Food

Best Dishes of 2022

Here it is, my best dishes list of 2022. This year fish and vegetable dishes scored high along with Eastern Mediterranean cuisine which continues to grow in popularity, taking its place alongside the always popular Italian and Asian food in Miami’s restaurant scene. Most of the dishes are from Miami restaurants, but some you’ll see were from my travels in “foodie” destinations. Not surprisingly, all of the dishes are from many of my favorite restaurants. There’s a link in red after the restaurant name where it has been reviewed. I didn’t mention prime steaks as there were so many great ones, it was too tough to choose. (In case you missed my post on the best steakhouses in Miami and the Beach, click here). Coming up next, best desserts.

Corn crusted Chilean seabass. The fish was moist and flaky, complemented by its tasty, crunchy top, an unusual preparation. It rested on butter spinach in a light lemon broth. Aida Mexican Seafood restaurant.

Navarin of lamb with spring vegetables, different and delicious. Piaf restaurant, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Pork Belly on a skewer surrounded by maple cotton candy. This novel tapa cleverly combined the salty and the sweet – tender pieces of pork belly enveloped in freshly made cotton candy. The creation was by Ben Schrank, a private chef on the Intueat online platform of private chefs. A New Source for Private Chefs in Miami

Cacio e pepe croquetas. A new twist on croquetas, these appeared on the year end happy hour menu. Planta South Beach.

Patatas bravas. Best ever, the potatoes are crispy yet melt in your mouth. The house brava sauce is topped with garlic foam making for creamy goodness. Jatto. Jatto, a New Star in Wynwood

Black cod. The freshest of fish lightly bathed in a Lebanese sauce of tahini, cilantro, pine nuts and lemon, my go to dish on the menu. Amal. Amal Miami, a Standout

Yellowfin tuna appetizer. Handsomely presented in a large silver sea urchin-shaped bowl, it looked like an offering to the gods. The pieces of very fresh yellowfin tuna were seasoned with pine nuts, lemon, calabrian chili, and mint, with a large dollop of caviar. Fiola. Fiola Miami, a Place to Celebrate

Kinoko trumpet mushroom nigiri. Kinoko is sliced, scored and compressed in brown butter. It is then seared in a pan and topped with tamari and sea salt and served over sushi rice. It melts in your mouth and tastes like eating butter. Uchi Miami

King flounder from Tokyo made in the Josper Oven. Leku. Leku, a Rave Review

Fried brussels sprouts. Brussel sprouts seem to be on every menu of fine dining restaurants these days, but all take a back seat to this version that’s flash fried, lightly covered in agave syrup and seasoned with red pepper flakes. Swifty’s at The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach.

Croissant, creamery butter and caviar. It was all about the finest of ingredients – flaky croissant, the finest cultured butter and caviar from Petrossian, totally decadent. COTE Miami. COTE Miami, Exceptional in Every Way

Stuffed green melon. A dish dating back to the Ottoman empire, created for Suleyman the Magnificent, the ripe green melon is stuffed with chopped meat, currants, almonds and rice, thyme, rosemary, pistachios and spices. The flesh is made into a melon juice, served as part of the dish. Deriyali, Istanbul.

Churrasco skirt steak. Papaya marinade is one of the secrets of this standout steak, made with papaya seeds, flesh of papaya, olive oil, paprika, and garlic. The papaya has special enzymes that tenderize the meat called papain, which is then marinated overnight . It was served with perfectly cooked broccolini, basil chimichurri and papaya salad ($36). Another top dish there are the tuna tacos, high grade tuna tartare with avocado mousse and caviar. Bayshore Club. Bayshore Club, my new “go to” place

Roasted lamb. There’s something magical about roast lamb in the Mediterranean, cooked on a wood fire oven resulting in oh so tender meat and super crispy skin and served with roast potatoes or grilled vegetables. Find it at any number of restaurants in Spain, Turkey and Greece. Here, the lamb from To Antikristo, Crete.