As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. This year, we asked the group eight questions; all will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the week. You've already heard them discuss such categories as Best Meal of the Year. Now, it's time for them to Predict 2014's Dining Headlines. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut and pasted herein.
Michael Martinez, producer, The Kojo Nnamdi Show: "Chef Andres, radio host Nnamdi team up in new buddy cop film"
Warren Rojas, Heard on the Hill: Dunno. But I hope at least one involves the phrases "free fried chicken," "Warren Rojas" and "for life."
Prince of Petworth Dan Silverman, founder of PoPville: Grilled Cheese Bar is awesome, I can't believe it took this long to open.
Nevin Martell, freelance food writer (@NevinMartell) Next year will be all about survival of the fittest. There is an ever-growing glut of new places -- and plenty of well-established restaurants -- which are all competing for the same pool of dining dollars. It will be interesting to see who makes the cut and who falls by the wayside. I also continue to remain hopeful that someone will finally open the "All Gummies All the Time" candy emporium that I can see so clearly in my dreams.
Svetlana Legetic, co-founder and publisher, Brightest Young Things: "Can this rapid restaurant growth be sustained in the city?", "Beer gardens everywhere", "Revisiting old favorites vs. obsessing about new openings"
Jenna Golden, EatMore DrinkMore: Maybe something like "9th Street is the new 14th Street."
Tim Carman, Washington Post food writer and "The $20 Diner" columnist: "Yelp Buys Food & Wine Magazine, Fires Staff and Turns to User-Generated Content."
Sara Pepitone, food and travel writer: Waitstaff Needed! Line Cooks Needed!
Think about it: more restaurants; same amount of willing-able staff.
Stefanie Gans, Northern Virginia Magazine dining editor and critic: Gypsy Soul Opens in Mosaic District. (fingers crossed)
Jessica Sidman, Young and Hungry columnist: We'll continue to hear "Shaw is the new 14th Street" an annoying number of times.
As many Latin restaurants will open in 2014 as Italian ones did in 2013.
Mike Isabella will open even more restaurants.
In an attempt to one-up the ice cream sandwich-slinging bicycles (CreamCycle) and motorcycle (Milk Cult), someone will decide to launch an ice cream sandwich unicycle, which will subsequently be held in permitting limbo for months and months because the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs doesn't know how to regulate it.
The New York Times will write a food story about D.C. that doesn't mention politics or lobbyists—nah, that's wishful thinking.
Jennifer Nycz-Conner, editor, Washington Business Journal: More beer! MORE BEER!
Tom Sietsema, food critic, The Washington Post: Entrees stage a comeback (I type, hopefully)
Mary Kong-Devito, Girl Meets Food:
Michael Birchenall, Editor and Publisher, FoodService Monthly: As DC settles in after a boom of restaurant/bar openings, I can see surprise closings on the horizon in mid-2014.
· All Previous Year in Eater Coverage [-EDC-]
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