29 Insanely Good Dishes That Aren't Up For a Flood's Award
Curries, crudos, kebabs, and more — these dishes were too good to snub
The 3rd Annual Flood’s Awards are right around the corner. I’ll be kicking off the process next week by announcing the nominees for each category on Instagram. Then, on Dec 22, I’ll be sharing the award winners, along with a write-up for each, right here on Substack. You can read up on last year’s winners here.
The 2024 Flood's Awards
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Among the awards, choosing nominees and winners for the “best dish” categories has routinely proven the hardest. Top restaurants and favorite songs often fall neatly into place, but paring down every good thing I ate in a calendar year is a different beast. Insanely good dishes that I think about, talk about, and crave sometimes miss the cut. It’s just how it goes.
But this year, rather than chop those dishes, I’m giving them a spotlight of their own. I’ve rounded up the just-off-the-list items as a precursor to the awards to come. They’re dishes worth going out of your way for, from restaurants that seriously impressed me this year.
29 Insanely Good Dishes That Aren’t Up For a Flood’s Award
01] Raw Sobrassada with Honey — Mountain London, England
02] Vol au Vent — Ha’s Snack Bar New York, New York
03] Tam Tam Wings — Tam Tam Miami, Florida
04] Spicy Fish Fillets & Kung Pao Chicken — Birds of a Feather Brooklyn, New York
05] Confit Duck Leg Udon — Kisser Nashville, Tennessee
06] Dal Makhani — Tamil Prince London, England
07] Bánh Cuốn Hà Nội — Bánh Anh Em New York, New York
08] Chicky + Ham & Cheese — Salty Lunch Lady’s Little Luncheonette Queens, New York
09] Sunday Roast — The Devonshire London, England
10] Italian & American Hams with Zeppole — Torrisi New York, New York
11] Cardeau Cru, Sungolds — Mon Lapin Montreal, Quebec
12] Lake Michigan Perch — Oak Parker Oak Park, Michigan
13] Confit Oyster — Penny New York, New York
14] Chicken Liver Parfait — Bar Bete Brooklyn, New York
15] Seekh Kebab — Angel Queens, New York
16] Rigatoni in Heritage Pork Ragu — Rolf & Daughters Nashville, Tennessee
17] XO Duck — Bridges New York, New York
18] Trompo Negro Fuego — Tacos del Valle Mexico City, Mexico
19] Leavitt Street Smash — Leavitt Street Inn Chicago, Illinois
20] Makhlouta Soup & Fattouche Salad — Le Petit Alep Montreal, Quebec
21] Niku Udon — Don Udon Brooklyn, New York
22] Sea Trout — Heron Edinburgh, Scotland
23] Crispy Whole Fish — Bong Brooklyn, New York
24] Tomato Pie with Stracciatella — Elena Montreal, Quebec
25] Beef Tongue — Berbena Barcelona, Spain
26] Muva Fish — Yemenat Brooklyn, New York
27] Kebabs — Dearborn Meat Market Dearborn, Michigan
28] Pad Krapow — Épicerie Pumpui Montreal, Quebec
29] Peanut Chili Pork Hand-Ripped Noodles — Pomelo Edinburgh, Scotland
Somehow, there’s still more to come... follow along on Instagram and keep an eye out for the nominee post next week. And subscribe below to get the Flood’s Award winners hand-delivered to your inbox on the 22nd.

































Making me hungry sir !
Two impeccable Nashville dishes! Signed, a grumpy Nashville native