We’ve already told you what some of the restaurant business personalities liked about 2009, their biggest dining surprises and their favorite meals. Here, we give you some of San Francisco’s restaurant industry folks’ interesting answers they had when asked, “what do you think was the biggest dining surprise in 2009?”
Joe Hargrave, Tacolicious: “Just how badly Tony Bourdain’s depiction of San Francisco sucked.”
Jan Newberry, San Francisco Magazine: “That so many great new restaurants opened in a year when the predictions for the industry were all gloom and doom.”
Jessica Battilana, 7×7: “Sandwiches. I guess I should have seen it coming, economy, blah blah, but I was surprised to see a million sandwicheries open up last year. And glad too. I like a good sandwich. Also, I know a lot of restaurants closed last year, but I am surprised—and pleased—to see how many survived. It’s a testament to our town—people really like to eat. Restaurants and food are important here. That’s a nice reassurance.”
Rajat Parr, RN74: “How easily Bay Area diners have embraced esoteric wines.”
Brett Emerson, Contigo: “The increasing popularity of unconventional alternatives to restaurants (like gourmet food trucks), the growing use of Twitter and Facebook by restaurants to connect with their guests, the recent changes at A16/SPQR and Laiola, the sad closures of Eloise and Zinnia. Within our four walls, we’ve been happily surprised that many of our guests are as enthusiastic about Spanish and American artisanal hams and Spanish anchovies as we are.”
Nish Nadaraja, Yelp: “18 Reasons”
Anna Weinberg, South: “Scotch eggs at Wexler’s-very nostalgic for those of us from the Colonies.”
Sarah Sung, UrbanDaddy: “That there’s still a demand for cupcakes.”
Bruce Hill, Picco/Bix: “Nombe.”
James Oseland, Saveur: “That Americans could cook at home. And do a pretty amazing job of it.”
Lucchesi: “I, for one, cannot believe: That there is still only one In-N-Out—sans drive-thru—in this entire city but there are 20 La Boulanges; That someone didn’t write a 3000-word puff piece on a lemonade stand in Dolores Park; That places like Seasons, Silks and Asia de Cuba are still open; That Tony’s Pizza is legit and in North Beach; That someone thought Uptown Joe’s spending $61,000 on advertising and promotions was a good idea; and despite the lack of chance-taking this year, how consistently solid so many SF restaurants continue to be.”
Via: Eater SF
