TRENDS: What’s Hot in 2015

Bánh-mi, a Vietnamese submarine sandwich on a baguette. Photo courtesy The Great Pepper Cookbook by Melissa’s Produce.   Nation’s Restaurant News, the major trade paper and website for those in the restaurant industry, reports that Americans are becoming more interested in trying new ethnic foods—especially (but not surprisingly) in restaurants. What “ethnic” means varies from…
Continue reading “TRENDS: What’s Hot in 2015”

PRODUCT: Cake In A Jar

Way back in 2009, we discovered the excellent cake in a jar from Yummy Cupcakes in Los Angeles. It became a Top Pick Of The Week, and one of those products that, years later, we still pine for, remembering every spoonful. The trend was slow in starting. After five years, in the past week we’ve…
Continue reading “PRODUCT: Cake In A Jar”

TRENDS: How America Likes To Grill

Tip: Skewer kabobs with sprigs of rosemary for instead of conventional skewers. Photo courtesy Sur La Table.   To capture consumer trends around grilling and barbecuing, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) conducts the biannual HPBA Barbecue Lifestyle, Usage & Attitude Study. Here are highlights from the 2014 State of the Barbecue Industry Report,…
Continue reading “TRENDS: How America Likes To Grill”

TRENDS: Chicken Up, Seafood, Pork & Beef Down

Chart courtesy The Wall Street Journal.     While Americans are aware of the need to improve their diets, there’s been a decline in consumption of one of the healthiest food choices: fish. According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2012, the last year for which figures are available, the average U.S. consumer ate: 82…
Continue reading “TRENDS: Chicken Up, Seafood, Pork & Beef Down”

RECIPE: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Salted caramel hot chocolate. Photo courtesy Starbucks.   What’s trending in hot chocolate? Salted chocolate caramel hot chocolate or cocoa (here’s the difference between hot chocolate and cocoa). We’ve seen prepared drinks and/or mixes from Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and Williams-Sonoma. But you can try your hand making it from scratch at home: RECIPE: SALTED CARAMEL…
Continue reading “RECIPE: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate”