"Dishing" The Food Trends Of 2020!

Envisioning, predicting, foretelling.  Yes, here we boldly stand peering ahead into the new decade (politics aside!).  What food and restaurant trends will we graciously leave behind in 2019.  Avocado toast?  Kale? Unicorn everything ?  What new foodie finds will we embrace in 2020?  Wait, I'm peering into my crystal ball. Just kidding.

I've consulted, culled, curated, and collected the trends reported from chefs, Food TV, high-end food emporiums, and magazines.  Whew!  There are lots of opinions out there, so, in no particular order, here are some to keep your eyes on.  Drum roll please.

1.  Grandparent Food:
As a grandparent myself, I put this trend #1.  This is the food from childhood that tells your personal family story and history.  Updated with fresh, clean ingredients, these nostalgic classics remind us of  what we ate when we were kids.  This trend also gives a yeasty nod to an old-school pastry from the Jewish and Middle Eastern traditions called babka (a food trend for 2020 reported by Food Network).  Babka is a loaf-shaped coffee cake made with sweet dough with raisins, nuts, or chocolate added.
In our family, Grandparent Food favorites may include:
- Grandma Helen's cheese spaghetti
- Matzo ball soup
- Grandma Roslyn's mashed potato casserole

2.  Honey and "Everything Butters and Spreads:"
You will see everything from sweet honey and cinnamon butters (drizzled on chicken and waffles) to Sunny Anderson's dijon butter (savory with a zing) to chickpea, macadamia, and sesame seed butters.  Interesting.

3.  Mushroom Extract will be seen popping up in coffee and chocolate and infused into snacks, like jerky (hmmm, not sure about this one...you???).

4.  Beverage trends include new products like Boozy Kombucha, collagen-spiked drinks, alternative milks (e.g. oat milk, cashew milk, milkadamia, hemp milk, coconut milk, brown rice milk, walnut and pecan milk, banana and pea milk).  I guess you can now "milk" anything.  Other trendy drinks include brown sugar bubble tea and non-alcoholic cocktails infused with botanicals.  Happy hours serving zero proof drinks and fizzy hops-infused waters are coming our way.  Cheers!!!

5.  Generation Z and the Millenials are bringing us "Meal Prep Sunday."  My grown kiddos cue up their favorite Alexa Playlist or a favorite podcast while food prepping for the week. A pretty great idea!

6.  Restaurant Trends Forecast for 2020:
- Interactive dining - look for underground private supper clubs, open kitchens, chefs' tables, dinner journeys, special tasting menus, and more of an overall "crafted" dining experience.
- Haute cuisine is making a grand comeback but with a nod to a casual yet communally focused dining style.
- Sophisticated kids' menus featuring updated finger foods (e.g. salmon sticks).  The introduction of colorful, spiced Latin flavors will stretch kids' culinary palates to more healthy and creative offerings.
- Open hearth cooking.
- Ghost kitchens - keep your eye out for what's known as virtual kitchens that only offer delivery or take-out service.  There is no dine-on-premise option.  You may see some creative collaborations, like Rachel Ray with Uber Eats.
- Clean, minimalist plating sans flowers, frills, and fronds.
- Hyper-regional cooking - regional food broken down into micro-regions, such as Appalachian, Lowland, and Creole.

7.  Coming to your favorite food emporium or grocery store:
- Grab and go charcuterie - when last minute holiday guests head your way, platter up a board with savories such as cheese, salami, olives, pickles, dried fruits, and honey, all assembled and ready to serve.
- Popped and puffed snacks - food technology is bringing us airy and crunchy peanuts, mushrooms, quinoa, and chickpea puffs.  A definite upgrade to a bowl of chips.
- Meat and veggie blends - a food trend to embrace if you are trying to introduce less meat into your diet.  Some new items to try include meat and veggie sausages, beef and mushrooms, and pea and beef-blended burgers.  By blending plant protein with meats consumers are being given interesting options (e.g. falafel-seasoned meatballs made with chicken, quinoa, spinach, and garbanzo beans).

So let's raise a glass of something sparkling and toast a "celebration without inebriation." Wishing all a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2020.  Happy New Year!

Sources:
Food & Wine Magazine
Food Network
Whole Foods