It’s amazing how many best of lists and news items we see during the year. Whether it’s a dish, food style, food-hybrid, or general food-dom, Bergen County and New Jersey as a whole has made news this year. Here’s a recap:

The Daily Meal

The food website covers all kinds of food from all ways of life across the US, with New Jersey making the grade in many categories. That includes the Best Chinese, the Iconic Italian cookie, one of the best diners (duh), Italian restaurants (duh-duh), lots of great pizza, terrific French fries, amazing burgers, the Best Hot Dog in America, more great pizza, the state’s best pie, delicious cupcakes, the state’s best beer, the state’s best dive bar, and the state’s best Mexican food.

Thrillist

The male-centric lifestlye website likes a new brewery, the state’s best brewery, the state’s “official brew”, the state’s best sandwich shop, a great dive bar, some terrific burger, along with the most expensive restaurant in the state.

Drinking

Yes there are other good spots for booze in New Jersey (see a few above from The Daily Meal and Thrillist). Eleven Bergen County restaurants were “Award of Excellence” recipients and one was a “Best of Award of Excellence” excellence this year from Wine Spectator magazine and Latour in Hamburg made the Wine Enthusiast Best of List.

Bergen’s Best

Bergen County had two standout restaurant in terms of fine dining nationally by OpenTable. Cafe Matisse in Rutherford was named Most Romantic and Saddle River Inn was the big winner, being named to their list of 100 Best Restaurants in America.