Filed under: Trends, Lists

Every niche in the food world is going to see their share of trends in the new year, from fast food to the ultra-luxe havens of molecular gastronomy, and Epicurious has just put in their two cents as to what some of those trends will be. Although they don't come right out and say so, it is pretty easy to see that their trends don't apply directly to all diners/cooks. Based on their selections, it appears that their picks are for the gourmet food niche. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's good to keep some perspective when reading forcasts for trends like number one on their list:

1. An increase in the number of "foie gras speakeasies", "private clubs having secret dinners, feasting on the forbidden fattened duck liver."
2. Iberico ham from Spain will become wildly popular.
3. More people will shop at farmers' markets and start to grow their own produce.
4. There will be more ethnic fine dining restaurants.
5. Fair trade will become a buzzword in the same vein as "organic" was this year.
6. More quality bread will be baked in restaurants.
7. Spicy drinks and cocktails will be big in restaurant bars. Jalapeno margarita, anyone?
8. Hot dogs will be the new hamburgers.
9. Small coffee roasters will be the new coffee trend (or you could just roast at home).
10. Consumers will continue to care more about the quality of the food they are buying/eating, not just the quantity.

Thanks to the trickle down effect of trends, the more accessible ones will hit the mainstream quickly (more hot dogs (#8) by summer), but the others might take more time to gain widespread popularity.