As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, food writers, reviewers and bloggers. This year, we asked the group eight questions. Yesterday, they weighed in on their restaurant standbys of 2013 and their top newcomers. Now, they try to sum up 2013 in just one word. Responses are listed in no particular order; all are cut, pasted and unedited herein. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.
"Beverages" and "spirits" were two words used to sum up 2013, thanks to new places like the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club. [Photo]
Q: Sum up 2013 in one word.
Rachel Forrest, Seacoast Online food writer and restaurant critic: Porcine. Everything piggy.
Claire Jeffers, Press Herald Bar Guide writer: Reconstruction.
John Golden, Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic, Golden Dish blogger: Busy.
Nancy Heiser, food and travel writer, former Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic: Brussels sprouts. Did I say that last year? [Editor's note: Yes.] Probably. The petit cabbages are everywhere. Second? Spirits.
Kathy Gunst, author of 14 cookbooks (most recently, Notes from a Maine Kitchen), "resident chef" for NPR's award-winning show, Here and Now: More global flavors but more local ingredients. Woops that's way more than one word. LOCAL.
Meredith Goad, Press Herald food writer and columnist, Maine a la Carte blogger: Beverages. (It was the year of creative cocktails, the explosion of craft beer, new distilleries, craft sodas, and new wine education programs.)
Susan Axelrod, Press Herald/Maine Today online content producer, Maine a la Carte blogger, former Eater Maine editor: Pork belly (well, I know that's two, but ...).
Michael Cain and Meredith Perdue, Map & Menu bloggers: Michael & Meredith: We know it's two, but "Food trucks!"
Lard of Avon, Eater Maine top commenter, Midcoast dining advocate: Cronut....sigh.
· All Coverage of Year in Eater 2013 [~EMAINE~]