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, from Top Newcomers to Restaurant Break-Ups . All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the week. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted and unedited herein.
Dining world headline predictions for 2012?
The Chowfather, blogger: "Cobaya Nation."
Frodnesor, blogger: "Jewish Delis Return From the Dead."
Ryan Roman, blogger: "First pop-up inside of a pop-up opens and the concept is forever known as a 'Russian Nesting Pop-up.'"
Angelo Elia, owner/chef Casa D'Angelo:"It will be a great year for all restaurants."
Geoffrey Zakarian, chef/owner Tudor House: "Can Miami become the new Las Vegas?? We shall see."
Mario Tolentino, chef de cuisine of BLT Steak at The Betsy-South Beach: "Miami food scene has arrived!"
Shareef Malnik, owner/The Forge: "Healthier choices and even smaller plates."
Miguel Aguilar, chef, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar: "Back to the basics, simplicity."
Dewey LoSasso, executive chef, The Forge: "Molecular revolution becomes evolution."
Ivo Mazzon, executive chef of Joey’s Italian Café: "Joey's New Restaurant Opens in South Beach."
Richard Hales, chef/owner Sakaya Kitchen, et. al: "Food Trucks Find New Home As Barrier Reef."
Michael Bloise, executive chef SUSHISAMBAdromo: "The New McApocalypse Burger comes with Inevitable Death Lava BBQ Sauce and Fiery Demise Colliding Asteroid Chocolate Chunk Cookie (Limited time only, offer void where prohibited)"
Chef Jeremiah, gastroPod: "gastroPod Permanent Location."
Jonathan Lazar, co-owner Sustain Restaurant + Bar: "Macaroons and Localism"
Gabriel Fenton, executive chef Bourbon Steak: José Andrés and SLS Hotels Deliver the Best New Restaurant of the Year"
Louis Aguirre, anchor, Deco Drive: "More Gastropubs, Less Steak Houses and Less Stuff, Pretentious Haute Cuisine Restaurants. Inventive Fine Dining Concepts in More Casual, Approachable Settings"
John Kunkel, owner Lime, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar: "Small spaces and focused menus will dominate in 2012"
