For me one of the best parts of any meeting/event is the food. I love to eat, and I love to try new things. I also like to cook so am always looking for new ideas to try at home as well. When I plan events for our association clients, the challenge is to be able to make innovative menu choices on a budget. It is also becoming increasingly challenging to meet the diverse needs of meeting participants.
So what is the next big thing in food and beverage? The 2008 National Restaurant Association 2008 survey revealed the following trends:
Food
- Small plates are still big!
- Organic, local, sustainable
- Ethnic cuisine and ethnic fusion
Beverages
- Signature cocktails
- Pairings (wine and beer; beer flights)
- Craft beers
- Organic wine/beer products
Most of these food and beverage trends have already filtered their way into the meeting and events industry. So what’s next? Here are some new trends that may start popping up in our industry.
It Ingredients – you know the one ingredient that makes you ooh so cool.
- High end juices (packaged to look like wine)
- Red espresso
- Exotic edibles (giant toasted ants?)
(See the Trendwatching Briefing: http://www.trendwatching.com/briefing/ for more information)
DIY – where diners select the flavours – Geschmackslabor a restaurant in Germany allows diners to select flavoured oils that finish their dish, creating their own unique taste sensation (http://www.geschmackslabor.com/)
High End Dessert Trucks (move over Popsicle Pete) (http://www.springwise.com/food_beverage/index.php?page=2 )
Customized M&Ms (http://www.mymms.com/customprint_faces/)
I’d love to know what you think is going to be the next big thing in food and beverage – add a comment if you have any ideas or if you have tried something new and fabulous at a recent event. In the meantime, I’m off to sample more food…
To listen to the 2008 Forecast podcast from the National Restaurant Association: http://cdn3.libsyn.com/nra/NRA_2008_Restaurant_Industry_Forcast_-_Food__Beverage.mp3?nvb=20080822124822&nva=20080823124822&t=0febf71846a1b7c5a1ebb
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