A lot of lists, just for you
And more Jabroni's details
It’s November, which means I’m starting to put together my Bangers-Only list for the year. A favorite subscriber told me the other week that it had been too long without a good list over here, so I’m compiling an early tease of the Bangers Only: 2024 post with a smattering of rankings and recs below.
But first we need to talk about Jabroni’s, a Bangers & Jams cooking pop up that is indeed happening on Nov. 23 in Los Angeles. Paid subscribers will get an invite tomorrow with all of the details to RSVP. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber or you’d like to give a subscription as a gift to someone in LA, head here and I’ll make sure you get all of the Jabroni’s details:
I’m capping the guest list at 30 people, because while this whole thing is a little insane, I’m not crazy enough to follow through with trying to cook for 50 people on my own. You can find the poster and a pared down, updated menu below.
Some people are flying in from New York for this. Others are bringing friends and family. It’ll be a blast. More details:
I’m not taking orders, the food will just come out family style when it’s ready.
This is not a ticketed event. Just a fun thing we’re doing to celebrate one year of Bangers & Jams.
It’s been a great year for country music. Expect to mostly hear that on the playlist.
If you beat me in backgammon, I’ll comp you here for life.
Wine and sparkling water provided, bring anything else you want.
Alright, time for these lists. My friend
and I spent years at ESPN running a concept he originated called 5x5. It’s the basis of his Substack publication now. I’ve decided to steal the conceit a bit over here, with 15 lists of five things — dishes, restaurants, trends — standing out to me as we tick closer to the end of 2024.15 lists of five
Mostly not in order
Dishes I always order
Fries
Sicilian crudo (no fluke)
A salad
Tartare
Crab
Dishes I never order
A menu’s single pasta
Fluke crudo
Meatballs
Entrees
Croquettes
Most visited restaurants this year (according to Resy)
Favorite restaurants in New York right now
Favorite restaurants in LA right now
Favorite restaurants in Austin right now
(That’s it)
Favorite savory dishes right now
Lobster | Penny
Comté tart | Bridges
Kimchi and cheese pithivier | Wildair
Sausage and potato salad | Stir Crazy
Duck-duck-duck tortellini | Cafe Carmellini
Desserts of the year
Everything Amanda Perdomo is doing at Kellogg’s
The boniato tapioca at Kato
A couple months ago at Baroo, featuring Andy's Orchard peach sorbet, a rice punch, peach snow ice and black sesame crumble
The ice cream sandwich at Penny
The chocolate soufflé at Horses
Sally Rooney texts, ranked in order
Intermezzo
Conversations With Friends
Beautiful World, Where Are You
Mr. Salary
Normal People
NYC Mexican restaurants people try to convince me are good but aren’t
Favorite breakfast spots
Courage Bagels | LA
Republique | LA
Macheen | LA
Tandem Bakery | Portland
Palace Diner | Biddeford
Meals legitimately worth a splurge
Yoshino | NYC
Torrisi | NYC
Kato | Los Angeles
Bell’s | Los Alamos
River Cafe | London
Cookbooks I’ve loved lately
The Four Horsemen | Nick Curtola, Gabe Ulla, James Murphy, Justin Chearno
The Cook Book Of All Time | Ashley Bernee Wells, Tyler Jeremy Wells
The Lil’ Deb’s Oasis Cookbook | Carla Perez-Gallardo, Hannah Black, Wheeler
Bavel | Ori Menashe, Genevieve Gergis, Lesley Suter
The Art Of Simple Food | Alice Waters
Most listened to artists this year
Cities I’m excited to eat in next
Santa Barbara/Los Alamos
Seoul
London
New York
Berkeley/Oakland/SF (keeping an open mind here,
)
Yellow Rose slaps
Here for the Blondshell love