Independent Restaurants

Food

Tough to say, easier to spot: 5 ingredient trends going mainstream

Since the surge of Sriracha, other hard-to-pronounce ingredients have been gradually popping up on menus, giving consumers both practice with tongue twisters and opportunities for exotic dining adventures. Here's a look at some striking ingredients on the rise.

Food

Menu predictions for winter ingredients

Even though we’re in the heart of summer, menu development plans for winter are underway. Here are a few ideas for keeping your options on trend.

Take autumn offerings up a notch by featuring seasonal favorites in new, unexpected ways.

Used to be that quesadillas, salsa and guacamole only showed up in Mexican and Latin-style restaurants.

Grilled apples, banana ketchup and berry gummies bring new life to common fruits.

Working at an upscale Boston restaurant, Paul Booras took a road trip with the chef when the first plump ones came off the vines.

It’s never good when employees make mistakes, but it’s even worse when they do it in a room full of reporters.

There’s a science to using beverages in a restaurant,” says Jon Taffer. “But the restaurant industry doesn’t use science. Restaurant owners use gut.”

This month, operators are breaking with tradition, or at least attempting to.

Like its sibling restaurant Le Pigeon, Little Bird Bistro in Portland, Ore., is a playground for adventurous palates. “We have whole roasted marrow bones, lots of foie gras, a charcuterie board with six items made in house, a lot of tongue and blood sausage,” explains executive chef Erik Van Kley. He shares his inspiration and preparation tips for his award-winning, dinner-for-two entrée, Whole Rabbit Porchetta, an ideal addition to the restaurant’s meat-centric menu.

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