Top 7 Dishes of 2021 by Chef Jorge Montes
2021 was a beautiful year in my life in many ways, it was the year I got married to my wonderful and beautiful wife, I opened Sazoned and have begun a new career path in my culinary adventures as a Chef “influencer” working with different brands and companies.
It was a year where the world opened up a bit more and gave us a chance to somewhat begin a new kind of normal; it was a year where I was able to travel to several states and had the opportunity to eat some delicious food along the way - Bison Burgers and Rattlesnake Sausage in Colorado, Wine Tasting and Fresh Oysters in the Hamptons, Craft Beer and Tasty Bites in North Carolina, Southern Grub in Georgia, Hot Chicken in Nashville, and of course back at home in South Florida where I always have the pleasure of munching on many of the local fare in the tri county area.
Like I said it was a beautiful year, a year of new beginnings, of creating a family and home, of self care and soul searching. It was a tough job trying to figure out my favorite dishes of 2021 but without further a due, here they are…
#1 - FOIE GRAS PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY - MIA Kitchen & Bar, Delray Beach FL
I’m not a PB&J kid by any means but this dish has the nostalgia of PB&J paired with the rich, decadence of seared Foie Gras. The peanut sauce is silky and light and the port jelly has a perfect touch of acidity without the overpowering sweetness.
Pro Tip: Get it with the marshmallow fluff for the full sweet savory taste combo.
#2 - Smoked Beef SHORT RIB - Fox Bros BBQ, Atlanta GA
Fox Bros serves up authentic Texas BBQ with locations all over the South East. Everything smoked here is amazing but this dish was my fave. It’s a rib-on short rib that has been smoked for over 30 hours, it’s the size of my face, even Guy Fieri approves.
#3 - L’ŒUF DE POULE - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Miami FL
Although this list is written in no particular, this Dish wins My Favorite Bite of 2021. This is what fine dinning is all about, simple done right with a few touches of luxury and richness.
L’ŒUF DE POULE = French for amazing but literally it’s an Organic Crispy Poached Egg (two words I love together in a dish, Crispy + Poached) wrapped in a thin shoestring potato tumbleweed, nested atop a classic Beurre Blanc sauce meticulously garnished with smoked salmon diamonds and chive oil, and then elegantly topped with a nice dollop of Imperial Caviar. It’s a pricey item but it is so worth every penny that you’ll consider ordering a second one immediately.
#4 - Smoked Trout Toast - Henrietta Red, Nashville TN
Next time you’re in Nashville for a bachelorette or exploring the fun music town, take a small detour down to Germantown where you’ll find one of the best restaurants I experienced this year, Henrietta Red. Definitely come here for the Fresh Oysters and ambiance and explore all of their wonderful menu items, but a must item is the the Trout Toast. It is an open-faced Tartine of delicious Sourbread with a Green Curry, then topped with Cold Smoked Local River Trout, Swiss Chard, Pickled Shallots, and Butternut Squash. The flavor com??
#5 - Omakase - Yellowtail Modern Asian Cuisine & Sushi, Delray Beach FL
When I heard Andrew Rothchild had a sushi place nearby my home, I was excited knowing that I would have a great meal but I was beyond impressed with the pristine quality of the seafood and elegant presentation. Get the Omakase - you wont be disappointed and then peruse the entire menu and order away.
#6 - Soup Dumplings - Shanghai Dumpling House, Asheville NC
Asheville is cool foodie town with lots of styles of cuisines and local breweries, there is so much to eat and sip - you may need to book a second trip. I ran into this amazing dumpling spot while walking the area and ordered one of my favorite dishes, Soup Dumplings. I swear I can eat at least a dozen of these plump morsels of joy. Traditional Shanghai-Style Dumplings with a flavorful broth and meaty pork filling instead, served with a Savory Dipping Sauce and Authentic Chilis for some extra heat. Order a few..at least a dozen.
#7 - Patate Fritte - Luca Osteria, Miami FL
Luca Osteria in Coral Gables is a where I had this delicious appetizer that is a cross of a Carbonara and Potato Croquettes. Tiny creamy Fried Potato Fritters covered with a luxurious Truffle Parmesan Cream sauce and topped with a Raw Egg Yolk. The dish is mixed tableside by the server to create an unctuous umami salty flavor that hits just right, pair with a glass of Rose or an Aperol spritz and dine al fresco for a flavorful and chill experience.
All in all 2021 was filled with some great flavors and personal milestones. Here’s to all the bites waiting in 2022!
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