Zoobilation 2014 favorites

Five edibles and one drink served as highlights, for me, of this year's Zoobilation.

But before I get to them, let me make clear that I did not sample all 90 or so offerings dished out at this year's epic Zoo fundraiser (only, I think, about 80 of them).

Also, let me echo what a friend observed: It's potentially a positive sign for the economy that there was more protein and less pasta being served at this year's event. And given all of the fancy duds combined with eating-while-walking, it's likely to be a boom weekend for dry cleaners. 

All that being said, here were my favorites:

–Braised Lamb in Moroccan BBQ Sauce from Meridian

–White Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding from the Rathskeller

–Shrimp and Grits from Matt the Miller's Tavern

–S'more on a Stick from 240 Sweet (rolled in graham cracker crumbs–just the right touch)

–Ruth's Chris' Veal Osso Buco Ravioli

–On the drink front, I might have spent far more time getting back in line at Plat 99's booth for its Smoked Ruby Port if I wasn't serving as my own designated driver. Barrel-aged for 30 days, this sublime combination of Applejack, Ferreira Port, and mezcal was a treat even without the espresso-aerated chocolate that accompanied it. 

So, Zoobilators, care to add anything to the above list? What were your favorites?