Top Five Dishes of 2019

The happiest place on Earth is at the Carolina Renaissance Festival

Scallionpancake Top Dishes of 2019: 
In addition to our top five restaurants of 2019, we decided to spice things up and rate our top five dishes of 2019, like we did last year. Sometimes, we really love a particular dish at a certain restaurant, or something smaller at a casual place that is worthy of the title of "best dish," when "best restaurant" doesn't quite make the cut. Without further ado, here are our top five dishes of 2019! 

Jason

1. PARMIGIANO

Schwa, Chicago, IL

This dish blew our minds. Parmesan, banana, nori brittle, and honey combined for an overload of sensory experiences. I think about this dish at least once a day.

2. Salted and Dried berries from the summer

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

My favorite dish of the seafood season at Noma was the dessert of sheep’s milk and dried berries from the previous summer.

This dish reminded us of a dish we had at Noma Under the Bridge a few years before, except this was taken up to 100. A classic Noma dish - so simple, yet so complex.

3. Lamb Rump

Haar, St Andrews, Scotland

The surprise restaurant of the year for me was Haar in St Andrews, and would have made my top five restaurants list if we didn’t go to so many crazy places.

Everything here was amazing, but the lamb rump with cafe du Paris sauce was the clear winner for me. I ordered this twice in two days.

4. Octopus

Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

We went to Quintonil and Pujol on the same day, Pujol being second which tarnished our experience because we were so full from Quintonil. But this Octopus was the single best thing I had in Mexico.

The octopus is smothered in a paste made of chintexle, which is a chile, and chapulines, which is grasshopper. Grasshoppers are served everywhere in Mexico, and they are delicious once you get over the whole eating bugs thing, which I admit did take me a few tries.

5. Hot Chicken Sandwich

Hattie B’s, Nashville, TN

It wouldn’t be a top five list for me without a sandwich, and this year’s best sandwich went to Hattie B’s hot chicken sandwich in Nashville.

Served with pickles, coleslaw, and comeback sauce, this sandwich lives up to all the hype. Even my dad liked it—enough said.

Yvonne

1. Salted & Dried Berries From the Summer

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

The baby pinecones are back, BABY. I freaking love dried fruit, and this was slightly dried, slightly macerated fruit goodness with those sweet and sour chewy pinecones and the sheep’s milk. DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT COLLECT $200. Ugh. I wish I could eat this every day of my life. Swoon.

2. Apricot

Schwa, Chicago, IL

I probably could have picked three things from Schwa (this, the banana/Parmesan, and the raviolo), but I’ll edit myself to just this one.

I loved the sweet apricot with the earthy Taleggio, and the light and floral wine sauce that pulled the whole thing together. Just fab.

3. Scallops in the Shell

The Kitchin, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Kitchin may have just one Michelin star, but I would like to go ahead and give this dish an honorary three stars.

The puff pastry was doughy, and the creamy sauce surrounding the scallops hit every single one of my tastebuds. And the presentation when it was cut open table-side?! OY VEY. A masterpiece. I think about this dish often.

4. Mole Madre

Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

Even though Pujol didn’t make either of our top fives, it was still delicious. It just happened to be up against some real contenders this year. The mole madre alone, however, is worthy of a visit to Mexico City.

I loved the mole madre on its own, mixed with the new mole, on the fresh flour tortilla, and straight up on a spoon. To. Die. For.

5. Black Truffle Explosion

Alinea, Chicago, IL

Okay, okay – I know I snubbed Alinea on my top five. And I feel terrible about it, but overall it just didn’t wow me as much as it did Jason. It was all solid, but not over the top. The signature Black Truffle Explosion dish, however? Um, yup. Sufficiently blown away by the amount of flavor packed in this tiny bite. A++++.

I know Jason won’t be pleased at this, but I am going to do a secondary top five for my non-fancypants dishes. He would say they should all be on one list and that I should choose. Well, I won’t and I didn’t. SORRY JASON. Love you, tuna.

Yvonne’s Non-FancyPants Top Five

1. Greg Collier’s Chicken Skins

Charlotte, NC

I don’t know where I am going to get these now at Loft & Cellar is done for, maybe at Leah & Louise? I need them in my life. Chef!

They have a similar seasoning to his Tennessee fries, and they are so chewy yet crispy, savory yet sweet, and just intensely flavored. I LOVE THEM.

2. mushroom Toast

Borough Market, London, UK

A stall in London’s Borough Market sold mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, but they also had two hot food options. One was roasted asparagus with a cream sauce, and the other was a giant vat of the most beautiful mushrooms I’ve ever seen in my life.

They served the sautéed mushrooms with grated cheese, herbs, and a piece of sourdough toast. It was the coolest thing to watch, and one of the best comfort foods I’ve ever had. So simple and savory. I wish I could have this for lunch every day!

3. Buffalo Pizza Sticks

Flip-a-Lo’s, Charlotte, NC

I cant’t really overhype Flip-a-Lo’s Buffalo Pizza Sticks, because they are worthy of all of the praise anyone has to offer. Freshly made bread. Fresh (not frozen) chicken wing pieces, and gooey mozzarella. If you are in Charlotte and you haven’t tried Flip-a-Lo’s yet, you are missing out for real.

4. S’mores Cake

The Batchmaker, Charlotte, NC

There are not enough words in the English language to describe how sweet Cristina Rojas Agurcia is, or how decadently delicious her baked goods are. This is hands-down the best bakery we’ve ever had in Charlotte.

MOIST cakes (yeah, not only did I say the “m word,” I capitalized it), fun flavors, a perfect amount of sugar, interesting textures. Just good-gash-darn. She’s a bakery legend in her own time, and we’re lucky she calls Charlotte home.

5. San Lorenzo Pasta

Capishe, Charlotte, NC

It would be a shame if you slept on Capishe. Don’t let it get lost in the Charlotte restaurant waves, people. Everything is made fresh, and the amount of spice and love that Chef Cavalier puts into this San Lorenzo pasta gets me daydreaming about it on the reg. My favorite pasta in Charlotte, easy.

Top Five Restaurants of 2019

Roca Nation

It’s hard to believe, but this is our fifth year blogging. This year, of all the years, was exceptionally hard to pick our top five restaurants since we went to so many amazing places. But this is why we’re paid the big bucks - to make the hard choices. Which of them made our ultimate list for 2019? Read on to find out!

Jason

Clear Bread

1. ENIGMA

Barcelona, Spain

As I look back on the year, the most fun night of high end meals was at Enigma. The setting of the restaurant, the movement through different rooms, and the overall elevation of the food makes it my best restaurant of the year.

A play on a steak frites, with main dish being vegetable steak with a side of beef.

2. Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Tarrytown, NY

Blue Hill is the first high end restaurant we’ve been where each table got a different menu. The amount of skill and coordination it takes to pull this off is incredible. We wish we could have dined at a time other than 10:30pm, but alas you take what you can get.

Crab on crab on crab

3. Noma

Copenhagen, Denmark

We now make an annual trip to Copenhagen to visit Noma because we like Copenhagen and we like giving our money to Rene Redzepi. We thought the vegetable season in 2018 was better than the seafood season, but it was still an amazing meal and experience.

Look at this presentation!

4. AlINEA

Chicago, IL

I freaking loved everything about Alinea. It was two hours. Every course had a purpose. Everything on the table had a purpose. The balloon tasted better than expected. It was the rare top level restaurant that left you wanting more, and that’s the feeling I want when I leave a fine dining restaurant.

Duck taco

5. QUINTONIL

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico was even better than expected for us, and Quintonil was the highlight of our trip. Each course was emaculate, and really showcased the abudence and magic of Mexican cooking. You could see Chef Jorge Vallejo’s influence from Noma and Pujol to create a menu unique his own.

I got to play St. Andrews this year, which was the ultimate highlight

Yvonne

HIT THE LINKS

TEE OFF

1. SCHWA

Chicago, IL

I know that Jason is going to be floored by my #1 pick, but I will not deny my love for Schwa. I had zero expectations going in, and Alinea was ostensibly the main event of the weekend, but this was the first restaurant other than Noma where I found every single dish over-the-top delicious.

Even the drinks were fun

2. ENIGMA

Barcelona, Spain

There isn’t a restaurant in the world like Enigma (well, that I know of). It’s hard for me to pick a standout dish from our meal, but the overall experience and interactive elements make this place so special.

This is pre-dinner, and already two hours past his bedtime

3. Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Tarrytown, NY

I hate that I always forget about Blue Hill since we were so tired from our 10:30 p.m. reservation. The whole thing feels like a fever dream, but when I reflect on the experience, it was truly exceptional in every way. That chocolate sourdough bread (and squash pie, pictured)!

Fresh to death even right after a flight overseas

4. El Celler De Can Roca

Girona, Spain

While you didn’t move around like at Enigma, El Celler de can Roca was so whimsical and creative. The desserts we had here were truly unforgettable, and I loved seeing my dad experience his first Michelin star restaurant.

Our family now includes chefs

5. Kitchen Table

London, UK

This was a hard pick for me as Alinea nearly edged it out, but I think the creativity and flavor – plus the awesome setting – make Kitchen Table the winner of my fifth spot. Some of our dining companions soured this one for me since they weren’t into the experience, but it really was incredible. And how often do you get face time with the chef like that?!

Honorable Mention: Anomaly

Charlotte, NC

Chef Sam Hart’s Anomaly pop-up was really something amazing, and it felt even more special since we attended his very first one. The energy was palpable and the food was top notch, especially considering everything was produced in a home kitchen. We can’t wait to see more at his first ticketed pop-up next week!

I hope 2020 has this many fun animals in it

Top Five Dishes of 2018

The moment before Noma

Scallionpancake Top Dishes of 2018: 
In addition to our top five restaurants of 2018, we decided to spice things up and rate our top five dishes of 2018, like we did last year. Sometimes, we really love a particular dish at a certain restaurant, or something smaller at a casual place that is worthy of the title of "best dish," when "best restaurant" doesn't quite make the cut. Without further ado, here are our top five dishes of 2018! 

Jason

1. FIVE AGES OF PARMIGIANO REGGIANO

Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

Our overall experience at Osteria Francescana was a slight disappointment, but the the most famous dish by Massimo Bottura was excellent. I could have eaten 100 of these.

2. SHAWARMA OF CELERIAC AND TRUFFLE

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

You knew we weren’t going to get through this list without a dish from Noma. I had to think long and hard about which dish to choose, and I ultimately chose the celeriac shawarma because of how unique it was. This was 100% vegetarian and it tasted like the best, most savory meat shawarma you’ve ever had. Of course the truffle sauce didn’t hurt, and also the sourdough bread to mop up the sauce was next level, too.

3. Almond Granita

Caffè Sicilia, Noto, Sicily

We saw the Chef’s Table on Corrado Assenza and immediately booked a flight to Sicily. We came for the almond granita, and we were not disappointed. Words can’t describe how clean and natural the almond flavor is, so just stare at the picture and then book your Ryanair flight stat.

4. #19

Langers, Los Angeles, CA

You haven’t had rye bread until you’ve had the rye bread at Langers in LA. Put a pastrami reuben in between two slices of the heavenly bread and you’ve got yourself one of the best sandwiches in the world.

5. Aqua chile

Sanchez, Copenhagen, Denmark

This was one of the most unique dishes we had in Copenhagen. Think of a very spicy ceviche with mostly Danish ingredients and a strawberry acid broth.

Honorable Mention: Pickled Onion Rings

Majordomo, Los Angeles, CA

A revelation that could have easily made the top five if we hadn’t spent so much time in Copenhagen this year. These onion rings were the best I’ve ever had.

Yvonne

1. Mold Pancake

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

Oh Noma. You are my whole life. Jason didn’t have as strong a feeling about this dish as I did, but my goodness, it blew me away. A tortilla with, yes, mold growing on it, much like the rind of brie cheese. The inside was filled with a shock of cold, creamy ice cream and a balsamic fig sauce. I can’t even conceive how someone could conceive of it, you dig?

2. FIVE AGES OF PARMIGIANO REGGIANO

Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

While much of our experience at Osteria Francescana left something to be desired, Massimo Bottura’s most famous dish did not disappoint in the slightest, and both of us felt that it made the trip to Modena worthwhile in a single bite. Parmesan is such a rich, umami flavor, and getting all of the different ages and textures together was nothing short of mind-blowing. Also, the portion was more generous that what you would expect for a tasting menu, which pleased us thoroughly, as we both could have eaten a vat.

3. Roast Chicken

Amass, Copenhagen, Denmark

On our second visit to Amass (we also went in November 2017), we dined a la carte at the bar. During this meal, we had a roast chicken from Hegnsholt farm with a sauce made from reduced carrot and almond milk, and it blew me away. I typically don’t even like chicken, and I never order it. This changed my worldview. I could drink this sauce on the daily.

4. Almond Granita

Caffè Sicilia, Noto, Sicily

Oh, Corrado Assenza, you are a god among men. Eating the classic Sicilian breakfast of warm brioche and creamy almond milk granita was a life experience I won’t soon forget. Whereas most Italian granitas are made with a syrup (which is still delicious, mind you), Assensa’s family version is made with a freshly-made almond milk, which retains the grittiness and full-bodied flavor of the Sicilian almonds used to make it. Neither the brioche or the granita are overly sweet, and though this seems like an intense breakfast option, I promise it simply hits the spot.

5. AS THE DRIFTER RESTS, IN REVERIE OF DAYS AHEAD

Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, CA

The coconut dessert from Atelier Crenn is as if I imagined the ideal dessert in my mind and Dominique Crenn brought it to life. Imagine a creamy coconut pudding studded with pineapples inside of a bowl made entirely of chocolate. Yeah. That sort of begins to cover it. Also, the portion was exceedingly generous for a dish that comes near the end of a 17 course tasting menu, which I appreciated. Just because I’ve eaten a lot doesn’t mean I want to skimp on dessert, you feel me?

Honorable Mention:

Jasper Hill Farm Cheesecake

In Situ, San Francisco, CA

We want to go to Spain to try this dish in the flesh. The Jasper Hill Farm Cheesecake with hazelnut, white chocolate, and cookies, inspired by Albert Adria’s dish from Tickets in Barcelona.

It’s cheese. It’s chocolate. It’s a party.

Honorable Mention:

Kato’s Silken Tofu

Upstream, Charlotte, NC

This beauty had soymilk, pickled shimeji mushrooms, ikura & fried ginger

Sad to lose Kato to Chicago (again)

Top Five Restaurants of 2018

Oh…Hi….Massimo Bottura.

What a year! It’s hard to believe this is our fourth year of blogging and our fourth annual best restaurant list. This year was extra special, as we spent a month eating heavily in our favorite city in the world, Copenhagen. Not only that, we went to Noma, Eleven Madison Park, and Osteria Francescana this year. Which of them made our ultimate list for 2018? Read on to find out!

Jason

Celeraic shawarma

1. noma

Copenhagen, Denmark

I’m not going to speak for Yvonne, but to me, Noma is so far above any other restaurant we’ve ever been to, it’s almost disrespectful to have them on a list. If you’re on the fence, trust us: Noma is worth a trip around the world, especially during vegetable season.

Magical fish

2. Bardo popup with Chef Jake Bickelhaupt

Charlotte, NC

Bardo is the best restaurant in Charlotte. Hands down. Chef Mike Knoll of Bardo worked with Chef Jacob Bickelhaupt in Chicago. Bickelhaupt had a two Michelin Star restaurant in Chicago, 42 Grams, which shut down because of a domestic violence incident with his ex-wife. He is holding pop-up dinners around the country, and he held a one day pop-up in Charlotte where he and Chef Knoll served a 12-course tasting menu that was incredible.

Honey ice cream with a bee pollen magic shell

3. Atelier crenn

San Francisco, CA

Atelier Crenn is chronically underrated by the Top 50 Best Restaurants list, but not by Scallionpancake. Of all of our out-of-town high-end dining experiences, this was second only to Noma for 2018. And this dessert? The best. Coconut and pineapple custard with a chocolate outside that is made to look like a coconut.

I am a happy man at EMP

4. Eleven Madison Park

New York, NY

Eleven Madison Park was very contentious in the Scallionpancake household. It didn’t live up to our expectations, but it was still, in my opinion, a spectacular evening. The best dish was the duck, but the rest of the courses were also excellent. The only part I found truly lacking were the dessert courses.

Finnish blueberry vodka

5. Restaurant Kuu

Helsinki, Finland

This meal at Kuu was one of those that stands out when taking into account the perspective of the time and place. Here, I had reindeer for the first time with a glass of Finnish blueberry vodka. To me, this meal encapsulated our weekend in Helsinki perfectly.

Back on my college stomping grounds, NYU’s Florence campus

Yvonne

I am only truly happy in Noma’s hygge room

It’s NOMA, bish

1. Noma

Copenhagen, Denmark

This isn’t even a fair fight. Noma was not just a restaurant for me, it was a major life event. As we’ve mentioned often on the blog and podcast, I often go into experiences with little to no expectations in order to avoid disappointment, and Noma was no exception. I really wasn’t prepared for how much Noma’s atmosphere, service, food, and creativity would blow me away. From being greeted at the door by René Redzepi to the celeriac shawarma, to the hygge room, I am not sure if any other dining experience will ever live up to Noma.

Maybe not dressed properly for Atelier Crenn

2. Atelier Crenn

San Francisco, CA

Everyone knows how I feel about Dominique Crenn and Atelier Crenn, and Jason and I cried tears of joy for her when she finally achieved her third Michelin Star earlier this month. Atelier Crenn’s tasting menu with the accompanying poetic flare was so thoughtful, and every single flavor and texture just made my heart sing. Something about her food really speaks to my soul and my tastebuds, particularly her desserts. So many similar restaurants dial in the dessert options, but Crenn didn’t make them an afterthought.

I don’t even usually like chicken, hand to god

3. Amass

Copenhagen, Denmark

I know that this choice will shock and intrigue Jason (no--we don’t talk about our picks together at all. We don’t want any undue influence on one another). We ate a much larger meal at Amass last year, but somehow it didn’t leave the same impression as the small, non-tasting meal we had at Amass this summer. I had been dreaming of their fermented potato bread since the last time we had it, and it remains one of my favorite things of life. Imagine the best sourdough you’ve ever eaten, but even tangier and doughier. This visit, we dined at the bar, sipped on the best Aperol Spritz I’ve ever tasted, and just had the loveliest time. If you are visiting Copenhagen, I recommend ordering sitting at the bar and ordering a la carte over the tasting menu for sure. You do have to sit at the bar or counter for this option, though, and seats are first come, first served. The atmosphere is second to none, also. Amass is housed in a giant warehouse overlooking the water, and the giant murals are majorly fun and change regularly.

You eat this salad WITH YOUR HANDS. I know there’s a fork there. That’s irrelevant.

4. Al’s Place

San Francisco, CA

We went to Al’s Place with our friends (and friends of the blog and pod) Sharon and Andrew when we visited San Francisco in May. Everything about our evening was magical, from the company to the salad you eat with your hands. I loved the emphasis of fresh vegetables with zero compromise on flavor. Also, these radishes with butter made one of the prettiest plates I’d ever seen. From the brine-pickled french fries to the warm brownie sundae, I was in heaven for the entirety of this meal.

PICKLED FRIED ONION RINGS omg

5. Majordomo

Los Angeles, CA

David Chang is the god of umami, and I love everything I’ve eaten at all of his restaurants, and all of his dishes are highly memorable for me. Majordomo was up there with Ko as far as the all around experience, and the bing bread and pickled onion rings with French onion dip skyrocketed Majordomo into my top five late in the year. We also met two fabulous ladies out on a girls’ night, and sitting next to them and getting to know them just made the evening that much more enjoyable. Chang is masterful at creating fine dining experiences that are the polar opposite of stuffy, and I always feel free and giddy while eating at his restaurants. I am not surprised we met new friends at Majordomo, because that’s just the vibe that Chang has cultivated in this space.

Honorable Mention: Bardo

Charlotte, NC

Bardo is our favorite restaurant in Charlotte, and every experience there transports us and makes us feel that we’ve left home for a bit. Beyond the inventive and delicious food and drink, Jason Whiteside, Mike Noll, and Amanda Britton have made us feel like a part of their family, and now each visit is even more special than the last. Bardo makes Jason feel happy and relaxed, and since he works so hard and is always so busy, I am so appreciative that we have a food oasis in Bardo that is transformative for my husband during a hectic workweek.

WHATTA YEAR. Bye, 2018.

Eleven Madison Park

Background:
Eleven Madison Park (EMP) was opened in 1998 by world renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer. Meyer is the man behind NYC institutions Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, and...SHAKE SHACK. Yes, the same genius behind Shake Shack founded what some considered the best restaurant in the world. In 2006, Meyer hired Daniel Humm as head chef, and he and Danny (that's what his friends call him) quickly turned EMP into one of the top restaurants in New York. Humm bought the restaurant from Meyer in 2011, which is when EMP earned its first Michelin Star. By 2012, they had earned three Michelin Stars. Currently the restaurant ranks #1 in the world. 

Eat This:
When booking a reservation, you have two options. You can do the full tasting menu in the main dining room for $315/person, or you can do an abbreviated five course tasting menu in the bar room for $175/person. We went for the full tasting menu, because that's how we live our lives.

Black & White

Cookie with Cheddar & Apple

When you arrive at the table you are presented with a box. What's in the box? This black and white cookie--a savory nod to the famous NYC staple. It's a great first bite to start the meal.

Bread

Scallop Butter, & Broth

The first real course was the bread course, which we learned was designed for the winter menu to provide something hot to warm us as we began our meal. This course consisted of four distinct parts: bread, scallop butter, scallop broth, and then live scallops with sea urchin immediately following this. Yvonne was obsessed with this butter (check out her other website: www.yvonnelovesbutter.net), which was creamy with a rich, umami scallop flavor.

Scallop

Live with Sea Urchin

My favorite part of this dish was the scallop broth, which was thick and flavorful, and tasted somewhat like the best miso soup you've ever had in your life. The raw scallop with sea urchin was presently nicely on a seashell. It felt as if we were in The Little Mermaid, receiving a pearl from our boyfriend Eric (love you, Eric!).

caviar

Benedict with Smoked Ham, Sturgeon, and Hollandaise

Another play on an NYC favorite: eggs benedict. This was probably the coolest presentation of the night, with the caviar in a special EMP tin, which we later got to take home, as well as a row of small English muffins presented on an elevated wood plank. We loved the interactive element of making our little sandwiches with the quail egg and caviar provided.

Squid

Grilled with Juniper and Horseradish

At this point in the meal, we were given choices as to what we wanted. I chose the squid, and Yvonne chose the foie gras. The squid tasted like a tartare, refreshing and cold with the slight kick of the horseradish.

FoiE Gras

Seared with Maple and Apple

Yvonne proclaimed this to be the best foie gras she has ever had. The presentation with the thinly sliced apple hiding the foie gras was on point.

Halibut

Poached with Variations of Turnip

This was the surprise of the night for me. When I ordered the halibut, I wasn't excited, but I wanted to order something different from Yvonne. The halibut was excellent, and the turnip was presented in three ways--in the sauce, mixed with the halibut, and then sauteed underneath the halibut. Really a refreshing and surprising way to serve both the halibut and turnips, and a truly special EMP dish.

lobster

Butter-poached with Butternut Squash and Chestnut

This was the stereotypical lobster dish at a nice restaurant. Cooked right. Tasted good, but nothing really memorable.

mushroom

Tart with Cremini & Black Truffle

This was the one table side preparation of the meal. The captain wheeled over a cart and proceeded to cut open a crust that was baking on top of a cast iron pan. She then took the crust and turned it into the "pizza" crust, which she then lathered with black truffle & cremini paste and shaved cheddar cheese. So good. so cool. It was also served with a melange of portabello and cremini mushrooms on the side.

Duck

Honey and Lavender glazed with Cabbage

This duck is everything to me. It's the best duck in the world. What makes it so special? It's the skin, which is thick and crusted with Szechuan peppercorns and glazed with honey and lavender. The actual duck meat is cooked medium rare and has the perfect tenderness to match the slight crunch of the crust. It's the most perfect bird I've ever had.

Tubby Cheese

Grilled with Celery Root, Black Truffle, and Winter Greens

EMP's take on a cheese course. They bring out a perfectly grilled circle of cheese with black truffle, and then also mix a salad right in front of you with black truffle vinaigrette. This grilled cheese was as down home as Eleven Madison Park can get, but with the black truffle thrown in to make sure you remember where you are. A great dish to end the savory courses.

Donut

Cranberry & Pear filled with Mulled Wine Ice Cream

Our favorite dessert. The donut was filled with cranberry and pear, but the star of the show for me was the mulled wine ice cream. What a unique and cool flavor! I could have eaten a whole pint of it.

Butternut squash

Ice Cream with Sarsaparilla and Pumpkin Cake

A very warm winter dessert. I love a good pumpkin anything, #PSL for life. I am also a sucker for exotic ice creams (see mulled wine above). So this one was good. And that's how I would describe the desserts at EMP: just good. Overall, the desserts are kind of disappointing for the type of restaurant and the standard of EMP.

chocolate

Torte with Creme Fraiche Ice Cream and Cranberry

Again, a solid desert but nothing to write home about. Tasted good at the time, but we're not going to remember it a month from now.

Pretzel

Covered in Chocolate

The last bite, and one of the best. This is the best chocolate covered pretzel I've ever had, hands down. What made this so good was the chocolate to pretzel ratio was perfect. The pretzels were made in house, and had a doughy, marzipan taste.

Drink:
Okay, so we screwed up and didn't order an alcoholic beverage, which was stupid because they are known for having amazing cocktails. In our defense, we did have two two pickle backs immediately before dinner at my old favorite haunt, Whiskey Rebel, with best friend of the blog Vishnu "Charlotte Heartthrob" Pillai. The cocktail menu was presented by ingredient. The options included apple, chocolate, sarsaparilla, cranberry, kombu, and others. They also offered non-alcoholic options. I went for the mushroom mocktail, because I'd never had a drink made with mushrooms before. I guess I grew up sheltered and unaware of what the world had to offer. 

Mushroom

Porcini Mushroom Broth, Oolong tea, Squash Syrup, Honey, Verjus and Cold Brew Coffee

This was one of the coolest drinks I've ever had. I can only explain the flavor as mushroom with a sweet coffee aftertaste. The mushroom wasn't overwhelming, though. It was a flavor I have never had before, and I loved it.

Atmosphere:
Eleven Madison Park has the coolest and best atmosphere of any top notch restaurant we've been to. It feels like you're walking into The Great Gatsby, because you sort of are. The restaurant is located in an art deco lobby of an office building originally owned by Met Life. The chandeliers and crown molding are all original, and the large florescent light on the ceiling was the first florescent light in New York City. The restaurant was just renovated a few months ago, with subtle changes. Sometimes when you go to the world's best restaurants, the atmosphere is museum like, with patrons almost scared to have too much fun. EMP was different. Everyone seemed like they were having a really good time. The waiters also seemed to have a sense of humor, and they weren't afraid to joke with patrons or chat with them, cutting the tension that often comes with a restaurant of this stature. 

Gatsby Hospitality:
Eleven Madison Park has the best service of any restaurant we have been to. Hands down. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you're the only patron that matters in the restaurant. But it's not stuffy--the servers joke around, and, of course, they answer literally any question you have about the restaurant in a split second. Special requests? Glad you asked. There is literally a person whose job it is to make people's experiences magical. If a waiter overhears that someone loves ice cream, for instance, you might get a house-made pint of ice cream to take home at the end of the meal. Want all of the desserts instead of choosing just one? Just ask. We did. Want a pet baby lion delivered to your table at the end of the meal? Okay, maybe not, but you get the point. EMP spends a lot of effort on their hospitality, and it pays off.

Frankie's Notes:
We made a special request to be instantly transported to the 1920s, and we are now stuck in a time warp; Shout out to Rita Ackermann (no relation), who painted the large abstract on the wall; Every meal should start with cookies; Not getting a cocktail at EMP is like refusing wine from Jesus; We are regretting not dropping hints about our love of ice cream.

Rating:

5 out of 5 with 2 Michigan Pugs

 

Top Five Dishes of 2017

Listen to this post in audio format on our podcast!

Hangin' with the gang at Maido 

Scallionpancake Travels: 
In addition to our top five restaurants of 2017, we decided to spice things up and rate our top five dishes of 2017. Sometimes, we really love a particular dish at a certain restaurant, or something smaller at a casual place that is worthy of the title of "best dish," when "best restaurant" doesn't quite make the cut. Without further ado, here are our top five dishes of 2017! 

Jason

1. Wasabi Langoustine

Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany

This, to me, is the most perfect dish in the world. It's the best thing I've ever eaten, hands down. Enough said. 

2. Z-Man Sandwich

Joe's Kansas City BBQ, Kansas City, KS

The Z-man was a revelation--one BBQ sandwich to rule them all. 

3. Confit Suckling Pig

Astrid & Gaston, Lima, Peru

This was the outstanding dish of Peru to me. The suckling pig mixed with dark Peruvian chocolate in a  peanut broth just combined perfectly together. I would have never thought that the rich chocolate would have gone together with the suckling pig, but it did, and it was great.

4. Sportskage

La Glace, Copenhagen, Denmark 

The single dessert I think about the most from this last year is the sportskage from La Glace in Copenhagen. This is the oldest and most famous bakery in Copenhagen, and their signature cake dates back to 1891 when it was first made for the debut of the play, Sports Man. It consists of crushed nougat, whipped cream, a macaroon bottom, and caramelized choux pastry. It had the consistency of a cream pie, but with almost a health bar taste with the nougat. So good!

5. Mac & Cheese with Crispy Chicken Skin

Haberdish, Charlotte, NC

The Mac & Cheese at Haberdish is cheesy perfection. The key to this dish is the hot sauce that adds a slight kick to the chicken skin. I could eat it every day!

Yvonne

1. Mussel Dessert

Maido, Lima, Peru

Although Maido didn't make either of our best restaurant lists, we both really loved so many of the dishes there. This dessert had local Peruvian elements, like granadilla, mandarin sorbet, and lucuma ice cream. Also, you can't go wrong with an edible bowl made out of sugar! 

2. Doner kebab

Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap, Berlin, Germany

I would gladly wait another hour in line to eat this perfect sandwich again. The meat was juicy and well-seasoned, and the vegetables were fresher than you could ever imagine from a food cart. This kebab was certainly a part of what made our culinary adventures in Berlin special!

3. Tomato soup and rolls

Indio Feliz, Aguas Calientes, Peru

Jason wants to kill me for this choice, but after a seven hour hike through the Andes to Machu Picchu, this tomato soup brought me back to life. I loved the little town of Aguas Calientes, which is completely devoted to tourists visiting Machu Picchu--it felt like a mining town in the American west, only Peruvian style. Also, maybe, just maybe, I picked it partly because it gets under his skin. Shhhh, don't tell. 

4. Ribs

Joe's Kansas City BBQ, Kansas City, KS

I am usually more of a pulled pork kind gal, but these ribs were everything to me. The flavor was 10/10, and I loved the atmosphere in the gas station at the original Joe's location. 

5. Hummus

Mamoun's, New York, New York

I love when Jason takes me to NYC and shows me all of his old college haunts, like the tiny, counter-seating only Mamoun's location he took me to last March. I wish we had a quick & cheap Lebanese spot like this in Charlotte. Their hummus was tangy, fresh, and had the perfect texture. 

Top Five Restaurants of 2017

Listen to this post in audio format on our awesome blossom podcast! 

Incan af

What a year! Scallionpancake traveled three continents in 2017, and during our travels we visited some of the best restaurants in the world. Like years past, both of us have come up with our top five restaurants for 2017. SPOILER ALERT: Next week we will publish our top five dishes of 2017. Stay tuned!

Jason

1. Noma Under the Bridge

Copenhagen, Denmark

The most magical food night of the year for me. The atmosphere combined with the excellent food made for an unforgettable experience. My favorite dish was the "make your own" shrimp tacos. Noma also had a delicious almond cake with lime zest that was out of this world.

2. Momofuku Ko

New York, NY

I've said it before, and i'll say it again, I love David Chang. Ko is his signature restaurant, and it did not disappoint. I had been to Ko at their old location about five years ago, so I was excited to to see what had changed at their new location. Ko is meat-focused fine dining, and I like that. They're most famous for their duck, which they age in-house every week.

3. Franchesetta 58

Modena, Italy

This fall, I took a trip to Italy with my friends Vishnu and Ravi for a ten year reunion of our time studying abroad in Florence. We took a special trip to Modena to go to Franchesetta 58, Massimo Baturo's sister restaurant to his famous Osteria Francescana. It was outstanding and served some of the best Italian inspired dishes I've ever had. My favorite dish was the pumpkin covered in Parmesan sauce with bacon. The sweetness of the pumpkin with the salty, strong flavors of the Parmesan combined with the fattiness of the bacon to make the perfect dish.

4. Joe's Kansas City BBQ

Kansas City, KS

Joe's BBQ in Kansas City has a lot of hype, but it lives up to it and then some. The best sandwich of the year goes to the Z-Man: smoked brisket, smoked provolone, two onion rings, and famous Joe's BBQ sauce on a bun. It doesn't get better than this. We enjoyed our meal so much that we went back the next day and ordered two--one for right then and there and one for the plane ride home.

5. Here's Looking at You

Los Angeles, CA

We went to LA in January, and the standout restaurant of the trip was Here's Looking at You. The vibe from the beginning was just plain cool--we felt like we were in a place where cool things happened and where cool people hung out. Oh, by the way, the food was really good, too. The standouts for me were this fried whole fish and the bar pie.

Keepin' it classy in Lima

Yvonne

,

1. Noma Under the Bridge

Copenhagen, Denmark

I couldn't agree more with Jason--the vibe at Noma Under the Bridge was just magical. It was our first night in my favorite city on earth. The temperature was crisp and the sun was setting along the harbor when we settled into the long dining room table with about 75 new friends from all over the world. The night started with champagne and ended with almond cakes in an antique tin, and that's really all anyone could ask for out of a vacation dinner. 

2. Central

Lima, Peru

Jason and I are still sorting out our feelings on Central (more on that on our podcast), but I do know that I absolutely loved the flavors of so many of the dishes we tried, particularly the dessert made with meringue clay and algae, and the potatoes with an alpaca dipping sauce. Central is the restaurant I would most like to experience again, if only to have more time to figure out exactly which obscure plant we were eating. The creativity on the Elevations menu is incomparable, and going on a culinary journey through the ecosystem home to the most diverse climate on earth was a once in a lifetime experience. 

3. Momofuku Ko

New York, New York

Ko was just a downright fun dining experience; I have never had the pleasure of viewing the kitchen directly from my seat in a fine dining restaurant, and I loved every minute of it. We got to chat with the chefs and it was pure entertainment to watch them work throughout our meal. We saw them prepare the duck from the moment we sat down--it went through step after step of marinating and braising, and then finally we got to try it. Super exciting. Another highlight? The bouncy Japanese cheesecake with shaved truffles. I die. 

4. Geranium

Copenhagen, Denmark

Everything at Geranium was a cut above, from the decor, to the service, to the food. I mean, wheeling out a cart of potted herbs to prepare a hot tea? It was all just next level. The dishes were inventive, like the dill stones and the razor clam dish, and everything had incredible flavor that captured the vegetation-heavy feel of modern classic Danish cuisine. One of my favorite moments here was the final dessert course that included so many little bites of goodness. Also, getting to meet the chef when he was in the back room preparing new recipes was pretty darn cool, too. 

5. Baest

Copenhagen, Denmark

As you heard on the podcast, Jason is rather rude about my choice of Baest, but gosh darn it, I'm sticking to it. Pizza is a simple meal that ranges from good to omgsogood, and that's what I enjoy about it. With five or six top notch ingredients, a well-made pizza can compete with more complex dishes any day of the week. Also, the cured meats and in-house made mozzarella with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt basically took me to another planet. Oh, and the dessert! Milk gelato with olive oil? I was in hygge heaven while dining at Baest. 

Geranium

Background:
Scallionpancake has been extremely fortunate to go to five of the top restaurants in the world this year. Geranium makes the list at number #19 under the creative talents of Head Chef Rasmus Kofoed. Kofoed opened up Geranium in 2007 after working at a fancy hotel in Copenhagen, and it quickly climbed the ranks of all of the "best" lists; it's the only restaurant in Copenhagen to have three Michelin stars (yes—it's hard to believe, but Noma only had two before it closed for renovations!). Fun fact about Kofoed, according to the Top 50 list, "Kofoed is the only chef to have ever won bronze, silver and gold at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or cooking competition in France." Impressive!

Round of applause for Kofoed

Eat This:
You only have one choice here, and that's the Universe tasting menu. This is a three hour experience, so buckle up ladies and gentlemen, and get ready for the ride.

Danish Lobster covered with milk, carrot juice, and sea buckthorn oil

And we're off! The signature first dish is lobster. This was almost like a gelatin, with the buttery lobster contrasting with the cool, earthy carrot. We also loved the presentation with multiple dishes on top of each other.

Jerusalem Artichoke Leaves, Hazelnut Oil, and Rye Vinegar

Dip the artichoke leaves in the hazelnut oil and rye vinegar mayonnaise.

Razor Clams with Minerals & Sour Cream

The signature dish of Geranium. The rumor is this took Rasmus over six years to perfect. In his book, One Day at Geranium Restaurant (which we absolutely purchased), Rasmus calls this the, "perfect abstract illusion of a razor clam shell." The shell is edible and painted with algae and charcoal to make it look like an actual razor clam shell. In the middle is a creamy razor clam tartar made with sour cream.

Tomato Water, Ham Fat, & Aromatic Herbs

We love eating flowers with our tomato soup. We also love ham, and we especially love fat. Mix them all together and you've got a Scallionpancake trifecta. The sourness of the tomatoes and the warm, saltiness of the ham mixed great with the aromatic herbs.

"Dill Stones" Mackerel, Horseradish, & Frozen Juice from Cucumber & Dill

This was one of our favorites. The mackerel dill stones were plated on real sea stones, to blend in as if taken directly from the sea. Of course we love dips, and why not dip your mackerel dill stones in a frozen juice of cucumber & dill with a spicy horseradish cream?

Salted Hake, Parsley Stems, & Finnish Caviar in Buttermilk

Our favorite dish of the day. Cold flattened and salted hake covered in a warm buttermilk filled with Finnish caviar. Is there anything better in the world than warm caviar on a great fish? I don't think so.

Crispy Grains, Bread with Old Grains, & Gluten Free Bread with Seeds

We always love the bread course. This bread was okay, but nothing we really need to talk about.

Scallop in Juniper Aroma, Filippa Reduction, and Browned Butter

Scallops are hard to get rght. It's easy to overcook them, and then they taste like a chewy bar of soap. Also, a scallop should be on the larger size --if they are too small, you can't get the proper texture throughout the meat. Geranium's scallops were amazing. They were presented first in a bed of sea grass, as if they magically appeared from the sea for our pleasure. The scallops were then plated in a bowl in front of us, and then the waitress poured the Filippa reduction on top. The scallops had a great rich taste, and you could cut them with a butter knife.

Lemon Sole, Onion Herbs, "Vesterhavsost," and Pickled Pine

Let's take a journey to a Danish village, where we walk along the sea and pick flowers. We stumble upon a local fisherman who, as we walk past, catches a sole on his wooden fishing pole. He cleans the fish in front of us and serves it to us lightly cooked over an open fire mixed with the flowers we had picked up along the way. You get it?

Tartlet with Fjord Shrimp, Sol, & Pickled Elderflower

Are you sensing a pattern here? Almost every dish had some sort of flower on it. The Danes love flowers on their food --it provides a pop of color and flavor to the dishes. Plus everyone knows the saying, "When you eat shrimp, you should stop and smell the roses."

Cabbage Sprouts, Chicken, & Hay Beer

A big theme in all the restaurants we ate at in Copenhagen was the lack of meat. This was the only non-seafood meat on the menu, and it was not the focal point of the dish. The Danes love thier greens and seafood! What we liked about this were the sprouts, which added a nice little crunch to the chicken.

A Bite of Beetroot, Blackcurrant, Yogurt, & Tagetes

Like a kiss at the end of the rainbow, more precious than a heart of gold. You know what I mean.

Ice Cream from Beeswax & Pollen with Intense Rhubarb

The winner of winners when it comes to dessert. This ice cream tasted as if a million bees flew to you, spelled out your name in the air, and then presented you with their finest beeswax in the form of ice cream. It was so creamy and had the subtle flavors of beeswax and honey.

Sweets:

Carrot Tree, Cake with Pumpkin Seed Oil, Caramel with Cloudberry and Chantrelle, Chocolate with Oaks and Sea Buckthorn, Marshmallow with Rose Hip, & Green Egg with Pine

Yvonne calls this the fireworks grand finale, where they bring out an onslaught of desserts all at once and then you get to go to town like it's your birthday (and we're going to party like it's your birthday). We were instructed to eat them in any order, except the green egg had to be eaten last, because it had a strong flavor. Our favorites were the marshmallows with rose hips and the cake with pumpkin seed oil.

Drink:
Geranium makes all of their drinks right in front of you. They are known for their gin and tonic, but we didn't try that (we were still in our non-drinking during lunch phase--lame). We ordered tea during the savory dishes, and coffee with dessert. For the tea, they roll out a cart with roots and herbs growing from pots. The waitress then asks what types of herbs you like, and then proceeds to pick them from the pots and make your tea. The coffee is presented in a similar way, with the waitress boiling the water and pressing the coffee right in front of you.

Picking the herbs for our tea

A coffee lover's pour over dream

Atmosphere:
The atmosphere at Geranium can best be described as friendly, yet sterile. Everything about the restaurant was clean and perfect, almost too perfect You didn't feel like you could make sarcastic jokes with the wait staff--but you know we tried to anyway. The restaurant is located on the top floor of the national soccer stadium, which provides great views of all of Copenhagen. You can even see Sweden from across the water on a clear day. The whole staff was very international, our waitresses were from Australia and Martinique, and the chef who took us of a tour of the restaurant, was from Sweden. It felt very cosmopolitan, and you could tell that there was a lot of room for collaboration and creativity in the kitchen.

The kitchen overlooks the stadium-- pretty cool on match day!

Danish Hospitality:
The service here was just as exceptional as you would expect at a fancy-shmancy place like this. What was unique, was that after the savory dishes, one of the chefs gave every guest a tour of the entire restaurant, from the test kitchen to the fermenting room. We even got to see Head Chef Kofoed, who touched me on the shoulder. I havent washed my shoulder since.

The front desk, sponsored by Apple

Frankie's Notes:
Frankie also has not washed since we were in Copenhagen; It's nice to have the option to play a soccer game and then go have a three Michelin star meal, all in one block; If Frankie could have tea with anyone in history, he would pick Lassie, and then punch him in the face after; We like to be able to banter with our waiters and make them feel uncomfortable; We have started putting flowers on all of our canned tuna now that we are back in the U.S.

Rating:

5 out of 5 with 2 Michigan Pugs