As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. We've already covered Top Standbys, Top Newcomers, Top Dining Neighborhoods, 2011 in one word, Biggest Dining Surprises, Best Meals and Restaurant Breakups. And now: predictions for 2012.
Following in the path of District Taco, might more food trucks go brick-and-mortar in 2012? [Photo: Marc M./Yelp]
Q: What are your dining world headline predictions for 2012?
Dan Silverman, editor, Prince of Petworth: If 2011 was year of the Burger and Food Truck — 2012 is gonna be year of Ramen Noodle Shops and we're gonna see more food trucks opening brick and mortar shops.
Mary Kong, editor, Girl Meets Food: "José Andrés Announces DC Council Run...on Twitter."
Missy Frederick, reporter, Washington Business Journal: I bet we’ll see continuing DC interest from celebrity chefs/restaurateurs from other cities; maybe someone like Jose Garces will be the Stephen Starr Rumor of 2012.
Amanda McClements, editor, Metrocurean: Chicken Skin Is The New Bacon — Diners No Longer Care What The New Cupcake Is — Artisanal Commission Cracks Down On Rampant Abuse Of Word 'Artisanal'
Anna Spiegel, assistant food and wine editor, The Washingtonian: "Crack Pie: the Official Dessert of the District." — "Sekacpuc Open to Huge Crowds in Georgetown: frosting-on-the-bottom-cupcakes are a sweet fit for the backward name." — "Pickled Ramp Debuts on 14 Street: A Sustainable, Local, Farm-to-Table, Repurposed Resto is Here to Stay" (until winter, when it will change name/decor to Wild Beet).
Mike and Elizabeth Bober, editors, Capital Spice: More food trucks expand into brick-and-mortar locations (whether permanent like District Taco or pop-up like BBQ Bus).
Alejandra Owens, freelance writer: “Bourdain: Speechless”
Rachel Tepper, assistant editor, The Huffington Post: Forget small plates... let's go micro!
Nycci Nellis, publisher, The List Are You On It: Noodle shops and all their spicy goodness finally open up around the DC Area.
Chris Shott, food editor, Washington City Paper: Coconuts and other produce will start talking back to José Andrés. He might not like what they're saying.
Svetlana Legetic, editor, Brightest Young Things: PICKLES EVERYWHERE. They kind of already are but still). AND MAYO. PICKLES AND MAYO EVERYWHERE.
Jamie Liu, food editor, DCist: Bourdain backlash. I personally love the guy for speaking his mind, and agree with much of what he says; he's way more in touch with reality than many food personalities. But it seems his public bad boy/potty mouth persona has made him a caricature of himself, and we're already seeing some people who think he's taking it too far. I think we'll start to see more of that in 2012.
Todd Kliman, restaurant critic, The Washingtonian: Cupcake Banh Mi Pizza Burger Debuts, Immediately Announces Plans for Expansion — Michael Landrum Launches New Restaurant Ray's: The Roof, Won't Tell Anyone Where It Is — Restaurant Won't Apologize for Charging for Water, Levies Chair Tax — First Restaurant Without Functioning Kitchen Opens for Business — Celebrity Chef Makes Appearance in Own Restaurant — Pastry Chef Wows 'Em with Actual Slices of Pie, Cake — Boutique Pizzeria Defends Its 'Soupy' Pies, Defiantly Announces New Menu Item: 'Pie Soup' — Amuse Bouche Restaurant Opens, Promising "Next Level Experience" for Grazers, Dieters and the Already Thin — Waiter Asks "Have You Dined with Us Before?," Spontaneously Combusts.
Jessica Sidman, dining editor, Bisnow Media: Tacos! I've been saying it for months, but I think gourmet tacos are the next big trend. There's an unmet demand for great Mexican food in DC. Tortilla Coast is coming to Logan Circle this month and Mike Isabella is opening his new Mexican restaurant in Georgetown, but I think that's just the beginning.
Jeff DuFour, editor, UrbanDaddy: Wine starts making a comeback.
Tommy McFly, Morning Show Host, 94.7 FreshFM: Paula Deen and Anthony Bourdain open Buttered Wildebeest Food Truck.
Do feel free to add your own answers in the comments.
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