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Restaurant Trends for 2009 |
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Restaurant consultants Joseph Baum and Michael Whiteman, of
Windows of the World Fame, have predicted the restaurant trends of 2009. Our comments are in blue—we don't mean any disrespect to Baum and Whiteman, after all these trend pieces are really hard to write. Predicting the future ain't easy.
The abridged version:
The “bistro-ization” (or osteria-ization, in Italian) will continue. In other words, things are getting more casual rather than luxurious. Bad news for the foie gras industry.
We’re running out of star chefs, so expect to see their names less, especially on hotel restaurants.
Mac n cheese may have been around for some time now, but comfort food will continue to grow in the form of pad thai, rigatoni carbonara and spaghetti & meatballs—but with “creative meatballs.” [what exactly are creative meatballs? Are they made with exotic meats? Veggies? Herbs?] Also expect turkey legs, braised & fried chicken, and many varieties of The Mashed Potato.
Asian noodles in broth are making their way on menus [uhh obvi…perhaps you’ve heard of David Chang?]
Breakfast at any time of the day [really? Is this new?]
Offal continues to grow in popularity, kudos to Chris Cosentino on that one.
Chain restaurants such as Applebee’s will attempt to distinguish themselves via more creative menu items. Kinda like how Ruby Tuesday’s blew itself up.
Luxury restaurants that had only prix fixe menus will start more a la carte options.
It will be easier to get reservations and previously curmudgeonly waiters will suddenly be friendlier.
Small plates will continue to grow [Can this still be called a trend? It’s pretty darn mainstream. Almost as mainstream as breakfast for dinner.] and Happy Hours will become relative bargains [isn’t this already the point of them?]
Underground restaurants will grow, largely because they offer a “sense of adventure.”
The takeaway: The economy is not so good for the restaurant industry. Food creativity and innovation is going to be all about how
to make low-budget items taste delicious. Maybe that’s why no one in New York
bought this white truffle.
Also included in the trend watch are the buzzwords for 2009
(chickpeas, Brussels sprouts house-made pickled vegetables, etc.).
Via The Feedbag
-Carey Polis
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