Dec 30 2011
Our Top 50 Bites of 2011: 21-25
#25 Connecticut-Style Lobster Roll from the Red Hook Lobster Truck (@LobsterTruckNY)
Before the Midtown East food truck crackdown, @MartinWalkerUK and I would meet up for lunch and check out different food trucks in the area. Our best bite was from the Red Hook Lobster Truck. May have something to do with the massive chunks of succulent, buttery lobster. Gets me every time. I’d rather pay $16 for a lobster roll that is stuffed full of lobster than $10 for one that skimps.

#24 Imperialist Hot Dog at Social Eatz
The Bulgogi Burger is what grabbed media attention this year for Social Eatz. But on a visit back in June with @MartinWalkerUK and our friend Kristi, it was their Imperialist Hot Dog (organic chicken served on a toasty bun smothered in sweet and spicy relish) that won us over. So much so that we ordered 2 of ‘em. Here, Martin wants you to take a look.

#23 Little Oyster Sandwiches at The Dutch
With how trendy The Dutch is, one may be surprised by how great the food is….but that’s what we’ve come to expect from chef and owner Andrew Carmellini. Last year, our list of best bites would have included the lamb meatball sliders at Locanda Verde. This year our fave snack of the summer was these little bad boys — fried crispy oyster served on a soft bun with a bit of iceberg lettuce and a smear of pickled okra mayo.

#22 Lamb Hock at Roka (Oia, Santorini)
If you can’t already tell, we had some amazing meals on our trip to Athens, Santorini and Mykonos back in June. One of the standouts was this little, cozy off-the-beaten-path taverna in Oia (thanks David Flaherty of Grapes & Grains for the recommendation). Everything we tried at Roka was incredible, but it was the Lamb Hock in mustard sauce that I was thinking about for days.

#21 Stuffed Bone Marrow at Bibou [BYOB] in Philadelphia
This was one of our top overall meals of 2011. A cozy French bistro that allows you to bring in your own bottles of wine. We took advantage of the opportunity and brought with us a bottle of 1975 Chateau Latour that drank beautifully. Jill ordered the Stuffed Bone Marrow and to this day calls it “the best bone marrow dish she’s had in her life.” And apparently she is not alone. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has also made a similar claim. Presented on the half bone with the marrow melting into the crispy stuffing and with a simple potato and green salad side, this dish is heaven on earth. We were celebrating my birthday and not taking pictures that evening, and this pic below comes from SeriousEats, specifically Liz Bomze. Check out her article on Bibou here.



















It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is just a week away. We spend the holiday each year here in the city with our families. There are tons of restaurants that offer great meals on Turkey Day. In the past, we’ve had terrific Thanksgiving dinners at places like Dylan Prime, Primehouse NY, Atlantic Grill and Blue Water Grill. Here’s a list we’ve compiled of our top recommendations for spending Thanksgiving dinner in the city, with options around town arranged by price-point (less than $50; $50-74; $75-100 & $100+). We’ve included links to Thanksgiving menus as available. Oh, and be sure to check back — we’re adding more restaurants and Thanksgiving menu details on a daily basis! p.s. for those entertaining at home, we also feature some special take-out options at the end of the list. Where are we heading for Thanksgiving dinner this year, you ask?
Batali. Silverton. Vetri. White. Oh My. The crème de la crème of Italian chefs are joining together tonight for one helluva James Beard Gala & Auction. Now that’s Italian! is a celebration of the unique contributions of American chefs to Italian cuisine and vice versa. There will be a reception featuring the exec chefs from A Voce, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, Nick & Toni’s, Salumeria Rosi, SD26, and Sullivan St Bakery set in a recreation of an Italian piazza marketplace. The evening will also include silent and live auctions of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The Pièce de résistance is the gala dinner featuring powerhouse James Beard Award–winning chefs Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton, Marc Vetri, and Michael White. We’re talking truffles, pasta, lamb, prosciutto and more. Check out the auction items and get your bids in 
![DUCKDUP_POSTCARD (1)[1]](http://www.winedanddined.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DUCKDUP_POSTCARD-11.jpg)

