Thai food and burgers are to be replaced by Mexican dishes like Chipotle, according to a top conference centre chef.
Unveiling his culinary predictions for the meetings market, National Conference Center’s acclaimed executive chef Craig Mason said the Thai food "craze" is well and truly over.
Instead chefs will be more inclined to shop at farmers markets and stick to the basics, such as traditional salt, pepper and garlic
Other predictions include:
— More flavored vinegars in restaurants, such as pomegranate vinegars, house-made vegetables and fruit pickles
— More meals incorporating "amuse bouche," which Mason describes as little "snacks" to whet the appetite. These are often found at luxury meals but will filter down to more moderately priced restaurants.
— An emphasis on local wines but also a return to higher-quality, but value-priced wines from Spain and South America.
— The explosion of special diets, with the likes of diary-free, gluten-free, soy-free, rice-free menu options becoming a personal preference, rather than a dietary restriction.
— A great whole-grain explosion.
— Chocolate will be even more popular than ever with dessert-lovers seeing a resurgence of chocolate in mainstream dining.
By David Wilkening
