4 Restaurant Food Trends to Look for in 2021 & Beyond

Modern diners want cutting-edge cuisine and are always on the hunt for something interesting. To stay relevant in the ever-changing food scene, restaurant owners need their finger on the pulse of emerging foodie trends. Curious to see what exciting cuisine is on the horizon? Our wholesale restaurant supply store shares the top food trends to watch for in 2021.

WHAT DO RESTAURANT FOOD SUPPLIERS PREDICT FOR FUTURE FOODS TRENDS?

Future food trends aren’t always easy to foresee, but some burgeoning cuisines are sure to become major players in the culinary movement. What will chefs be cooking up? Read on to discover what’s on the menu in the years to come!  

1. GLOBAL FUSION GOES EXTREME

We already know that menus with bold global flavors combined with local ingredients are taking the epicurean world by storm. That trend is going to push boundaries even further in the coming years. Chefs will have carte blanche to turn flavor profiles on their heads. 

Restaurant owners are currently seeing customers eat up dishes that combine umami, salty, and sweet flavors and ingredients. Think fish-sauce caramel, chocolate chip-ginger miso cookies, and corndogs with hoisin-mayo. Umami elements enhance the flavor of dishes, making it an ideal tool in your recipes. While you might not be ready to add a seaweed donut to your daily offerings, here are a few quick, more accessible, examples to add to your menu:

• Bloody Mary with parmesan cheese rim
• Peanut butter burger
• Bacon and cheddar pancake finished with spicy honey
• Ginger-lime glazed carrots with sesame seeds

2. PLANT-BASED PLATES AND WHOLESALE PRODUCE

Healthy eating is here to stay. There’s been an uptick in flexitarian diets as well as a movement toward using more seasonal produce. Plus, modern diners take sustainability seriously, so they are looking to reduce their meat intake for environmental reasons. All these factors combined will mean higher demand for vegetable-focused menu options.

This doesn’t mean that you must trade in your filet mignon for tempeh. Instead, add a handful of creative plant-based dishes to your overall offerings. Velvety asparagus soup, rice-stuffed collard leaves, and cauliflower tacos can be easily incorporated into any menu without significant changes. Start small and replace a handful of your items with some fresh, meat-free ones!

3. SUMMER GRILLED FLAVORS ALL YEAR ‘ROUND

One of the hottest flavors to ignite 2021 will be smoke. Even as more customers incorporate vegan dishes into their meals, they’ll want their meat mains imbued with heavy smoke and traditional summer BBQ flavors. Standard smoked wholesale meat and seafood will crop up on menus everywhere. Restaurant owners will be smoking everything from meatloaf to salmon to turkey legs and chicken. 

The options don’t stop there! Wholesale dairy and vegetables will also be getting smoke treatment. Here are a few wild ingredients to throw in your restaurant smoker:

• Turnips and other root vegetables
• Tomatoes
• Butter
• Cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, and gouda

4. FLAVORS OF HOME AND HEART

Cuisine that tells a personal story is sure to see more menu presence in 2021 and beyond. Chefs and restaurant owners can explore their histories and traditions through the plate. Did you grow up savoring your grandmother’s hearty Solyanka soup every weekend? Was your grandfather famous for his collards? Nostalgic, deeply emotional dishes like these will take center stage in the coming years.

SEARCHING FOR A PLACE TO SHOP FOR RESTAURANT-QUALITY WHOLESALE FOOD AND GROCERIES?

Looking to embrace food trends and switch up your menu? Let US Foods CHEF'STORE help you revamp your dishes. Check out our quality products and let them inspire your next masterpiece. 

Set up an account today and take immediate advantage of our online shopping experience, Click&Carry. If you need wholesale beverages, choice meats, and fresh produce in a pinch, don’t forget about our grocery delivery services via Instacart and Shipt.

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