15 Best Things I Ate in 2022

Sharing my favorite post of the year - the 15 best things I ate in 2022. For the past 2 years, I didn't share this post since life pretty much came to a halt during Covid, not to mention, I had a baby so I barely got out.

In 2022, I was able to do more, so we traveled as a family to New Jersey, New York City, Oahu, Hawaii, and Mazatlan, Mexico. It was a great year in terms of food. As you'll see below, this year was all about pizza and desserts. So let's get right into it, shall we?

Destinations:

New York City | New Jersey | California | Oahu, Hawaii | Mazatlan, Mexico

1. Pappardelle with Porcini Mushrooms at Oliver's Osteria, Laguna Beach, California

Oliver’s Osteria takes me back to New York City. Do you know how hard it is to find authentic Italian food in SoCal? Yeah, it’s hard. I’ve been living in California for over 4 years now and I finally found my Italian spot with Italian vibes. Everything at Oliver’s Osteria is amazing, but the Pappardelle with Porcini Mushrooms in a mascarpone sauce is the dish that stole my heart. Osteria Oliver’s goes down as the best restaurant and meal of 2022.

2. Garden Salad & Sangria at Casa 46, Mazatlan, Mexico

Casa 46 is an upscale & romantic Mexican restaurant in Mazatlan. The restaurant is situated in the heart of the historic center offering views of Plazuela Machado. The food at Casa 46 is delicious with my personal favorites being the Garden Salad with citrus flavors and the red sangria. Another best restaurant of 2022.

3. Grilled Banana Bread at Kahuku Farms, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii

OMG. I still dream about this Grilled Banana Bread at Kahuku Farms on the North Shore. The banana bread was warm and topped with two types of sauces - vanilla caramel and vanilla haupia. Kahuku Farms is a must-visit when in the North Shore region of Hawaii. This was so good I pretty much inhaled the entire dessert on my own while Sanjiv walked Krish around the farm lol. The best dessert of 2022.

4. Burrata Pizza at Bestia, Downtown LA, California

Bestia has been on my list for so long. I finally dined here on my birthday - one of the few times my husband will drive us to LA. The Burrata Pizza is outstanding. The combo of green olives and Calabrian chili with San Marzano tomatoes and burrata is delectable. This Neopolitan-style pizza is amazing and I still reminisce about it. Everything at Bestia is fabulous! A must-visit in DTLA.

5. Pistachio Supreme Croissant at Lafayette, New York City (NoHo)

The Pistachio Supreme Croissant at Lafayette Bakery is flakey and crispy on the outside with loads of pistachio cream on the inside. The croissant is incredible, totally worth the hype, and costs a whopping $10. By no means is it cheap, but it’s totally worth it at this quintessential French cafe in NoHo.

6. Whipped Coffee Latte at Raised by the Waves, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii

Raised by the Waves is a vegan cafe in Kahuku that serves up the most delicious vegan food. The vegan Dalgona coffee which is made with oat milk is an absolute treat. I replicated this recipe on my blog. My version is excellent, but theirs is out of this world. Additionally, you must try the vegan Spicy Poke Bowl - you won't believe it's vegan.

7. Funghi Pizza at Bello by Sandro Nardone, Newport Beach, California

OMG, Bello by Sandro Nardone in Newport Beach blew me away with their insanely delicious Funghi Pizza. Get this, the dough is shipped all the way from Italy and despite the gluten in the dough, you will not feel bloated. The Funghi Pizza goes down as the best pizza of 2022 and of the best pizzas I've had in my life. If you visit Newport Beach, stop at Bello by Sandro for the pizza, any pizza.

8. The Cookie at Bristol Farms, Southern California

Bristol Farms is a bougie grocery store serving Southern California. This place is super expensive so I definitely do NOT shop here for groceries... I just stop by for The Cookie.

Now, I can’t believe I’m even saying this but The Cookie at Bristol farms is even better than Levain bakery’s Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie. I know, I'm such a traitor. Lol. The textures of both cookies are identical... slightly crispy on the outside, and gooey on the inside. The Cookie at Bristol Farms is not as sweet, rich, or buttery as Levain. I also love that it's served warm all day long. Truly amazing!

9. Coconut Cake at House Without A Key - Halekulani Hotel, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

House Without A Key is a beautiful and romantic restaurant at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki. It’s so hard to find the perfect coconut cake. While I loved all the food at House Without A Key, it was this scrumptious coconut cake slice that stole my heart. It was fluffy and perfectly sweet. The second-best dessert of 2022.

10. House-Made Veggie Burger at Nick's Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, California

Nicks Laguna Beach is my fave restaurant in Laguna Beach. The patty is made in-house and it's so juicy and delicious. This veggie burger consists of mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado, firestick onions, swiss cheese, and a delicious herb mayo sauce all on a whole wheat bun. The petite bistro salad on the side was so yummy. It’s hard to get reservations at Nick's so stop by for lunch or make dinner reservations in advance. Best burger of 2022.

11. Mozzarella Pizza at Joe's Pizza, New York City (West Village)

Whenever I'm back home in New Jersey, I gotta make a couple of trips to NYC. Joe's Pizza is hella good and it's classic New York-style thin-crust pizza. The mozzarella pizza (left slice) at Joe’s hits the spot every time. The sauce is so fresh and light. It's perfect any time of year.

12. Custard Malasada at Leonard's Bakery, Honolulu, Hawaii

A malasada is a Portuguese donut that’s light and fluffy on the inside, they're pillowy and soft. At Leonard’s Bakery, the donuts come in various flavors, my favorite was the custard followed by the original. The best part is they're served warm. Looking back, I wish I tried the guava flavor. This place has amazing donuts that are super reasonable, grab a bunch and enjoy them hot with coffee.

13. Bella Pizza at Lombardi Pizza Co., Martinsville, NJ

The Bella Pizza at Lombardi Pizza (top right) in Central NJ is incredible. The pizza is topped with garlic, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and lots of cheese. This pizza totally hits the spot. I also love their 7051 Pizza topped with a jalapeno puree.

14. Chantilly Cream Bombolone at Angelina Bakery, New York City (Midtown West)

A bombolone is a light & fluffy Italian donut. Based on the rave reviews on Yelp, I decided to check out the beautiful Angelina Bakery in Midtown West. The Chantilly Cream Bombolone is a dream. The donut itself is pillowy soft with delicious Italian custard on the inside, it's like a much better version of a Boston cream donut.

chantilly cream bombolone angelina bakery

15. Bourbon Pecan Pie Donut at Sidecar Doughnuts, Costa Mesa, California

I'm such a sucker for pecans, especially during Fall. The Bourbon Pecan Pie Donut at Sidecar Doughnuts is a seasonal flavor. The donut is dipped in a brown sugar glaze, filled with a pecan pie filling, topped with maple whipped cream, and sprinkled with brown butter pecans. This donut was so good that I had to come up with a similar cake recipe for the holidays. Check out my Eggless Chocolate Pecan Cake topped with Butter Pecan Frosting.

More 15 Best Things I Ate:

Now your turn. Tell me the best thing you ate in 2022 - what was it and where was it?