KelsEats’ Top 10 Dishes of 2010 – #6

6) Grilled Calamari, Frances Less than a month after opening, Frances nailed it. This particular dish was actually the first I had ever ordered way back in January, and the memory of it stuck with me for the entire year. With only 5 ingredients (squid, Rugosa squash, preserved lemon, … Continue reading →

KelsEats’ Top 10 Dishes of 2010 – #5

5) Roasted Carrot Salad, SPQR If you’ve been following my writing, you probably know that throughout the course of 2010 I’ve been completely in awe of SPQR and Chef Matthew Accarrino. Choosing my favorite of the entire year was almost impossible as it would be easy for me to fill ½ of … Continue reading →

KelsEats’ Top 10 Dishes of 2010 – #4

4) Spring out of Winter, Eleven Madison Park The best meal of my life, the best dish of the meal: “Spring out of Winter” was the ultimate expression of contrast and balance in every aspect of the plate. Variations of asparagus were served alongside delicate pea shoots and baby peas, … Continue reading →

KelsEats’ Top 10 Dishes of 2010 – #3

3) Monkfish Liver Torchon, Benu You know those rare moments where every element in a dish brings out nuances of the main component that would otherwise go unnoticed? You know those even rarer moments when the wine also brings out a flavor in the dish that would be lost without it? Where the … Continue reading →

KelsEats’ Top 10 Dishes of 2010 – #2

2) Big Daddy Bowl, Hapa Ramen This dish opened my eyes not only to how delicious real ramen is, but also to how thoughtful and complex it can be. Hapa Ramen’s Big Daddy Bowl goes beyond flavorful broth and perfectly-cooked noodles – it brings in a variety of ingredients that add subtle … Continue reading →