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Food trends in 2012

Donuts, blood and smaller portions. Here are some predicted trends for next year


By Catherine E. Toth on December 7, 2011

Last night I was reading the blog for the James Beard Foundation — a New York-based national professional nonprofit that serves to promote the culinary arts — and read its predictions for 2012.

Here’s what it suspects will be trending next year:

Locavorism, redefined: We’re talking recipe revival, with foragers and historians retrieving recipes from the past.

Donuts, donuts, donuts: Apparently, donut-related content online is up, indicating our fascination with these sugary wonders. In fact, malasadas made its list.

Thai revival: This cuisine — one of my favorites — is expected to make a big comeback.

Nordic menus: I have no idea what Nordic cuisine is — ingredients include sea buckthorn, wood sorrel, bark flour — but restaurants may start featuring it.

Caneles are the new cupcakes: Yes, cupcakes are on the way out, according to the blog. In fact, macaroons made a quick appearance and are now replaced by these treats from Bordeaux. Caneles are made from an egg-yolk-enriched crêpe-like batter that’s baked in copper molds lined with caramel and beeswax.

Eat-in kitchen: You’ll be pulling up a chair next to the stove.

Blood: Blame it on “Twilight.” The next step in the snout-to-tail movement might just be the blood. Blood pancakes, blood cups, sauces thickened with blood.

Smaller portion sizes: Mega meals are so 2011. Fine-dining portions are continuing to get smaller and tapas might become the new entree.

Got any thoughts on this?

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To read all of Cat's blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@nonstophonolulu.com.

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theimpulsivebuy 7 pts

I'm disappointed deep fried foods aren't a food trend in 2012. This year, creative minds at county fairs have come up with fried bubblegum and fried salsa. It can only get better next year.

Melissa808 204 pts moderator

theimpulsivebuy I don't think I could do fried bubble gum. Salsa, maybe.

theimpulsivebuy 7 pts

Melissa808 What? No fried bubblegum? Where's your sense of culinary adventure? You're brave enough to rappel down a building, but you're not brave enough to consume fried bubblegum. :)

Melissa808 204 pts moderator

theimpulsivebuy rappelling down a building doesn't have the potential to make me hurl! XD

edmorita 66 pts moderator

The Nordic trend is most likely a result of the 2011 James Beard award winner for best cookbook "Noma." I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but the photos in the book are amazing.

Cat 129 pts

edmorita Can you even get those ingredients here???

edmorita 66 pts moderator

Cat it's all seasonal veg and lots of seafood. The ingredients are readily available here, but it would be hard to get some of the stuff locally grown though.

turkfontaine 189 pts

Catherine Elizabeth Toth appears courtesy of National Donut Council - UbakeEm, She'llFindEm

Melissa808 204 pts moderator

I've already seen the trend toward donuts! anotherplate808 is going to have a "Fill My Hole" custom donut party one of these days. Heck, the guy was obsessed with chocolate donuts even before they started becoming trendy! And I guess I'm already trendy since I do eat by the stove. LOL

Cat 129 pts

Melissa808anotherplate808 I want to go to that party! That sounds AWESOME! (Plus the name is So good.)

And it's not stove-side eating. It's over-the-kitchen-sink dining :)

DianeSeo 91 pts

Is there any place in town where you can find a caneles?

jamarilyn 5 pts

DianeSeo I think Whole Foods Bakery...

nonstopmari 189 pts moderator

jamarilynDianeSeo are u sure those aren't cannolis? never mind, i'll volunteer to go and confirm. :)

Cat 129 pts

nonstopmarijamarilynDianeSeo Yes, go and find them. Then come and share :)

About Catherine E. Toth

Born and raised on O'ahu, Catherine E. Toth has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Daily Dish (www.thecatdish.com), for four years. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai'i for 10 years and continues to freelance — in between teaching journalism full time at Kapi'olani Community College, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight — for national and local print and online publications.

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