With the vast array of food we see in grocery stores, restaurants, and on the internet, food trends and flavor profiles are constantly changing. In past years we’ve seen kombucha, cold brews, pumpkin spice, and plant-based foods all grow in popularity…. What might we see more of in 2023? Here are some of my predictions:
Sweet and Spicy Combos
Korean and Asian flavors often combine sweet and spicy flavors (can we make swicy a word?) into a single entrée and I predict we will be seeing even more of these flavor combinations this coming year. Think hot, spicy honey drizzled over fried chicken or pizza, chili added to chocolate, maybe even some hot sauce added to ice cream. I think we will be seeing many new foods with swicy flavor combinations.
Mushrooms Everywhere!
You’ve likely seen shiitakes, portabellas and cremini mushrooms in your store, or on menus, but in 2023 I predict we will see many more specialty mushrooms being added to our cuisine. Mushrooms are a wonderful addition to meals as they add a great savory depth to dishes, a flavor known as umami, and are incredibly nutritious.
Alcohol-Free Cocktails
The desire for mocktails is growing rapidly, partially due to New Year’s resolutions and also as we learn more about the long-term health implications of some of our bad habits. Restaurants are starting to cater to this demand with “virgin cocktails”. Non-alcoholic beer has been growing in popularity in Europe and we’re seeing more and more breweries pick up on the trend. This trend will likely continue into homes with folk mixing up some fun new flavors with new products.
Boards for Everything
Charcuterie has become a household word over the past few years and now people are turning up the creativity. I first saw the “butter board” trend on Tik Tok and have sense seen it leaching out into various menus ever since. A thick coating of gourmet butter spread on a serving board and then various toppings like sea salt, sun dried tomatoes, and herbs are added along with French bread, crackers, crostini, etc. I predict that we will continue to see serving boards being used for everything from breakfast spreads to dessert. I mean doesn’t a platter of chocolate sauce with strawberries, marshmallows, and cookies for dipping sound amazing.
Curry
Curry is not new; it is a complex type of cuisine that crosses many countries and cultures. There are Indian curries, Thai curries, Japanese curries, etc. that vary in flavor and preparation. Most curries are a dish with a heavy sauce made with a combination of various herbs and spices. I think we will see more curry options as recipe ideas and more curry ingredients to try in your own home.
No matter which food trends we end up seeing this year, it’s always fun to try new and exciting flavors!
