After months of anticipation, the latest restaurant from Dickie Brennan is set to open on Jackson Square in conjunction with Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre.

New Orleans' food scene continued its fast growth in 2012, with a mix of high profile openings and hallmarks of foodie culture that brought new geographic areas and even more national attention. In the New Year, more new openings will ensure that we'll never struggle to find a place to eat. Here's the best of 2012, and what to look for in 2013:

Over the last few months, NoDef has witnessed much drama at Le Petit; much of it off-stage. An offer from the Brennan's Restaurant Group has been recommended by the board to the membership. Today, our drama critic, Jim Fitzmorris, weighs in on the deal.

FRENCH QUARTER - Even though Le Petit Theatre's deal to sell the French Quarter playhouse to Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group is still pending the outcome of a vote of the membership, Brennan and the Theatre's Board of Directors presented their plans for the reconfigured space, which will include a Brennan restaurant, today. The rollout was designed to answer critics of the sale, lead by the Theatre's independent Guild. Last month, Guild President Jim Walpole filed a temporary restraining order to halt the sale until a full meeting of the membership is held. At the media preview today, the Board laid out the new floor plan (pictured after the jump), and Brennan representatives gave a detailed preview of the new restaurant that would occupy part of the existing Theatre's space.

We were somehow able to resist a palm reading long enough to stop by Le Petit Theare for a press conference on the Jackson Square theatre's future. The theatre's board announced a deal with restaurant Dickie Brennan is in the works that would see a new eatery and renovated theatre at the St. Peter St. spot. But not everyone's going home happy. For background on the story, read this. Otherwise, click through for the play-by-play.

This time, it was not too many chefs spoiling the broth; the broth was spoiled by the oil, and the chefs were in the gulf to see the sea firsthand. Paul Prudhomme, Dickie Brennan, and an all star crew of local chefs took a painful fieldtrip to the gulf yesterday. Elsewhere, Chuck Subra of La Cote Brasserie has put together another team of chefs to prepare food for the volunteers and fishermen toiling to defend our shoreline.