We did quite a bit of traveling this year. Here are my favorite food and drink from Miami and Florida, San Sebastian, Maine, and Toronto. Needless to say, 2024 was a good year.
ARIETE – Miami, FL
The Venison
This was my first time at Ariete, and while I did enjoy my meal, I was left slightly unimpressed. Maybe it was just my high expectations, or the michelin star (the star is warranted, don’t get me wrong ), but I was hoping for something that would blow me away. Overall the best thing I had was the venison, especially since I rarely get to have this type of meat (sorry my deer), and the foie gras sauce diane was excellent with it. The grilled oysters were also very good, as was the Pastrami Style Short Rib. (I do still need to make it to Chug’s Diner and try the Chug’s Burger).
HERITAGE – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Squash Blossom + Cold Pulled Burrata Pizza
Booked dinner here after we went to see Ronnie Chieng perform (who was great btw). Heritage is a fantastic spot if you are around the Ft. Lauderdale area. The pizzas are great, and we also had the Agrodolce Calamari, with a sweet and sour glaze, ricotta salata + chili honey, calabrian chilis, and red drop peppers. We loved it (especially BadStoryTeller who loves spicy everything).
HERMANOS VINAGRE – Madrid, Spain
Anchoa sobre una tosta de mantequilla, vermouth on ice
I could eat and drink this every single day of my life and never tire of it. The simplest of Spanish snacking, while also at it’s finest. We stopped here for lunch after walking around Parque Retiro. This place was high on my list, since they had a location a block from the park. I just wanted anchovy toast with vermouth to sip on. It was also my first time having vermouth this way. I typically only have Antica Formula mixed in manhattans, never straight on ice with a slice of orange, but more of this please.
Borda Berri – San Sebastian
The Risotto
Amazing (false) risotto made with puntalette pasta and Idiazabal cheese. From what I remember, the vibrant green oil on top is a parsley oil (not an olive oil). When I went in, everyone was ordering this dish, so I made sure to get one for each of us. (the left dish was a bacalao al pil-pil, also pretty good.)
Bar Txepetxa – San Sebastian
All the Anchovy Pintxos
This is the spot if you want to try multiple variations of anchovy. I went in knowing I wanted to get a few of the Jardineras, which were great, yet what I really loved was the creamy one (to the right). I asked the guy to give me one he recommended and this was the one. I asked him twice what the name of it was, but maybe with my Spanish or the craziness inside the packed place, I couldn’t catch it. Guess that means I have to go back.
Mendaur Berria – San Sebastian
Mendaur Egg
Egg with truffle oil, Parmesan cheese and ham. Very rich, very delicious.
La Viña – San Sebastian
Basque Cheesecake
The proper way to end a pintxo crawl evening (even better with a little cider).
Arzak – San Sebastian
Seared Foie Gras
This foie gras was a life-changer. I already wrote about my meal at Arzak in a previous post, but it bears repeating, this is the best foie gras I have ever had in my life (and I’ve had good foie gras. Particularly from La Dame De Pic, a 1 michelin star restaurant by Anne-Sophie Pic in Paris). Arzak’s came paired with a Sauternes that helped balance the richness. I still dream of this dish.
Everything was expectedly delicious at Arzak, from the local Txacoli, to the monkfish, and everyone loved the starter dish of croquettas (photo below).
Epcot – Disney World. Orlando, FL
Grand Marnier orange slush (with an extra shot of Grand Marnier)
During a rainy day in Epcot, taking shelter in one of the stores, we saw a lady with one of these and asked her what they were and where to get them. She recommended to get them but without an extra shot since it took away the flavor of the drink. When she left, BadStoryTeller and I both looked at each other and said, “We are getting it with an extra shot right? Of course we are!” Glad we didn’t listen to that lady, because my recommendation is to get that extra shot of Grand Marnier, and have yourself some fun. We have since never miss getting these when we go to Epcot.
4 lobster rolls in 4 days. Portland, Maine
All the lobster rolls
From Eventide Oyster Co, Haraseeket Lunch and Lobster, Sopo Seafood, and Island Lobster Company. If I had to pick a favorite, I would go with Island Lobster Company, a place we docked at during our oyster farm boat outing, but you really can’t go wrong with any of these.
Sopo Seafood – Portland, Maine
Oysters
Speaking of Sopo Seafood, their oysters also make my list of best things I ate in 2024. Unfortunately, their kelp martini did not make the list (it also most likely ruined all dirty martinis for me personally and indefinitely lol)
Gross Bakery – Portland, Maine
Everything Scone with goat cheese and apricot jam
We ordered a bunch of things to take on the road, but the Everything Scone with goat cheese and apricot jam was incredible.
Mother Cocktail Bar – Toronto
All the Cocktails
Best cocktails of the year for sure. So delicious, so inventive (licking the side of the glass before you drink your drink inventive.) Highly recommend this place if you are in Toronto. We were here for our annual siblings trip, and we all left very impressed.
FIKA Cafe – Toronto
The cardamom coffee with mint
Best, most refreshing iced coffee of the year (and I drink alot of coffee).
ABA – Bal Harbor, FL
Whipped Feta
We had the Miami Spice lunch at Aba, and everything was great (like the Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites, and the Short Rib), but the Whipped Feta is something I could eat all the time. Their Tableside Old Fashioned was also the best Old Fashioned I had this year.
(My Mom’s kitchen)
Zafra 21yr Rum
Discovered Zafra rum this year, a rum you can sip on with just a little ice. No mixers needed.
Don’t rum away from your problems. Rum Forest, Rum. Rum away with me. Girls just want to have rum. Sorry, I googled rum puns and I’m rumb.
Joe’s Stone Crab – Miami Beach, FL
Stonecrabs, of course
The eponym of the restaurant. Their lobster mac & cheese, and fried chicken are pretty good too.
Skinny Louie – Wynwood, FL
Smashburger
Not the best photo, but it was the best (smash) burger of the year. A go-to Uber Eats order for me whenever in need of comfort food. Now that I have a Blackstone, however, not sure I’ll need to order so many smash-burgers, when the ones I now make satisfy my craving. (2025 might have a listing for Proper Sausage smash-burgers on my Blackstone.)
Hanna & Tiger Asian Mart – Miami, FL
Mango Ice Cream
Hanna & Tiger has some amazing snacks, but the mango ice cream is the cream of the crop (sorry). Honorable mention to all the chips, kimchi, chili oil, and basic cooking ingredients we have come to depend on. Good Chef, the restaurant next door, is also a wonderful place to have a meal. Their dan dan noodles (hand-made), and Korean spicy crispy chicken bowl are go-to’s of ours.
JorgeEats 