Optimistically Cautious: 2007: A Year of Culinary Highlights

2007 was a great year. For food, that is.

I was fortunae enough to travel to Europe this summer, and to New York in December. At home in Edmonton, I sampled the fare at several new restaurants (or at least, "new" to me), and discovered some now-favorites.

In no particular order, here are a few of my culinary highlights from the past year.

Eating the best pizza of my life first at Vancouver's Bridges, then in a small sidestreet restaurant in Florence.

Asiago, Parmesan and Mozzerella Pizza from Bridges

Navona Notte from a restaurant with that namesake

(With Mack's help) Throwing my first ever dinner party!

Panna Cotta amidst a candlelit table

Many a good meal at my beloved Blue Plate Diner.

Comfort food at its best - the Herbed Meatloaf from Blue Plate Diner

The discovery of a stellar diner in Calgary, a wonderful lunch spot in downtown Edmonton, a historic house for more than just tea, a comfortable greasy spoon, and a chic cafe for fab pizza and panini sandwiches.

Frittata from Diner Deluxe

Chicken Cordon Bleu from Shine Bistro

Cranberry Brie Sandwich from Arbor Restaurant in Rutherford House

Poutine from Route 99 Diner

Vegetarian Panini Sandwich from Leva Capuccino Bar

Exhausting my cupcake phase: first in Calgary; then in Vancouver; Edmonton; and finally New York (and of course, I made my own too).

From Calgary's Buttercream Bakeshoppe

From Calgary's Crave

From Vancouver's Cupcakes

From Edmonton's Whimsical Cupcakes

From New York's Magnolia Bakery

An Ina Garten recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing

Experiencing the gold standard for eating out at Becco in New York, which balanced the line between fine dining and comfort.

Outside Becco

An invitation to participate in a Market Fresh Cooking Class with Judy Schultz and Gail Hall, which started to get me thinking about seasonal cooking and utilizing farmer's markets.