One of the greatest pleasures of traveling the world is getting to experience all the incredible food of each culture and country that we visit. Eating is by far our favorite travel activity and we don't discriminate when it comes to types of meals - street food, Michelin-starred restaurants, small local warungs - we will try it all. We ate a LOT in 2022 and do not regret one single bite (except for maybe the street gyro that gave me food poisoning in Athens...that I regret.)
When we reflect back on the three best meals that we had in 2022, three stand above them all. And while they aren't revolutionary in terms of finding some hidden gems (a French 3-course meal on a top meals list...how original!) I can honestly say they were all worth the hype, and the challenge of acquiring them. These meals will all remain seared in our minds and stomachs forever. Maybe you can try one one day!
3. Street Pizza in Naples, Italy L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Yes, pizza really is better in the place where it was invented. The secret is they keep it really simple. The standard pie comes only with marinara sauce and some basil (no cheese). It sounds boring but the sauce is so incredibly sweet and salty and heavenly you don't even miss the cheese. At da Michele they service it four ways - Margherita, Marinara, Cosacca (which has a sprinkle of pecorino) or half and half. We also tried the world famous Sorbillo and it was also delicious. They are a bit more adventurous and have a lot of different topping options. But when it came down to it, we loved the classics at da Michele the best!
Tip: They're open 11 AM - 11 PM. Try going on off hours (3 - 4) for a bit of a shorter wait. But just expect that there will always be a line! They have a ticketing system that makes it much easier. You can also order to go which has a shorter line and eat it on the street. Make sure to get a to go aperol spritz at one of the street vendors to make the wait a bit more enjoyable
2. 3-Course lunch for $30 in Meursault, France
The French are snobs about their food. But for good reason. The food in France is really unmatched in terms of quality and flavor. They've also mastered the art of portion control, making it so you can indulge in 3-course meals without leaving feeling like you're going to burst. You don't see many overweight French people but you can bet they're eating very, very well. One of our best meals of last year came as a complete surprise. We were wine tasting in Beaune with our friend Jordan and the winemaker suggested we head to Le Soufflot for lunch because they "have a decent lunch menu" (French standards are obviously higher than mine). This more than decent 3-course lunch menu was a measly $30 but matched any fine dining experience we have had in the US.
The first course was a delicious veggie starter made from sweet potatoes and included a delicious hand-poured sauce. Next was lamb 3 ways and an insane potato souffle that I still dream about. And last up a sorbet over a sheet of sugar and fruits with cream. It doesn't hurt that we paired this with an obscenely expensive bottle of Meursault (when in Rome?) that our sommelier friend was very excited about.
I don't know if it was the unexpected nature of the meal, the insanely good food or just the realization that this is just how the French people eat on a daily basis, but this meal was one that couldn't be beat no matter how hard we tried.
Tip: We were lucky and just walked in, but it's best to make reservations for restaurants in France in advance, even for lunch.
1. Fine dining at the World's 5th Best Restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico
What. A. Meal. We have been dying to eat at Pujol since our first trip in 2021 and we were able to make it a reality when we went back a year later. Pujol is currently reigning as the 5th Best Restaurant in the World on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list (which many regard as a better judge than the Michelin Guide since the Michelin Guide is not in every country - including Mexico). It's definitely a bucket-list meal and a special treat, given that each tasting menu will run you north of $200pp. But it's totally worth it. You can choose from either the taco omakase experience where you sit at the bar or the traditional tasting menu seated in the dining room. It was the taco omakase for us - 10 courses, 5 of which were tacos.
How can 5 tacos equate to $200 you ask?! Can they really be that much better?! The answer is - yes. They can. Each course was so creative and delicious. Starting with some "snacks" and a course of abalone and broth we then moved on to tacos which included a brussel sprout taco filled with lobster and fish chorizo. Dessert was served in the garden and had 3-separate courses alone. But what elevated this above the rest, outside of the food, was the incredible service. While not feeling too stuffy, waiters were discreetly there to help whenever you needed. If you went to the bathroom, your chair was pulled out and napkin folded for your return (which was handmade and for you to keep as a souvenir). If your glass reached a 1/4 empty, another cocktail and wine list was offered with suggestions for the next course. When plates were put down in front of you, they were put down synchronously with the others at your table or bar seat and explained in perfect detail. The experience, the atmosphere and the food were hands down the best we've ever had. We can't wait to return one day for their traditional tasting menu with 100-year old mole.
Tip: Getting reservations here is not easy. Obviously the earlier the plan the better. But we were lucky and actually scored a table the day before. If you don't secure one in advance, I'd suggest checking for the next day a few times throughout the day as some people might cancel last minute. Hopefully you'll get lucky like we did!
Glad you liked Pujol. We were going to try it when we were there but our friend went and didn’t enjoy it much so we chickened out. Your description sounds delightful though so we’ll try it out next time we are in CDMX.