...And a look forward
I almost hate to tell you that locavore has been designated the Word of the Year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. I would have said Food Trend of the Year, OK, but Word of the Year?
I already hate the word. It makes me crave some out-of-season ingredient shipped in from Tunisia.
I'm sure you can guess what it means even if you haven't heard the term; but in case not, it's someone committed to the whole seasonal, local farms, sustainable agriculture, eco-eating trend that we've talked about endlessly, particularly with places like Dogwood and Woodberry Kitchen opening up. (And many restaurants were doing it before them without as much fanfare.)
That got me looking around for stories about other food trends we'll be seeing in 2008.
There are no surprises, but here are some of the things I came up with: ...
*Probiotics. The potentially helpful bacteria found in yogurt and now in many other food products.
*Umami. Check out my earlier post.
*One-ingredient restaurants. You read it here first.
*Water backlash. Well, not really. But bottled water is no longer a Good Thing.
*Health cocktails. Only made with alcohol. It's an oxymoron, but the idea is to use fresh, even organic ingredients. Not only that, ethanol may boost the antioxidants in fruits like strawberries and blackberries. So enjoy your pear bellini.
Here are some more '08 trends from Andrew Knowlton, Bon Appetit magazine's restaurant editor, as reported on CBS News' Web site:
*Oysters. They are showing up more and more on restaurant menus and are now available online.
*Meat cookbooks. Apparently a lot of high-profile ones are being published this year.
*Slow cookers. Several companies are releasing new ones.
*Heirloom beans. Like heirloom tomatoes, only beans.
*Eco-friendly bags. Choose paper, not plastic, or better still, bring your own.
*Boutique bakeries. We've talked about the ones that specialize in cupcakes.
And here's Food & Wine magazine's "100 Tastes to Try in '08." In case you don't feel like reading the whole article I'll just say if you want to be considered au courant, you better know what a yumberry is.
What happen to the whole locavore thing?
(Photo courtesy of the Zhejiang Yumberry Juice Co.)
Comments
I think I was a bit ahead of the curve on filling my own water bottle for the gym, and carrying my own bags to the grocery store, but I'm not willing to completely give up fresh pineapple from Hawaii or wild salmon from Alaska.
I'm seeing more and more roasted oysters on menus--what's up with that?
Are these the oysters past their prime?
Ugh. I hope not.
Posted by: Darlene | January 2, 2008 6:44 AM
"*Slow cookers. Several companies are releasing new ones."
The one I noted in a holiday gift catalog from Wegman's was a, I think, Hamilton Beach slowcooker with 3 different size crocks that fit in the same base. I don't remember the sizes but maybe 2, 4, and 6 quart?
An interesting idea, but they had already sold out of them when I went to check it out.
Posted by: Janet | January 2, 2008 7:00 AM
I would think a rise in slow cookers is a bad sign for the economy. Slow cookers are about cheaper cuts of meats.
Posted by: Robert from Cross Keys | January 2, 2008 9:50 AM
To tack on to Robert's comment, when you use a slow cooker, you don't get home and decide it's easier to go out to eat than it is to stay home and cook because you're cooking is already done. I'll have to check out the slow cooker that Janet described, though. I like the option of the different sizes depending on who is coming for dinner that night.
Posted by: Mar | January 2, 2008 3:36 PM
I'm a new poster, but wanted to give a little more info on the slow cooker (it's a librarian thing - I can't help it). The 3-in-1 Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker that Janet mentioned is available on Amazon.com, and Target has it online and in the store (more color options online, but you'll probably lose any savings to shipping - this sucker's heavy). Target's website says most area stores should have it in stock.
List price appears to be $53 (all white) to $80 (black stoneware w/ stainless steel base) - actual price will vary. I'm guessing other area retailers carry this too; if anyone finds a really good deal, please let us know.
(And now, back to lurking...)
Posted by: Tami | January 2, 2008 11:31 PM
Hot or not, I'll take slow cookers over microwave dinners.
Posted by: Eric | January 3, 2008 10:07 AM