Here are the things I and my podmates want. What about you? What's on your 2011 wish list.
Beer pairings -- There is a great untapped (pun intended) audience for thoughtfully offered food & beer pairings. I'm hoping more places get with it this year.
Dim Sum -- Not a day goes by without someone's buttonholing me about this. I'm willing to give Zhongshan another try, but I want the carts on wheels, too.
Dog-friendly restaurants -- I don't hang with a dog, but if I did, I'd want to be able to have him with me when I went out to dinner. I'd make sure he stayed close by and kept quiet, I promise.
Good music -- Baltimore Sticky Rice, a big hit with families by the way, is miles ahead of almost every other casual joint in town when it comes to consistently programming appropriate and enjoyable dinnertime music. Go listen.
Korean Fried Chicken -- It'd be cool if this crispy treat showed up as the house specialty at a great bar.
Macarons -- I am sick of reading about them; I want to eat them, at least until we all get sick of them. For a disambiguation of macaroons/macarons, please go here.
Quick construction -- I miss Donna's.
Ramen shops -- "GUYS, I'm not giving up on this one, I want a ramen shop." -- Don Quixote
Seafood shacks -- On the waterside, preferably, with picnic tables, fun places that serve up a fried specialty or two and ice-cold beer
Shabu Shabu -- This trendy style of hot-pot dining is spreading too slowly for some of its impatient fans who want Shabu Shabu here and now.