Better late than never…
Our annual tradition of posting our top eats of 2017. 2017 was a busy year for us – I was pregnant and limited on what I could eat (man, it was painful seeing Jay enjoy countless bowls of poke while we were on our babymoon in Hawaii), baby Koa was born late summer, and Foodie Kai started Kindergarten.
Still, with all these things going on in our lives, there was plenty of food to be eaten. And here’s our list of our favorite eats in 2017.
Best Belgian Food
Markt, NYC
Markt has been on the top of our list for years. They’ve got best moules frites and croque madames in NYC. We’ve tried about 90% of their menu, and all items are delicious. They have a fantastic Belgian beer selection available on tap and by the bottle, with the glass to match.
Best Donuts
Leonards, Honolulu, Hawaii
When in Hawaii, get the Portuguese-style donuts called malasadas from Leonards. I went a little overboard and got 2.5 dozen when we last visited Hawaii, but at least I got to try every flavor combination I could possibly try.
Best Dim Sum
Nom Wah Tea Parlor, New York City
NYC Chinatown’s first dim sum joint. Depending on the time you go, there may be a line. It’s popular amongst locals, and tourists. Whenever we’re in Chinatown, we make sure we stop there. They also opened a new location in Nolita.
Best Place to Eat Healthy Food
Green + Tonic, Westport, CT
Green + Tonic is still my go-to after a workout at Bar Method or my runs around town. I often get a Warrior Smoothie Bowl made with Kale, spinach, coconut water, banana, chia seeds, and Energy Blend Granola with cacao. They also have delicious foods packed in the refrigerator case, including wraps, salads and more.
Best Pizza
Frank Pepe’s, New Haven, CT
Best Poke
Da Poke Shack, Kona, Big Island, Hawaii
Poke (note: there is no accent mark) made its way to the mainland recently and sorry guys, the best poke is in Hawaii. And the best spot for it in Da Poke Shack. So freakin good… we went there a couple days in a row. While it was torture watching Jay eat it and enjoy every single bite, I still remember having it 2 years ago when I wasn’t pregnant.
Best Vegan Poke
The Fish House, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii
The chef at The Fish House made a poke dish just for me. I told him how I’ve been having poke-envy because I was pregnant, so he made a delicious vegan poke for me. It satisfied my cravings!
Best Seafood and Best Happy Hour
The Whelk, Westport, CT
There was one point where we ate here every week for almost 2 months. They’ve got a great happy hour menu (buck a shuck), and dinner is always fantastic. One of our favorite appetizers is their Smoked Trout Dip which is also sold in jars during the holidays.
A photo posted by dee Cuisine (@deecuisine) on
Best Steakhouse
Benjamin Steakhouse, White Plains, New York
Still our favorite steakhouse. Our usual order is Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, two slices of thick bacon, Porterhouse for two, home fries, creamed spinach, and one of their decadent desserts.
Benjamin Steakhouse Porterhouse for 2
Best Thai Food
Jeera Thai, Westport, CT
Jeera serves delicious authentic Thai dishes that are comforting and healthy. Pay mind to the heat levels on the menu, they actually make the dishes spicy, which we love! Our favorites are the Vegetable Dumplings, Drunken Noodles with Chicken, and Kaprow, a stir-fried entree made with onion, chili, garlic, long bean, hot Thai basil and your choice of protein.
Best Vietnamese Food
Nom-eez, Bridgeport, CT
Nom-eez is our go-to for a Vietnamese food fix. From bahn mi to pho to delicious rice dishes, everything we’ve tried so far is delicious. Don’t forget to order a bubble tea.
