2016: Understaffed and Lots of Barbecue

In keeping with Eater tradition, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types and bloggers. To kick it off in Charleston, Eater asked the group eight questions, ranging from the restaurants they frequent most to the biggest surprises of the year. Responses are in no particular order, and readers are encouraged to leave answers in the comments.

Q. Sum up the 2016 restaurant world in one word.

Jenny Ouellette, writer:
"Veggie-forward." I don't know if I wrote any other phrase as often — and then deleted it and brainstormed synonyms to use instead.

Kinsey Gidick, managing editor for the Charleston City Paper:
Pitmasterpiece

Will Chesak, Eater Charleston contributor:
Understaffed

Miguel Buencamino, Holy City Handcraft and Eater Charleston contributor:
Expensive

Peg Moore, contributor and food critic for The Mercury:
Too-many.

Stephanie Barna, founding editor Charleston City Paper:
Barbecue

Hanna Raskin, food writer and critic for the Post & Courier:
Reinvented.

Brian Stetson, Eater Charleston photographer:
Hiring!!!!

Sydney Gallimore, Queen of the Food Age and Thrillist Contributor:
Barbecue

Vanessa Wolf, food writer and critic for Charleston City Paper:
Locally-sourced

Suzanne Cohen, critic for Charleston City Paper:
Barbecue

Erin Perkins, editor Eater Charleston:
#Brocked

Robert Donovan, photographer and contributor to Eater Charleston:
Understaffed and like the rest of the world, fucked.

Marion Sullivan, Culinary Institute of Charleston and food editor Charleston Magazine:
Overcrowded