The 12 most delicious dishes we tried in 2022

In 2022, we finally left the house. As soon as COVID-19 cases decreased, we returned to the markets. We squeezed into a spot at a communal table in a tianguis, elbowed our way in at taquerías, and greeted diners at another table in a restaurant. Perhaps we traveled. Perhaps we sat to watch the sunset in a plaza. We fell in love again with the outdoors, with closeness, and of course, with the cuisine of distant authors.The kiwilimón editorial team was no exception. The year that is coming to an end gifted us flavors, combinations, and textures that anchored themselves in our minds and hearts like pins in a pincushion. The twelve dishes we present to you below were our favorites so that, if the new wave allows it, you can also enjoy them.1. Pulpo al pastor at Arca, Tulum Arca will make you feel like you've lost yourself in a jungle oasis. Its rustic wooden tables and chairs, along with palm trees, very much in Tulum style, might distract you from the fact that this is the 29th place on the LatinAmerican Best Restaurants list. Chef José Luis Hinostroza isn't afraid to combine gourmet elements with street food, light with shadow, yin and yang, to create balanced combinations. This is the case with the pulpo al pastor: cooked al dente, with the flavors of achiote and guajillo, contrasted with strokes of lentil puree. To top it off, this dish is beautifully arranged so that your eyes won't go hungry either. Pair it with a bite of pulque bread, a sip of natural wine, and voilà!: you'll have a complete experience.2. Palak Paneer and Punjabi Chole at Curry & Kebab, CDMXUpon arriving at this Bangladesh cuisine restaurant, your nose may know the truth before your eyes: you eat VERY WELL here. Every ingredient, every seasoning is placed at the right moment and with the correct technique. So much so that cloudy days simply dissolve with Chef Zobor Ali's food. This is the case with the palak paneer made with creamy spinach and Indian cheese or with the Punjabi chole made from chickpeas bathed in a slightly spicy curry. The best way is to serve yourself a mountain of fragrant basmati rice, and then, little mounds of palak paneer and Punjabi chole orbiting around the sides. Of course, this mountain is better conquered with one of their breads than with a sad fork. And so, one bite at a time, it's permissible to reclaim the sense of life, the feeling of breathing in the present.3. Seekh Kebab at Mari Gold, CDMX Norma Listman, Saqib Keval, and their team have made it their mission to build a small culinary oasis in CDMX, where flavors of Mexico and India merge to create complex and unique dishes. The best example is the seekh kebab, a mix of spiced lamb and beef served with roti, raita, and the star of the show: a spectacular tomatillo chutney that will surprise your taste buds. We hope Mari Gold continues to tell this love story between the culinary traditions of Mexico and India for many more years.4. Tacos castacán in black recado sauce at Salón Gallos, MéridaWithin Salón Gallos, the restaurant, gallery, cinema, and bar on the outskirts of downtown Mérida, you will find a menu that pays homage to Yucatecan-Lebanese fusion cuisine and is an absolute delight. Without a doubt, the most prized gem on the menu is the tacos de castacán in black recado sauce, made with pork in an unimaginably flavorful black sauce, accompanied by a vegetable salpicón. The complex has beautiful architecture that is comparable to its countless cultural activities, which shine even more at night and are enjoyed alongside its culinary delights, as well as cocktails from its bar.5. Lamb Obi Udon at Fideo Gordo, CDMX Fideo Gordo has taken the city by surprise with a fresh, simple, and bold proposal at a time when eating gluten is almost a sin. Chef Edo Nakatani, heir to the creators of the famous Japanese peanut, delights us with incredible dishes, among which the lamb obi udon stands out, which has a very Mexican touch: barbacoa, serrano chili, onion, and cilantro. It's as if Japanese noodles and Mexican food were made for each other. Thank you, Edo Nakatani, for enlightening us with your flavors.6. Salbute with black filling at Mercado Viejo, Chetumal Starting at 7 am, this market has everything you need to satisfy your hunger and enjoy your journey through Quintana Roo. And although the pork tortas from Taquería Ávila are tempting and delicious, you also have to visit the public dining areas and lunch counters in this market. At any stop you choose, opt for the salbute with black filling. It's a Mexican culinary gem! It includes all the Yucatecan flavor: with its corn tortilla fried in pork lard and a generous portion of black filling, made with turkey, pork, and a mix of chiles that only in this corner of Mexico know how to prepare like this. You'll have the protein and flavor you need to keep traveling!7. Traditional mixed paella with jumbo shrimp at La Mallorquina, CDMXLa Mallorquina is a stylish Spanish restaurant with unmissable dishes from the Motherland. To start, let yourself be surprised with a rich charcuterie board, an order of 3 almost perfectly shaped ham croquettes, or the oxtail tacos that will make your mouth water just by looking at them. For the main course, we recommend going for a classic that hardly ever goes out of style: the traditional mixed paella served with perfectly seasoned jumbo shrimp, ideal for sharing with up to 2 more people. It’s a real treat. They will surely suggest you try the garden salad; don’t miss the opportunity because just by looking at it, you’ll want to live in it forever. To accompany your dishes, the best choice will be a good glass of house wine or one of the fresh cocktails from their extensive menu. To finish off on a high note, don’t hesitate to ask for a slice of cheesecake with a scoop of ice cream.8. Hot Campechana at El Changuirongo, Mazatlán In Mazatlán, there is this space of gastronomic delight. You find their cart on the street and in a very modest, super tasty spot, with shells and fresh seafood that are unmatched. Oysters, clams, and scallops are always fresh on your table. If you order a ceviche, especially the special one, it comes with shrimp, octopus, conch, and unparalleled fish. Their dipping sauces are a delight, the place even more so, and let’s not even mention the service. If you want to leave with an unmatched flavor, try their Hot Campechana, a well-served cocktail with shrimp broth, octopus, scallop, and clam in broth. The best part is that at Changuirongo, they treat and pamper you as if you were at home, or even better!9. Charred cheesecake at Polpo, CDMX In the famous Parían passage, located in the heart of the Roma neighborhood, you will find Polpo, a small gastronomic bar that for just over a year offers a wide variety of charcuterie, cheeses, and international tapas that pair perfectly with its robust selection of wines and cocktails. While the culinary offer of this gastrobar is wonderful, there is one dish that stands out above all: the dessert. The signature sweet moment of Polpo is a delicate charred cheesecake with rosemary, topped with a smooth pink guava compote. Perfect to enjoy on its own or to cap off any evening in style.10. Leche de tigre at Limbus Restobar, Cusco The fantastic restaurant with a panoramic view in the San Blas neighborhood of Cusco also features a wide range of signature dishes, among which the leche de tigre stands out, a spectacular ceviche made with trout, chullpi, sweet potato, corn, onion, lettuce, trout chicharrón, and cochayuyo, that combines the authentic flavor of Peru. You can pair it with any of the special cocktails on the menu, but undoubtedly, the one that makes a difference and which you can also use to give a twist to the classic pisco sour is David Jones, a special drink inside a chest that contains a heart of pisco infused with Dactylopius Coccus, lemon cordial, ginger, pineapple juice, peach syrup, and an acidic formula. If you go to Peru, Limbus Restobar in Cusco is a must-visit, you won’t regret it!11. Honey duck magret at Le relais gascon, Paris If you find yourself in Paris, don’t miss this bistro near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. At Le relais gascon, you find true love through dishes based on the best available products. The cooking temperature and the harmony of flavors contrasted with a good glass of house wine makes you feel at home even if you’re not Parisian. This classic French dish is drizzled with organic honey sauce, which, along with blanched green beans dressed with extra virgin olive oil, elevates the product to the maximum. How can you forget the crispy and soft potatoes that accompany it? Its slightly sweet flavor transports you to the countryside. “People who love the good things, love the beautiful,” said the bistro's slogan. From the first visit, you will find much truth in every word.12. Omurice at Kichi Kichi, Kyoto in CDMX After nearly two years of postponement due to the pandemic, famous chef Motokichi Yukimura brought his iconic show from Japan to our country. For a week, the cozy restaurant Deigo Ramen became an extension of Kichi Kichi in Kyoto, where he prepared his omuraisu, better known as omurice. While omuraisu is simply an egg omelet placed over a base of fried rice and drizzled with a demi-glace sauce, what makes Kichi Kichi's omurice a spectacular dish is its peculiar preparation, as Chef Motokichi prepares it amid laughter, jokes, juggling, and even while dancing and singing Kichikichi Happy Omurice. If you have the chance to travel to Kyoto, Japan, you cannot miss this experience, as Kichi Kichi's omurice is one of those dishes that, beyond satisfying your appetite, feeds the heart.