Tasting and Savouring – In Which the Editor Succumbs and Writes a Best-Of List (Sort Of)

It’s no secret to either friends or readers of this site that I am no fan of “best of” lists. Ditto for predictions. It’s not that I don’t understand how people like to read them and compare their own experiences from the previous year with those of a notable writer or critic, it’s more that I’m still kind of bewildered, even after two years of running this site, that people put stock in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong – it’s pretty cool, but still a little weird, as is meeting TasteTO readers in real life and hearing them profess to be “fans”. It’s flattering, but still disconcerting.

Anyway – best of lists. Yeah, don’t like ‘em. See, the way I figure it, none of us have the same experiences, even at a restaurant where, in theory, the experience should be consistent. We all have different likes and dislikes, different opinions on what makes good or bad service, different ideas of what is considered expensive or reasonable. Also, because many of my dining experiences have been from the point of view of a “food writer” where I was there at the invitation of the restaurant as opposed to being an anonymous restaurant critic, the experience I have is probably going to differ from that of the average customer.

Despite all of this, people still ask for my opinion of the year’s best. Even shutting down the site for the holidays (the prime “Best Of” list season) doesn’t seem to make a difference – people still want to know my favourites. So, fine, here we go.

My favourite restaurant of 2008 is Harlem (67 Richmond Street East). Of all the places I reviewed this year, Harlem is the one place I make the time to keep going back to, and both my 40th birthday and recent wedding anniversary were spent over plates of fried chicken and candied yams. I loves me some soul food.

My favourite overall dish would have to be the lobster bolognese from Senses (328 Wellington Street West) because well, lobster and shaved truffles – that’s a no-brainer, really. Favourite dessert – the chocolate pudding from Frank (317 Dundas Street West) – it’s a big bowl of happy.

Other memorable moments of 2008 include a trip to Chick-A-Biddy Acres with the staff from the Gladstone Hotel to work in the fields as part of Harvest Wednesdays. Still up there in my “best day ever” top 5 and likely to be etched in my memory for many years to come.

Also…

• The trade and media only event featuring the wines of Portugal where I was so overwhelmed that I just stuck to drinking port for the whole event.
• The tasting we did with Anthony Marinuzzi of 7 Numbers (307 Danforth Avenue) for the Italian Seasons Festival.
• Hanging out and talking industry talk with Andrea Nicholson of 35 Elm.
• Seeing the renovations at my alma mater George Brown Chef School.
• The Carribbean Rum and Rhythm festival and the best rum cake I've ever eaten.
• The chocolate and spirits tasting (and the subsequent gift bag) at Cava (1560 Yonge Street).
• Turning friends onto the food at Tibet Kitchen (1544 Queen Street West).
• Hanging out with the beer geeks at the Hart House craft beer festival.
• The One City One Table event at the Distillery.
• Hanging out with other local food writers, from that handsome devil Corey Mintz to my drinking buddy Christine Picheca from Canadian Living.
• The Brewer’s Plate where someone finally thought to pair fine dining cuisine with local beer instead of wine.
• A tasting at Four where Chef Gordon Mackie kept bringing me dishes to try until I cried "Uncle!"
• A visit to Niagara on the Lake for the icewine festival with the folks from iYellow Wine Club.
• And of course, enjoying the changing harvest season and eating our fill of berries, tomatoes, squash and more.

See? Not exactly a “best of” that translates well for you and you and you.

And I’m equally hesitant to offer predictions for the new year. How the heck am I supposed to know what’s going to happen? Sure, I can look at current trends and come up with a list of probables (people will eat out less; some restaurants will shut down; comfort food will become even more popular; and cookies will beat out cupcakes for the top dessert…), but I’d mostly be guessing, just like everyone else is.

Instead, let me offer a small list of hopes and wishes for 2009; some things I’d like to see take place that I think will make the food scene in Toronto even better than it is.

I hope...

• That recession belt-tightening will provoke people to try more meatless meals.
• That the popularity of farmers markets continues to grow and more people start supporting our local farmers.
• That events featuring local, sustainable and seasonal food are made accessible to not just the wealthy, but to the people who need good healthy food the most.
• That people spend more time cooking at home and learning new dishes.
• That restaurants at risk of closing because of a recession are able to adapt and thrive in a new economic climate by reducing prices and making menu changes that allow them to stay competitive.
• That everyone makes the effort to expand their palate and try some new food they’ve never had before.
• That we learn to love Toronto’s restaurant and hospitality industry for what it is, and stop wishing that it was more like New York or London.

My final hope is that TasteTO will continue to grow, and you good folks will continue to not only read us, but to spread the word. We’ve been astounded to watch our readership increase to over 50,000 unique readers each month, and after two years (it’s our anniversary this month!), we’re incredibly delighted with what the site has become in terms of being a true voice for our city’s food scene. I can’t predict what 2009 will hold for food in Toronto, but I can guarantee that TasteTO will be there to share it with you.