Getting a Read on Food Trends For 2012

In 2011 we saw a lot of bacon, doughnuts and cupcakes; sometimes all in one delectable morsel. We have scoured lists of 2012 top food trends from The Food Channel, ABC News, Phil Lempert (aka The Supermarket Guru) and Esquire Magazine and the following is a summary of what to expect in 2012. Until It’s Gone… More and more eateries are finding a unique way to capitalize on the use of fresher ingredients and food. They only offer the product until it’s gone. If this becomes the case with a few of your favorite items you may have to start planning ahead! The Duke/Duchess vs. The Restaurant...Social media has been both a blessing and a curse for restaurants and other food-related businesses. Getting on Yelp, which gives a location’s top reviewers the title of “Duke” or “Duchess”, is a great way for a restaurant to get its name out there. However, sometimes only a few negative reviews are enough to hurt business. Until now, businesses either have had a rash response or no response at all to these negative reviews. In 2012 expect to see restaurants and businesses and reviewers enter into a more positive, two-way relationship. Good Food on a Budget...Food is becoming more expensive which is really cutting into the quality of the food us foodies like to get! But there are solutions. Gourmet food trucks are bringing good food right to us, and with less overhead, they are able to provide it to us at better prices. You could also adjust your diet by using less meat and seafood and adding more non-meat proteins. Farming Restaurants...The process of getting food to the table is becoming more important. Growing and raising your own food helps combat high prices and gives the guaranteed knowledge of where the food has come from. In 2012 expect to see more restaurants growing and raising some of their own products to help save money and improve food safety. All Bets on Peruvian...According to the experts, all bets are on Peruvian cuisine to become the new “ethnic” favorite. With its delicious ceviche and wealth of other varied dishes and beverages I think we have a winner! Eating Together...I would already consider eating to be a social event, but it will become even more social in the next year. The hottest new trend in home renovation/construction is an outdoor kitchen where both the BBQ and other prep areas are in one spot. Social media will also play a role by informing us of impromptu food gatherings and where our friends are eating. Catering to the Dieter...According to ABC News, chefs will begin to increase the amount of healthy ingredients to their dishes. The New Old Fashioned...Esquire predicts that the Old Fashioned will become the “it” cocktail of 2012.