100 BEST ’13: Let’s Go Lactose! (Numbers 85-81)

For the fourth year in a row, I present the 100 most exciting dishes I’ve consumed during my food adventures around the five boroughs. Look for another five dishes every few days.

For those people who suffer from the lactose intolerance curse, I apologize in advance. But there was so much cheese, ice cream, and yogurt this year that made me thank my lucky stars that I don’t have to pop a Lactaid pill every time I want to indulge in some milky treats. Because I’d be popping one of those things every 10 minutes.

NUMBER 85: COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM at JE & JO

SADLY, JE & JO IS NOW CLOSED.

Je & Jo’s cookie dough ice cream is not just one flavor loaded with overly rich cookie dough chunks. Here every single  ice cream flavor features a helping of a different cookie dough mixed into the base for ultimate texture and flavor combinations. Sure, they offer an original vanilla with chocolate chip cookie dough, but also flavors like roasted banana with peanut butter cookie dough, nutella with hazelnut shortbread cookie dough, and a rotating boozy concoction (how does dark and stormy ice cream with ginger lime cookie dough strike you?) Price: $4 (4 ounce cups)/$10 (pints)

NUMBER 84: WHIPPED RICOTTA at BISTRO LA PROMENADE

SADLY, BISTRO LA PROMENADE IS NOW CLOSED.

This fancy French bistro is a little harder to get to since it’s almost at the west end of 23rd Street, but it’s worth the trek just for this housemade ricotta appetizer. So airy, you’ll forget that it has any calories. It’s drizzled with honey and sprinkled with thyme and olive oil and is absolutely delicious. On a slice of warm, crusty toast, it disappears a little too easily. But you’ll be dreaming of it on the entire walk back to the subway. Price: $11

NUMBER 83: YOGURT PARFAIT at PARADIS TO GO

At this gem of a take-out spot, you can find stellar sandwiches, salads, and one of the best chocolate chip cookies in the city. This year I discovered their unassuming yogurt parfait and I have not been able to get enough since. Their homemade Greek yogurt is airy to the point of disappearing on your tongue. It’s layered with a sour cherry compote and topped with chewy, crunchy granola. It’s a perfect snack any time of day – just make sure you get there before they sell out. Price: $4.25

NUMBER 82: BURRATA at ESTELA

Homemade burrata has almost become a cliché at mid-level restaurants in this town. They’ve become so tired that I usually don’t order it anymore, even though it’s tough to resist a good creamy orb of cheese. I’m glad I succumbed to Ignacio Matos’ version at the new restaurant Estela. While the cheese itself is as creamy and soft as expected, the smoky charred bread soaking in a bright and herbal salsa verde shocks the tastebuds. Not to mention the bold garnish of sweet potato leaves that provide a sweet/salty finish. I’ll never look at burrata the same way again. Price: $15

NUMBER 81: YALDA YOGURT from THE WHITE MOUSTACHE

Hailed as a winter yogurt, I’d be happy to consume this all year long. The father/daughter team behind the White Moustache (which sells its yogurt concoctions at specialty stores and markets) produces a rich, dreamy yogurt from Hudson Valley milk that is both healthy and flavorful. For a surprising sweet/savory experience, they mix the Yalda with walnuts, raisins, and mint. It’s truly addicting and after the last spoonful, I continued scraping the jar in the hopes of one more taste. Price: $5