top eats of 2014

as 2015 has taken its baby steps into the year, a hopeful foodie anticipates 365 days of new possibilities of creative flavors on a plate. a tradition that i've started since 2012, the year just doesn't feel complete without me reflecting on the top eats that left its lasting delicious impression in the year twenty fourteen. 

i think i may have counted six. you know the drill - the list is in no particular order:

one :: les deux garcon's salted caramel macaron

it isn't a secret that i am crazy for the fusion of sweet - salty. definitely a match made in heaven.

les deux garcon's salted caramel is the epitome of the greatness when it is done right. the sweetness of the caramel dominates but the salt is the ideal partner to accentuate and cut through the richness of the caramel. perfection in many ways - the texture of the shells are light and airy within the thin, crispy exterior that shatters at the lightest of bites. the creamy and rich rounded sweetness of the light filling begins with a familiar sweetness to end slightly with a mild saltiness at the back of the tongue. this delicate macaron has captured my heart and has taken one of the spots for "the best desserts i've ever had"

two :: uncle chiam's banana fritters & kuih bakul

between uncle chiam's two signature fried fritters - pisang goreng or the kuih bakul, which are both the definition of deliciousness in their own right. since i couldn't quite choose between the two, they both were deserving to make it to the list. both had a satisfying texture and a lovely balance of sweetness. the fried banana fritters are akin to caramelized sweet bananas, soft and sweet encased in the light batter while the kuih bakul achieved a balance between the layers that offered sweet, starchy and satisfying bitefuls. simplicity done right and  #soworththecalories 

three :: standing theory's bbc waffles

another examplary display of sweet & savory combination. (told you i am such a sucker for sweet-savory)

bacon, banana, cornflakes ice cream resting atop of waffles with a drizzle of palm sugar syrup. combine them all and you get love in one bite - the warm, cold, savory, sweet, crispy, soft, creamy, and rich all resulting to a satisfying comfort. it was so good that this single dish deserved its own entry. need to return for seconds!

four :: hk's tim ho wan's siu mai dumplings & bbq pork rice noodle rolls

an entry i can't wait to share about one of my most favorite food encounters i had in my recent trip to hong kong. i've been told that dim sum is tasty in hong kong and it was proven with this addition to the top eats list. siu mai. four freshly steamed morsels of meat goodness in a bomboo steamer, the skin of the dumplings were thin and light, wrapping the moist pork and inside, a whole fresh and sweet shrimp that mingled strongly with the flavors of umami. the first bite brought a smile to my face. 

yet another double entry from a single restaurant, the bbq pork rice noodles roll deserved to be part of the list. smooth broad rice noodles rolled to envelop the savory, moist and slightly sweetened bbq pork, accentuated by the sweet soy sauce where the ratio of the ingredients was balanced exquisitely to arrive to the flavors of savory with a light sweetness. 

five :: cameron highland's smokehouse restaurant's scone

this scone was like no other. imitation is the best form of flattery and i have tried making scones from scratch using different recipes but they paled in comparison. its texture was what i'd think the scone creators would have had intended this english classic to be. soft yet crumbly, which is similar to the texture of pie crust and biscuit combined in one - dense and slightly dry where the clotted cream and fresh strawberry jam make lovely pairings. those and of course, a cup of freshly brewed tea.

six :: the kitchen table restaurant's soft egg, streaky bacon, tomato jam, watercress & sourdough

farm-to-table concept, all the ingredients were made from scratch, including the tomato jam and the sourdough bread. the golden richness of the poached egg trickles down the bacon to meld with the tomato jam slathered on the slightly tart and crispy sourdough bread to highlight the savory smoky thick cut bacon. the watercress dressed in lemony vinaigrette lends a lighter note to complete the dish.


and there you have it :: the six eight dishes that topped my tasted, eaten & loved list of 2014. despite that, there is still some dishes that earned a quick mention but didn't quite made it to the list. call it the 'bib gourmand' of the list, if you will :p

 moccacino | azzuro italian cafe :: mocha with the foundation of illy coffee beans 

and varlhona chocolate.

shredded pork & century egg congee | hk's wong chi kei restaurant :: 

the century egg was of high quality and the congee was particularly smooth

milky cube | milk cow :: creamy, smooth lightly sweetened soft serve ice cream 

with natural honeycomb

there you go, go forth and eat away or maybe try some of these items from my list of favorites. if you've found something new that i have yet to try, i would love it if you could share it with me as always :)

entries about hong kong and some new food excursions to be written soon!

disclaimer this is written based on my personal experience and opinion. experiences and taste buds may vary for others.