Published December 7, 2015

Looking Forward to Next Year’s Food Trends

Research firm Datassential has released a report that predicts what 2016’s major food and restaurant trends will be. The list contains trends at both the macro trends that are reshaping the restaurant industry and trends that affect more specific areas.

On the macro level, expect ethnic foods to continue becoming more accepted by the mainstream, delivery to keep on getting more popular, regional food to rise in prominence, and alternative ingredients to add twists to classic dishes. All of these trends reflect the food preferences of the ever-important Millennial generation of consumers.

Smaller-scale trends include a fad for charred and burnt food on restaurant menus. this trend is the natural extension of longstanding trends favoring smoked foods. Another interesting micro trend is the rise of the oddball pairing concept. Many new businesses are opening that combine two seemingly unrelated concepts, like a refined wine bar with a beer garden or a donut place that also serves Korean fried chicken.

Which of these trends do you think are for real, and which are just hot air?

Read the full article here: Datassential’s Food Trends to Know in 2016