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. So far, we've heard about their restaurant standbys, top newcomers, one-word summations, the worst dining trends, biggest surprises and best meals. Earlier today, they sort of confessed their restaurant break-ups. Now, to wrap up the Year in Eater 2013, they offer up their headline predictions for 2014. Readers, please chime in with your own predictions in the comments.
Expect plenty of Vinland in the headlines in 2014. [Photo: Corey Templeton Photography]
Q. What are your headline predictions for 2014?
Susan Axelrod, Press Herald/Maine Today online content producer, Maine a la Carte blogger, former Eater Maine editor:
Harding Lee Smith opens fifth restaurant; invites Chris Busby to help cut the ribbon.
John Golden, Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic, Golden Dish blogger:
A nationally acclaimed celebrity chef(s) will come to Portland to open a restaurant
Rachel Forrest, Seacoast Online food writer and restaurant critic:
"I'm not hungry, I'll just pick!" Small plate dining gets even smaller as we dine out on an array of delicious snacks to go with local brews, cider, and cocktails.
Claire Jeffers, Press Herald Bar Guide writer:
Miyake Diner; Vinland; Figa's new look (and new name?); new craft breweries.
Nancy Heiser, food and travel writer, former Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic:
Climate Change Threatens Waterfront Restaurants. And I am only partly joking.
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 school gardens and better food and food education for kids (Boy, I sure hope so). More winter farmer's markets. (Boy, I sure hope so.) Better health state-wide (Boy, I sure hope so.) More farms...more innovative takes on regional food. More fresh, healthy simple good Maine food. More land that stays available for farmers and not condo.
Meredith Goad, Press Herald food writer and columnist, Maine a la Carte blogger:
Big name chefs from away start sniffing around Portland.
Michael Cain and Meredith Perdue, Map & Menu bloggers:
Michael: Central Provisions will be amazing, Vinland will be one of the most creative new establishments, food trucks will grow in number and popularity, and I will eat my weight in donuts.Meredith: Judging from our preview at one of the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club's Hush Hush events, Central Provisions will surely be one of the best new restaurants in Portland in 2014.
Lard of Avon, Eater Maine top commenter, Midcoast dining advocate:
The New Avant Garde - Restaurants That Actually Want To Feed You Real Food Instead Of Wow You With Shock And Awe
· All Coverage of Year in Eater 2013 [~EMAINE~]