The 5 figures was total over the year, not per single meal.
Ahhhh gotcha. Was like dayum! I mean im sure it happens. And good for those people. Haha
Very difficult question; but, likely, my birthday dinner this past May. I gave a chef-friend carte blanche to make dinner for my family (9 persons, including my father, brother & his wife, and my 2nd sonâs fiancĂ©e). Said chef-friend is Spanish, and worked in a few Michelin starred restaurants in London before moving to Manila around 11-12 years ago.
The below collage of the dishes doesnât include the desserts.
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A few of my 2025 memorable meals. Hard to pick one but these six stood out for food and the dining experience. Maltes Hidden Kitchen had Keller rieslings cheaper than I can find at retail in the US and Thierry Schwartz had a lot of geeky gems on their large wine list so shout outs to both for this.
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Thierry Schwartz one of my all time favs. Glad heâs still chugging along.
For the past few years Iâve been doing a top ten meals/dishes of the year recap on my Instagram. @michaelcohen1605
This year, in no particular order:
Perla - Maplewood NJ - Relatively newcomer to the local scene. They are mostly raw bar and do a very, very good job of it. @eatperla
Lita - Aberdeen, NJ - Top Chef contestant, David Vianaâs portugeuese place. Really impressive. They recently changed the menu to get away from the tasting menu format. I applaud this move and look forward to getting back there ASAP. @the.lovely.lita
Quique Crudo - NYC - Stunning mexican food and cocktails. Iâm stunned I donât hear more about this place. Maybe cuz itâs so small. Every dish was amazing and weâve tried to recreate the apricot gazpacho at home. @quiquecrudonyc
Bar Oliver - NYC - About a year ago I saw a little blurb in the NYT about a tiny place with Extebarri vibes. Found that hard to believe but had to try it. The food is really good. The steak is off the charts. The vibe is fun and we were definitely the oldest there. Thankfully my kids were with me which made us fit in more. @barolivernyc
Penny - NYC - This is the second year in a row for what may be my favorite restaurant in NYC. The raw bar offerings are amazing and the cooked dishes shouldnât be overlooked. List is great. @penny_newyork
Cervoâs - NYC - -Third or fourth year in a row. Itâs one of our favorites. The piri piri chicken is heavenly. We are there pretty often. @cervosnyc
I Cavallini - Brooklyn - Weâve been twice to the new Italian offering from the Four Horsemen folks. So, so, so good. Iâm not surprised. Pastas and the roast chicken were amazing. @icavallinibk
Txkitio - NYC - Had dinner with two friends (wine guys). Ordered the whole turbot which was such an incredible hit. @txikitonyc
The Four Horsemen - Brooklyn - Multiple amazing meals. I think my favorite dish was the ramp rice back in the spring. @fourhorsemenbk
Stissing House - Pine Plains, NY - Clare de Boer from Kingâs place upstate. My wife was chosen to participate in their pie baking contest (judged by Martha Stewart and other food celebs). Spent all day on a Sunday there. So obviously ate there on Saturday night. One of my favorite meals in the country. Thereâs nothing fancy about it. But the entire experience is perfect. @stissinghouse
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After reflection , Iâd have to say Makinonci in Kanazawa . Japanese/French tasting menu, but very well paced. Great Burgundy wine list. Pictures donât do it justice.
Runner up #1 Kien in Tokyo on my 70th birthday.
Runner up #2Le Coquillage in Cancale. Amazing food, but too long a meal (4.5 hours).
And I have to mention both Sen and Kiyama in Kyoto, superb Kaiseki, all part of my 70th birthday celebration.
For all the meals in Japan the engagement of the chefs with me (and other patrons) brought it to another level.
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Aleria in Athens - unlike many on here, this was my first experience of a tasting menu - fine dining but unpretentious with good local wines. Get a table in in the walled garden.
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We are going here and will be staying at their INN for two days. Anything else around the area that we should check out?
Amazing place. Be sure to walk or sit along the bay during the tidal changes quite amazing.
Le coquillage for one night for sure.
One meal at their other restaurant in town (they can arrange taxi, not walking distance). Bistrot de Cancale. Get the scallops and Brittany lobster. Best lobster of the trip; maybe of the decade.
The open air oyster market by the port is a lot of fun and very fresh oysters. A good place to try the really big Belon oysters. I was impressed ( until I started ordering the oysters at the Michelin star places, which were of the other worldly),
The hotel bakes and sells their own bread. There is a quaint cheese shop in town, uphill from the port.
If you need a lunch place beyond bread, cheese and oysters , Iâm sure the hotel can suggest one for the best sea bounty.. If you want to see more the town of Dinard is close and interesting albeit more touristy than Cancale. A walk around the ramparts is fun.
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Great restaurant.
If you stay at ChĂąteau Richeux, book a room that fronts on the water.
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Thanks all. Very helpful. I did not realize Bistro de Cancale was so far. We just reserved at ChĂąteau Richeaux so we took the only thing available which was one of the Gites. Excited to get outside of Paris for a couple of days which we rarely do.
we stayed in saint malo last august and didnât love our meals but did enjoy a night at La DocenaâŠhanging out with locals on the beach drinking beers and eating sausages and oysters.
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Was there a few weeks ago, partly to escape the canicule. We stopped at LâAtelier de lâHuĂźtre, a great casual spot for excellent oysters and smoked salmon with a well-chilled bottle of Muscadet.
Itâs family-owned and, in a way, has a bit of a ârĂ©coltant-manipulantâ feel to it: very close to the product, unpretentious, and clearly run with care. Honest, fun, and well worth a stop if youâre in the area.
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Who do you think you are, John Singer Sargent?
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