Honestly, I feel a little insane for dropping this Best New Restaurants list in the midst of *everything*. Had many moments of “what is the point!!!” and “do we really need this list right now?” https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/best-new-restaurants

However, I wanted to honor these 10 restaurants. A pandemic doesn’t cancel their hard work!!

To have to pivot so hard, especially in your first year in business, is an unbelievable challenge. And they have done it with such grace.

I also kept a restaurant on this list that has now closed. It’s reality of this moment in time. No matter how many accolades a restaurant gets, or how beloved their food is, they really might not survive.

But I also want to talk about equity. I struggle a lot with list making, especially Best New Restaurants. it was deeply important to me to loosen the definition of what gets to count as a “restaurant.”

The idea that a restaurant has to have four walls and a front door is bullshit. It’s limiting. Not everyone can afford to open a brick-and-mortar spot. Not everyone wants to! All food trucks, stands, & pop-ups were fair game this year as long as it was regularly accessible.

And let me tell you, i’ve never eaten more incredible and delicious things!! But I am not sure that this one change is enough as far as equity goes. Not everyone has the same access to resources and I am thinking of more ways I can level the playing field.