Presenting the 2018 edition of the best things we ate and drank on our 2018 travels. (Ordered chronologically)

Food
1. Six course tasting menu – The Lakely : Eau Claire, WI
2. Umami Mama Pizza – Young Joni : Minneapolis, MN
3. Duck – Bardo : Minneapolis, MN
4. Hot Smoked Salmon Dip – Margot Cafe : Nashville, TN
5. Prime Rib Sausage – Von Elrod’s : Nashville, TN
6. Vidalia Pizza – City House : Nashville, TN
7. Scallop Cevice – N7 : New Orleans, LA
8. Little Gem – Bywater American Bistro : New Orleans, LA
9. Fried Chicken Sandwich – Toup’s Meatery : New Orleans, LA
10. French Toast with Fried Chicken – Paloma Cafe : New Orleans, LA
11. Chicken Roulade – Cafe Dodici : Washington, IA
12. Chinatown Sliders – Maven : San Francisco, CA
13. Tuna – Passionfish : Pacific Grove, CA
14. Fries with Aioli – Alaro Brewing : Sacramento, CA
15. Spicy Bolognese Pizza – Kerouac’s : Baker, NV
16. Crispy Pork Lettuce Wraps – East Liberty Tap House : Salt Lake City, UT
17. Mary’s Chicken – Pago : Salt Lake City, UT
Best Food City: New Orleans, LA

Drink
1. Koldt Vinter – The Lakely : Eau Claire, WI
2. Peanut Butter Porter – Dangerous Man : Minneapolis, MN
3. You Can’t Beet This – Bardo : Minneapolis, MN
4. Epiphone – Tattersall Distillery : Minneapolis, MN
5. The Mack – Parlour : Minneapolis, MN
6. Daredevil Pour Over Coffee – Barista Parlor : Nashville TN
7. Jack McCoy – Gray and Dudley : Nashville TN
8. Don’t Abandon the Ship – Attaboy : Nashville TN
9. East Bay Bruto – Bacchanal : New Orleans, LA
10. Ramos Gin Fizz – Bar Tonique : New Orleans, LA
11. Resting Haze – Black Sands : San Francisco, CA
12. California Cooler – Horsefeather : San Francisco, CA
13. Old Prophet – Horsefeather : San Francisco, CA
14. Fruition IPA – South Gate Brewing : Oakhurst, CA
15. The Firecracker – Kerouac’s : Baker, NV
16. Rolling Waves – East Liberty Tap House : Salt Lake City, UT
17. Warrior Poet – Death & Co. : Denver, CO
18. Phil Winkelstein – Mississippi River Distilling : Le Claire, IA
Best Drinking City: Minneapolis, MN

Best Overall Meal
Bywater American Bistro – New Orleans, LA
Other Best Restaurants
The Lakely – Eau Claire, WI
Young Joni – Minneapolis, MN
Bardo – Minneapolis, MN
Margot Cafe – Nashville, TN
Maven – San Francisco, CA
Kerouac’s – Baker, NV
Pago – Salt Lake City, UT

Best Hotels/Inns
Oxbow – Eau Claire, WI
Grand Hotel Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN
Hotel Metro – San Francisco, CA
Sunset Inn – Pacific Grove, CA
Stewart Inn – Wausau, WI