A panel of 8 food experts made the rounds at the NASFT-produced Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco to scope out emerging specialty food trends for 2011. The trendspotters made their way through an exhibition hall featuring some 80,000 products from over 35 countries, then convened to compare notes and identify prominent trends.
Here are top food trends the panel members identified for 2011, along with examples of the types of foods they found to substantiate each pick:
1. Chocolate for Breakfast
Image Courtesy of Republic of Tea
- Tea: Adagio Teas' Chocolate Chai, Numi Chocolate Puerh, Republic of Tea's line of chocolate teas
- Belgian Waffles: Julian's Recipe Natural Butter Waffles with Belgian Chocolate
- Chocolate Granola: Julie Ann's Decadent Raspberry Truffle Granola, Kaia Foods Cocoa Bliss Buckwheat Granola
- Hot Chocolate on a Stick: Belgium's Chocolate Source Hot Chocolate Sticks
2. Foods for Healing
- Ancient Healing Teas: Art of Tea Monks Blend
- Blackwater with 77 minerals: Spring water infused with fulvic acid
- Aloe and cucumber drinks
- Micro-batches of healthful beverages
3. New Noodles
- Yam: NoOodle No Calorie Yam Flour Noodles
- Kelp
- Farro: Rustichella d'Abruzzo Farro Pasta
- Spelt
4. Heat with Flavor
- Ghost peppers: Mrs. Renfro's Ghost Pepper Salsa, Lille Belle Farms "Do Not Eat This Chocolate Bar"
- Yuzu-Wasabi Sauce
- Piquillo Almond Glop
5. Creative Chips
Image Courtesy of Beanitos
- Pinto Bean: Beanitos Pinto & Flax Chips
- Naan: Suzi's Naan Crackers
- Peas: Muso Organic Green Pea Chips
- Mung Beans: Muso Organic Mungbean Chips
- Kale: Kaia Foods Kale Chips
- Wild Rice
6. Other Trends
- Retro Foods
- Classic Cocktails
- Wine-Flavored Foods
- Mini-Servings
- Cured Meats
7. The Trendspotters
Cindy Hatcher, Cooking Light
Tanya Henry, Marin Independent Journal
Nancy Hopkins, Better Homes & Gardens
Kara Nielsen, Center for Culinary Development
Amy Sherman, Blackboardeats.com
Margo True, Sunset Magazine
Tina Ujlaki, Food & Wine
Joanne Weir, PBS television host.