Thanks for the Delicious Memories 2009!

It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Time sure does fly when one is having fun and eating a lot of good food, doesn’t it? 2009 saw me checking out a couple of restaurants around the city, revisiting childhood traditions of fruit picking, and making more use of my teeny, tiny closet of a kitchen.

So what will I remember most from 2009? One particular meal stands out, but first the honourable mentions. The year kicked off with a sugary bang when Toronto held it’s first ever Cupcake Camp. Professional and amateur bakers got together, baked a whack load of cupcakes, and raised money for charity at the same time. What was thought to have been a small event turned out to be a huge success, drawing out more than 300 people to the event. Not that’s memorable!





The Night It Up night market this summer was also quite memorable for me. I’ve missed the wonderful street stalls and snacks and bustling night markets of Hong Kong and East Asia, and have often lamented how it’s a shame Toronto doesn’t have a weekly night market in the summertime like Vancouver does. But even if it’s for just one night, I’ll take it! By the end of the evening, I was covered in my own sweat and the stench of sticky tofu, but it was all worth it for delicious Xinjiang-style kebabs, Malaysian murtabak, and grilled spiced octopus.



With 2009 starting off with sugar, it was only natural to end the year with sugar, this time with the Foodiemeet Bake-off. This was the fourth Foodiemeet event, and brought together foodies from all over Toronto to bake delicious, sugary treats, all to raise money for The Stop. Amazing treats. Fabulous company. What’s not to love?



But I have to say, my most memorable meal this year has got to be The Black Hoof. It was a restaurant that I was saving to visit with my brother when he visited me, and he finally did this past November. After hearing such good stuff about the place, as well as recently being named #2 in En Route's annual 10 Best New Restaurants, we were super pumped to check out the much-talked-about and heavily-praised restaurant.

Did it live up to all the hype? Oh boy, did it!

My first taste of horse meat. A little intrepidated at first at the though of eating horse, but the way The Black Hoof prepares it…where else in the city would you find this incredibly delicious horse sammy?



Or this melt-in-your-month tongue sandwich? I still have dreams about it!



Or perhaps one of the fanciest PB and J sammies you’ll ever have in your life?



Or comforting and savoury tripe and trotter stew?



My greatest memory of all though will be The Black Hoof’s famous charcuterie platter…



…which I sadly never got a bite of. And just when my brother thought I’ve forgiven and forgotten the incident, here I am, bringing it up again. That pickled cauliflower…delicious! (Bro—you know I’m just ribbing, right? I mean, I got to keep up with the job of being the bratty little sister!)

My night at The Black Hoof was certainly a memorable one, and I can’t wait to go back again in the new year, this time hopefully to try their charcuterie and to get another helping of tongue.

So tell me, what’s your most memorable meal or foodie memory of 2009?

I also want to thank you to all of you on the other side of the screen—faithful followers, new readers, and the ones who just happened to come across this blog and stuck around long enough to read the end of this post! It’s been a great pleasure sharing culinary memories and recipes with you. I wish all of you all the best in 2010. May you always have good health, a hearty appetite, and a full plate! Have a safe and happy new year, and I'll see you all again in 2010!