Best meal and/or dish of 2009?

[Torolover]

2009 is almost history, so let's see what are the best dishes or meals everyone has had in 2009!

This year I had the Espalier tasting menu, Craigie tasting menu, Oleana tasting menu and more, but the most memorable and fantastic meal was..

The Brunch at Craigie on Main. I never thought simple pancakes, donuts, sausage, and the beef hash could be taken to such a high level. Perhaps it was the best meal because it went beyond my expectations, where the other tasting menu's were good as expected.

A close second is my first experience with the Truffle pizza and pasta at Gran Gusto. The truffle aroma hipnotized me like a drug!

[beetlebug]

Both at Scampo - the beef carpaccio with mozzarella, parsnip chips and smoked sea salt and the spaghetti with hot peppers and pork cracklins. I've had those dishes twice since the initial visit and I am just as enamored as I was with the first bit.

Full report here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/657794

[hyde]

though decidedly down market, im going to have to go with the two slices of pizza i got at stella's on mt auburn in watertown.
i was starving and went in on a whim after a session at the arax market. boom! was caught unawares and thrilled to find superior pie for short money, close by.
quickly claimed a slot in the rotation, ironed out the correct order, and have got the timing down cold. sweet.

[hiddenboston]

A similar question was posted here awhile ago, with my choice being the tortellini soup at Alia in Winthrop. For this thread, I'll post my favorite entree. Tough call, but believe it or not, I'm going to go with the flank steak burrito at Strip T's in Watertown. This dish (a special every now and then) completely bowled me over, with tender and slightly seared flank steak strips mixed with rice, beans, salsa, etc. I only wish they served it all the time.

[veggielover]

About two weeks ago, I had a fabulous braised veal breast at Erbaluce. The balance of flavors was great.

I have also loved the lamb schwarma each time at Sofra. The lamb almost tastes like a special brisket with nice combination of flavors with the vegetables.

[ginafly]

Dinner at TW Food in June. Swordfish for me, grass-fed beef for him. But the highlight was the pistachio ice cream. It was astounding.

Also had a great visit to Central Kitchen in May...squid ink paella...

Hungry Mother, although it's been disappointing as of late, did right by me all through last winter with their gnocchi, particularly on the visit where it was available with shaved truffles. Also, their beef tongue canape is not to be missed.

Drunkard's French Toast at my first visit to The Friendly Toast was quite memorable.

But sadly this year, most of my best experiences have been out of town--Quebec, NYC, and SFO.

[kobuta]

Wow, lots of good meals and hard to choose between my top three at the moment, but not all in the Boston area:

Craigie on Main - the hirmasa sashimi salad (with a lot of dishes running close 2nds)
Hugo's (Portland, ME) - need more thinking on this one
Fore Street (Portland, ME) - hands down, the mussels

Not sure I can narrow down to one dish, or even one meal. If I could take pieces of the meals at all 3 restaurants, I may be able to create the most fabulous meal EVER.

Oh and a very honorable mention to the drinks at Craigie. I wish I could say they set a standard (which they did) but sadly most restaurants don't even try to meet that standard, since restaurants pretty much ignore customers who don't imbibe alcohol.

[pollystyrene]

The spinach gnudi at Il Casale. The other dishes I had there were okay, but those fresh spinach balls encased in delicious cheese in a refreshing chunky tomato sauce were memorable. I wish I could eat them every night.

[kimfair1]

The single best thing I first ate in 2009 were the Crispy Fried Pig Tails at Craigie on Main at the bar. Pair that with one of Boston's best cocktails made by one of Boston's best bartenders, Tom. These tails are just unbelievable.

The brunch at Craigie (man that hash is sooooo good!) was a great meal, as well as at least two chef's tastings at Hugo's in Portland ME (if you haven't been there yet, go and get the blind tasting), but my most memorable meals took place in a five day stretch in New Orleans, search my name on the NOLA board for a long trip report. John Besh's Luke, and Resturant August and Herbsaint were the highlights.

[owen_meany]

The best meal I had this year was at Anneke Jans in Kittery Maine. From the sidecar cocktail, through the mussels, and into the caramel tart, the meal was perfectly delicious. My husband and I were staying in the area at the time but plan to drive there on some Saturday night this winter to recreate the experience.

The best meal I had locally was this fall at Erbaluce. It wasn't a complete home run but it was very close. The thing that stands out for me was that it was a very special meal but that reflects the way I try to eat normally but on a lesser scale -- very fresh, very herby, not butter/cream based.

Sara

[Bob Dobalina]

Really like the mention of your "down-market" items - it's hard for me to remember some of the higher end things I've had vs. the everyday stuff that I love, such as steak tacos from Tacos Lupita, which send me.

Couple of single dish highlights for the year:

Scallops roasted with brussels sprouts and husk cherries at Oleana - a special which was very.

The Gran Gusto pizza with the sausage

[BobB]

House-made lamb bacon at Troquet. It was only one element of a more complex dish, but was so stunningly good that it's the only part I can remember.

#2 would have to be the tuna tartare with black sesame seeds and wasabi tobiko at the Saltwater Grill in Orleans last summer. The rest of their menu is so-so, but that tartare was amazing.

[nsenada]

What were the Craigie donuts like? .