Posted by The Examiner on January 24, 2010 at 15:39:20:
Ten trendy foods for '10 from Winter Fancy Food Show
2010 Food Trends from the Fancy Foods Show
The Food Trend Challenge is completed and ten foods have risen to the top as the foods to watch in 2010. The picks are part of a contest created by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade and involves hundreds of retailers, restaurants, journalists, and food processors and growers.
The top five food trends for 2010 are the stuff that is good for you, coconut, gluten-free, exotic citrus, and nostalgic foods. The second five fall into the "but it's fun" category: Indian sauces, hibiscus, chocolate with spices and the ever-intriguing category of "bacon in new places."
Here are ten of the trendiest food items for 2010 as selected by food experts:
Organic Chocolate
People who try to eat healthy still have cravings for sweetness. To meet this demand, organic chocolate will grab a larger market share says Desiree Mimlitsch, director of marketing at Big Train, Inc., which manufacturers organic chocolate syrup.
Coconut
2009 was a strong year for Coconut flavors and 2010 will continue that trend because makers of coconut flavored foods have figured out a way to keep the fruit pure and natural while retaining its taste says The Fancy Food Show’s Ron Tanner, who listed coconut water, ice cream, and yogurt among the most popular products. As people look to non-carbonated drinks, that aren't water, coconut flavored drinks will be popular.
Gluten-Free Food
Gluten-free servings of ravioli will be hitting the china in from of lots of faces says Fancy Food Show’s Ron Tanner says. Companies like Conte’s Pasta have figured out how to produce gluten-free products where the food doesn't fall apart (gluten is the ingredient that is the "glue".)
Exotic Citrus
Blood oranges were the craze this summer, and food trendsetters like Martha Stewart have been bringing exotic citrus to homemakers in recipes since then. “Citrus is always kind of a nice palate cleanser,” says Angela James from Silver Moon Desserts, whose new lavender limoncello sorbet is a big hit.
Nostalgic Comfort Food
Companies are waking up to the trend for food that people are returning to the old favorites as a remedy for stress and are coming up with foods that honor the classics such as Oreos, peppermint, and peanut butter.
Anything Pickled
Remember pickling? No? Ask your Mother or Grandmother and watch their eyes light up. Ron Tanner. “Years ago, farmers used to pickle their own products and now you see people beginning to pickle green beans and coming up with different kinds of cucumber pickles.” Pickled Asian products, are coming on strong as a trend as chefs realize that they can develop “really tasty things” just by pickling them, Baycliff’s Adam Johnson says. “Virtually every kind of culture pickles things.”
Smoked Fish
Sunday brunches in the Big Apple have been trendy for a while and food experts expect this to move to the rest of the country in 2010. White fish and smoked salmon are favorites Other products are being smoked too explains Adam Caslow of Acme Smoked Fish at the Fancy Foods show. “People are looking to be wowed by food, and adding smoke flavor really intensifies the natural flavors. It adds a whole other layer of flavors and smells that are interesting and get people thinking in the same way that they’d think about a fine wine,” he says.
Bacon Sweets
Guaranteed that bacon will still continue to be strong in 2010 as a food trend. “Bacon is one of those foods that everyone, even vegetarians, like,” claims Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Bacon flavor will continue to be infused into anything and everything. There is no limit. Even Vegans are asking for more bacon.
Tricked-Out Popcorn
Popcorn - another comfort food - will continue to be paired up with other flavors to form new trendy taste treats. Fudge, almonds, white chocolate, cashews were a few of the combinations shown at the Fancy Foods Show. “Most people have a taste for chocolate, and then when you mix it with all that extra crunch that popcorn gives you, and then you throw in the nuts, it’s the snack that has at all,” says store manager Peggy Biddi*ck.
Spicy Snacks
Adults are forming the trends for foods, and this translates to adult tastes for stronger, spicier snacks. As tastes buds age, they loose some of the ability to discern flavors. Adding spice helps revive those dormant taste buds it seems. “We were finding that people were really looking for things that gave them a kick,” says Debbie Marden of Deep River Snacks. These combinations contain plenty of garlic, ginger, onion to keep the mature palate happy.”
If your a foodie and want to keep up with the trends you'll be concocting a recipe of pickled organic chocolate smothering spicy citrus flavored bacon, sprinkled with smoked fish and popcorn.
Bon Appetit!
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