With just two weeks to go until the new year, it’s time for Foodie to reflect on Fayette’s dining scene.

Without further ado, here are some of the things that Foodie is happy about this year:

• Old standby restaurants like the City Cafe and Bakery, the Village Cafe. These restaurants show that Fayette Countians are willing to support genuine, independent restaurants in the vast expanse of chain restaurant dining. Still, we need a lot more of these dining destinations before we become a real foodie’s paradise.

• Breakfasts at Melear’s, the Original Pancake House and Mike and C’s. To me, the best meal served at Melear’s has always been breakfast. The Original Pancake House has great omelettes and pancakes.

If you haven’t been to Mike and C’s in the Publix shopping center on Ga. Highway 74 south in Peachtree City, and in Fayetteville you’re really missing one of the best breakfasts in the county.

• The rapid jump in ethnic dining choices in the county. The county has always had a plethora of Mexican restaurants, but now we have several Thai restaurants in the county. My wish list for 2005 would be a really nice French bistro, along the lines of Brasserie Le Coze in Atlanta and another Italian restaurant or two.

While the dining scene has improved, the county still has a long way to go. I’m amazed that more independent restaurants haven’t decided to locate here, since Fayette County has one of the highest per capita incomes in the state.

Maybe during the next year, some of our local economic leaders will actively work to court some Atlanta chefs to open branches of their restaurants in the county.

I’d love to see Chef Kevin Rathbun open a Rathbun’s or Krog Bar in town. There’s a not a place to go and enjoy tapas, and Rathbun prepares some of the best in Atlanta.

Mu ultimate Christmas wish is for a Bacchanalia south in Peachtree City. It’s simply the best restaurant in Atlanta and Fayette’s foodies would love the food and the general presentation offered by chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison. Well, one can always wish..

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