Just as, after a leisurely banquet, conversation inevitably turns to storytelling and reminiscing, in much the same vein we like to devote our final column of the year to the highlights of the past 12 months. During the course of 2002, we have cast our spotlight on more than 60 restaurants, bars and cafes. All, in their own way, are worthy of note, some of them are excellent -- and just a very few we would judge brilliant.

So here, for no other reason than to celebrate the existence of fine food in this city, are the Food File's six of the best for 2002.