The Top 10 Food Trends to Look Out For in 2017
Already a quarter of the way into 2017, we’re seeing strong signs of new and exciting food trends that are sweeping the nation’s savviest restaurants, so we’ve rounded up 10 top food trends that you need to know about this year so you can keep your menus fresh, exciting, and inspiring.
Which of the below food trends have you already spotted, or even adapted? Let us know by leaving us a comment, or send us a tweet @BunzlLockhart!
1. The growth of plant-based diets
With high-profile events such as Veganuary growing in popularity every year, and the number of vegans in the UK having increased by 360% in 10 years, it’s no surprise that plant-based diets (and in turn, plant-based restaurants) have been identified in Mintel’s Global Food & Drink Trends 2017 report as one of the biggest trends of the year. We covered the plant-based diets trend recently on the Lockhart blog and explained why it’s one to watch, as well as how you can tap into the trend – read it now to find out why it will be easier than you think to offer a meat-free menu.
2. Freakshakes are shaking up a storm
While we’re covering food trends in this list, ‘freakshakes’ are unique creations that fall under both the food and drink category – and in fact, almost defy categorisation altogether! These monstrous milkshake-slash-dessert concoctions consist of a large milkshake topped with cream, ice cream, sprinkles, fruit, sweets, cereals, biscuits, pretzels, and more…and then finished off with a slab of brownie, cake, cheesecake, or even waffles. Feast your eyes on our post about the freakshakes trend to find out everything you need to know, and of course, how you can start shaking up a storm.
3. All talk about tacos
Until fairly recently, Mexican food in the UK wasn’t widely available outside of the larger cities – at least, not the type of Mexican food that could be confidently called ‘authentic’, as many Mexican-seeming dishes, such as burritos, nachos and fajitas, were in fact created by Americans using signature Mexican flavours. However, as interest in Mexican food is in proliferation and more chefs are taking an interest in the ‘real’ flavours and dishes of Mexico, tacos are fast becoming the go-to Mexican dish. Forget the hard-to-eat hard shell tacos, though; soft shell tacos, made with small handmade tortillas reminiscent of those that would be found in a Mexican tortilleria, and filled with a variety of salsas, meats, vegetables and of course avocado, will be the only way to go. You’d better stock up on taco holders if you’re thinking of giving this trend a try!
4. Reaping the benefits of pickled and fermented foods
As with the plant-based diet trend, many 2017 food trends will be linked to the idea of ‘wellness’, and concerned with not only how a food looks and tastes, but also what it can do for our bodies. ‘Gut-friendly’ foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut and tempeh, and the drink kombucha, will be making it onto more menus as awareness of their health benefits, which are said to include reducing the effects of irritable bowel syndrome and bloating, improving fertility, libido and immunity, and boosting energy. Whether you believe these or not is up to you, but they certainly pack a flavourful punch for your restaurant dishes too.
5. Dishing it out with the bowl food trend
It may seem unusual for a food trend to be linked to a particular type of crockery, but the bowl food trend encapsulates several other food trends that all happen to share one common theme! Buddha bowls, smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and ‘naked burrito’ bowls (to name but a few) have all exploded in popularity thanks to online wellness bloggers artfully piling their deep bowls high with fruit, vegetables, beans, seeds and grains – and then posting those photos online, of course. We have the scoop on the bowl food trend in our blog post here, and you can find the perfect canvas for your bowl food creations in our extensive range of beautiful bowls.
6. Branching out with jackfruit
Perhaps an extension of the plant-based foods trend, this year vegetarian menu options are set to become even more interesting as more chefs experiment with new meat alternatives, including a mysterious fruit called jack. Already widely used in South and Southeast Asian cuisine, jackfruit, which was named the top food trend of 2017 by Pinterest, has a uniquely ‘meaty’ texture which makes it the perfect replacement for shredded beef and pork – when cooked, it even ‘pulls’ apart in the exact same way. This makes it the ideal vegan meat replacement for chefs that are looking to add more meat-free options to their food menu, without overhauling the menu altogether – and as it’s a fruit, it’s sure to appeal to customers that are looking for clever ways to add more fresh produce to their diets!
7. Edible flowers are blooming
A mainstay of Asian cuisine for decades, edible flowers are making the crossover into virtually every other kind of cuisine imaginable as more chefs are appreciating the delicate flavours and distinctive tastes that so many beautiful blossoms have to offer. No longer simply a superfluous garnish, edible flowers are being appreciated in their own right – and unsurprisingly, they’re a hit with the social media food blogger crowd too. Read our post on the edible flowers trend to discover more, and very importantly, find out which flowers are safe to eat!
8. Chocolate for breakfast (thanks to science)
As we covered in our previous post on why science says that you should add chocolate to your breakfast menu, ‘chocolate for breakfast’ is set to be a huge food trend for 2017 for one very specific reason: because according to several studies, it could be good for you! You’ll find all the details in our blog post on the trend, which was identified by Liz Moskow of the Sterling-Rice Group as being one to watch this year. We’re sure that your customers won’t need much persuasion to have a little chocolate cake with their morning coffee, or order a ‘breakfast dessert’, though!
9. The sous-vide trend is on the boil
Far from an innovative method of cooking, it’s interesting to note that sous-vide cooking has also been hailed by Pinterest as a top 2017 food trend – and its rising popularity is likely due not only to its ease, but also its many benefits for both professional and amateur chefs. The process of cooking food by sealing it in a bag, then immersing it in a hot water bath, is renowned for enhancing the flavours of foods, as the food (particularly in the case of meat) is cooked in its own juices, and so all of the flavours and aromas are preserved. It also cooks food more evenly and consistently, without much risk of overcooking, and without the need to use cooking oils it can also be a much healthier cooking method too. If you’re thinking of trying it out in your restaurant, our range of sous vide cookers and water baths deliver great results every time – and are far more reliable than using your washing machine for cooking sous vide, we’re sure.
10. Reducing food waste is vital
While we’re thinking about the food that we’ll be eating, it’s perhaps even more important to consider that which we don’t. As identified by Mintel, an overarching theme in the foodservice industry this year will be greater attention paid to reducing, and eventually eliminating food waste – something that is well overdue, as approximately 1.3million tonnes of the food produced for human consumption each year is lost or wasted, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. The topic of food waste is one that we’ve covered several times on the Lockhart blog, as we’ve looked at smarter ways to reduce your food wastage, and why sustainability is a crucial consideration for the restaurant industry, but most recently we’ve also discussed how recycling food is being utilised by both restaurants and producers to prevent yet more food from being destined for landfill, and how this is setting the theme for 2017.
If you enjoyed our round-up of this year’s emerging food trends, don’t miss our post on the top coffee and tea trends for 2017 – a must read for coffee shop and café shop owners that are looking for ways to perk up their menu!
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