You get one Christmas wish for the Fayetteville food scene. What would it be?

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Hi foodies,

What’s on your Christmas list?

The question seems to be on the tip of everybody’s tongues as we put up our trees, turn on the holiday tunes and make travel arrangements.

My answers, unsurprisingly, are food-and-drink related: an upgraded air-fryer (the one my husband and I received as a wedding gift is falling apart after two and a half years of near-daily use), the Basics with Babish cookbook, a kombucha-making kit and a bento box.

But what if you could make a Christmas wish for the Fayetteville food scene? As vast and varied as it is, nearly everyone has an opinion on what could make it better.

Earlier this year, we polled readers about the restaurants, grocery stores and cuisines they want the most. With hundreds of responses, the results ran the gamut from Hawaiian fast food and Asian eateries to big-box retailers and upscale grocers.

When I asked the newsroom yesterday, my colleagues introduced some new answers to the mix.

Beth Hutson, news director and lead editor: I wish Fayetteville had a vegan fast-food restaurant. Fayetteville has seen more plant-based options lately, and I think this would be a great addition to what's already available.

F.T. Norton, military and public safety editor: I wish there was an Italian market or grocer.

Andrew Craft, staff photographer: I want an Ikea so I can eat their Swedish meatballs.

Rachael Riley, military reporter: I want a cat cafe.

Lexi Solomon, government watchdog reporter: I want a sit-down Cuban restaurant.

James Moore, high school sports reporter: I’d love a Farmside Kitchen like the one in Durham. It’s New American cuisine with fresh farmbowls and salads.

I’ve written before about the small chains from my native central Ohio that I’d love to see here, like Bibibop and Brassica. I’m pretty psyched about Culver’s coming to Hope Mills, too.

But for my Christmas wish, I think I’d have to ask for a Whit’s Frozen Custard. The small chain serves up my favorite sundaes, shakes, cookie and custard sandwiches and blended "Whitsers" akin to Dairy Queen's Blizzards.

I’ll admit that nostalgia plays a role, too. I had a blast working at the Hilliard, Ohio, Whit's during my high school summers, and in college, my friends and I frequented the original store in Granville, Ohio.

Vanilla and chocolate custard are made fresh daily on-site, as well as a rotating weekly flavor, and sometimes a fourth daily flavor. My favorite is the almond joy: coconut custard choc-full of chopped almonds, shredded coconut and chocolate flakes.

Needless to say, I'd be thrilled if a Whit's popped up in Fayetteville. Right now, the nearest is in Hillsborough, which is about an hour and a half drive.

What do you say, Fayetteville Foodies? Email me your Fayetteville food scene wishes at tshook@gannett.com.

Happy eating,

Taylor

Taylor Shook writes about food, dining and business for The Fayetteville Observer. She can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What are you wishing for Fayetteville's food scene this Christmas?