The life of a foodie is a dynamic one, embarking on a new journey with every bite and blowing joyfully on the winds of change as the culinary art marches ever onward. Also, it’s delicious. From bacon-flavored everything to molecular gastronomy, food fans have had seen some real change over the past few years, and 2013 was no exception. Here are ten fascinating food stories that made us laugh, cry, and, most importantly, eat.

1. The government shutdown made food safety a real concern

Regardless of your political preference, food fans faced a common plight with the shutdown of the Federal government. With appropriations funding in alarmingly short supply, the US Food and Drug Administration’s was forced to suspend “the majority of its food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics activities,” with relation to seafood, produce, and packaged foods. In all, 45% of the FDA’s staff was furloughed, which meant less eyes on labels and diminished consumer appetites.

2. Taco Bell continued to revolutionize the taco

Food is hot business, but no food was hotter this year than the Doritos Locos tacos of Taco Bell. The traditional taco wrapped in a junk food fan favorite was the perfect combination of ridiculous, hilarious, and delicious, becoming the most successful product launch in the fast food franchise’s history. At 100 million sales in 10 weeks, 2014 could very well be the year of chip-covered creations.

3. The ultimate chicken recipe was crowned

Chicken is no stranger to competition. Wing eating and hot sauce have crowned and claimed many competitors over the years. But thanks to Buzzfeed, this year saw the coronation of a Thomas Keller as chicken king. With salt, pepper, and some string, it turns out anyone can make the greatest roast chicken ever tasted. And if a recipe beats Julia Child, you now you’ve got something good on your hands.

4. Paleo diets became en vogue

If simple eating is your thing, then 2013 was a good year for you. The Paleo diet, which prescribes foods based on what cavemen supposedly consumed, puts an emphasis on fruits, veggies, lean meat, seafood, and healthy fats, and eschews dairy, grains, legumes, starches, and (of course) processed foods. The proponents and opponents both had strong voices in the argument but one thing remains clear: Paleo is officially a part of the conversation.

5. Climate change cost us the dollar menu

Okay, so the menu now includes $2 items, so perhaps the prognosis of affordable fast food is a little pessimistic. But regardless of the specifics, the price of cattle has risen with the increasing severity and frequency of droughts. Franchises were forced to adapt to this change with a price hike and a little re-branding. This means you’ll still find dollar fries at your local fast-food joint, but you’ll need to order them from the “Dollar Menu & More” (because apparently the “two-dollar menu” wasn’t as catchy).

6. Chipotle remembered that vegetarians exist

But while 2013 brought hard times to burger lovers, vegetarians found a new friend in the foil wrapped burritos of Chipotle. By acknowledging the simple fact that vegetarians have both wallets and dietary restrictions, the Mexican eatery made waves with its tofu burrito. With annual tofu sales around $250 million, the burrito joint managed to sate veggie lovers and accountants in one fell swoop.

7. A Minneapolis restaurant crowd-sourced $250,000

It would take an impressive display of ignorance to call the food community dispassionate, but even fervent fans were shocked when Minneapolis restaurant Travail reached their $76,000 Kickstarter goal in only six hours. By the end of the campaign, the ambitious entrepreneurs had curried a cool quarter million in startup funding for their unique establishment. If nothing else the event demonstrated that foodies reward good ideas and good taste in equal measure.

8. The FDA considered a ban on trans fats

If you look up the term “hot button” in the dictionary, the words “trans fat” would be emblazoned in neon directly adjacent. The health threatening chemicals found in many processed and fried foods saw less than friendly treatment when the FDA proposed measures to prevent the inclusion of the insidious lipids in popular foods. With overwhelming scientific evidence to validate trans fats’ sour reputation, the artificial oil faces an uphill battle to say the least.

9. Online farmers’ markets that deliver became a reality

The appeal of a farmers’ market is easy to understand. The headaches of parking, crowds, and inclement temperatures are not. For these reasons, it’s no surprise that the traditionally unplugged institution is finding legs online. Good Eggs and AmazonFresh both offer the convenience of Internet shopping with the integrity of farm-grown food within certain metropolitan areas, but it’s surely only a matter of time before eCommerce yields the Etsy of food markets.

10. Big Food spent millions fighting GMO labeling

If there were a support group for dirty food terms, “trans fat” would be holding “GMO”‘s hand in solidarity. Political activism, conflicting bodies of evidence, and extensive product investment by major food companies came to a head when Initiative 522 was met with vehement opposition and spending to match. The measure, that would have required special labeling of products containing GMOs, was a battle royale that came no closer to solving the GMO puzzle than science has.

From government regulation to crowd-sourced creativity to chip wrapped tacos, 2013 was an eventful and compelling year for food fans. The docket of culinary happenings left nothing to the imagination, which is saying something for a crowd that welcomes bacon-flavored ice cream. 2014 will have some big shoes to fill but don’t worry, the politicians, sous chefs, and restaurateurs will surely have something cooked up for us before we’re done with our tofu wrapped burritos and $2 nuggets. At least we won’t be hungry while we wait.