2024 wrap up
my favorite food, bev, media, and more of the year
It’s that time yet again— another year wrap up!
Favorite Cookbooks
Matty Matheson, Soup, Salad, Sandwiches | I had been anticipating this book release all year, and it delivered. I’ve already made a handful of soups and salads from the book, and each one will now be on steady rotation!
Alexa Soto, Plantas | I had the honor of helping Alexa cook for her first ever book release dinner, for her friends and family. If you’ve been wanting to feel more confident with vegan cooking or try vegan meals, this would be the perfect place to start!
Pasta Everyday | I’ve worked through a fair amount of pasta cookbooks in my time, but this tops them all. It’s so educational, the structure is perfect and the recipes are delish. I cannot recommend this one enough!!
Favorite Restaurant / Bakery / Bar
Soba Ichi, Oakland, CA | My favorite meal of 2024.
Kingfisher, San Diego, CA | Zach and I went here for our wedding anniversary this year, and everything we drank and ate was a 10/10. Most worthy to mention, their whole fried rockfish dish with ginger sweet and sour, rice noodles, pickled green papaya, and black vinegar-chili oil cucumbers.
An’s Dry Cleaning, San Diego, CA | Since we’ve moved to San Diego, I think we’ve been here at least every other week. That’s because the gelato flavors are constantly rotating. My favorite flavors were the olive oil rosemary with their black sea salt, and the strawberry and passion fruit sorbet.
Fish Guts, San Diego, CA | If someone came to visit us, this was on the list to take them. I love a smoked fish dip, which is their appetizer option. But their tacos are the star. The de coco (coconut battered Baja shrimp - Mexican coleslaw - pico de gallo - chipotle aioli) and de hongos (oyster, cremini, and shiitake mushrooms - roasted tomatillo salsa - Manchego cheese - crispy Manchego cheese) are my top favorites!
Hella Bagels, Albany, CA | When Zach and I went to the Bay for a wedding this summer, we went to Hella Bagels probably… 3…4 times.. They are one of my top favorite bagels of all time. Too many good ones on the menu to make it through, and everyone I had I craved the next time, but had to try one of the others on my list!
Convoy Music Bar, San Diego, CA | We went with friends for Zach’s birthday this year for our very first time, and it’s one of my favorite speakeasies now. The vibes were top notch, so cozy..and the cocktails were so balanced and thoughtful. One of my drinks of choice that night made it into the next favorites category, I’ll talk more about there.
Favorite Wine / Bevs
Lost Ranch Viognier | I first tried Lost Ranch Winery at Nat Diego, a natural wine festival in San Diego, this summer. Lost Ranch is a natural winery in Temecula, CA
Chateau Khashmi Mtsvane | I’ve been on a Georgia wine obsession this year, and this is the wine that started it all.
Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot Fleurie Origines | My second obsession this year has been Beaujolais and this is the first one I always recommend to people to try for the first time.
Martini from Convoy Music Bar | the smoothest, cleanest, crisp martini I have had. The only martini I crave again and again and again..
Favorite Media (books / newsletters / podcasts / music)
Books: Wine Folly: The Master Guide by Justin Hammack and Madeline Puckette / Butter by Asako Yuzuki
Newsletters/Memberships: The New Wine Review /
/ San Diego Zoo MembershipPodcasts: Wine Access Unfiltered / Worst Day of Your Life…So Far! by Carla Lalli Music
Music: Bright Future album by Adrianne Lenker / Serious Mass album by Marx Bianco / and of course like the rest…Brat by Charli XCX
Film: Zach and I became AMC A-List members this year (3 “free” movies a week, with a monthly subscription) and it has been a life changer. I have seen 40 movies this year. Coming to a total of 67 hours 44 minutes of my life spent watching a film. To read Zach and I’s entire movie review of 2024, you can head here: his website. But if you just want my top 3 movies of the year, they were: Babes, Thelma, and Anora. Buuut you will have to go to that link to read just why… ;)
Hope you had a wonderful holiday, and a happy New Year! May all your manifestations and dreams come true ❤️
xo Courtney