Burgers aren’t the only thing that gets featured here on the GBS. From time to time, I get the chance to try other things that don’t necessarily fit my domain of specialty. These dishes are some that I’ll remember for a time to come.
Last year, the post that encompassed this category was boldly placed along the lines of The Annex. This year, I decided to pick the individual dishes that marked my 2012. In looking over what I did over the last 12 months, I couldn’t narrow it down to just 5. Instead, you’ll see the 10 dishes that I’m going to praise for a long time to come.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Bacon Beef Medallion @ Vieux-Port Steakhouse
2. Shrimp Won Ton Soup @ Kam Shing
3. Shrimp Rice Noodle Rolls @ Tong Por
THE LIST:
1. Rice w/Lobster Sauce @ La Maison V.I.P.
While not a dish in itself, the combination of a traditional bowl and their signature lobster sauce is something that can’t go unseen. It gets to a point where the family orders a whole bowl of the sauce itself just for this purpose. It was a great way to start off 2012 with a huge bang.
2. Lobster Roll @ Taverne Gaspar
In the latter part of 2011, I went on a hunt for lobster rolls that really didn’t have a good ending. In late January of 2012, a gathering of fellow colleagues at Happening Gourmand was quite an event. For $23 you had a pick of three items from a carefully designed menu. This was the appetizer and one that really had its place.
3. Pikilia @ Atomic
In one of two pikilias to see the list, Atomic’s version is extremely generous. Unlike some other pikilia platters I’ve had in recent times, there is more than enough of every single component on the plate. Atomic is a place that has a little bit of everything on the menu, but this platter is the one to get no matter what.
4. Shrimp Won Ton Soup @ Fung Shing
In 2012, I had the chance to do my first revisited post on my regular Chinese restaurant, Fung Shing. Their shrimp won ton soup is one of the best I’ve ever tasted in my life. From time to time, it’s a little below par, but that’s rare. I’ve had many other versions of won ton soup, but this is one that I’ll fight for until my death.
5. Larry Robinson Pizza @ Del Friscos
When it comes to poutine and won ton soup, I have my loyalties. I pretty much have the same loyalties when it comes to pizza. I’m not really into the superbly fancy pizzas that are topped with items you can’t pronounce. This pizza at Del Friscos is topped with bacon and it’s done just right. I can now understand why Larry Robinson allowed his name to be put here.
6. Pikilia @ Yia Sou
For the second pikilia platter on the list, we have to turn to Yia Sou. I first heard about them in the Montreal Gazette’s 2011 review articles on their favorite dishes. That article went on about how the pikilia at Yia Sou was worth the trip. For that reason alone, I had to make it a visit in April of 2012. What I found at Yia Sou was definitely worth the trek.
7. Mashed Potatoes @ L’Aurochs
Rarely does a side dish really stand out. After all, it’s supposed to be something that accompanies and helps the main dish shine. This portion of mashed potatoes was by far the highlight of my first ever visit to Quartier Dix30.
8. Louisville @ Café Pavé
I’m not really a big fan of sandwiches. The most I’ll ever do for that outside my own lunch is going to Subway. My visit to Café Pavé in early July was one that I just had to do. The sandwich attracted me because of its braised bacon. Let me tell you, it really did deliver.
9. Bacon Pizza @ Léo Pizza
2012 was a year where I was reacquainted with a lot of my past haunts and dives. Léo Pizza was the place that introduced me to bacon. Since then, I’ve had this obsession with bacon that would probably require psychological help. The fear going into this visit was if the pizza was still going to be as good as I remembered it to be. With the first bite, I was taken back and I hit pay dirt.
10. Rice Croquettes @ Bottega
This dish is a case of not wanting to touch something that looks so good. Up to that time, I’ve never had a rice croquette before. I was really glad that I had the chance to try one. The thing I like about Italian cuisine is the obsession with cheese. That’s something that I can always work with.
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That was a look back at the 10 dishes that made 2012 so memorable. In the next post, I’m going to look at something that I’m centered around, bacon.
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