It is officially the holiday season which means your restaurant is in full swing preparing for increased traffic and planning ways to beat out the competition. Everyone is searching for the perfect restaurant to host their work party, friend get-togethers, and out-of-town family for holiday celebrations. One way to impress guests and keep them coming back long after the holidays are over is to introduce the classic holiday feasts...with a twist. Before they go out of style at the end of the year, consider adding some of the 2016 flavor trends into your dish creations.
People expect the holiday classic dishes at restaurants, but it is also something they are going to eat anyway at Thanksgiving and Christmas tables. By incorporating 2016 flavor trends, you are taking a different spin on the classics that pop taste buds with eclectic flavors. Plus, by highlighting the fact you are using the year’s flavor trends before they go out of style, you are showcasing your knowledge of and talent in the restaurant industry. To help you get started, here are some of our favorite flavor trends from the past year.
Pre-2012, eating healthy meant rice cakes and bland flavors. Now the health craze is gaining even more momentum because the food actually tastes good. There are many buzzword herb and healthy foods that you can add to your holiday classic dishes to get that unique flavor blend.
Connecting with nature’s flavors has been all the rage in the past year. Unique nuts and mushrooms have been popular additions in the past year along with items like pine pollen and nettle root. Not only are these items unique and eye-catching on your dish description, but they fit in perfectly with the organic and natural trend that has been growing the past few years.
Adding forest foods to your traditional dishes will provide a unique woodsy flavor. They go well with multiple dishes, adding a touch of nature to savory and sweet feasts. Plus, forest foods are perfect to bring in that harvest taste for Thanksgiving. Try leaving the forest foods in whole or bringing them into a powder for a healthy flavor accent.
Power protein alternatives are incredibly popular! Originally items like legumes, lentils, and quinoa were introduced as healthy and protein-rich options to animal protein for vegetarians. But the health benefits and creative recipes have caused these power proteins to become more mainstream. Consider replacing the usual protein sources with alternatives for a unique flavor.
Spicy flavors are very popular this year, even for people who usually avoid spice! The trend this year is introducing the flavor that spice can bring without completely scorching your taste buds off. Many flavor combos involving spice in the past year balanced the hot factor with a citrus or vinegar accent. This is perfect to experiment with traditional cheesy rice or mashed potato side dishes. You can also feature a spice flavor balance by enrobing your main dish (like turkey, ham, or your favorite cut of beef) with a spicy glaze to finish it off.
Better than mash-ups of songs, mash-ups of flavors combined with unique presentation is a very trendy approach to your holiday meals. Savory and sweet flavor combinations are growing in popularity; combine that flavor profile with a mash-up on the presentation. For example, you can present a Shepherd’s pie with elements of sweet in the presentation of a cupcake.
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