Food & Beverage / Culinary Trends

Features, News & Blogs

The top five food trends according to a culinarian
	Few people have as firm a pulse on what consumers want from their menus than those actually working in the trenches – the culinarians. They're the ones who get paid to know and to test and to experiment the food. So when the kitchen captain …
Get 'in' on the biggest trend In foodservice
	As the president and CEO of startup, I'm always interested in other entrepreneurial endeavors. Specifically, I'm intrigued with where the idea originated, what purpose they fill and their plan for growth and long-term sustainability. Since …
As serious as a heart attack
	If you want to know why more diners are asking more questions about your menu – and your kitchen – consider how serious food allergies are. In January, a 7-year-old girl in Virginia with a severe allergy to peanuts died after eating a …
The top 10 (unmentioned) food industry trends
	The media has been focused on recapping the previous year as they do each January. I have never been clear if this is to point out the cleverness and accuracy of forecasters from the previous year or to ask, "What on earth were we all thinking …
QSRs ramp up breakfast marketing campaigns
	Indeed, the early bird gets the worm, and QSRs are ramping up their breakfast offerings accordingly. The daypart is the fastest growing in the restaurant space, accounting for more than 60 percent of traffic growth in the past five years. Still …
Top 5 2012 food innovation product predictions
	What might be the biggest 2012 food innovation trend opportunities? In my last blog, I predicted that 2012 will be a banner year for Organic Food Product Innovation, and those who sit on the sidelines will miss the opportunity to strike gold in this …
What else can I get you?
	If you're like most operators, you'll be making some changes to your menu in the coming months. According to the Wall Street Journal, Applebee's has revamped about 80 percent of its menu over the past two years, while more than half of T.G.I. Friday …
But I thought it was being done – Inspecting the expected
	We may have too much faith that it cannot happen, or won't happen or we're simply naïve. Perhaps we don't seek, therefore we don't find. Maybe it's assumptions, perhaps laziness, or even poor work ethic. It can breed and morph in a culture …
Convenience stores, QSR, fast casual and the food police
	Their car was being followed ... that they could be certain of. When the flashing lights first penetrated the back window an audible gasp came from the back seat. "Be still, let me do all the talking," the driver said to his two passengers. "I had …
What’s on your kids’ menu?
	Most restaurants offer a kids-only menu of smaller, less-expensive items to help keep dining out an affordable option for families. The typical bill of fare for the 12-and-under set relies on bland standbys: hot dog on a bun, mac-and-cheese, breaded …