When I started my blog back in 2010, I began making a list of any food item I’d declared, “My favorite ever!” Now that I live in NYC, some of these declarations (best burger! best pizza!) feel a little controversial.
After living in New York City for a year and a half, I just updated the list with all my new favorites, but it’s still so fun to look back on foods I added way back in the beginning. Since I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona, many of those favorites still stand. The English muffins from La Grande Orange will never be topped! After living in Houston, Texas for a year after college, I still crave the queso from Torchy’s Tacos. My Minnesota favorites come from spending time at the lake with my mom’s side of the family every summer since I was little. Everywhere I go, I like to collect new favorites to add to the list!
Last updated: January 2019
Almond Croissant: Common Bond, Houston, TX
Bagel: Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee, Chelsea, NYC
Banana Bread: Order from The Hungry Gnome, NYC
BLT: Maple Beach Resort & Grill, Pelican Rapids, MN
Black and White Cookie: Empire Cakes, Chelsea, NYC
Blueberry Scones: Empire Cakes, Chelsea, NYC
Bruschetta: Postino Wine Café, Phoenix, AZ
Burger: Emily, West Village, NYC
Caramel Rolls: Nootzi’s Café, Dent, MN
Carbonara Pasta: Barbuto, New York, NY
Cheese Biscuits: Jim ’N Nick’s Community BBQ, Birmingham, AL
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Levain Bakery, Upper West Side, NYC
Churros: Churrería el Moro, Mexico City
Queso with Green Chiles: Torchy’s Tacos, Houston, TX
Queso with Chorizo: Bakersfield, Indianapolis, IN
Crepes: Cibo Urban Wine Café and Pizzeria, Phoenix, AZ
Cuban Sandwich: Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, FL
Detroit-Style Pizza: The Colony Pizza at Emily, NYC
Dim Sum: Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown, NYC
English Muffins: La Grand Orange Grocery, Phoenix, AZ
Fried Green Tomatoes: Eli’s Table, Charleston, SC
Gluten-Free Cookies: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie, Fair Trade Café, Phoenix, AZ
Gnocchi: Barbuto, New York, NY
Hummus and Pita Bread: True Food Kitchen, Phoenix, AZ
Ice Cream: Honeycomb and Pistachio Flavors at Van Leeuwen, NYC
Kale Salad: Barbuto, NYC
Nachos: The Macho Nachos, Zorbaz on the Lake, MN
Pimento Cheese: Husk Bar, Charleston, SC
Ramen: Ippudo, NYC
Scrambled Eggs: The steamed eggs at Buvette, West Village, NY
Soup Dumplings: Joe’s Shanghai, NYC
Sweet Corn: Johnson Family Farm, Pelican Rapids, MN
Tacos: Los Tacos No. 1, NYC
Turkey Sandwich: The Shaved Turkey on Warm Pita, True Food Kitchen, Phoenix, AZ
Waffles: Matt’s Big Breakfast, Phoenix, AZ
This list is always growing, changing and evolving, but I want to know – what do you think? Have I nailed it on the head (the Levain cookies!!) or am I missing out on something I need to try ASAP? I seriously want to hear! Send me a DM on Instagram (@gourmet_gab) or email me at gab@thegourmetgab.com. I’m happy to take one for the team and try something new to see if it deserves a spot on the list 😉
Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela
So... what do you think?