Best Of 2018

Best Dining Trend: Gourmet gas station food

photo from DaJen Eats by rob bartlett

Gourmet gas station food

While still bastions of junk food depravity, area gas stations are beginning to dabble in nibbles geared to gastronomes, giving new meaning to the term "filling station." There's the tesoros escondidos of Mexas Tacos and Tamale & Co.; the small-batch sinkers of DG Doughnuts; the bacon-crazed creations of the Sugar Sow; vegan-Jamaican sandwiches and rice bowls of DaJen Eats (up until she opened her own spot in Eatonville); the Trini-style rotis at Valmicki Roti Shop; and soul seafood and wings at Virginia's. Fill 'er up.

Food and Drink: Orlando's best coffee shops, restaurants, food trucks and more

Best Bakery: Valhalla Bakery

1. Valhalla Bakery, valhallabakery.com

2. Se7en Bites, se7enbites.com

3. Buttermilk Bakery, buttermilk-bakery.com

Best Barbecue Restaurant: 4 Rivers Smokehouse

1. 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com

2. Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa, pigfloyds.com

3. Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ, bubbalous.com

Best Beer for Bands: Namesake beers for local bands at Ten10 Fest

Namesake beers for local bands at Ten10 Fest

ten10fest.com

Live music at a brewery isn't exactly a new concept, but Ten10 Brewing Co. on Virginia Drive went a step beyond for their Ten10 Fest this past October. In addition to inviting 10 mostly local bands to throw an all-day hootenanny in their back parking lot, they invited five of those bands to brew their own signature suds to serve. From American Party Machine's Fireball cinnamon whiskey-inspired red ale to Fat Night's hibiscus-infused pale ale, the variety of brews gave the festival a little extra local love that we hope to see replicated again.