Food Trend Watch: the 11 top food trends at the 2014 CRFA food show
Food Trend Watch: the 11 top food trends at the 2014 CRFA food show
Each year, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association hosts a massive trade show. The event is one of the year’s most important industry gatherings for chefs and other professional foodies. It’s also a great venue for trend-spotting. (Last year, we were dead-on with our prediction that food trucks and Mexican food were going to be huge.) This year, we once again perused the stalls and made our best guesses for 2014. Here, 11 food trends that we predict will hit your plate before next year’s show.
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- <strong>1.</strong> <strong>More Mexican</strong><br /><br /> <br /> Judging by the giant pavilion dedicated solely to Mexican cuisine, tacos and tostadas aren’t going anywhere
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>2. Greek</strong><br /><br /> We saw a surprising number of independent vendors showcasing Greek cuisine. (Trendy Greek food is already something we’re seeing downtown: <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily-dish/openings/2013/10/10/its-all-grk-toronto-restaurants/">It’s All GRK</a> and <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily-dish/openings/2014/02/14/rose-city-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-2/">Rose City Kitchen</a> on Queen West, for instance, or <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily-dish/openings/2014/02/18/the-greek-toronto-restaurants/">The Greek</a> on King West). Experts suspect the trend may be a trickle-down effect from the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/nyregion/yogurt-intended-for-olympians-will-be-donated-chobani-says.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Greek-yogurt craze.</a>
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>3. Tea</strong><br /><br /> Move over coffee. If the number of vendors hocking loose-leaf teas and tea-infused products is an indication, steeped beverages are going to be all over the place this year
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>4. Heirloom Everything</strong><br /><br /> The designation isn’t just for tomatoes anymore. We saw it applied to fruits, vegetables and even grains
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>5.</strong> <strong>Off Cuts</strong><br /><br /> Underused and inexpensive cuts of meat continue to gain popularity; think beef cheek, brisket, pork shoulder and skirt steak
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>6. Dry-Cured Crackers</strong><br /><br /> Companies are prepping foods in new and unusual ways in order to conserve their nutrients. Poland-based brand <strong>Crispy Natural</strong> uses a unique low-temperature drying process called MIRVAC (microwave rotation vacuum) that turns fruits, veggies and even cheese into crunchy, nutrient-dense crisps
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>7. Organic Soda</strong><br /><br /> We saw quite a few carbonated beverages made with organic fruit juices and mineral water, like these ones from <strong>Galvanina</strong>
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>8. Mainstream Fusion</strong><br /><br /> Big, commercial food companies are starting to pick up on the multicultural mash-up trend. The "mixology menu" at the <strong>French's</strong> booth boasted all sorts of unconventional flavour combinations, like smoked-salmon okonomiyaki, scallop-stuffed papadam rolls, and East Coast crab cakes served with South Carolina barbecue sauce
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>9. Allergy Accommodation</strong><br /><br /> Lots of big companies debuted new allergy-sensitive products, like <strong>Dare’</strong>s gluten-free arrowroot and green-lentil crackers, and nut-free Wagon Wheels made with soy-based <a href="http://www.soybutter.com/wowbutter.html" target="_blank">Wowbutter.</a> We also saw booths promoting allergy-based action plans at restaurants (e.g. on-site EpiPens)
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>10. Flavoured Milk</strong><br /><br /> <strong>Natrel</strong> has expanded on the usual milk options with maple and dark-chocolate varieties<br />
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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- <strong>11. Unusual Shrooms</strong><br /><br /> Along with the usual assortment of truffles, we also spied some less familiar fungi, including these puffy pom-pom mushrooms
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- CRFA Food Trend Watch
- Food Trend Watch: the seven top food trends at the 2014 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association show
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 This year, we once again perused the stalls and made our best guesses for 2014. Here, 11 food trends that we predict will hit your plate before next year’s show.
See all 11 trends »
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