Trends

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Trends November 23, 2017

Audacious Basics: Dress Up Those Standbys

Trends November 23, 2017

In a recent post, “Culinary Forecast: Food Trends, 2018 – Part Three” I mention that we’re going to back to basics this coming year. As consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of our culinary tastes, it’s not enough to pay attention to food waste practices and farm fresh restaurant philosophies. We want transparent supply chains and ethically sourced ingredients. We want to know exactly what’s in each dish and how it’s been handled. Back to Basics One result of this increasing attention to detail is a back-to-basics movement. We can re-work classics, return to old standbys, and simplify…

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Culinary Forecast
Trends November 9, 2017

Culinary Forecast: Food Trends, 2018 – Part Three

Trends November 9, 2017

There are a multitude of food trends I could talk about. If you missed part one about superfoods, “4 Superfoods – 2018 Food Trends,” feel free to take a look. I also discuss beverage predictions in “Cheers! Drink Trends for 2018 – Part Two.” Following are a few of my ideas about the culinary forecast. Healthful Personalization At one time, personalization meant being able to asking for extra cheese on that hamburger, or adding a build a your own sundae station and omelet bar at our events. As positive, accepting attitudes about dietary restrictions and better understanding of food allergies…

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drink trends for 2018
Beverages Trends October 25, 2017

Cheers! Drink Trends for 2018 – Part Two

Beverages Trends October 25, 2017

Food and beverage guesstimations and predictions are beginning to pop up everywhere. If you missed my piece on superfoods trends for 2018, take a look and let me know what you think. This week, I’m taking a stab at drink trends for 2018 and the coming years. Labeling Libations Increasingly, consumer trust has been damaged when it comes to food safety. This is, in large part, a result of lack of labeling and slow-to-respond regulatory systems. The beverage industry is one of the least regulated areas when it comes to ingredients, production processes, and their supply chains. Labels on the…

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superfoods food trends 2018
Trends September 21, 2017

4 Superfoods Food Trends 2018, Part One

Trends September 21, 2017

Superfoods Food Trends Yes, it’s already that time of year. What are the coming 2018 food trends and how can we prepare for an amazing new year filled with the latest, the best, the most delicious dining delectables? For this piece, what are the 2018 superfood food trend predictions? Well, as someone who fills her days educating professionals from many industries on dietary restrictions, food and beverage laws, and the latest menu planning faux pas, I spend quite a bit of time staying on top of the absolute latest conversations, headlines, and solutions. All that time and focus means I…

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Trends September 6, 2016

Attendees by Generation: What We Need to Consider

Trends September 6, 2016

Expectations of the dining experience have many influences for attendees. Among those influences are the generational expectations of food, food culture, and how we dine together. While some trends change year-to-year, we can also observe trends in expectations generation-to-generation. Ultimately, different age groups respond differently to trends in food service and in turn, we try to manage a responsiveness to expectations. Boomers were king in the 80s, and so was Caesar salad, hot sauce, ranch dressing, and buffalo sauce. The flavor lifecycle is about 5-8 years. We saw the hot sauce peak and give way to familiar global cuisines, such…

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Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

What Event Planners Can Learn from Ancient Rome?

Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

The culinary world seems to discover a new dining trend every five minutes, but when it comes down to it, banquets haven’t changed all that much. There might be some inspiration and ideas event planners can learn from ancient Rome. I recently read this very entertaining and informative piece about history’s ten greatest banquets, and I was struck by what they had in common, all the way back to the days of Nero. They were once-in-a-lifetime events full of entertainment and surprise. They were opportunities for people to show off their wealth. But most importantly, whether it was dormice sprinkled with…

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Meetings & Events Trends April 12, 2016

How to Diversify the Plate While Respecting the Palate

Meetings & Events Trends April 12, 2016

Like most event planners, I read a lot of restaurant menus. I like to keep in touch with trends and ways to diversify the plate while respecting the palate. One thing that continues to surprise me is just how similar they are. At both down-home joints and white-tablecloth establishments, Americans seem to be interested in a narrow choice of meats. We will eat any part of the chicken, but most restaurants focus on the breast. When it comes to beef, we eat about half the cow, but only about 10 percent (e.g., strip loin, tenderloin, sirloin, and rib eye) ends…

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Community Dietary Needs Duty of Care Food Allergies Food Service Lifestyle Choices Medical Conditions Meetings & Events Registration Religious Dietary Practices Traveling Trends April 6, 2016

Brazil Eventos & Transparency

Community Dietary Needs Duty of Care Food Allergies Food Service Lifestyle Choices Medical Conditions Meetings & Events Registration Religious Dietary Practices Traveling Trends April 6, 2016

As an international speaker and Food & Beverage expert, I’ve found at least one universal truth – allergies are present in all countries and, therefore, a place must be set at the table for attendee safety and trust. I speak on a number of topics when I travel, including legislation and legality of meetings, efficient food and beverage budgeting, custom eater menu planning, and more. Next week I’ll be in Brazil discussing important food trends from around the world and how to seamlessly incorporate these exciting trends into your meetings and events for an experience your attendees will devour. I’ve…

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Check Lists Community Event Planning Skills Sustainability Things We Love Trends March 22, 2016

The Next Frontier is Dine-Arounds: Eating in Chefs’ Homes

Check Lists Community Event Planning Skills Sustainability Things We Love Trends March 22, 2016

Most conference planners want to plug their attendees into the vibe of the city they’re in, but when planning around a jam-packed education schedule, it can be a challenge to find the time. One tried-and-true solution is the dine-around: Send small groups to different restaurants around the city, to allow attendees to engage with their surroundings and taste what the locals eat. Recently, a dizzying number of tech startups have pushed this one step further, offering visitors a chance to eat in the homes of locals. This gives visitors the opportunity to learn, over the course of a few hours,…

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Lifestyle Choices Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices Things We Love Trends February 23, 2016

Going Alcohol-Free for Your Next Big Event

Lifestyle Choices Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices Things We Love Trends February 23, 2016

We think of alcohol as vital for evening events, and in most cases, it probably is. It lubricates conversation and helps many people relax. But I wanted to share this recent New York Times article that inspired me to shake things up and consider going alcohol-free at my next event. “Shine” is a networking and dating event founded in Venice Beach, CA, and that recently expanded to New York City, which is notable in that no alcohol is served. Participants drink tea, juice and mocktails and eat delicious, healthy, mostly vegan meals. It results in sparkling conversation that isn’t dulled…

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