My 22 eats of 2022

2022. Back on the road we go! Apart from entries from our usual home bases of UK and Malaysia, this year’s best dish roundup sees us revisit some of our favourite food cities in the world such as San Sebastian and Lisbon. There are also new discoveries in Galicia, Piedmonte and beyond!

Highlights include a return visit to Martin Berasategui for their signature Eel, Foie and Green Apple Millefeuille – still my ultimate favourite bite in my favourite fine dining restaurant in the whole wide world. Other Basque Country standouts include those coveted Angulas (Baby Eels) at Kaia Kaipe and Rekondo‘s Suckling Pig.

A couple of trips back home to the motherland in KL sees us tuck into the best Roti Canai Lamb Curry I’ve ever had, some superb Claypot Prawns in Coconut Juice at Kepong’s Xi Gong as well as some delicious haute South Asian numbers at Nadodi.

Back in the UK, we revisit some of our favourite haunts across the country from Brum’s finest (Chez Oishin Boy and Carter’s of Moseley) to our usual spot at 40 Maltby Street for their magnificent tarts to old-school Chez Bruce in Wandsworth for that stunning Koffman-style Stuffed Pig’s Trotter. Amongst the newly opened bright spots explored in London, Oxeye in Battersea and The Sea The Sea’s Chef’s Table in Haggerston both delivered truly memorable meals too.

Happy New Year in advance to all, here’s to an even better eating 2023!

G.

~ 2022 ~

22-Course Degustation Menu

—- Starters & Small Plates —-

Angulas (Baby Eels) – (@ Kaia Kaipe – Getaria)

Bacalhau Fritters – (@ Taberna Sal Grosso – Lisbon)

Meatball with Piquillo Pepper Ice-cream – (@ Casa Julian – Tolosa)

Smoked Eel, Foie & Green Apple Millefeuille – (@ Martin Berasategui – San Sebastian)

Razor Clams – (@ Abastos 2.0 – Santiago de Compostella)

Claypot Beef & Aubergine – (@ Ichikawa – Kuala Lumpur)

—- Mains —-

Spiced Crab Curry with Fermented Rice Cake – (@ Nadodi – Kuala Lumpur)

Claypot Prawns with Coconut Juice (@ Xi Gong – Kuala Lumpur)

Monkfish, Albufera Sauce & Truffle (@ Carter’s of Moseley – Birmingham)

Red Mullet (@ Anaco – Santiago de Compostella)

White Alba Tajarin Pasta (@ Il Centro – Priocca)

Roti Canai Lamb Curry (@ Roti Canai Kari Kambing Perindu – Kuala Lumpur)

Lobster, Seaweed & Tomatoes (@ Prado – Lisbon)

Salt Cod, Red Pepper & Tomato Tart (@ 40 Maltby Street – London)

Iberica Presa Bomba Rice (@ Casa 887 – San Sebastian)

Coconut-smoked Pipa Duck with Massaman Spices (@ Chez Oishin Boy – Birmingham)

Suckling Pig (@ Rekondo – San Sebastian)

Morels stuffed with Sweetbreads, Turkish Coffee Yoghurt (@ Mangal 2 – London)

Brill, Oyster Soubise, Caviar & Nyetimber Tillington Sauce (@ Oxeye – London)

Stuffed Koffman-style Pig’s Trotters (@ Chez Bruce – London)

—- Desserts —-

Pao de Lo, Fennel Seed Ice-cream, Caviar (@ The Sea The Sea – London)

Torrija Caramelised French Toast (@ Bodegon Alejandro – San Sebastian)

—- Wines, Service & Setting @ Kaia Kaipe – Getaria —-