocoa) to a contest seeking festive holiday recipes to encourage having fun without the risk of drinking and driving. Since I've been divorced, though, there's no reason that I can't drink ... it's just not something I do very often at all.

So when I saw the Produce Station's tweet that retweeting about the (un)Corked event might win a lucky person some tickets, I thought: "Hey, it sounds like a good time! At a bare minimum, I'll promote a local business and its evening of entertainment. And who knows ...? Someone has to win, after all!"

And the next thing I knew, I had won!

So Tom and I went to the Alley Bar last Thursday night (the events are held on the first Thursday of each month, and are a tremendous value at only $10/person), and were greeted by an incredibly friendly and most enthusiastic Andy of The Produce Station. We chose our booth -- which welcomed us with sliced baguettes from Detroit's Avalon International Breads as well as slightly tart and creamier-than-butter Pyramid Pointe goat's milk cheese from Evergreen Lane Farm & Creamery in Fennville -- and waited with excitement and anticipation. Neither of us had ever been to a wine tasting before, and weren't quite sure what to expect other than the obvious.

The place filled up quickly, and we were introduced to our wine expert extraordinaire -- Jorge -- who went around the room with Andy filling everyone's glasses. Fortunately, each table also offered tasting notes, so that we were given a bit of information about each wine in addition to having room to scribble our own thoughts.

The first wine we tried was a 2009 Fattoria Colmone della Marca 'Bianco del Moro', Marche ($21.99/bottle) -- a white wine. I once heard someone say that Italians will only drink white wine once the red is all gone, dismissing white varieties as inferior. But this one was absolutely lovely! We gave it a vigorous swirl -- as Jorge had shown us how to do when I asked about the proper protocol -- and then buried our noses deep into our glasses to immerse ourselves in the fragrance. The next step was to take 2-3 sips, letting the wine roll over our tongues and around our mouths for 10-15 seconds, hitting each point and experiencing something different at every one.

Jorge tapped his glass to shush everyone (I told Tom this is where we're supposed to kiss, like a bride and groom at a wedding!), and then proceeded to explain a bit about the wine. I was so impressed that he spoke with great knowledge, but without any pretense at all. Clearly he is devoted to his passion in life and wants to share it with others, educating those of us in desperate need rather than shunning us for our ignorance. This made the evening great, great fun, as one could be knowledgeable or not with no minimum requirement -- the only important criterion was to come ready to taste and to learn!

The Bianco del Moro was made from grapes grown particularly in Central Italy, and it was very light in color, taste and potency. It was very tart (the tasting notes emphasize "its sharp acidity"), very fruity ("red berries, cotton candy, hazelnuts and white peach ... takes on a marzipan tone on palate"), and the sides of my tongue tingled after I swallowed. I would absolutely drink this one again, if offered an opportunity!

Next was a 2007 Volpaia Chianti Classico ($19.99/bottle) -- a good old-fashioned traditional Italian red wine. Jorge told us that this had been "a good year, but difficult" in terms of the growing season; but the wine turned out to be "very elegant" in his opinion. It was light, not robust, and a "pretty, well-balanced wine" (per the tasting notes). It's made with 90% Sangiovese grapes, but some Merlot and Syrah are permitted to be mixed in as well. The Chianti was very astringent, which Jorge told us was "necessary" as a complement to food. It smelled very rich after we swirled it, with hints of cheese and minerals, and tasted very fruity. Another I would drink again, if given the chance!

Moving right along, we then tried a 2007 Flavio Fanti "La Palazzetta" Rosso di Montalcino ($23.99/bottle) which almost seemed to have hints of ash in its aroma -- it definitely wasn't sweet. Upon tasting, we found that it was a bit tart, and the back of my tongue tingled for a moment after swallowing.

Jorge pointed out that it shows a "nutty quality" (at which point a very out-of-place biker dude with a tall can of beer -- complete with Harley t-shirt and cap -- yelled out "I'm a nut, and my wife thinks I'm a nut!"). And the tasting notes highlight "tremendous amounts of plum, red cherries, floral elements, vanillin and absolute licorice" which make the wine "extremely complex and luscious."

Andy came by our table to ask which of the selections we'd liked, and agreed with us that this was the favorite so far ... it was truly exceptional! I had visions of serving it with a hearty pasta sauce I make (the recipe for which is rumored to have Mafia connections ... shhhh) that features meatballs, sausage and pork in a rich tomato base.

The third wine's status as our favorite didn't last very long, however, as we moved on to our fourth selection -- a 2008 Moris, Morellino di Scansano ($15.99/bottle) which was noticably richer than the previous one. It had a very deep flavor laden with fruit; the notes described it as possessing "generous fruitiness" and showcasing "a darker face of Sangiovese." This wine from Tuscany had been bottled after a mere 8 months, when most of its variety would have waited anywhere from 12 months to 3 years.

I said "I like this very much," and Tom immediately replied, "Me, too!" He also told me that it "left a presence of cookie ice cream" on his palate, although I felt it had an almost smoky aftertaste. This wine should be savored with a simple plate of rich cheese and good bread, rather than with anything more substantial that would compete with it for attention.

Finally, we tried a wine that should really have been an investment, one given a special place of honor for a patient wait as it evolves towards its full potential: a 2005 Tenuta di Sesta, Brunello di Montalcino ($49.99/bottle). As he poured it, Jorge pronounced that "we're committing infanticide," and the tasting notes told us that it "deserves at least another 7 years in (the) cellar" for "the rewards (to be) plentiful."

But it was important to try this "fabulous wine" nonetheless, representative as it was of the Brunello grape from Tuscany and "full of elegance and finesse." The wine was noticeably lighter and thinner than the previous ones, both in color and in flavor. It lacked depth, and was very astringent upon the first sip; it stung the sides of my tongue. It was nice, but it was also abundantly clear that it needed more time to mellow and to become richer.

Once the tasting was over, we offered our enthusiastic thanks to Andy for the opportunity to have joined such a great party. Unfortunately, Jorge was deeply involved in a conversation at the table next to ours, but I wish we could have thanked him for sharing so much knowledge in such an informal and welcoming way.

I would love to attend another session of (un)Corked, and recommend the event with a rousing endorsement. "The Misunderstood, Explained -- Rose" will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 5 at the Alley Bar, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to go! Women who'd clearly come from the office, retirees, Gen X-ers ... the tasting welcomed anyone who could be there legally. Whether you know a lot about wine or are as desperately in need of instruction as I am, I promise that you will have a fabulous time.

(un)Corked: Wine Tasting -- Casual Atmosphere, Great Wines, Good Friends
Hosted at Alley Bar
112 West Liberty
Ann Arbor
To purchase tickets, click on this link.