Happy New Year, everyone! Finally shake off that hangover? In the mood to talk about food?

Good.

As far as food and restaurants are concerned, I have a love/hate relationship with Best Of lists. I love them because I enjoy getting other people’s perspectives. I hate them because everyone’s perspective is relative.

However, since food is such a big part of my life, I like to put together a Best Of post each year to serve as a reminder of some of the awesome things I ate. Because to me, the experience of enjoying good food with good people creates memories that are worth documenting. And 2012 was a good year, indeed.

Carrot air with coconut milk — Next (El Bulli menu), Chicago

Poached eggs on Texas toast — Blue Bottle Coffee, San Francisco

Duck dinner — Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago

Muffaletta — PQM, Chicago

Ceci (boiled and fried chickpeas) — Next (Sicily menu), Chicago

Fried oyster kimchi sliders — GT Fish & Oyster, Chicago

Shoyu ramen — Tanpopo, San Francisco

And let’s not forget these three, which I unfortunately don’t have photos for (sorry!):

Chestnut soup — Goosefoot, Chicago

Crepe bolognese — Nightwood, Chicago

Pasta tasting menu — Flour + Water, San Francisco

Happy 2013, everyone. Here’s to more good eatin’ this year.

A fan of Best Of lists? See the ones I put together in 2011 and 2010.