Restaurants serve as one of the most popular off-site venues selected by event planners, so it's understandable when meeting and event planners try to stay one step ahead of the next big food and beverage or catering trend.
And with about $558.3 billion projected in restaurant food and beverage sales for the U.S., it's not surprising that special event planners are eager to incorporate catering trends into their menu selections.
So, the next time you're meeting with a catering manager to plan your event menu, it may be helpful to incorporate these selections into the menu. This, based on results from the National Restaurant Association 2008 annual chef survey. If these trend items aren't on the menu, always remember to ask.
Cuisine
- Ethnic fusion
- Latin American
- Mediterranean
- Thai
- Pan-Asian
Appetizers
- Asian
- Vegetable/vegetarian/salads
- Seafood/shrinp
- Tartare/carpaccio (e.g., beef, tuna)
- Mexican/Tex-Mex
Entree salads
- Asian
- Vegetarian/vegan
- Salmon
- Mexican/Tex-Mex/Southwest
- Steak
Entree/main dish
- Small plates/tapas/mezze
- Specialty sandwiches
- Sustainable seafood
- Grass-fed items
- Free-range items
Vegetables
- Locally grown produce
- Organic produce
- Micro-vegetables (e.g., greens, succhini, cucumber)
- Chili peppers
- Exotic mushrooms
Fruit
- Pomegranates
- Dragon fruit
- Figs
- Passion fruit
- Prickley peer/cactus peer/cactus
Grains/legumes/nuts
- Quinoa
- Fresh pasta
- Couscous
- Bulgur wheat (Middle Eastern cuisine)
- Nuts
Bread and dough
- Flatbreads
- Ciabatta
- Whole-grain bread
- Focaccia
- Low-carb dough
Desserts
- Bite-size desserts
- Sorbet/gelato
- Cheese plates/platters
- Fresh fruits
- Chocolate desserts
Non-alcoholic beverages
- Flavored/enhanced water
- Espresso/specialty coffees
- Bottled water
- Tea
- Filtered water
Alcoholic beverages/cocktails
- Craft/artisanal/microbrewed beer
- Energy-drink cocktails
- Martinis/flavored martinis
- Mojito
- Micro-distilled/artisanal liquors
Preparation methods
- Braised
- Pan-seared/sauteed
- Grilled
- Slow food
- Smoked items (e.g., mesquite, hickory, oak)
Sauces/condiments/special ingredients
- Salts (e.g., sea, smoked, colored kosher)
- Infused oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Lemon grass
- Vinaigrettes
