Listen up, I love a best of list. I know we’re bombarded with them this time of year, but I simply have to do it and you can’t stop me.
BEST EXPERIENCES
The Christian Dior exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum
Visiting the The Octagon House in Irvington, New York
Seeing the Treasures exhibit at The New York Public Library
Visiting Salem, Massachusetts in October
Having my 16 year old niece Layla visit me in NYC
Seeing the Halloween decorations on the Upper West Side
Seeing the new rooftop terrace at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
Taking a day trip to Mystic, Connecticut
Swimming at the new Rockaway Hotel
BEST NEW RECIPES
Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpeas & Sweet Potatoes (but use this dressing instead) (I have made this salad approx. 500 times this year)
Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad (tastes even better if it’s been sitting in the fridge for a long time)
Crab Cakes (insanely easy and perfect way to make homemade crab cakes)
Crispy Hash Browns (ridiculously easy to make, I felt like a housewife in the 50s)
Green Garlic Toast (get it when green garlic is in season in the spring)
Lemon Basil Orzo (I eat this cold, straight out of the fridge it’s so delicious)
Lemon Butter Ricotta and Zucchini Pasta (with added fresh corn)
Cold Vegetable Noodle Salad (I wish the name weren’t so unappetizing, I love all cold noodle salads)
Lentil Bolognese (possibly the greatest vegan thing I’ve ever made)
Roast Beef Sandwiches (made these for Christmas Day lunch and might now become a tradition they were so easy and tasty)
Lamb Ragu (I can’t stop making this, it’s just such a solid meat sauce)
Mushroom & Leek Bread Pudding (made as a side for Christmas dinner and it was spectacular, will definitely keep it in the sides rotation going forward)
Cheese Blintzes (why do I feel so fancy making these?)
Apple Fritter Cake (I didn’t think I’d enjoy a wet cake but here we are, it’s eons better than a dusty old apple fritter)
Strawberry Crumble Coffee Cake (truly a summer dessert that you must make with handpicked strawberries)
Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Salted Maple Icing (an autumn cookie that people go nuts over)
Chocolate Zucchini Banana Cake with Coffee Frosting (wildly good)
Hummingbird Cake (I wish this cake was made more often as a dessert in restaurants, it’s heavenly)
White Chocolate Apricot Scones (my favourite combination for a scone)
BEST FOODS I ATE
Duck fat confit poutine from Duck Season (honestly tastes like a Canadian poutine, which is a huge compliment)
The salsa at Ruta in Astoria (it’s this deep dark red salsa that is mind blowing)
The seasonal winter soups at Il Bambino (all of them are good, it’s madness, and they always come with this basil oiled bread)
The seasonal focaccia at Lilia (this is the main reason to go here, yes the pasta is good but this bread is out of this world… and that salted green butter? Kill me)
Anything (but mainly the croissants) from Mel Bakery
Beyond Chicken Nuggets at A&W in Canada (does this one seem out of place in this list? I have diverse tastes!)
Emmy Burger Dumplings at Mimi Cheng’s (truly delicious and I’m not even a dumpling person)
Turkey Club Sandwich at Marks Off Madison (a great club sandwich is an extremely hard thing to find and the search is now over)
Croissant soft serve from Supermoon Bakehouse (love the imagination of this place, the summer soft serve is the absolute main reason to go)
The fish and chips at Dame (again, this was better than some Canadian fish and chips places, just so perfectly cooked)
The garlic bread at Carbone (it looks so boring but it is one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating)
The pizza at Descendant in Toronto (worth the drive to Toronto from Mississauga)
BEST TV & MOVIES
Martin Short can do no wrong, but even ignoring that fact this is such a great new show. I’m so glad they’re doing a second season. Even if you can’t stand Selena Gomez’s voice, it’s fantastic.
The latest season of Dave (and especially this song)
Honestly, every episode has been better than the last. It’s wild. How are we not all constantly talking about what a great show this is?
Stanley Tucci + Italian food = all I’ll ever need.
So upsetting that it was the final season, but what a perfect show.
Completely didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. Yes, the earlier seasons are better than the final ones but overall a great show.
Loved the entire message of this movie, more people should be forced into watching it. Comedians, specifically.
I LOVE this genre of movie. I’d never even heard of it, but Michael Keaton is phenomenal in it.
Definitely the best movie of the year. Hands down.
BEST PURCHASES
Winter snowflake mug from Etsy
Temporary Ghost Tattoo from Etsy
Banana Republic Factory pajamas
I STAND BY EACH AND EVERY ITEM!
(And here are my favourites from 2020 if you’re interested.)