The National Restaurant Association has released the predicted top culinary trends for 2014. They developed the list by surveying 1,300 members of the American Culinary Federation back in October and November.
Top 10 Predicted Menu Trends for 2014
- Locally sourced meats and seafood
- Locally grown produce
- Environmental sustainability
- Healthful kids’ meals
- Gluten-free cuisine
- Hyper-local sourcing
- Children’s nutrition
- Non-wheat noodles/pasta
- Sustainable seafood
- Farm/estate branded items
According to the National Restaurant Association the top restaurant menus trends for 2014 focus on “local sourcing, environmental sustainability and nutrition – children’s nutrition in particular. These trends have been gaining momentum for several years, indicating that these wider themes influence the national culinary scene.”
“Today’s consumers are more interested than ever in what they eat and where their food comes from, and that is reflected in our menu trends research,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the National Restaurant Association’s research and knowledge group. “True trends – as opposed to temporary fads – show the evolution of the wider shifts of our modern society over time, and focus on the provenance of various food and beverage items, unique aspects of how they are prepared and presented, as well as the dietary profiles of those meals.”
In addition, the What’s Hot in 2014 survey found that the top five alcohol and cocktail trends will be micro-distilled/artisan spirits, locally produced beer/wine/spirits, onsite barrel-aged drinks, culinary cocktails (e.g. savory, fresh ingredients), and regional signature cocktails.
Get the full results at Restaurant.org/FoodTrends.
None of these trends have come as a big surprise. As a matter of fact, most of these menu trends began their development several years ago. If your restaurant has not already taken the initiative to start implementing some of these menu trends you might want to put in on your to do list for 2014.
Why is it important to pay attention to this list?
Simply put, it could mean getting more customers through your door. Customers are more attracted to restaurants that have locally sourced meats, seafood, and produce. With all the horror stories you hear about what’s really going into consumer’s foods when dining out, providing information on where food is sourced can go a long way with your guests. Restaurant goers are also more health conscious and therefore attracted to healthier options, having these choices available is a must especially when it comes to children’s’ menus. There are many restaurants ahead of the game and already offering these trends on their menus. If you are not doing it, surely your competitor and neighboring restaurant is.
