Last year
was definitely exciting with the number of new openings, pop-ups going
permanent, burgers, ribs and things like that. I was sure that this year
wasn’t going to match the relentlessness of the past two, but I guess I
was wrong, especially with burgers – there’s never more choice and of
such high quality. You can even get a decent burger in a supposedly Thai
cafe, by someone who won a michelin star cooking Thai food. Next year
though, we will get Shake Shack, but till then, I think the toast for
the time being is Patty & Bun.
2012 has also entertained the rise of Ramen. The three pioneers
Tonkotsu, Bone Daddies and Shoryu between them have amassed their own
set of loyalist, which is great, and so it’ll be interesting to see how
this gathers pace. It must also have been a banner year for Pitt Cue Co,
really they do fantastic ribs, and maybe they’ll have made enough to
afford a bigger place to fit us all in.
But what I’m most happy about is the re-emergence of the French
Brasserie – truly back with a vengeance. LOVE Garnier & the
impossibly affordable Zedel. About the only new trend, I didn’t get were
the Peruvian offerings. Maybe next year.
Anyway, so for what it’s worth, as I do every year, here are twelve moments in my calendar that stood out from the rest…
