Midtown Lunch

A pre New Year round up of my favorites bites is a fun excuse to look back on each year of dining. It is also incentive to get down and hold the plank position until the ball drops.  Here are my 2014 eating highlights:

During my first overseas trip of the  year, I ate my way through Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai!

Soon after, I started giving Chinatown Food Tours! (if you still owe someone a belated Holiday gift, its not a bad idea!)

I wrote a few fun articles for Zagat, including one on shopping at “ethnic” markets.

On an outing to Graffiti Pier in Port Richmond, I put together a Polish picnic that you can replicate.

For my birthday, we celebrated with beer and a Puerto Rican Pork feast.

I coordinated a food truck festival for 15,000 people in Mt. Airy.

On a solo vacation in Mexico City, I ate a ton of street meat.

I was really proud of my Federal Donuts costume this Halloween.

Way more, after the jump…

Foolish Waffles became one of my new favorite food trucks.

Indeblue treated me to a refined Indian meal.

We said “yes” to African Small Pot’s offer of serving us “feast style.”

Koreana’s Korean fried chicken wings were even crunchy when cold the next day.

I guessed correctly that leaving out lettuce was the best way to enjoy Hai Street’s sushi burritos.

The Izakaya style courses brought to me at CoZara were refined.

I was happy to see Matt and Marie’s brought a high quality Italian sandwich to the office buildings of Center City.

Cibao served some superior chicharon in North Philly.

Mood Cafe, a Yelp favorite, served beautiful, flavorful chaat and creative lassis.

I finally got to experience the goodness of Nick’s Roast Beef.

I loved the super cheap and authentic tacos from El Sabor Poblano.

Zorba’s lamb lunch plate is the perfect option in Fairmount.

Up in Southampton, I was able to dine on Russian dumplings in between sauna sessions.

And, more recently, I have been impressed with the meat at newcomer Latin Flavors, the hand shaved noodles at Spice C, and the Northern Style Chinese hot pot at T T Skewer.

What about you guys, any 2014 highlights? Did I inspire any places on your list to try in the New Year?

 Related: Top Lunches of 2013