The Best Meals of 2006

As a testament to the priorities in my life - I ate well in 2006.
The year would have been far less enjoyable without the following meals.

• Ben's Fennel pasta – fresh fennel + goat's cheese + prosciutto + chilli + peas + cream + linguine = happiness.
• Dan dan noodles at Xiao Ting Box on Victoria St, Richmond – the Shanghainese version of spaghetti bolognaise, hot hot hot and totally delicious.
• BLT – just check it out
• Wild mushroom pizza at Ladro, Fitzroy – Each time I go to Ladro I try to order a different pizza in an effort to broaden my horizons but somehow this pizza ends up in front of me. It must be love.
• Bún bò xào at Than Ha, Victoria St, Richmond – I overdosed on pho in 2005 so I was forced to find an alternative. Here it is: rice vermicelli with stir-fried beef, chilli and lemongrass. Fresh, tasty and utterly satisfying.
  
  Honourable mentions go to: Pete and Celia's rabbit stew with spring vegetables; my favourite lunchtime roll with salami, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and beetroot; and my chilli (the absolute ultimate in comfort food – it has really never failed me).