WASHINGTON — Locally sourced foods and kids’ menus will be two of the biggest trends in U.S. restaurants in 2012, according to the National Restaurant Association’s annual “What’s Hot in 2012” survey of nearly 1,800 professional chefs.
In fact, kids and local sourcing came up several times in the list’s top 10, according to a report summary. In descending order, the top trends were: locally sourced meats and seafood, locally grown produce, healthful kids’ meals, hyper-local items, sustainability as a culinary theme, children’s nutrition as a culinary theme, gluten-free/food allergy-conscious items, locally produced wine and beer, sustainable seafood and whole grain items in kids’ meals.
Twenty-six percent of the chefs also ranked smartphone apps as the hottest technology trend for restaurants in 2012, and another 25% said that tablet computers, such as iPads for menus and wine lists, will be the hottest trend. Sixteen percent said social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, will be the top trend, and the same percentage said mobile, wireless or other pay-at-the-table payment options would be a hot tech trend, according to a report summary.
In addition, 61% of chefs said that they would consider launching a food truck as an entrepreneurial business venture.
Rounding out the top 20 hot menu trends are: newly fabricated cuts of meat, farm/estate-branded items, food trucks/street food, artisan spirits, house-made/artisan ice cream, health/nutrition as a culinary theme, non-traditional fish; fruit/vegetable kids’ side items, children’s mini-meals (i.e. smaller versions of adult menu items) and culinary cocktails.
