1. Ginger
With a peppery and slightly sweet flavor and a pungent, spicy aroma, ginger has been increasingly gracing menus over the past few years with no sign of slowing down. Now we’re seeing ginger move beyond traditional preparations like Asian recipes, sweets such as gingerbread and gingersnaps, and beverages like ginger ale. New standout uses of ginger include innovative cocktails, chicken wing sauces and smoothies.
A menu example: the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe's Sweet & Fiery cocktail, with Absolut Peppar vodka, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, blue curacao, lemonade and ginger beer, garnished with a red pepper and served in a Mason jar.