Full disclosure: I’ve got a thing for Maine. I went to college there, I got married there, I regularly vacation there. And I’ve always believed that Portland has one of the more vibrant, compelling food scenes, thanks in no small part to all that pristine seafood and craft beer. I’ve written about the Forest City (who knew it was called that?) and its restaurants more than any other city besides New York. I even called it America’s Foodiest Small Town in a 2009 story (wow, that title didn’t age well). So, why should you believe me when I declare Portland our 2018 City of the Year? And after years of me talking about it, why now?

For starters, it’s the sheer number of outstanding openings—from a tiny pastry shop that serves knockout Roman pizza to a Jewish-style deli that ranks up there with New York and L.A.’s best. And while you can still get an Instagram-worthy lobster roll and a dozen local oysters, you’re missing out if you skip the killer pho spot or the guy selling hand rolls out of a Yeti cooler.

No, this year’s award isn’t a case blind favoritism. It’s simply because this always-tasty city has never tasted better. Want more proof? Here are 20 ways to binge your way through it right now.

Start every day with a trip to Tandem Bakery. I find it almost impossible to order anything other than a biscuit slathered in butter and blueberry jam. Wait, I mean the sticky bun. No, the black sesame and banana tea cake. Then again, pretty much everything baker Briana Holt whips up is brilliant. Get a glass of on-tap Maine-made pét-nat Morphos, throw back expertly shucked oysters and baby scallops (when in season), and you could easily spend your entire afternoon at The Shop at Island Creek Oysters. Treat the high-energy Izakaya Minato like a sushi bar: Sit at the low-slung kitchen counter and ask chef-owner Thomas Takashi Cooke to give you whatever was swimming nearby yesterday (mackerel, uni, scallops). And when you’ve polished that off, order another glass of sake and a couple plates of JFC (Japanese fried chicken).