When I was thinking about this subject, I realized I should have been taking notes. In a year, it’s easy to forget the truly great meals you’ve had, and more specifically what those dishes were. I can barely remember what I ate last weekend, although nothing about it was particularly memorable. Most of our life-changing, eye-opening meals are spent with certain special people, or in a special place for a special reason. I had very few great meals that weren’t wrapped up with some other event or special someone. As I write this, I also realize that not all the best meals of this year had the best food. I’ll share a few of these, and hopefully jog your memory of some great time you’ve had spent over food. Don’t forget to write them down, 2009 will be full of some more great times and new food to taste.

* Ladies Poker Night. I had some lovely ladies over from the store I was working at. It was one of those amazing nights where gossip and bickering was put aside for some serious booze and card playing. The different personalities laughed and chatted and we shared classic Trader Joe’s frozen appetizers and a Domino’s Pizza, which I was charged twice for; I never did get my money back. The hangover was also memorable.

* The Rock Pool. One of Sydney’s greatest restaurants, with super fresh seafood and a special Pacific flavor. A friend and I were visiting one of our closest friends who was attending school there. She hadn’t eaten a really good meal the whole time she had been in Sydney, it’s surprisingly expensive. We did the works – Prosecco, appetizers, mains, dessert. I remember boisterous laughter and closing the place down and having the waiters giving us the eye to leave. There was also incredible squid ink pasta and homemade caramels. I also realized how much I missed the three of us getting together and had to travel half way around the world to recreate it.

* Dottie’s True Blue Café, San Francisco. My husband started working for a company in San Francisco and we traveled out there together a couple times. Nothing makes a city feel more like home than when you find “your” place. We rarely go anywhere twice but Dottie’s is special. It’s an amazing breakfast eatery in a shady part of San Fran, which ends up being right behind the hotel we always stay at. They open at 7:30am (late for breakfast in NYC) and we like to be there by 7:10am to get in line and be at one of the first tables. The owner is always behind the grill and he hasn’t advertised for 13 years, no website, no color ads, and there’s a line every morning. One breakfast stands out – black bean cakes with fried eggs, salsa and sour cream. Everything is homemade, and you should always order from the specials board at the back.

* Moto, Brooklyn. It was harder to remember a great meal close to home. My senses are always heightened on a trip or vacation, and eating here in NYC is usually rushed, or I have some much on my mind I don’t pay attention as closely. This place has been mentioned as being “the last bohemian place left in Williamsburg”. It’s off the beaten track, and is really on the border between South Willamsburg and Bushwick, which is close to where we live. It’s walkable from our apartment and we didn’t even see it for over a year. It’s in an old check-cashing store, and there’s not even a sign outside telling you what it is. You have to know. When you step inside, it’s dark, and feels like a Tim Burton movie, but in a great way. You can hear the J train go by overhead but you forget where you are and what decade you’re apart of. The menu is simple, but delicious. The mac&cheese is ordered at almost every table. We’re planning a brunch trip there soon. A great way to end the year.