Prince Williams/WireImage Looking back on a year of Michelin, Keith Lee, and viral food 2024 was full of fun times for food lovers in DFW. There was the unexpected and (mostly) welcome debut of Michelin in Texas, a total eclipse that brought ever-so-many visitors to the Metroplex, some new favorite spots that you discovered on Eater Dallas, and, of course, there was Keith Lee. So, so, so very much Keith Lee and drama. These were the 10 biggest news stories on Eater Dallas in 2024. 10. The State Fair food finalists never disappoint Pretty much every year one of the stories about the wild State Fair foods ends up in the top 10. This year we’re giving the credit to Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick, the bite everyone was talking about, and that caused chefs across the city to hit Isaac Rousso up for his pork supplier’s information. It’s the new Fair staple, so get used to it. 9. The total eclipse had your heart Remember the total eclipse back in April? Our map to places to eat, drink, and watch sure garnered a lot of attention. What a fun day. 8. Boba and barbecue? It’s a yes B4 Barbecue & Boba slid into our hearts this summer after Tiffany Leigh reported on it. This little spot outside of Ennis combines two great tastes in a small town environment. If it inspired a road trip for you, you’re welcome. If not, make it your 2025 thing. Tiffany Leigh Take a look under the hood at B4 Barbecue & Boba. 7. The restaurant in a car repair shop The Shop Club inside Derby hit a lot of radars just in time for Father’s Day. It’s such a neat concept — and was just the right place for a lot of folks to take dad. We heard that brunch and dinner sold out on Father’s Day, in part thanks to folks discovering it from this story. We’re still thinking about that excellent stuffed grilled cheese sandwich. 6. Y’all still love Joe T. Garcia’s For the amount people complain about this place, you’d think it wasn’t worth going to. But tell that to the never-ending and never-depleted lines that stretch around the corner daily to get in. When Austin Anderson checked in to see what’s keeping the lines so long, what she found was that it’s keeping on based on sheer love. 5. When Keith Lee dropped one surprise last video There is more about Lee further down on this list, but after all the covering his on-going reviews of random eateries around DFW, he dropped a take on Roots Southern Table that really got our goat. This was our clap back, of sorts. 4. Foxtrot went down bad Gummy lovers all over Dallas gasped collectively when Foxtrot abruptly closed all its stores. Good news though, it’ll be back in 2025. 3. The viral Dubai chocolate bar This bar was all over social media, so local chocolatier Katherine Clapner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate made a yummy take on it. Apparently everybody wanted one. 2. Michelin came to Texas Uhhhh yeah, so that happened. Annie Mulligan 1. Keith Lee created the Keith Lee effect in Dallas Our running blog of what Lee said about various places that God himself only knows who told him to visit kept ‘em coming back. The drama that various owners created around themselves also kept the conversation going. It was a wild, wild week.