#food-trends

#food-trends

IHOP's oxtail dishes are a prime example of the meteoric rise of oxtail from a throwaway cut to a prized delicacy - and not everyone is thrilled about it.

TofuGo features deeply savory, soy-forward squares of shelf-stable compressed tofu that are perfect for snacking when hunger strikes in the afternoon.

Chobani is not just catering to taste buds but also to cherished memories. The return of Cookies & Cream Creamer is a journey back to the flavors of childhood.

Korean Coleslaw is a refreshing take on a classic favorite, reimagined to be both delicious and functional. Unlike traditional mayonnaise-based slaws, this version harnesses the power of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55, a probiotic strain known for its potential benefits for gut health and skin vitality.

"It's exploding! 253 bouillon restaurants have opened in France in four years," Bernard Boutboul, a restaurant consultant, told AFP.

In 2017, Buffalo Wild Wings released Scorpion Rum, its spiciest sauce, which came with vanilla ice cream to counter the heat. Customer feedback indicated it was extremely spicy, with one person recalling, 'My brother and I ate 12 wings each with this sauce! It was good! Had the person sitting next to us ask if we were ok bc we had tears running down our face.'

L'Appartement 4F's croissants, regardless of size, are rolled by hand and are known to contain more butter than a classic croissant recipe, resulting in a richer flavor.

Food trends have never moved faster than they do now. With the power of social media, and particularly short-form video, a food can go from a concept in a lone creator's mind to an absolute phenomenon in a matter of hours.

Social media, the internet, and globalization have made the world a much smaller place. Not only are we bombarded with foodie influencers sampling exotic cuisine in real time, but you yourself can easily obtain said exotic ingredients at your local grocery store or restaurant menu. In fact, many foreign or otherwise non-native products are quickly becoming the "it" food, stateside. And the bold citrus flavor you'll keep seeing in food and drink in 2026 is yuzu.

When hot honey started popping up on restaurant menus about five years ago drizzled over pizza perhaps, or used as a glaze for meat or halloumi it seemed novel; something unusual and exciting to try. Word soon got out, particularly among gen Z, about its swicy (sweet and spicy) appeal, and the product has gone a bit crazy over the last couple of years, according to Laurence Edwards, owner of Black Mountain Honey, which has seen its hot honey sales shoot up.

Food trends are changing and evolving constantly, with yesterday's textures, flavors, and ingredients moving aside or inspiring the ones we expect to see in 2026. We expect the upcoming year to be influenced by health trends, as well as politics, and the need for comfort in our food offerings. People's ever-expanding palates and health needs are also colliding with their budgets, but that doesn't mean they plan to sacrifice their food experiences.

January is a perfect time to reform eating habits or just to try out new things. This month, Target has a bevy of new products for some of the hottest food trends going right now. It's no secret that Target has been increasing its focus on grocery items as a core part of its business, and that has meant a growing number of partnerships and trendy brands showing up on shelves.

Food trends are ever-changing. An ingredient that is considered cheap peasant food one day can evolve into a staple of fine dining years later. Lobster was famously considered food for the poor before its reputation shifted and it became the expensive, luxurious shellfish we know today. Lentil soup has experienced a similar trajectory. A plentiful, affordable, dense source of essential nutrients like protein and fiber, lentils have been part of our diet since at least 8000 B.C.E.

It has become clear to me that the restaurant world I've known for decades is radically changing through a combination of factors: people's working patterns, health obsessions, the falling out of love with alcohol and the falling in love with pastries and bread, but, predominantly, the affordability of it all. The numbers are genuinely frightening: in my restaurants, utility costs are up more than 50% since 2019; chocolate prices have doubled; olive oil is up 121%; even spring onions are up 55% spring onions!

For me, the light bulb moment was the steak frites croissant. I was scrolling Instagram when the golden brown pastry popped onto my phone screen, a hunk of steak poking out from between its lifted layers and a few peppered fries sitting on a smear of sauce on top. I couldn't look away, transfixed by this creation from Houston croissanterie Shakkar. I realized that savory croissants across the country had escaped all limits of tradition.

The martinis are cold, the oysters endless and every table sounds like a dinner party. Lately, going out for martinis, fries, and oysters has become the night-time version of matcha and froyo - a ritual, a little luxury. But when did our "savory treats" become so... French? From West Village bistros to London brasseries, French cuisine - once dismissed as too heavy or too fussy - is suddenly what's on everyone's lips. After years of small plates and coastal Mediterranean, we're saying oui to butter,