THE NEXT BIG THING
We’re all keen to look ahead and move on from difficult times. So what does 2022 hold? The United Fresh Trend Report predicts that moringa will be the latest superfood. Also known as drumstick tree, horseradish tree or just ‘miracle leaf’, moringa originated in India and has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. In the drinks fridge, the report predicts a huge increase in the popularity of alcohol-free, sugar-free, carb-free and probiotic beverages such as switchel and kefir. In other restaurant news, the number one foodservice trend prediction for 2022 across the United States and Europe is the surge of cooking robots and robot waiters, driven by staff shortages and contactless dining. And, don’t forget you heard it here first: egg sandwiches are having a moment (somewhat tenuously eggs are thought to suggest new beginnings).
Twenty-five tonnes of ice has been hand carved into glass-like ice architecture as the focal point of the Queenstown Ice Bar, newly opened at the Upper Village hub just below the Skyline Gondola. It’s the handiwork of specialist ice carver Victor Cagayat who has fashioned the ice into a Scandinavian-inspired cocktail lounge with views over the Queenstown CBD, Lake Wakatipu and mountain ranges. queenstownicebar.com