Food Predictions for 2011

Trends.

It is true that making predictions can be a fool’s errand, however the biggest trend for this year is…PIE. How can you go wrong with pie? Chefs everywhere are going to be making anything and everything into pie this year, not only sweet but also savory. Pie makes me happy, so I am definitely behind this trend.

Photo courtesy of Cannelle et Vanille

Here are a few more.

Korean Cuisine - Think short rib sliders and kimchi quesadillas.

Macarons - Cupcakes and whoopie pies are a thing of the past.

Meatless Mondays and Tofu Thursdays - Not only is this trend beneficial to your health but also your check book.

Foraging - Chefs will begin using more wild greens, berries, nuts and even bark….hmmm.

Tiki Bar Cocktails - Using fresh ingredients and original recipes and a few umbrellas.

Sweet Potatoes - This root vegetable has been crowned the vegetable of the year for 2011. Most say it is because of the bumper crop this year of an estimated 2 billion pounds.

Pimenton de la Vera - You may never have heard of this ingredient, but chances are you've used its less smoky cousin many times. A specialty of Spain's La Vera region, this smoked paprika is a building block of Spanish cuisine. It lends a sweet heat to roasted and grilled meats.

So there you have it…how to be Hip in 2011.