What’s going to be big in 2012? Here are a few predictions…

I’ve been reading some articles this week which purport to predict what the “Next Big Thing” will be in the food world.  Some sound great, while a few seem… well, a bit more unlikely.  Below are some of the standouts.  What do you think?  Will these be the new trends, or do you have a better idea of where foodies will be flocking in 2012? 

Comfort Food continues to be big: Look for meatballs and meatloaf to make a resurgence.  (A friend of mine never orders meatloaf in restaurants, because he doesn’t like to order things he can have at home- but I think a really good meatloaf with mashed potatoes can’t be beat.)  Also on the horizon- Gourmet Grilled Cheese.  We’ve seen a little of this already, but be looking for more unusual cheeses and breads to appear on the menu.  Sounds good to me!   Another more exotic treat will be Kimchee, a Korean pickled condiment traditionally made with fermented cabbage.   Try it on eggs, sandwiches, sautee it into fried rice, or atop a burger- the possibilities are endless!

Cuisines to look out for:  Nordic cuisine may sound like an oxymoron to some, but look for cured fish, lingonberries and -dare I say it- reindeer meat  to make an appearance.  Don’t know about the reindeer, but I’ll take the aquavit, thank you.  Another big trend will be Moroccan food.  We’ve seen rising interest in tagine cooking over the last few years, and welcome these interesting flavors into our kitchen. 

Carry-over motifs from 2011 will be interest in “nose to tail”  eating, wherein even the oddest bits of the animal are consumed (snout, anyone?), and the ongoing quest for Artisan and Hand-crafted ingredients, with a continued emphasis on eating locally produced meats, produce and dairy products.  We’re very lucky here in Central TX to have some wonderful food producers, and I encourage you to try some of these locally sourced products whenever possible. 

Whichever of these you decide to indulge in, eat with gusto and ENJOY!

January 5, 2012 | Categories: Sharon

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