Categories
Best Bites

Recap: 30 More Best Bites of 2014

For the third year in a row, I’ve spent all December celebrating the rest of my favorite bites and sips from the past year. These are all dishes from 2014 that I didn’t have a chance to cover as Best Bites when I originally enjoyed them. You can check out all 30 below, listed in chronological order.

Chocolate with olive oil, sea salt, and toast
Chocolate with olive oil, sea salt, and toast

Iced mélange
Iced mélange

Paratha tacos
Paratha tacos

Banana biscoff pocket and coffee
Banana biscoff pocket and coffee

Savory almond crepe
Savory almond crepe

Grilled cheese flight
Grilled cheese flight

Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream
Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream

Mapo tofu
Mapo tofu

Spring vegetable orecchetti
Spring vegetable orecchetti

Fried chicken and waffles
Fried chicken and waffles

Goat cheese and fig jam crostini
Goat cheese and fig jam crostini

Smoked salmon bagel plate
Smoked salmon bagel plate

Potato pancakes
Potato pancakes

Salted caramel pretzel shake
Salted caramel pretzel shake

Breadsticks and goat cheese
Breadsticks and goat cheese

Elotes
Elotes

Bone marrow
Bone marrow

Portobello & avocado tempura
Portobello & avocado tempura

Passionfruit beermosa
Passionfruit beermosa

Tagliolini nero
Tagliolini nero

Red chile enchiladas
Red chile enchiladas

BBQ jerk chicken with mac & cheese
BBQ jerk chicken with mac & cheese

No. 21 juice
No. 21 juice

Skate wing
Skate wing

Southern Tier Crème Brûlée imperial stout
Southern Tier Crème Brûlée imperial stout

Turkey pot pie poutine
Turkey pot pie poutine

BBQ brisket bibimbap
BBQ brisket bibimbap

The Gobbler burger
The Gobbler burger

The Grill Club
The Grill Club
Fried brussels sprouts
Fried brussels sprouts

Here’s to another great year of eating and drinking!

As always, thanks for reading – see you in 2015!

Categories
Best Bites

Recap: 30 More Best Bites of 2013

For the second year in a row, I’ve spent all December celebrating the rest of my favorite bites and sips from 2013. These are all dishes that I didn’t have a chance to cover as Best Bites when I originally enjoyed them. You can check out the full list of 30 below in chronological order.

View the full 2012 list here.

Choco Taco sundae
Choco Taco sundae

English breakfast
English breakfast

Peanut butter-bacon pancakes
Pancakes

Pan pizza
Pan pizza

Goat cheese chilaquiles
Goat cheese chilaquiles

PB&J ice pop
PB&J ice pop

Hush puppies and shrimp toast
Hush puppies & shrimp toast

Basil + Cream + Roasted Strawberries
Basil + Cream + Roasted Strawberries

Soft-boiled egg biscuit sandwich
Soft-boiled egg biscuit sandwich

Risotto al forno
Risotto al forno

Brioche french toast
Brioche french toast

Black Cat milkshake
Black Cat milkshake

Roasted corn fundido
Roasted corn fundido

Fried green tomato benedict
Fried green tomato benedict

Hawaiian pizza
Hawaiian pizza

Half and half sandwich
Half & half sandwich

Brown butter & blueberry pie
Brown butter & blueberry pie

Bourbon Bloody Mary
Bourbon Bloody Mary

Sandwich trio
Sandwich trio

Breakfast sandwich
Breakfast sandwich

Birthday cake doughnut
Birthday cake doughnut

Fried sweetbreads
Fried sweetbreads

Ham biscuit sandwich
Ham biscuit sandwich

Beignets
Beignets

Marshmallow latte
Marshmallow latte

Bacon parfait
Bacon parfait

Pumpkin stout
Pumpkin stout

Soft-serve gelato
Soft-serve gelato

Fried chicken & sides
Fried chicken & sides

Elk sausage & duck-fat fries
Elk sausage & duck-fat fries

Here’s to another great year of eating and drinking! See you in 2014!

Categories
Best Bites

Recap: 30 Best Bites of 2012

All month long, I’ve been celebrating my best bites (and sips) of 2012. The full list of 30 appears below in chronological order – click the name of the dish to view its full post.

Roasted brussels sprouts
Roasted brussels sprouts

Hummingbird cake
Hummingbird cake

Peanut butter cookie dough vegan shake
Vegan shake

German chocolate pancakes
Pancakes

Paris benedict
Paris benedict

Chorizo-stuffed dates
Chorizo-stuffed dates

Red velvet cake
Red velvet cake

Ricotta and honeycomb
Ricotta and honeycomb

Ceviche
Ceviche

Garlic bread
Garlic bread

Mozzarella sticks
Mozzarella sticks

Baby octopus gyro
Baby octopus gyro

Kentucky-fried quail
Kentucky-fried quail

Chicken tacos
Chicken tacos

Smokey violet smash
Smokey violet smash

Ensalada Azteca
Ensalada Azteca

Fried bologna sandwich
Fried bologna sandwich

Summer crostini
Summer crostini

Mason jar cocktails
Mason jar cocktails

Jersey Shore pizza
Jersey Shore pizza

Ice cream sandwich
Ice cream sandwich

2x fried chicken
2x fried chicken

Breakfast burrito plate
Breakfast burrito plate

Spicy cheese bread
Spicy cheese bread

Sauerkraut bagel
Sauerkraut bagel

Pumpkin french toast
Pumpkin french toast

Popcorn cookies
Popcorn cookies

Aztec hot chocolate and churro
Hot chocolate and churro

Tea-smoked duck breast with steamed buns
Tea-smoked duck breast

Bagel sandwich
Bagel sandwich

 

Here’s to a great year of eating and drinking! Check back later this week for a look at what’s to come for hillaryproctor.com in 2013. Thanks for reading!

What were your favorite bites in 2012? Leave a note in the comments!

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2012 Best Bite #1: Roasted brussels sprouts & cauliflower, Francesca’s Forno

Each day in December, I’m celebrating my best bites (and sips) in 2012, posted in chronological order.

Roasted brussels sprouts & cauliflower

Why it’s a Best Bite: I got to share this large appetizer with a dear friend last New Year’s Eve. It won me over immediately with a generously caramelized blend of brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and onion. The dish struck just the right balance of salty, crispy, and cheesy goodness, with added depth from capers, lemon, and, of course, bacon. Rich and a little messy, it was the right way to start off a celebratory evening.

The details: Francesca’s Forno, 1576 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.