My Top 5 Foods of 2009 hurts

This was a tough list to narrow down. Not only have I have eaten so many good foodstuffs this year, but I feel there has been some major maturation of my taste buds thus allowing me to appreciate some of the more flavoursome of foods that had otherwise repulsed me with their pungency. In other words I stopped being a fussy little bitch (to some extent anyway - don't even think about coming near me with those nasty mushrooms).

So here are the Top 5 Foods eaten by Maddy in 2009


5. Home-made Sushi.
Thanks to a nifty little gadget owned by the boyfriend's sister, there was a lot of sushi made this year. And it was good. None of this dry, minimal filling, falling apart shit. I'm talking perfectly sticky teriyaki chicken and avocado sushi dipped in sweet soy sauce and japanese mayonaise. Sushi win.

4. Fetta
Fetta is one in the category of foods-I-didn't-eat-before-this-year and therefore earns bonus points for so completely winning me over. I put it on pizzas, in pastas, on wraps, on toast with bacon and egg - you name it, I put fetta on it. It was easily the cheese of the year and let me tell you I wasn't sure anything would knock last year's winner Haloumi from the top spot. While I appreciate all types of fetta, special mention must be given to Danish Fetta for being both extremely cheap and extremely creamy.

3. Duck in Special Sauce
There is a little place in Fortitude Valley that has won the hearts and stomachs of many many Asian food loving humans. And I believe much of its success is thanks to one outstanding dish. I am of course speaking of Asian Fusion on Wickham Street and the dish is the spectacularly saucy Duck in Special Sauce. The name doesn't lie - this sauce is special. Thicker and richer than oyster or soy and less sickly than sweet and sour, it's tastiness defies logic. Add to that some crispy deep fried duck and you can see why this hole in the wall restaurant packs out every Saturday night.

2. Liz Hickey's Apple Cake
This was a tough decision. It really was. Apple Cake vs Yoghurt Cake. There could only be one winner. They both have their own strengths. Yoghurt Cake has icing so creamy and rich that it leaves me a little weak just thinking about it. But it was Apple Cake's overall flavour (love the hint of coconut), it's texture (light and fluffy mixed with the juicy apple bits) and it's ability to go so well with custard that ultimately secured it's place as the second best food eaten by Maddy in 2009 and the only dessert on the list. It's a mystery how the Talented Mrs Hickey makes this delight but I hope she doesn't stop.


but the winner is...

1. Avocado
A most unexpected winner considering I would not touch it's mushy green flesh before February this year.  I came around, slowly but surely, and am now officially obsessed. Is there anything better than sticking a knife into the ripe outer shell of an avocado (love the satisfying ripping feeling), cracking it open and seeing perfectly creamy green flesh ready for the eating? No. There is not. While I ate him many ways, I found avocados tasted best on fresh sour dough bread with salt, pepper and a squeez of lemon juice. Simplicity wins the day, folks. Avocado is the best food I have eaten in 2009.

Next list...Top 5 Movies Maddy Considered Walking Out of in 2009