What to Expect on '09 Menus

Beer, BBQ and ramen will tempt your palate next year
Posted Dec 20, 2008 6:04 PM CST
What to Expect on '09 Menus
After a wave of interest in European cheeses, American chefs are turning their attention to the growing domestic cheese scene.   (Flickr)

Industry publication Flavor & The Menu predicts that casual, comfort flavor cues will drive restaurant trends in 2009; via MarketWatch, what your palate can look forward to:

  • Top culinary trend: Craft beers paired with sophisticated pub food.
  • Top concept trend: Urban barbecue, with more interesting preparations and sides.
  • Top comeback trend: The French bistro now has low-on-pretension appeal.
  • Top menu-making trend: Expect a snack attack, with small plates and their wine-bar kin spreading farther afield.
  • Top ethno-cuisine trend: Asian noodles, a la ramen and soba, get a variety of new interpretations.

  • Top sauce trend: Fruit.
  • Top high-impact ingredient: American artisanal cheeses.
  • Top buzzword: farm.
  • Top beverage trend: Latin refreshers such as aguas fresca and sangria add to your drink options.
  • Top dessert trend: Inspiration from Italy in items like soothing budino (Italian-style pudding), homey polenta cake, and semi-frozen specialties known as semifreddo.
(More restaurant stories.)

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