in conclusion, we're ordering pizza.

yahoo!'s shine e-mag lists food trend predictions for 2011:

the food hall - where mall food court meets whole foods, you have the food hall. the concept is an import from europe and is currently developing on the coastal cities - NYC, LA, DC. spaces include retail fresh food and flowers, wine, prepared gourmet selections, specialty foods, cookware, and home design pieces. food is available from open kitchens, offered in both dine-in and take-away stations, and in some cases, in eating areas that seat up to 100 people. it's sort of a glamourous version of the typical high school cafeteria. the element that makes this fad a fad is its uniqueness so look for popularity to completely crush this fad.

korean cuisine - you may have heard that koreans eat dog meat, but this is an old-fashioned practice that is not much in favor today. personally, i don't see why we're so squeamish about dogs if we're willing to eat cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and all sorts of fish, but hey, we're squeamish so there you have it. BUT - no worries, a visit to your local korean restaurant will NOT feature puppyburgers. no. instead you will find double-fried chicken and ribs marinated in korea's signature smoky-spicy-sweet sauces along with kimchi, a pickled & marinated vegetable dish that's a staple of the korean diet. look for this fad to work its way into the mainstream and gain entry on the tgi friday's menu where it will fade into normalcy.


macaroons - just as i learned that pie is the new cupcake, it's move over pie, here comes macaroons! a big attraction of this pastry is that it's gluten-free - made from ground almonds or almond paste, sugar, and egg whites. the light and flaky confection can be flavored in different ways, but in the end it's just another cookie. look for this fad to fade quickly, as this emperor is scantily clad.


meatless mondays - more people are going veggie, either full- or part-time. this isn't so much a trend as a grassroots change in eating patterns. this is no fad and so don't look for it to fade.

foraging - top chefs are going beyond the farmer's market and heading into the woods in search of wild greens, nuts, berries, and even bark. salad made of lily pad shoots and dessert featuring wild violets are all the rage in the big cities. lord knows where big city chefs are getting lily pads - the fountain at the plaza hotel?? anyhoo - the prediction is that the foraging trend will go from restaurant to kitchen table in the coming year, and if this happens, i predict we'll see a rise in emergency room visits by people eating the bad mushrooms. look for this fad to be translated for us common folk in the form of a few New & Exciting Bins in the publix produce department.

tiki-bar cocktails - yawn. high school reunions notwithstanding, jack and coke trumps a tiny little umbrella every time in the heartland. look for this trend to die out on the coasts before it ever reaches budweiser country.


pop-up cafés - not to be confused with pop-tart cafés, these are the food trucks of the future. roaming chefs enjoy greater flexibility because they're not tied to a set menu and a set location. these travelling kitchens broadcast their ever-changing venue through twitter, facebook, and good old-fashioned word of mouth. look for this trend to grow and spread as the cost, in both dollars and chef's freedom, of setting up shop in a set location continues to rise.


sweet potatoes - the sweet potato fry is as much a staple of the urban grille scene as the sweet potato casserole is to the thanksgiving-day table. the sweet potato packs a nutritional wallop in a delicious package. as folks embrace more meat-free options, look for the sweet potato to rise in popularity.

urban wineries - from what i can tell, this trend involves folks fermenting their own grape juice. with good wines readily available on the cheap, this fad will not catch on. making your own wine from raw grapes is a pain in the arse. look for this fad to result in a huge spike in sales of home wine making kits during 2011, with a corresponding huge drop-off soon thereafter, followed closely by a multitude of unopened home wine making kits for sale on craigslist.

pimentón de la vera - a smoky form of paprika. if you only sprinkle this red spice on top of your deviled eggs, you probably won't be able to tell the difference, but if you're into slow roasted meats, la vera is probably already on your shopping list. look for this trend to play out as an addition which will become a long-time member of the spice shelf at publix or spice bin row at your local fresh market.

this concludes foodie trends for 2011. thank you for tuning in!