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Best Meals of 2012

I always find my annual poll of where various chefs, food writers and bloggers had their best meals of the year humbling. That’s because regardless of how many new restaurants I have visited over the past year, the list is always filled with places I have yet to try, and in some instance never even heard of. But that’s the point of the list isn’t it - getting solid recommendations from the pros as well as the near-pros - about where one needs to eat.

In terms of chefs who have been on the scene for a while, people like Josh Skenes and Kobe Desramaults are slowly working their way towards making their restaurants contenders for being among the best in the world. And when it comes to young chefs who are creating a buzz, people like Matt Lightner, Blaine Wetzell, Justin Wu, Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson are on the list of U.S. chefs whose restaurants you need to visit, while two French chefs, Alexander Couiilon and Alexander Gauitier, and blogger turned chef, Mikael Jonnson, are their European counterparts. And given how often David Toutain’s name cropped up, I am certain everyone is eager to see where he ends up now that he has departed from Agape Substance.

Okay, it’s time for me to stop talking so you can check out the list below so you can begin planning your travel plans for 2013.

Alec Lobrano (Author of Hungry For Paris)
Meal of the Year – Hosteria Glass, Rome, Italy
Chef with Most Potential – Michael Greenwold & Simone Tondo, Roseval, Paris, France
http://alexanderlobrano.com/

Andrea Strong (Publisher the Strong Buzz)
Meal of the Year – Il Buco Vini e Alimentari, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Eric Korsh & Ginny Iverson, Calliope, New York, NY
www.thestrongbuzz.com

Andy Hayler’s Restaurant, Food & Hotel Guide
Meal of the Year – Le Calandre, Sarmeola di Rubano, Italy
Chef with Most Potential – Mikael Jonsson, Hedone, London, UK
www.andyhayler.com

Andy Ricker (Chef/Owner Pok Pok, Portland, Oregon)
Meal of the Year – Husk, Charleston, South Carolina
Chef with Most Potential – Danny Bowein, Mission Chinese, San Francisco, California
www.pokpokpdx.com

Blaine Wetzel (Chef/Owner Willows Inn, Lummi Island, Washington)
Meal of the Year – Atera, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Josh Skenes, Saison, San Francisco, California
Willows Inn.com

Bob Noto (Food Photographer & Gastronome Extraordinaire)
Meal of the Year – Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
Chef with Most Potential – Albert Adria, 41 Degrees, Barcelona,. Spain
http://www.bobnoto.com

ChuckEats
Meal of the Year – Saison, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – Scott Anderson & Michael Ryan, Elements, Princeton, New Jersey
www.chuckeats.com
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Daniel Humm (Chef/Owner, Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY)
Meal of the Year – Next (Kyoto Dinner), Chicago, Illinois
Chef with Most Potential – Lee Wolen, Lobby Bar at the Peninsula Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
www.elevenmadisonpark.com

Daniel Patterson (Chef/Owner Coi, San Francisco, CA)
Meal of the Year – D.O.M. Sao Paolo, Brazil
Chef with Most Potential – Brett Cooper, Outerlands, San Francisco, CA
Coi.com

David Chang (Chef/Owner Momofuku)
Meal of the Year – D.O.M., Sao Paolo, Brazil
Chef with Most Potential – Danny Bowein, Mission Chinese, San Francisco, California
www.momofuku.com

David Toutain (formerly Chef at Agape Substance, Paris, France)
Meal of the Year – Faviken, Jarpun, Sweden
Chef with Most Potential – Alexander Couillon, La Marine, Noirmoutier, France
www.agapesubstance.com

Docsconz- the Blog
Meal of the Year – Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy
Chef with Most Potential – Josh Habiger & Erik Anderson, Catbird Seat, Nashville, Tennessee
www.docsconz.com

Dominique Crenn (Chef/Owner Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, California)
Meal of the Year – Agape Substance, Paris, France
Chef with Most Potential – Matt Lightner, Atera, New York, NY
www.ateliercrenn.com

Endo Edibles
Meal of the Year – Per Se, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Thomas Lents, Sixteen, Chicago, Illinois; Peter DeRuvo, Davanti Enoteca, Scottsdale, Arizona
endoedibles.com/

Epicuryan
Meal of the Year – Manresa, Los Gatos, California
Chef with Most Potential – Ori Menashe, Bestia, Los Angeles, California
Epicuryan.com

Food For Thought
Meal of the Year – State Bird Provisions, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – David Barzelay, Lazy Bear, San Francisco, California
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com

Food Intelligence
Meal of the Year – L’Arpege, Paris, France
Chef with Most Potential – Alexander Gauthier, Le Grenouilliere, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France
foodintelligence.blogspot.com

Gastro Chic
Meal of the Year – Pok Pok, Brooklyn, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Alex Stupak, Empellon Cocina, New York, NY
http://www.gastrochic.com/

George Mendes (Chef/Owner, Aldea, New York, NY)
Meal of the Year – Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark
Chef with Most Potential – Brad McDonald, Governor, Brooklyn, NY
www.aldearestaurant.com

Gerry Dawes (Author of An Insider’s Guide to Spain)
Meal of the Year – Restaurante-Marisqueria d'Berto, O Grove, Spain.
Chef with Most Potential – David Muñoz, Diverxo, Madrid, Spain.
An Insider’s Guide to Spanish Food

High End Food
Meal of the Year – Christian Bau, Perl-Nennig, Germany, Thomas Buhner, La Vie, Osnabruck, Germany
Chef with Most Potential - Christian Scharrer, Buddenbrooks, Lübeck-Travemünde, Germany
www.highendfood.org

Inaki Aizpitarte
Meal of the Year – Etxebarri, Axpe-Marzana, Spain
Chef with Most Potential - Delphine Zampetti, Chez Aline, Paris, France
www.lechateaubriand.fr/

James Syhabout (Chef/Owner Commis, Oakland, California)
Meal of the Year – Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, California
Chef with Most Potential - Josh Skenes, Saison, San Francisco, California
www.commisrestaurant.com

Jason Bond (Chef/Owner Bondir, Cambridge, Massachussets)
Meal of the Year – Canlis, Seattle, Washington
Chef with Most Potential - Jason Franey, Canlis, Seattle, Washington
www.bondircambridge.com

Jason Franey (Chef, Canlis, Seattle, Washington)
Meal of the Year – Amber, Sydney, Australia
Chef with Most Potential – Shaun McCraine, Book Bindery, Seattle, Washington
www.canlis.com

Jason Stratton (Chef/Owner Spinasse, Seattle, Washington )
Meal of the Year – Del Posto, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Matt Lightner, Atera, New York, NY
www.spinasse.com

Jonathan Justus (Chef/Owner Justus Drugstore, Smithville, Missouri )
Meal of the Year – Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – Jose Avillez, Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal
www.drugstorerestaurant.com

Jonathan Sawyer (Chef/Owner Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland, Ohio)
Meal of the Year – Locanda Margon, Trento, Italy
Chef with Most Potential – Jason Vincent, Nightwood, Chicago, Illinois
thegreenhousetavern.com

Joseph Lenn (Chef, Blackberry Farm)
Meal of the Year – Marea, New York, NY; WD-50, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Josh Habiger & Erik Anderson, Catbird Seat, Nashville, Tennesse
www.blackberryfarm.com

Josh Ozersky (Food Writer,Time Magazine)
Meal of the Year – Tasting Table at Torrisi Italian Specialties, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Michael Toscano, Perla, New York, NY; Chris Phelps and Zak Walters, Salt's Cure, Los Angeles, California
www.ozersky.tv

Justin Cogley (Chef Aubergine, Carmel-by-the Sea, California)
Meal of the Year – Corton, New York, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Matthew Merges, Yusho, Chicago, Illinois
laubergecarmel.com

Justin Yu (Chef/Owner Oxheart, Houston, Texas)
Meal of the Year – Blanca, Brooklyn, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Viet, Pham, Forage, Salt Lake City, Utah
oxhearthouston.com/

Kevin Nashan (Chef/Owner Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis, Missouri)
Meal of the Year – Eleven Madison Park Pop-Up at Alinea, Chicago, Illinoise
Chef with Most Potential – Mike & Pat Sheerin, Trencherman, Chicago
www.sidneystreetcafe.com/

Kevineats
Meal of the Year – Cory Lee, Benu, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco, California
www.kevineats.com

Kobe Desramaults (Chef/Owner In de Wulf, Dranouter, Belgium)
Meal of the Year – Magnus Nielson, Faviken, Jarpun, Sweden
Chef with Most Potential – Blaine Wetzel, Willows Inn, Lummi Island, Washington
In de Wulf.be/en

Laurent Vanparys (Gastros-on-Tour)
Meal of the Year – In de Wulf, Dranouter Belgium
Chef with Most Potential – Alexander Couillon, La Marine, Noirmoutier, France; Sven Chartier, Saturne, Paris, France
gastrosontour.com

Linton Hopkins (Chef/Owner Restaurant, Eugene, Atlanta, Georgia)
Meal of the Year – Trattoria Lucca, Charleston, South Carolina
Chef with Most Potential – Levon Wallace, Proof on Main, Louisville, Kentucky
www.restauranteugene.com

Lissa Doumani (PastryChef/Owner Ame, San Francisco, California)
Meal of the Year – Sushisho Masa, Tokyo, Japan
Chef with Most Potential – Greg & Gabriella Denton, Ox, Portland, Oregon
amerestaurant.com

Luxeat
Meal of the Year – Frantzén/Lindeberg, Stockholm, Sweden
Chef with Most Potential – Mikael Jonnson, London, UK
www.luxeat.com
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Matt Lightner (Chef, Atera, New York, NY)
Meal of the Year – McCrady’s & Husk, Charleston, South Carolina
Chef with Most Potential – Chris Kostow, Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, California
www.ateranyc.com

Matthew Merges (Chef/Owner Yusho, Chicago, Illinois)
Meal of the Year – Mugaritz, Errenteria, Spain
Chef with Most Potential – Justin Cogley, Aubergine, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
yusho-chicago.com/

Michael Anthony (Chef Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY)
Meal of the Year – Ryugin, Tokyo, Japan
Chef with Most Potential – Mauro Colagreco, Menton, France
www.gramercytavern.com

Michael Friedman (Pizzaiolo/Owner, Pizza Delicious, New Orleans, Louisiana)
Meal of the Year – Joe Beef, Montreal, Canada, Hot Doug’s, Chicago, Illinois
Chef with Most Potential – Aaron Burgau, Patois, New Orleans, LA, Mike Doyle, Maurapas Foods, New Orleans, LA
pizzadelicious.com

Michael White (Chef/Owner Marea, Osteria Morino & Ai Fiori, New York, NY)
Meal of the Year – 25th Anniversary Dinner, Louis XV, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Chef with Most Potential – Michael Toscana, Perla, New York, NY
www.marea-nyc.com

Mikael Jonsson (Chef/Owner Hedone, London, UK)
Meal of the Year – Hand & Flowers, Marlow, UK
Chef with Most Potential – Bertrand Grébaut, Septime, Paris, France
www.hedonerestaurant.com

Pocket Fork
Meal of the Year – In de Wulf, Dranouter, Belgium
Chef with Most Potential – Jeremiah Stone & Fabian von Hauske, Contra, New York, NY, Thomas Lim, 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
www.pocketfork.com

QLIweb
Meal of the Year – Amber, Hong Kong, China
Chef with Most Potential – Alexander Boudras, Sa Qua Na, Honfleu, France
www.qliweb.com

Rene Redzepi (Chef/Owner Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Meal of the Year – Paul Bocuse, Collonges Au Mont D'or, France
Chef with Most Potential – Blaine Wetzell, Willows Inn, Lummi Island, Washington
http://noma.dk/

Russell Moore (Chef/Owner Camino, Oakland, California)
Meal of the Year – Ippuku (weekend lunch menu), Berkeley, California
Chef with Most Potential – Ignacio Mattos, Isa, Brooklyn, NY, Sylvan Mishima Bracket, Peko Peko Catering, Oakland, California
www.caminorestaurant.com

Sang-Hoon Degeimbre(Chef/Owner L’Air du Temps, Noville-sur-Mehaigne, Belgium)
Meal of the Year – Astrance, Paris, France
Chef with Most Potential – David Toutain, Agape Substance, Paris, France
www.airdutemps.be

Scott Anderson (Chef Elements, Princeton, New Jersey)
Meal of the Year – Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – Blaine Wetzell, Willows Inn, Lummi Island, Washington
www.elementsprinceton.com

Sean Brock (Chef/Owner McCrady’s & Husk, Charleston, South Carolina)
Meal of the Year – Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY
Chef with Most Potential – Christian Puglisi, Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark
www.mccradysrestaurant.com
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Spanish Hipster
Meal of the Year – Agape Substance, Paris, France
Chef with Most Potential – Rodrigo de la Calle. Rodrigo de la Calle Restaurant, Aranjuez, Spain
Spanish Hipster,com

Stephen Harris (Chef/Owner The Sportsman, Seasalter, UK)
Meal of the Year – In de Wulf, Dranouter, Belgium
Chef with Most Potential – Edwin Vinke, de Kromme de Watergang, Hoofdplaat, Netherlands
www.thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk

Steve Plotnicki (Publisher Opinionated About Dining Guides)
Meal of the Year – Saison, San Francisco, California, In de Wulf, Dranouter, Belgium
Chef with Most Potential – Justin Wu, Oxheart, Houston, Texas, James Knappet, Chef’s Table at Bubbledogs, London, UK
www.opinionatedaboutdining.com

Tasty Bits
Meal of the Year – Saison, San Francisco, California
Chef with Most Potential – Justin Wu, Oxheart, Houston, Texas, Viet Pham, Forage, Sale Lake City, Utah
www.tasty-bits.com

Thomas Keller (Chef/Owner The French Laundry, Yountville, California)
Meal of the Year – Chef’s Table at Bubbledogs, London, UK
Chef with Most Potential – Oliver Dabbous, Dabbous, London, UK
www.frenchlaundry.com

Thomas Buehner (Chef/Owner La Vie, Osnabruck, Germany)
Meal of the Year – Cellar Can Roca, Girona, Spain
Chef with Most Potential – Sotohiro Kosugi, Soto, New York, NY
www.restaurant-lavie.de

Tomostyle
Meal of the Year – Sushi Mitani- Tokyo, Japan, Kodama- Tokyo, Japan
Chef with Most Potntial – Javier Plascencia, Misión 19, Tijuana, Mexico
tomostyle.wordpress.com

Ulterior Epicure
Meal of the Year – Etxebarri, Axpe-Marzana, Spain
Chef with Most Potential – Tony Conte, Oval Room, Washington DC
www.ulteriorepicure.com

Veal Cheeks
Meal of the Year – Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark
Chef with Most Potential – Chris Nugent, Goosefoot, Chicago, Illinois
vealcheeks.blogspot.com

Very Good Food
Meal of the Year – Franzen/Lindberg, Stockholm, Swedem; Ryugin, Tokyo, Japan
Chef with Most Potential - Alexander Gauthier, Le Grenouilliere, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France
www.verygoodfood.dk

Wandering Epicures
Meal of the Year – Sant Pau, Sant Pol de Mar, Spain
Chef with Most Potential - Mark Lepine, Atelier, Ottawa, Canada
www.epicures.wordpress.com

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12/10/2012 | Add a Comment