Coral Gables, Fla. named top US city for foodies

Annual list identifies and ranks America’s foodie cities 

Coral Gables, Fla., has been named the top “foodie” city in the U.S. for 2015 by the organizations Livability.com

The city of 50,000 located just south of Miami headed the list of the Top 10 Best Foodie Cities, 2015. The cities on the list were cited for strongly supporting local farmers, showcasing regional cuisine, and providing residents with an innovative and eclectic mix of restaurants and delicious food.

In announcing the results of this year’s list, Livability.com noted that “foodie culture” continues to grow in the U.S., along with associated movements including farm-to-table and craft beer brewing. In addition, many cities are encouraging restaurant districts and boutique dining and are reaping the benefits of those current trends.

“You can go on and on about how a strong foodie culture benefits a city economically and leads to more vibrant downtowns,” Matt Carmichael, editor of Livability, said in a statement. “But let’s be realistic. It’s really all about having a variety of great food to eat. Who doesn’t want that in their town?”

Livability.com is an organization that conducts exclusive research to determine what makes small to mid-sized cities great places to live, work and visit by evaluating a variety of livability issues including walkability, cultural amenities, transportation, urban planning, and sustainability.

When choosing the best foodie cities, Livability’s editors first analyzed census data to find cities with high concentrations of restaurants and bars. Using data from a variety of sources, they looked for cities whose residents choose to eat at independent restaurants rather than chains or fast-food establishments. The editors also looked at access to healthy food and farmers markets, which provide at-home cooks with fresh ingredients.

Finally, the editors considered another current trend.

“Just because these cities have great food doesn't mean they should be eating it to excess,” the group said, “so we also factored in the adult obesity rate.”

Beyond a certain point, what constitutes “good food” is subjective, so the editors also weighed other factors like James Beard Award winners, Michelin stars and even Yelp! reviews. Finally, they used their own experience and judgement to narrow the list into the final Top 10.

And the winners are:

Top 10 Best Foodie Cities, 2015

1. Coral Gables, FL
2. Omaha, NE
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Duluth, MN
5. Rockville, MD
6. Bellevue, WA
7. Stamford, CT
8. Tempe, AZ
9. Burlington, VT
10. Walnut Creek, CA

View the entire report here.

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Photo by Carl Dombek
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