Ancient grains rank among the top 20 food trends in a new survey from The National Restaurant Association (NRA). The NRA annually explores the top menu trends for the coming year. For this year’s What’s Hot culinary forecast, the NRA surveyed nearly 1,600 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – to find which foods, beverages and culinary themes will be hot on restaurant menus in 2016.
Top 20 food trends for 2016:
Locally sourced meats and seafood
Chef-driven fast-casual concepts
Locally grown produce
Hyper-local sourcing
Natural ingredients/minimally processed food
Environmental sustainability
Healthful kids’ meals
New cuts of meat
Sustainable seafood
House-made/artisan ice cream
Ethnic condiments/spices
Authentic ethnic cuisine
Farm/estate branded items
Artisan butchery
Ancient grains
Ethnic-inspired breakfast items
Fresh/house-made sausage
House-made/artisan pickles
Food waste reduction/management
Street food/food trucks
When asked which current food trend has grown the most over that last decade, 44 percent of the chefs surveyed said local sourcing. Looking forward, 41 percent said the trend that will grow the most in the next 10 years is environmental sustainability.
Menu items that gained in trendiness since last year’s survey include African flavors, authentic ethnic cuisine, ethnic condiments/spices, house-made/artisan soft drinks, Middle Eastern flavors and non-traditional liquors. Items that lost momentum include underutilized fish, kale salads, fresh beans/peas, gluten-free cuisine, quinoa and flower essence in cocktails.