With 2018 winding down, I’m thinking back to all of my favorite things I ate this year. While it’s no secret that the Fumo E Fucco from Hersh’s is one of my favorite dishes in Baltimore, as always I’m limiting this list to things I tried this year for the first time. 

Want to see some of my past favorite bites? Check out 2017 and 2016 here.

In no particular order here are my favorites – did I miss yours? Let me know so I make a point to try it in 2019!

1. Grapefruit Manchango Dutch Baby at Milktooth in Indianapolis. This may sound like an unusual combination, but every review I read about Milktooth mentioned the Dutch Baby – and it did not disappoint. The dutch baby was so fluffy and the saltiness from the cheese was beautiful with the tang of the sherry vinaigrette and the sweetness from the grapefruit. [FULL POST] 

2. Hand-rolled Tagliatelle Verde at Magdalena in Baltimore. If I’m being honest, everything from Magdalena is memorable, but this dish just had a little something extra. I’ve been dreaming about Chef Mark’s pastas ever since. [FULL POST]

3. Beef Tartare at Oiji in New York City.  This was another meal that consisted of more thoughtfully prepared dishes than I could count. But this is a tartare that I would eat again and again. 

4. French Lentils with Vadouvan, Labneh, and Flatbread at Le Comptoir du Vin in Baltimore. This space opened at the tail end of this year and I can’t wait to go back for a full meal. The lentils were one of two things we ordered and they were luxurious. 

5. Rotissi-Fried Half Chicken at The Partisan in Washington D.C. Now this may not look like much, seriously it’s just half of a chicken. But it was the juiciest chicken I’ve ever had with crazy crispy skin. I happily took home all of the left overs to eat the next day.

6. Oil and Chocolate at Fadensonnen in Baltimore. This was another late in the year addition to the Baltimore dining scene but this dessert is something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. It’s Jinji’s Chocolate with Olive Oil and a little flaky salt, genius and delicious. During my first visit to Fadensonnen we ordered this dessert, immediately upon finishing it – we had to order a second.

7. ChengDu Spicy Wontons at Reren Lamen in Washington D.C. A soup dumpling craving had me driving to D.C. on a rainy day last spring, but when I texted a friend for specific dish recommendations at Reren, she said we must order the Spicy Wontons. Nothing I’ve had since then has been able to compare. I even bought a bottle of the chili oil to bring home.

8. Asparagus Ravioli in Parmesan Broth at Hersh’s in Baltimore. Now this dish was spring in a bite if I’ve ever tasted it. The broth was so light and flavorful, but the ravioli packed a nice fresh asparagus punch. I can only hope this dish is on the menu come asparagus season.

9. Sunchokes at Atoboy in New York City. Atoboy had been on my list for a while now but my Brother and I finally visited and it did not disappoint. Every bite was delicious but I can’t stop thinking about the umami from the sunchokes with the mushrooms and truffles.

10. Charcoal Toasted Marshmallow at Momo Yakitori in Washington D.C. I’m an always save room for dessert kind of person – and when I saw the charcoal toasted marshmallow on the menu at Momo Yakitori, it just spoke to me – toasted marshmallows are one of my favorite things. Plus black sesame cream which was a better version of peanut butter, consider me hooked! I almost licked the plate clean to get all of the black sesame cream – it was that good.

With so many fantastic dishes this year, I’m looking forward to what 2019 has in store!

For more drool worthy pictures, follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Be sure to subscribe to my blog for the latest and greatest.

Looking for a place to eat? Check out Rachel’s Baltimore Restaurant List.