menu trends

Restaurateurs are giving their menus an upgrade

By Nancy Kruse on Oct. 02, 2023

State of the Plate: Menu trends columnist Nancy Kruse examines operators' push to make their menus more experiential with options such as truffle and caviar.

Food

Viral TikTok video inspires Panera Bread to curate new menu

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 26, 2023

The chain’s Roman Empire menu gathers items from the existing lineup that fans “can’t stop thinking about.”

Food

KFC Smash'd Potato Bowls join the chain's expanding bowl lineup

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 25, 2023

The latest innovation pairs fries and mashed potatoes with cheese sauce, bacon and more cheese.

Marketing

Enough with pumpkin spice already

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 19, 2023

Fall doesn’t officially arrive until Saturday, but pumpkin started flooding menus way back in the beginning of August. Have Americans had their fill yet?

Food

KFC and Popeyes duke it out for spicy wing sovereignty

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 18, 2023

During the height of wing season, the two chicken chains are taking to a new battleground in the aftermath of the chicken sandwich wars.

Food

Chefs turn to fungi to plot future of plant-based menus

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 17, 2023

Mushrooms are known to add meatiness to meatless cooking, but now the rest of the fungi kingdom is getting a shot in restaurant and foodservice kitchens.

Consumer Trends