Top Five Of 2008

I don't have to utter a word - my backside, and cheeks tell the tale of an absolute wonderful year of eating in 2008. But as it drew to a close, I started reminiscing about some of the great food I'd had, and my thoughts turned to topping those experiences in 2009.

That led me to challenge myself to choose my five top dishes eaten - something that's almost unthinkable, as I've eaten many fabulous meals. I also decided that I would choose my five top restaurants eaten at in O08. I thought this would be a breeze, because I'd had so many great meals, and been to so many great places, but that was where my dilemma began, but I challenged myself, and I had to do it.

So I settled on my five top restaurants first, and hands down, they were - in no particular order Matisse, and then I was stumped. What would be my fifth? So many choices!

A number of people think that I'm an elitist diner, but I don't think that's necessarily so, because you can dine at any of these restaurants, and have a great meal, that's not too taxing on your pocket if you choose wisely, so as I gave serious thought to which restaurant would factor into the top five, I settled on a little family operation - which doesn't have a culinary-school trained chef in its kitchen, and decided that Alexandra Lynch's August Moon Cafe, the little restaurant in the plaza just outside the Lyford Cay gates definitely had to be in there.

So there's my top five restaurants of 2008 - Shogun Revolver, Cafe Martinique, Provence, Cafe Matisse and August Moon Cafe. I settled on these five because every meal I've eaten at these establishments has been incredible, and I've never once been disappointed.

Then came the tough task, of naming my five top dishes of the many dishes I'd consumed. In choosing the top five, I relied on memory, and settled on dishes which instantly came to the forefront, and made me drool at thinking about eating them again.

The Ossocuco alla Milanes (slow braised veal shank, served with saffron risotto) experience at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa's Cassanova restaurant, was one of them. Although the resort, itself did not make my top five restaurant list, I can still remember telling myself after eating a meal there that if I had died the next day and gone to heaven I would have left this earth a happy woman.

I recall a perfectly cooked veal shank, cooked until the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, loaded with flavor, with the bone marrow delicacy sitting inside the bone waiting for me to scoop it out. Yep, that's one of the top five.

Now, of all the meals I've had at Shogun Revolver, I was hard-pressed to choose just one from this man who is an absolute genius with food, and takes you on an Asian culinary voyage of enticing taste sensations, textures and aromas - so much so that eating there is almost an orgasmic experience.

Thinking back, and pulling out my hair in the process, I remembered my first taste of his Bonito Panko-crusted Spider Crab Cake atop a bed of edamame mash... that was delicious, but nah, I think I'll select the '2-mile' Wahoo Tataki with Sasabi Sauce, Sunny-side up quail egg, chives and crispy shallots. Nah... maybe it was the time, when I had the best pad thai of my life with rice sticks with prawn, chicken, chili, peanut, shallot coriander and wood ear mushrooms in sweet and sour tamarind coconut sauce - sans peanuts. Delicious, but that wasn't it either, and then I knew what to choose, and it was the Black Cod Alaskan Sablefish with Saikyo Miso, Maple Glaze. Now that was definitely a dish to 'die for'. Silky and luscious, it makes my tastebuds salivate just thinking about it. So that's dish number three. Actually, I have to include the foie gras that I had there too at a wine tasting. Delicate and delicious, it almost brought me to tears as I savored it. So I'm giving Shogun Revolver, two of my top five dishes for 2008.

With three down, I had to choose long and hard, about the final two. But guess what, Cafe Martinique had to be in there, and of course it was another foie gras dish. I guess I just love foie gras, but their Sauteed Foie Gras with Ginger Mango, which is served as an appetizer is a must do, and a dish I order whenever I go there. Talk about savoring the moment, I prolong finishing the dish by taking small bites, just to enjoy it all.

Okay, I'm going to relent, and give the fifth nod to Cafe Martinique again, because the Dover Sole Meuniere I enjoyed there was simply fantastic, and like a piece of sheer heaven. The fish literally melted in my mouth it was so light. The white fish had a unique and delicate flavor, which was mild and sweet, and different from more mundane white fish. It was a true indulgence. Picture this - My thumb and pointing finger on my right hand are touching, I've brought that hand up to my lips, to kiss them in that universal symbol of perfection.

So that's my top five dishes eaten last year, but there were a number of others that rocked my world - but my hands were tied to just five. But worthy of mention of course is Alexandra Lynch's Lionfish Tempura, with Voodoo Sauce and mango cheesecake at August Moon.

Lionfish may have gotten a bad rap in the ecological world, but the meat when cooked Lynch-style is delicate in quality. One taste, and it almost melted in my mouth - much the same way cotton candy does.

And Provence, is my spot for some of the best lobster bisque bar none. The flavorful broth, has perfectly-cooked lobster chunks - not bits with just a hint of lime. It's so good, that some evenings, I stop by to pick up a bowl to take home, rather than wait until I dine there. The duck salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette is also another one of my favorites, as well as olive oil roasted Chilean sea bass served with grilled vegetables.

Yes, 2008 was a year of fabulous eating, and I don't expect any less from 2009, so let's get out there and eat.

By Shavaughn Moss
The Nassau Guardian
January 7, 2009