3. Guy Fieri's Restaurant Destroyed In The Press; Pete Wells' Review Goes Viral

New York Times dining critic Pete Wells gave Guy Fieri's newest restaurant, Guy's American Kitchen and Bar, a scathing review, starting off the piece by asking him, "have you eaten at your new restaurant in Times Square?"

The review, written entirely in question-form, is kind of hilarious.

"When you saw the burger described as "Guy's Pat LaFrieda custom blend, all-natural Creekstone Farm Black Angus beef patty, LTOP (lettuce, tomato, onion + pickle), SMC (super-melty-cheese) and a slathering of Donkey Sauce on garlic-buttered brioche," did your mind touch the void for a minute?...Were you struck by how very far from awesome the Awesome Pretzel Chicken Tenders are?"

Coincidentally, Guy didn't think it was very funny, claiming the critic had "another agenda" when he wrote his review. Despite the public bashing, it turns out irony-seeking diners are flocking to Times Square to get a taste of Flavor Town.

2. Foie Gras Banned In California

This year, the foie gras controversy continued as California banned the use of the product, the creation of which involves the force-feeding of birds to deposit large amounts of fat in the liver of ducks and geese, in July.

Suppliers immediately halted shipment to the state, the biggest market for foie gras in the U.S., but several restaurants continued to serve the dish, stocking up on the product pre-ban and asserting that foie gras can be made humanely.

1. Chick-Fil-A Vs. Gay Rights

In the biggest clusterfuckup of the year, Chick-Fil-A COO Dan Cathy made a series of public comments opposing same-sex marriage, spawning wide-spread public reaction and media coverage. Cathy's comments, along with the outing of the company's millions in donations to political organizations that oppose LGBT rights, prompted protests, boycotts, and counter-rallies across the country. Not surprisingly, even Sarah Palin got in on the action, right here in the Woodlands. Chick-Fil-A has since pledged to re-evaluate anti-gay funding and stay away from political commentary.

Thanks 2012, it was...interesting. Here's to less hate, an equal amount of controversy and more mashed potatoes in 2013.