The beginning of the year is my favorite because all of the big time food bloggers share their predictions for the upcoming year’s food trends. I’ve seen dozens of potential 2018 trends spelled out across the Internet and social media but there are a few that found their place on multiple lists and so today, I’m going to share the top five food trend predictions for this year (as told by some of my favorite food bloggers).
In case you haven’t noticed, health conscious food has already taken hold over the last few years and that trend will only continue to grow. Vegan cuisine and locally grown/produced produce and artisanal foods will definitely continue to grace the menus in your favorite restaurants around the country too. Read on for more details and trends.
- Poke Bowls
Poke bowls are an every day food in Hawaii but they’re quickly becoming commonplace 
everywhere else in the states too. If you don’t know (or have been living under a rock), they’re essentially sushi without the fuss of a rolled presentation. Fresh fish, seaweed, rice (or not), lightly pickled veggies, scallions, roe, fruit – you name it. Poke bowls are custom and oh so delicious.
- Timut
Timut pepper is a spice from Nepal that you can expect to make waves this year. It’s got a nice residual heat and a touch of grapefruit flavor to it and I’m willing to bet that you’ll find it in not only your food, but in some great cocktails as well. If you want, you can try it at home! Add a sprinkle to a gin and tonic (I like Hendricks & Fever Tree) to take your cocktail next level.
- Specialized Teas
I’m a coffee girl through and through but there is no denying that tea is giving my favorite caffeine boost a run for its money this year. Here in Saint Pete, there are specialty tea bars all over the city offering your standard herbal and green teas to kava and house made kombucha. These cafes are focused on educating their guests on the mental and physical benefits of each item on the menu. While a cup of specialized tea may not fully replace the idea of a glass of wine or a cocktail at happy hour, I am definitely noticing these small batch cafes growing in popularity.
- Plant Based Proteins
There’s no doubt about it; the plant based lifestyle is gaining massive momentum. Vegetarian, vegan or not, more and more people are seeking to live a more plant based life to take back control of their health. “Flexitarian” diets have many people experimenting with eating less meat without cutting it out completely but regardless of what type of diet people are following, plants are playing a huge role. Things like cantaloupe burgers, tempeh “meat” sauce and jackfruit pulled “pork” are already trending on social media but food professionals predict that plant based substitutes for fish and chicken will begin to pop up in the coming months as well.
- Date Syrup
I couldn’t wrap up this post without talking about a cocktail trend. While the date syrup trend is forming because of popular diets like Paleo, Keto and Whole 30, it’s doing big things in the cocktail world. Date syrup is naturally sweet, a healthier sugar alternative, vegan friendly, high in potassium and iron and made from one ingredient and one ingredient only: dates. Be on the lookout for some delicious cocktail infusions but you can also drizzle this goodie on top of pancakes for a homemade brunch or even bake with it for a deep, rich flavor.
These five trends are merely scratching the surface of what is sure to be a year for the foodie books. But I want to hear from you! What do you think? Which of these trends would you like to see M&D adopt? Any that you think we should avoid?
Rebecca McKinney
I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.
So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!
Eat well & travel often,
Becky McKinney
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