The Ten Weirdest Moments in Food: 2012

2012: The year of weird food.

Looking back at 2012, we noticed a big trend -- weirdness. A lot of weird stuff happened in the food industry.

From a fast-food joint with a political stance to a sweet grandma becoming an overnight sensation for a restaurant review, the food industry took a ride to crazytown this year.

A lot has happened to make us laugh, yell, and think.

Read also:
- Short Order's Most Popular Stories of 2012

Here are the ten strangest food stories of 2012:

ABC

10. Marilyn Hagerty Reviews Olive Garden and Becomes a National Sensation
When Grand Forks Herald food reviewer Marilyn Hagerty wrote a stellar review of the local Olive Garden, she never thought her article would receive more than 400,000 hits. The 85-year-old wrote that "the place is impressive" and the décor is "fashioned in Tuscan farmhouse-style." Of course it garnered snarky tweets, but in the end, Hagerty became a sensation. Since the review was published, Hagerty was written about in the New York Times, made the network morning show circuit, guest-judged on Top Chef, and was handed a book deal by Anthony Bourdain.



9. Chefs Head Out to Sea
Twenty-twelve was the year for chefs to answer the siren song of the sea. The queen of butter, Paula Deen, has an annual cruise, filled with games, drinking, and lots of butter. The highlight of the 2012 cruise? A picture snapped of Deen enjoying a burger with gusto. Other celebs who jumped aboard the theme-cruise party boat are Therese Guidice, who's Fabulicious cruise set sail from Fort Lauderdale December 28, and the Top Chef cruise, where fans can join in on quick-fire challenges this April. Hmm, unlimited piña coladas, knives, and the open ocean. Sounds like the makings of a really good time.