FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRENDS
in Pinterest comfort food searches rose 336 percent in the last year, while lasagna, macaroni and stroganoff were at 69 percent, 55 percent and 50 percent respectively. Vegetables are undoubtedly taking center stage, sometimes enlivened by proteins. If you haven’t yet tasted the ‘Cauliflower with Shawarma’ at Baron in Beirut, make a booking today!
People now want to know what has gone into a dish, and how the food was processed
‘Free from’ temptation
Our plates are going green, and, while not new, the trend is getting greener by the day. Smoothies, bread made with ancient grains, cereal bars with seeds, plant milks… natural ingredients are on a roll! So ‘free’ will definitely be 2018’s key trend. Alongside free from genetically modified organisms (GMOS) and conservatives, people are now also asking for gluten-free, dairy-free and refined-sugar-free meals. While diners with allergies have long been hardcore supporters of these trends, a growing number of people are converting to the ‘free from’ diet. Almond, coconut and rice are becoming substitutes for traditional flours and milk-based produces. Raw honey and brown rice syrup are slowly replacing refined sugar. In this quest for health, newbies are joining the superfood club. Today is all about turmeric, an ancient Indian spice with a powerful and bioactive medicinal compound called curcuma that aids the digestive system. There’s also a newcomer in the baking hood - cassava flour, widely used in parts of Asia and South America, is both gluten and grain-free. And let’s not forget the chaga mushroom, currently considered the most nutrient-dense mushrooms on the planet. Their antioxidant components make them the ultimate immuneboosting superfood, while additional properties help normalize blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
When it comes to beverages, in the coming year, we’ll be raising our glasses to charcoal-infused drinks, which help the body get rid of unwanted substances and toxins. Charcoal also gives hot and cold drinks a darker twist, as can be seen in creations such as the Black lemonade or Goth latte, which are sure to be talking points at the bar or around the table.
Responsible sourcing
Ethical eating is also playing a part in improving our health. While we never really used to think about the former life of that steak on our plate, our attitude toward the origins of what we eat has changed drastically. People now want to know what has gone into a dish, and how the food was processed. These demands come with growing social awareness. For example, customers are asking what a restaurant is doing to help the local community when procuring its ingredients or whether the supplier is respecting the products used and the environment.
A taste of Hawaii
Alongside growing requests for healthy options in restaurants and supermarkets, there are also some exciting new trends on the horizon for 2018, including the poke bowl. Fans of Hawaii will already be in the know about this concept, but for