happy new year!

derek suggested that i do an end-of-the-year post, highlighting our favorite restaurants of 2009 and restaurants we want to try in 2010. looking back at my 2009 entries, i've realized that sometimes my little snapshots don't give the full picture of a place. for example, sometimes we love a restaurant at first, but subsequent visits prove that the menu doesn't always have winning dishes. other times, my blackberry photo makes the food look completely unappetizing. but i'm glad i started this blog, despite all the comments and stares i get for taking pictures of my food ("did she just take a picture of her sandwich?"). i've had a lot of fun sharing my food experiences with my friends, family, and the random strangers who stumble onto this site. hope you've had fun reading.

top 5 restaurants of 2009:

5. casellula the creative cheese plate, the pig's ass sandwich, the chocolate cake covered with cream are all good enough reasons to include this restaurant on the top 5 list. but it's best feature is that we can always drag our friends out of their comfortable midtown west apartments by saying these magic words: "casellula tonight?"

4. irving mill was a little slice of the pacific northwest here in new york, with an extensive beer selection including local microbrews, fantastic shack-like burgers, and a cozy atmosphere. unfortunately, it succumbed to the economy and will close this month. farewell, irving mill, you will be missed.

3. ramen setagaya has turned out to be one of our favorite places to eat. not only is the ramen top-notch and cheap, but the casual atmosphere and the fact that we're always seated immediately has turned derek and myself into regulars.

2. a voce in madison park has delicious pastas with fresh-from-the-farm ingredients, excellent service from a cheerful and enthusiastic waitstaff, and the best dessert in the city - warm bomboloni doughnuts with a liquory vanilla cream filling, served with a melted chocolate dipping sauce.

1. shake shack. of course shake shack is going to top any list of our favorites - the shack burger is heaven on a bun. i hope that as the shack outposts start opening up throughout the city (midtown, soho), the line at the madison park original will become more manageable.

5 restaurants to try in 2010:

1. marea has gotten a lot of raves this year, so i would love to try it (assuming we can get reservations).

2. ma peche aka "momofuku midtown" is set to open sometime in early 2010.

3. blue hill because if it's good enough for the obamas ...

4. super taste was mentioned in new york magazine as having good spicy beef noodle soup with hand-pulled noodles, which derek has been craving since his beijing days.

5. doughnut plant - okay, technically, i've already been here. but well ... i didn't get a good enough picture of the delicious chocolate doughnut ... so i have to go back.