Popular food website Eater has just released their annual list of the best new restaurants in North America. Critic Bill Addison scoured the country for new places that push the boundaries of American cuisine forward. The list is diverse and features restaurants spread across 15 states. California and New York lead the way with 3 spots each, but there is still plenty of good eating to be had elsewhere.
Addison gave special mention to Pizza in his list. Much like GQ's Alan Richman said in 2009, Addison believes that the humble Italian dish has been elevated thanks to the work of American pizza craftsmen that continue to find new ways to reinvigorate the classic formula. He says:
"We'll never have too much first-rate pizza in America. In the last decade nearly every major metropolitan area has warmly received craftsmen who approach pulling mozzarella, hauling bags of double-zero flour, nurturing dough starters, and balancing acid in tomato sauce with monkish devotion."
4 of the 21 spots on the list are taken by Pizzerias. These are Pittsburgh's Bread and Salt, Denver's Cart-Driver, Pizzeria Gabbiano of Seattle, and Slab in Portland.
Some celebrity names also featured on this list. Dominique Ansel, the New York based pastry wizard credited with kickstarting the Cronut Craze, had his new Manhattan venture Dominique Ansel Kitchen featured. Here's what Addison had to say about Ansel's new cronut free spot:
"Wallow in virtuousness by ordering the vegetables en papillote with farro and a runny soft egg, then blow it up with an assembled-to-order special like the recent fraises de bois tart, an extravagance of tiny strawberries over vanilla cream and almond sponge."
Chef Ludo Lefebvre, of Top Chef and The Taste fame, was also mentioned in the list. His new LA outpost Petit Trois. Addison praises the French bistro for it's sumptuous omelette:
" It is Brigitte Bardot blonde, this smooth beauty, rolled around black pepper Boursin that quickly assimilates into the eggs. A scattering of chives and a lightly dressed side salad complete this Parisian daydream, rare in a world where most restaurant omelets arrive tanned and rubbery."
To see the rest of the list head over to Eater.com.
