Detroit Food Writers Predict the Headlines For 2018

As is tradition at Eater, we closed out the year by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Final question: What are your headline predictions for 2018? Readers, feel free to share your thoughts below. (Here’s how participants responded last year.)

Melody Baetens, Features Reporter, Detroit News:

More restaurants adopt automatic or built-in gratuity to ensure their staff is paid more evenly.

Lexi Trimpe, Web Editor, Hour Detroit:

Well, it seems like it’s always safe to predict that there will be at least a few more breweries and burger joints in 2018.

Mark Kurlyandchik, Restaurant Critic, Detroit Free Press:

“Max Hardy revealed to be nice robot who runs entirely on ginger beer and requires zero sleep”

“Can someone please find Marcus Samuelsson’s missing scarf, so he can go home already?”

“Duggan taps Dave Kwiatkowski as city’s first official food and beverage czar after ‘emperor’ title deemed too controversial”

Brenna Houck, Editor, Eater Detroit:

“James Rigato Opens Detroit’s First Puppy Cafe For Shelter Pooches”

“Local Coney Island Unveils $150 Per Person Tasting Menu”

“Record Number of African Restaurants Bestowed on Detroit in 2018”

Serena Maria Daniels, Editor, Tostada Magazine:

I think there will be more questioning about the city’s food system. What’s working, what’s lacking, who’s benefitting. We’ve had a few years of giddiness, which is great, I think Detroit deserves celebration for its progress. But 2018 will be a time to get back to work.

Nick Britsky, Beverage Director, Thrillist:

“Sour Mix Banned From Bars by Mayor Britsky”

John Reyes, Ann Arbor Contributor, Eater Detroit:

2018 may finally be the year that Filipino food will hit the mainstream — but that’s not an invitation to come over to my house for Filipino food. I also believe that there were will be a lot more excellent food options opening up in unexpected places — strip malls, backs of stores, etc.

Dorothy Hernandez, Contributor, Eater Detroit:

“Weekly Asian night market launches this summer” (this is more wishful thinking on my part)

“Burger fatigue spurs uprising among diners who demand something different, anything”

• All Year in Eater Coverage [ED]