The Year's Best of The Best

 This is the time of years for lists. There's the best , the worst, brightest, richest.It applies the same for food and drink.what make the cut this year?

The New York Times food section asked this and presented their bes tof 2023 lists(although this really should be done at the end of the year - there are two more weeks for that. Recipes, restaurants and libations. The recipes are a wonderful blend of savory and sweet. Home chefs will appreciate the Marry Me chicken, a Tiktok sensasation that has chciken married with sun dried tomatoes and heavy cream along with butter, tomatoes paste and Parmesan cheese . This delightful dish supposed ly has brught on several marriage proposals.  Another good dish is the white chicken chili, redolent with cumin and jlapenos.As for sweets, we're lucky to have the Magnolia banan pudding recipe, a perfect holiday dinner dessert and the comforting lemon pudding. There is also a recipe for a refreshing summery drink called tinto de verano from Spain. The drink, whose name means summer wine is a blend of  sweet vermouth, lemon lime soda , simple syrup and dry red wine. It's a nice breezy break from the usual holiday cocktails.

Of course there are the best wines also listed . Eric Asimov heads it off with a Prosecco spin off called Ca DeiZago Valdobeladene Mariarosa Frizzante 2022.Little known indigenous grapes are used to make it instead of the usual glera sort. There are also mid century sherries from Spain , Olaroasa, that are worth trying and sipping;One was from an island vinyard where the terroir produced a more robust flavor. There is also a good German emruch-Schomleber Monziger Resiling Kabinett 2021. It is lightly sweet and delicate, very fragile in taste. You may want to sip any of these whe you lookover the Food section's extensive  best cookbook list. The choices do not disappont and would make excellent Christmas gifts.Every cuisine is mentioned. For those who absolutely adore Chinese cuisine, get  A Very Chinese Cookbook 101 recipes From China and Not China (But Chinese Really)  The book contains detailed photos and tips from the authors, father and son team Jeffrey and Kevin Pang.Restauranteur Brecia Lopez has written an extensive book on Mexican grilling Asada , The Art of Mexican Grilling.

This has been a year of good food and drinking . Follow these lists for excellent recipes and liquors along with great holiday gifts. They really are at the top of their field.