I had the opportunity to attend the National Restaurant Association (NRA) food show in Chicago for the first time this year and it was a little slice of heaven for a foodie like myself. One of the things I enjoy about shows like this is often they are a sneak peek into upcoming trends.
The popularity of the food truck seems to still be full-steam-ahead as there were many booths dedicated to mobile gastronomy. The gleaming steel surfaces beckoned so convincingly, I had to admit I caught myself daydreaming about all the delicious food that could possibly pass over those stainless counters.
Passing from new trend to more of a “I’m-here-to-stay” kind of status is the gluten free movement. When this first came out, I fully expected it to go the way of low carb but with several of my friends being diagnosed as gluten intolerant and another handful opting for a gluten-light lifestyle, producers are finding a big market that is welcoming their products with open arms and hearty appetites.
The third trend that I saw coming into full blossom was the biodegradable/compostable cups, flatware, plates, and to-go container industry. I’m thrilled that so many companies are finally going down this path… my only question is what the heck took you so long? The products are durable, attractive and I can’t wait to see them more widely used!
What other trend did I see? Hopefully one where I get to return to the NRA show again and again!