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As is tradition at Eater, we close the year with a survey of food critics, writers, and bloggers. This year we posed eight questions, from meal of the year, to top restaurant newcomers. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of 2014. Responses have been cut, pasted, and unedited, for the most part. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.
Describe 2014 in one word:
Lesley Chesterman, The Gazette fine dining critic:
Renewal: Lucille's and Thursday's rejuvenated, a strong new team at Les 400 Coups, talented chefs like Joe Mercuri, Jean-Philippe St-Denis and Jean-Francois Vachon back in action, and the Rouyé family who struggled so much on the Main but are now flourishing in the Laurentians.
Ève Dumas, La Presse food writer:
Boom!
Andrée Harvey, ex-Voir food critic:
Inspiration.
Marie-Claude Lortie, La Presse restaurant critic:
Transition. I think we are moving from a very meat-heavy style of cooking to a more refined vegetable centred approach, with the return of the classic French style (as in L'Express). But we are not quite there yet.
Gildas Meneu, Voir food critic, creator of le gourmet galopin blog:
Merroir: les nombreux terroirs maritimes qui nous donnent d'excellentes huîtres, de plus en plus disponibles dans les restos, comme au North End, au Majestique ou chez Notkins.
Sarah Musgrave, The Gazette casual dining critic, enRoute magazine editor:
Strategic.