Food Trends 2013

Buzzwords for 2013- Fermented everything, upscale donuts stuffed with foie gras jelly , kimchee donuts,  quinine syrups, Dubonnet, Chartreuse, Benedictine and, other golden liquor, local Gins and, bourbons, zip-code honey, tasting menus, food halls, weird desserts, white strawberries, green tomatoes, geranium leaves, hibiscus, hard cider, lobster rolls and, charcuterie boards.  Also, Chorizio, Coconut milk and, Cocount oil.

The Bar Artisan- a new occupation springs serving avande garde restaurants and, boutique hotels.  Barrel aged cocktails and, carbonated pre-made cocktails in capped bottles, beer cocktails with anti-oxidant juices.

Chipolte-  yep, they're not done with it.

Fast Food- Gourmet breads, kicked up burger toppers like guacamole, goat cheese, tropical fruit.  Also, order and, pay kiosks to speed service.

Seaweed and, Bacon will be infused and, wrapped around everything.

Restaurants will begin to charge for your bread.  There will be restaurants will be baking signature loaves.

Food trucks-  more, everywhere.
Gluten Free-  more, everywhere.

Brands -  will open restaurants like Barilla and, magazine Conde Nast.  Also, more chain restaurants will be selling their signature dishes in the frozen foods isle.

Food Source Transparency-  Consumers will demand the origin of food printed on packages and, demand more locally grown sourced foods in chain supermarkets.

New Cuts of Meat-  Localities will claim parts of protein meat as theirs @ Denver steaks.

New Fish- Arctic Char

Technology- More Smartphones will inform consumers of sales, restaurant specials and, more food apps.  Mobile/wireless/pay-at-the-table will become more common.

Baby Boomer Nutrition-  The aging demographic will control half the money spent on food by 2015.  They will demand more antioxidant and, heart healthy foods like Salmon, green tea, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, berries and, whole grains.

Food Waste- Consumers will become more conscience of where unsold or expired food goes.  There will be more demand for donations to food banks, etc..  Also, with more community gardens popping up so will compost piles to hold  food wastes from towns.

Flavored popcorn 

Food Trends 2012

     You can call 2012 the Year of the Potato.  It will be deconstructed, rearranged, infused, grilled, chilled and, liquified.  Artisanal farms will claim their fame for producing the tastiest, most vitamin packed and, most organic.  You will soon learn the names of all potato farms across the globe competing for the trophy of the high end spud estate.
     There will be the use of locally grown products from poultry, fish, produce to, alcoholic beverages.  With more demand from consumers ,the local farm will rise again and, prosper because of so much demand from restauranteurs , chefs and, corporate accounts.   We will see more and, more seasonal ingredients on the menus.   Restaurants will be displaying what "featured farm" the day's produce, poultry, etc. came from on blackboards and, server's speeches.   Farm names and, addresses will suddenly be the new catch phrases used by folks who try to impress.
     Other food trends according to Huff Post Food, ABC News and, the American Culinary Federation:
2.  Anything nutritional for children, enforcing healthier school    lunches, mini-meals and, snacks.  Childhood obesity is causing Type 2 Diabetes at an alarming rate, even very high cholesterol are being reported and, it's all due to poor diet and, exercise.  
3.  Gluten Free & Food Allergy conscious items
4.  Farm Branded items
5.  Wireless/mobile pay at the table technology options
6.  More cocktail inventions containing "Bitters"
7.  Fast-Casual restaurants especially the Asian cuisine
8.  Lots of local crafted Tap beer, sour ales and, lambics.
9.  American comfort food infusions like Grilled Cheese infused
     Vodka.
10.  The Cuban sandwich and, the French Dip
11.  Upscale Tequila spirits
12.  Pretzels everywhere; incorporated into everything from
       crusted fish to ice cream.
13.  Rabbit and, Goat meat.  Rabbits produce rapidly and, goats can
       live in inhospitable pastures which make them both cheaper to
       raise.
14.  Chicken skin.   Out with the boneless/skinless chicken breast
       and, finally in with the chicken skin's distinct flavor and,
       moisturizing qualities.
15.  Sous Vide machines.   Don't ask.
16.  Pine Tree and, Eucalyptus flavors in sauces and, BB- Que rubs.
17.  Huge breakfast choices on menus.  Breakfast menus will now
       be offered in restaurants that once frowned upon this arena.
       Belgium waffles with creative toppings will be the lure.
18.  Asian noodles
19.  Specialty hot peppers

BUY AMERICAN !!!

Check the Can or Box

 

 

I received this email from a friend.  It made perfect sense to me so, I am passing on this information.

Check the can or box to be sure the item you are buying is from America and, not China.   

     Are we Americans as dumb as we appear or is it that we just do not think? The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.

          Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

      Well, duh.. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

      SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !!

      Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

      Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

      THINK ABOUT THIS:   If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor... Fast!!

      The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

     The solution?  Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on March 4th and continue it until April 4th  That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8% of their American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

 Remember March 4th to April 4th

      START NOW!! (Even though this has reached some of us past the start date.)

     Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

      If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

     And, continue the boycott after April 4th because we don't need toxic and, polluted items on our shelves.

 

Pass it on, America

Genetically Modifed Salmon?

     Are GMO Giants contributing to the reasons for food shortages across the globe?  Some folks believe there is a conspiracy for the GMO giants to control the supply of food globally.   Organic farming is being diminished by heavy safety regulations from the US Dept. of Homeland Secuity.   I personally believe we need oversight from the U.S. government to protect us from being poisoned from bad eggs, etc.  but, allegedly there could be an uneven balance in which farms are unfairly targeted for heavy inspections of petty violations while others are overlooked.  Could GMO be the real future of our diets?  Could this be how GMO giants eventually gain control of our food supply and, our natural farms will be extinct?
     This is something for us all to think about because it is inevitable that we will see a food famine soon.  There is too much extreme weather wiping out wheat crops in Russia and, last year there was Biblical flooding in Pakistan and, Australia which wiped out rice, corn and, sugar cane crops.  There is more extreme weather expected and, in fact even worsen in the coming years.
     We have a Bee Colony collapse.    The USDA reports that four common species of Bumblebees in the U.S. has dropped by 96% in a few decades.
     We have a devalued Dollar with an increasing debt to China.  No one wants to trade goods with us because the Dollar has little value.
     We have rising oil prices , soil and, ocean pollution.
     There is no doubt we will experience a food crisis in our lifetime but, I don't believe GMOs are the answer to solving world hunger.   These altered foods have been proven to be unhealthy and, what happens if genetically modified fish and, veggies are released into the wild.
     GMO's are big business and stain resistant carpet manufacturer Monsanto is in the lead.  Monsanto controls the most  patents for  genetically modified seeds for corn, soybeans, cotton, etc..in the American food supply.   Today over 90% of all corn, soybeans and, cotton are grown from genetically engineered seeds.
    Modified Salmon might be marketed as Alaskian if these GMO giants have their way.  Luckily there is bipartisan support  from senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to fight this atrocity. Says Begich: "Frankenfish threatens our wild stocks, their habitat, our food safety and would bring economic harm to Alaska's wild salmon fishermen," reports Food Safety News. The fish are "risky, unprecedented and unnecessary," he adds.
     Anyone who can read a label knows that corn and, soy can be found in just about every American food product.  These genetically enhanced products appear in around 75% of all American processed  food products.    Buying organic is a bit more expensive at the market but, the alternative is eating GMOs which occupy most of the space on chain supermarket shelves.   This is why I always stress buying locally and, supporting your municipal farms.
     Be independent and, learn how to can and, pickle your vegetables.   It wasn't long ago that this was the only way to eat fruits and, vegetables in the winter months.
  Take a few minutes to read about Genetically Modified Organisms.  It sounds like science fiction but, it's already here.  It is designed to fill the bellies of the hungry poor who can't afford to shop at upscale markets specalizing in organic foods.
    It is never too early to contact your Representatives and, express your concern about this issue.

E-Menu: The Future of Restaurant Technology

Did I hear her say "FRAZZLED WAITRESSES AND CONFUSED COOKS ?"  Did I hear him say " This system enhances the SOCIAL dining experience ?"     How about talking to each other about the menu and, stop staring at that damm inanimate object.   How does one get special requests ?    Can you ask the computer where the shrimp is from and, how it is prepared ?  I guess they are forced to walk into the kitchen and, ask the confused cook for help.  I'm sorry  but, there are some things in life that need the human touch...because not everything is black and, white .

Latest Vending Cuisine

      If waiting in line at McDonald's is taking up too much of your time , you can look forward to French fry vending boxes  in front of every convenience store and, service station soon.   There it will be, staring in our faces, on every corner because we don't have enough trash to clog our arteries in the American cuisine. 

     Thanks to advances in modern vending machinery, golden, freshly prepared French fries are just a few taps of an LCD screen away. From  Australia comes the FoodCube and Hot Fresh Fries, both of which store frozen potatoes, fry them in less than two minutes, then salt and dispense them complete with sauce and a napkin.