Food

Food trends and recipes to keep menus fresh

Food

Global flavors enliven small plates

Choosing small plates offers diners the opportunity to try a variety of menu items and flavors—which, according to a recent report by Technomic, is what 70% of consumers are looking for in shareable dining.

Food

The state of the center of the plate

As 2013 winds down, 2014 trend predictions proliferate, reaching a critical mass sometime around New Year’s Day. A few preliminary reports are in and here’s what some reliable industry sources are predicting about what meats and other proteins will fill the entrée portion of the plate.

The three-meals-a-day routine is a relic of the past, as eating patterns conform to today’s busy lifestyles.

With summer here, there’s a lot of call for liquid refreshment, both alcoholic and non. Here are the latest beverage trends, according to data from Chicago-based research firm, Technomic.

A scan of the restaurant industry as it mobilizes for the busy holiday season reveals three ripples that could surge into full-fledged trends.

While salads remain the go-to healthy choice in restaurants—76 percent of consumers order salads with some frequency, according to Chicago researcher Technomic—49 percent of patrons would like more varied options.

Chefs and industry folks aren’t the only ones who blend pleasure and profession over restaurant meals. At Winsight Media, we are constantly tracking trends.

Low-cost indulgences by the big burger chains, the next steps in customization, and turning cabbage—the pickled type—into the green type.

At Moe’s Southwest Grill, a new item has about a 10% chance of making it from the idea stage to the menu, and the process can take as long as a year.

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

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