Food Trends for 2011
Out: Vacations
In: Foodcations
Keep the skis and bathing suits at home and pack your kitchen knives and apron. We're all becoming food-crazed and enrolling in cooking classes in exotic places is something that families and spouses are sure to be doing more and more.
Out: Junk Airport Food
In: Gourmet airport food
We love what JFK has done with the JetBlue terminal and even some of the best chefs in the country are realizing there's a hungry and deserving customer base in the country's airports that have been underserved for far too long!
Out: Pizza For Only Lunch and Dinner
In: Pizza For Breakfast
Pizza is now being served with not so traditional toppings like eggs making them easy additions to breakfast menus. Even undressed, pizza is becoming so universally accepted that anytime is pizza time.
Out: Cupcakes
In: Pies
Pies are getting their day in the "dessert sun." From sweet to savory, to secret menus, to pie happy hours, pies are the next big thing in desserts with pie-only restaurants springing up from coast to coast.
Out: Coconut Water
In: Cherry Juice
We love "super fruit" drinks and coconut water exploded with popularity this year. Next year, cherry juice based drinks will surge in the marketplace since they help with sore muscles, sleepless nights and wrinkles.
Out: Artisanal Pizza
In: Artisanal Hot Dogs
We've piled everything but the kitchen sink on pizzas this year but next year hot dogs will get a toppings overload.
Out: Orange Juice To Prevent Colds
In: A Glass Of Wine To Prevent Colds
That's right, wine just may be the ticket to avoiding a cold. Studies don't indicate why, but alcohol in small doses (i.e. one glass) somehow limits virus replication. So we say drink up!
Out: Tricked Out Popcorn
In: Tricked Out Pretzels
Many movie theaters left the traditional buttered popcorn behind and added tricked out popcorn to their snack bar menus in 2010 but 2011 will be all about tricked out pretzels! Pretzel-only shops are opening up with one-of-a-kind flavors like Tuscan three-cheese, truffle and more.
Out: Nostalgic American Comfort food
In: Nostalgic Ethnic Food
In 2010 we saw a resurgence of fried chicken and hamburgers but next year we'll see a new wave of ethnic comfort food growing in popularity. From Korean to Vietnamese, ethnic cuisines aren't just about signature dishes anymore, entire comfort menus will be trending at restaurants.
Out: Clipping Coupons
In: Using Smart Phone Apps For Supermarket Discounts
New apps allow customers to scan barcodes on products for instant savings or by checking in on social networking sites like Foursquare and connecting with other shoppers we're becoming rewarded in more ways than ever!