Five fabulous bites of 2022 that you should have in 2023
#imfat
No, I’m not actually calling myself fat. I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to do that in 2022. It’s merely a hashtag I use semi-frequently that’s meant to denote how much I truly enjoy eating delicious things. This could be a boat of Nathan’s french fries (a delicacy I haven’t had in literal years that I sincerely hope is as good as I remember) or the foie grasladen goodness of the burger I will describe momentarily.
I just love food. I always have. I can’t believe that eating is part of my job. I can’t believe the number of good things I get to eat, every year, “all in the name of journalism” as a friend of mine commented recently on a story about champagne that goes for between $80 and $200 a bottle.
I mean, I have to research and reach out and query owners and experts and curate all that in order to write things and generate an average of four+ stories a week. But also: slices of stone-seared A5 Wagyu and oil-bathed hot chicken sandwiches and degustation tastings that require nine different kinds of tweezers to plate.
It’s a balance, much like the spinach shakes my colleagues see me drink on Zoom lunches, because #imfat is a sentiment, not a life goal. And one pound looks like two when you’re five-foot-nothing. So, as much as I want to be a member of the clean-plate club, I am not.
But here are five things I ate this year that if I weren’t a food reporter, I’d finish. Possibly without sharing.
The Bacán Burger, Bacán, Lake Nona Wave Hotel
This hefty Wagyu patty is deliciously drippy done medium-rare and pretty close to perfect with its crisp, acidic red cabbage slaw, lightly spiced red onion jam and luscious,
triple crème brie. It goes for $32, but for $10 more, the burger artisans at this Michelin-selected restaurant will tack on a slab of foie gras that takes it entirely over the top. (6100 Wave Hotel Drive in Orlando, 407-6752000; bacanlakenona.com)
Otoro Tartare, Kabooki Sushi
Oh, but for the silky-sensational earth-sea balance in this exquisite if simple cold tasting from chef Henry Moso’s arsenal of specials at Kabooki — another Michelin selection in this, Orlando’s inaugural year in “the Guide.” And if raw fish dishes had their own hashtags, this one might steal #imfat for its own. Otoro, the fattiest, creamiest, most luscious part of the tuna found in the belly (otoro and I have this in common) is a melt in your mouth sensation that’s compounded by the pool of ponzu and platform of yuzu guacamole on which it sits. Topped with caviar and served with crisp rice crackers, this dish is one to delight in if you catch it on the menu. (3122 E. Colonial Dr. in Orlando; 407-228-3839 and 7705 Turkey Lake Rd. in Orlando; 407-7762001; kabookisushi.com)
Banana Leaf Grits, Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen
Man, Michelin. You did good. I didn’t realize that the bites I’d curated had this many selections in the mix till just now. To be fair, the oxtail and foie gras empanada could easily have made this little round-up, too. (Seriously, if you go — get it.) But in replaying the flavors of the year, this side dish — served alongside the stellar crispy skinned fish for two (get that, too, now that I think about it) was a heavenly mash of sweet, creamy-grainy goodness swathed in leaf-wrapped gift packets for the discriminating foodie whose appreciation of fine dining may rest on a foundation of fond Waffle House memories. (Located inside the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, 1 Grand Cypress Blvd. in Orlando, 407-2393854; fourflamingosorlando.com)
Detroit Rob City, SoDough Square
The frico comes out at night — and by day — at what I’d call one of Orlando’s top tables of 2022. If it had any tables, that is. You can, however, grab this particular Detroit-style masterpiece, named for owner and Michigan native son Rob Bair, and eat it at its adjoining sister joint, Tin & Taco. It’s one of nine house-curated pan-baked pies, featuring both sausage and the salty, greasy goodness of Ezzo cup pepperoni. Mike’s Hot Honey provides the sweet heat. Basil cools it off. Whipped ricotta brings the creamy. You’re gonna wanna bring it home. Come early, though, because even months after SoDough Square opened its doors, they’re selling out on the reg. (419 E. Michigan St. in Orlando, 407-237-0699; sodoughsquare.com)
Churro Ice Cream Sandwich, Korgette
There’s a lot of fried, fatty, creamy goodness going on in this uber decadent
offering from Korgette — all of it 100 percent plant-based. Behold the glory of a fresh-fried churro, drizzled in chocolate, feathered with golden toasted coconut and so good it was basically preselected for the “best things I ate” list back in July when I wrote up this food truck and called it “straight-up dank.” Organic coconut ice cream from local maker Natural Goodness (he’s happy to hack open a coconut for you at the Orlando Farmers Market at Lake Eola on Sundays) is as lovely and indulgent as the cinnamon-sugar cradle in which it sits. (À La Cart, 609 Irvington Ave. in Orlando, 407-927-2803; korgette. com)
Who says vegans can’t use my hashtag?
Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group or follow @fun.things. orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.