365 x 3 = 1095. Granted, I don’t always eat 3 squares; the concept of mealtime, for a food writer, is fluid at best (& gooey at worst). But for the sake of context, let’s assume the epic eating sessions that span hours & the breakfasts that get skipped afterward balance out, & that I do eat nearly 1100 meals a year. Next, let’s suppose that at least 1/6 of those meals involve 2 dishes. That estimate is so conservative it probably just got elected—but if I start calculating the frequency with which I snarf down multi-coursers, my stomach will surely blow itself up in protest.

In sum: I’m choosing my Top 10 Tastes of 2010 (in no particular order) from nearly 1300 dishes—& I did it all for you (as I did last year—& some of 2009′s winners are still on-menu; check ‘em out). Yeah, you’re welcome. Click on the linked captions to see the original posts in which the dishes appeared, whether here or in my Gorging Global web column on Denver Magazine’s The Mouthful.

ChoLon’s Kaya toast with coconut jam & egg cloud

Tofu & black egg at East Asia Garden

Bratwurst burger at Euclid Hall

Potstickers at Lao Wang Noodle House

Pimiento cheesecake at Beatrice & Woodsley

Grilled mushroom salad at Izakaya Den

Roasted cauliflower salad at The Squeaky Bean

Smoked hamachi sashimi with fried yuca, Asian pear, golden raisins, smelt roe, & orange oil at Sushi Tora

Pistachio-mint-rubbed lamb ribs with rose blossom yogurt at Vesta Dipping Grill

I have no picture or record of this; it came as a total surprise. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Chorrillana, a Chilean specialty

Thanks for nothing, you’re saying, if I can’t get that mountain majesty of fries, eggs & beef here in Denver? Well, it’s true that after some thought I ruled out many an amazing dish on the grounds that it was consumed beyond city limits (though you can behold the bounty here). But how easy would it be to make this yourself? All you need is fries, eggs, beef, & a hangover.