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I couldn’t let the year end without reflecting on several of the great food experiences I had throughout the past year. I came up with this post while steaming at the gym (ahhh my favorite winter pastime!) and thinking about how, a year ago, I never would have imagined the existence of this blog. I am ready to burst into 2010 and am really looking forward to all of the good things it will bring.

I will be blogging tomorrow but if you don’t get a chance to read, have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR! See you in 2010 🙂

Charleston– In January 2009 I took a business trip to Charleston, SC, a city I fell in love with, and ate at High Cotton, possibly one of the best meals of the year. Fried oysters, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits. . . who knew this Northern girl would love Southern food so much?!

Iceland– What started out as an AMAZING spa vacation also turned into a culinary delight!  Possibly one of the best vegetarian restaurants I have ever eaten in, A Naestu Grosum, is found in Reykjavik, inexpensive, warm, comforting, delicious veggie cuisine. A must visit in Reykjavik!

Becco– Another work trip, another great meal. Some perks are nice! 🙂 As someone who enjoys watching Lidia Bastianich on TV, I was excited to try her restaurant and completely pleased at the hearty, homey Italian food and friendly service. Our huge group felt like we were at a family dinner, thanks to the warmth of Becco.

Newport Food and Wine Festival I fondly remember this day as one of the best we had in the Autumn of 2009. Breathtaking scenery at the Newport Mansions, dozens of wine samples, small bites, Jacques Pepin, Joanne Weir, and good friends made it a trip to remember and one worth doing again. 

Bottega– On our first trip to Napa Valley, we were welcomed and wowed at Chef Michael Chiarello’s Bottega. Ambiance that can not be beat, highly professional service, the best of local wines, and well, I think my plate says it all about the food. 🙂

Craigie on Main Every impeccably executed course was better than the last, so artfully crafted, well thought out, and made with skill and love, paired with one another and with beverages to bring out the best of every bite. Love love love Craigie on Main.

My addiction to Myers + Chang– Post after post, brunch, after dinner, after lunch, I have enjoyed every bite eaten at this South End Asian eatery. Fresh, delicious, friendly, and innovative, I know that 2010 will bring more dim sum brunches, $1 oyster nights, and date nights at Myers + Chang. We were just there tonight 🙂

Cranberry oysters at Coppa – Sheer genius flavor combinations and completely yummy, I added this to my list because, though recently opened Coppa has me thinking about them, and especially their cranberry/prosecco topped oysters, often.

Foodbuzz Festival– Perhaps THE biggest highlight of my culinary, wine, and travel year, the Foodbuzz Festival would have been entirely impossible if I hadn’t started blogging. So that in itself made the past 7 months worth it. Two nights and one full day of food, wine, gifts, and great bloggers around every corner = an amazing experience and one that was pulled off fantastically by the Foodbuzz crew.

Coming up, I have wine classes and tastings, celebrity chef series, and some great trips, all of which I hope will be highlights of 2010!

What are you most memorable food moments of 2009? Any you are looking forward to in 2010?

We got a table! At long last, Coppa Boston has opened, and we were there for their first dinner. Now if you read regularly, you know that tonight I had planned a 30 minute hill workout and a Project Strength yoga workout. You also know that, to me, flexibility is one of the most important parts of marathon training. I received some not so great news today regarding my career, and with the rainy, gray weather and still being tired from a killer Monday workout, I decided that I needed to eat good food and sleep. That’s it.

I had also heard that Coppa, a new South End restaurant headed up by Chef’s Ken Oringer (of Toro gorgeousness, among others)  and Jamie Bissonnette, was finally opening after some delays. I for one was very excited to give it a try, so the hubs and I headed over to the South End after he picked me up from work.

Located on the corner of Shawmut and Milford Streets in a quaint little neighborhood, Coppa is across from  South End Formaggio  and Polka Dog Bakery. We arrived before 6:00 when Coppa opened and opted to have drinks at the Franklin Cafe. At exactly 6 we went back and were seated immediately. The inside of Coppa is small and cozy with wood floors and painted exposed brick. The bar features a blackboard with the cocktail specials and wine list scrawled on it and looks like the perfect place to sit for a couple of small plates and a drink or two.

We were seated at a table next to the bar and started with a pitcher of Aperol Spritz, a refreshing mix of Aperol, prosecco, and soda water. It reminded me of a very long time ago on a trip to Italy, the slight bitter grapefruit of the Aperol with the effervescence and sweetness of the prosecco and soda. The perfect choice.

We ordered a bunch of small plates, Island Creek oysters with cranberry and prosecco, arancini, burrata with sea salt and breseoala, skirt steak topped with cippolini onion agro dolce, and Brussels sprouts with pancetta, pecorino, and horseradish. After finishing those, we ordered more oysters and fried artichokes with aioli.

Where do I start? Everything was delicious, but the standouts for me were the oysters and the addictive Brussels sprouts. The sweet tart cranberry paired perfectly with the briny oysters. It didn’t hurt that the oyster truck was actually outside, and Chef Oringer told us himself that they had just been harvested. Nothing better than fresh oysters, except for oysters artfully topped with cranberries and prosecco! Then there were the Brussels sprouts. Thank you Chefs for having these on the menu! We all know how much I love these green globes of deliciousness, and Coppa prepares them with flavor and flair. They were on par with the Brussels at the Foodbuzz Festival. And that is a serious comparison. 

The hubby LOVED the steak. I didn’t try any of it but did have a bite of sweet cippolini onion, yum! The fried artichokes, with their ever so light batter and salty aioli and a squeeze of fresh lemon also topped the list. We tried so many dishes, and yet there are still so many that we wanted!

The music at Coppa was great, and the whole vibe was energetic and welcoming. The service was that of a restaurant on opening night, servers moving swiftly around, making it difficult for me to snap great photos, but making for a fun eating experience. The Boston Channel’s Chronicle was filming the opening night; check it out and maybe you will see us eating and trying not to laugh in front of the camera 🙂

Coppa is a welcome addition to the South End and is off to an incredible start. Our meal went off without a hitch, and the hostess was very interested in our feedback as I was leaving. Best of luck to this new restaurant, and if you are looking for a rustic yet chic Italian experience in Boston, check it out!