NEW YORK, Dec 3 — The foodie elite at the burgundy guide Zagat have named Washington DC the US food city of 2016.
In their list of “The 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016,” the US capital took the top spot following a banner year.
Aside from the historic shake-up in the country's leadership, the city also experienced major developments at the culinary level in 2016, including the arrival of its first Michelin guide and a string of high profile restaurant openings that have contributed to the dynamism of the city's food scene.
While Zagat restaurant ratings are based on guest reviews, the Michelin guide is based solely on the reviews of anonymous inspectors who evaluate restaurants on the quality of the food. Service and decor do not figure into the starred system.
In October, the inaugural Michelin guide for dining in the US capital was released, with a trio of restaurants making their debut with two stars: Minibar by celebrity Spanish chef José Andrés, Pineapple & Pearls and The Inn at Little Washington.
No restaurant received the highest three-star standing, which denotes a dining destination worth the journey.
Zagat editors also point to the string of new restaurant openings that are shaking up the dining options, including RPM Italian by US reality TV stars Bill and Giuliana Rancic, Pizzeria Vetri and The Shaw Bijou, among others.
“Most longtime residents would agree that DC was stuck in a dining rut for decades, and it's almost as if someone hit the fast-forward button,” say Zagat editors.
Rounding out the top five spots are Los Angeles, Denver, Boston and Seattle.
To compile the ranking, Zagat looked at cities that experienced the biggest growth spurt, award recognition, new openings and media attention.
Zagat's not the first to pronounce Washington DC the US food city of 2016.
In August, Bon Appétit magazine pronounced the capital the restaurant city of the year, for the new wave of “fearless” neighborhood eateries.
Here are the top 10 food cities of 2016 according to Zagat:
Washington DC
Los Angeles
Denver
Boston
Seattle
New Orleans
Asheville, NC
Philadelphia
Charlotte, NC
Atlanta — AFP-Relaxnews
