The Crazy Food Trends You Need to Know; NOW!

Food, an industry that has more trends coming out every year than fashion!

From artisanal ice cream to even the elevation of the humble toast to “Fairy Bread”, food is an industry that has more trends coming out every year than fashion! And that’s not only restricted to new flavours – but even the plating, smell, colour and the creation of new gastronomic experiences. The culinary world has its fair share of innovation for the good – but some are just downright wonky. These unusual trends are slowly but surely creeping up on your table – so you better watch out and be prepared!

Monster Milkshakes in Mason Jars

If 2015 was the year of Kale, then 2016 is dedicated to Mason Jars. A container which has been used to store delicious jams and pickles has found its way into almost every café in this hipster universe. Limiting it to maybe cocktails or a fresh lemonade is one thing, but the world is now chomping up monster milkshakes in these pots. Topped with entire cupcakes, brownies, cakes, cream, biscuits, nuts, berries, sprinkles – basically everything in a baker’s pantry – these monsters are FREAKING HUGE. These are being served as dessert shakes, which is an understatement – it’s a meal for the entire family for a whole month.

The Arrival of the Light Bulb

Hipsters are always on the lookout for unique serving options for their booze because a nice glass is just too old school. Light bulbs are slowly phasing the mason jar out in the liquid section and are popping up everywhere. Be it energy drinks, cocktails, coffee or even just plain ol’water, it’s a hit with the crowd. From London to NYC to our humble little Pune, it’s got the kids going – “OMG! Let’s go drunching with these cute Light bulbs ya!”. I bet Thomas Edison did not think his precious invention would bring light into the boozy lives of people!

Muffin Trays as Serving Plates

I recently went out for lunch with the hubby to “Double Roti” in Pune and our chicken wings were served in muffin trays. I was angry and surprised at the same time! Why would you want to mess with a tray that lets the most delicious thing in my life sit in? I long for the days when food was actually served in bowls, plates and boards – why must we multi purpose everything?

Combo Meals Served in Steel Tiffin Dabbas

Order a Dhansak at Bombay’s popular Soda Bottle Openerwala and a three layer aluminium tiffin box of the olden days makes its way to your table. The dabbawala is definitely making a comeback as a wacky way to dress food and it’s actually pretty fun! Remember in school when you couldn’t wait for recess to open your giant dabba – the feeling still remains every time I eat out of the fancy ones too. Except this time, I pay a whole lot more, for a box that should cost less than plastic.

Frozen Ice Cream

Hey, ice cream is frozen anyway, you say? No no my young child, this ain’t your regular dairy sweet. Nitrogen cooled instant ice creams is the wave now – where you can see your ice cream being made right in front of you, instead of scooping it out from a box. There are several small outlets in India that are doing wonders with the flavours and ditching their traditional churners. Dessert that goes into your mouth sooner, what’s better than that?

Raclette

A Swiss dish in which a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese wheel is melted and scraped off right on your table onto potatoes – this is literally heaven on earth. A restaurant aptly named Raclette NYC is taking the food world by storm with it table side cheese melts. Their whole menu is dedicated to everything beautifully cheesy and is single handedly responsible for half of the food pictures on Instagram! We hope to see this soon in India – because melted cheese is a joy, everyone must share.

(A massive EDM junkie and a Jedi Padewan, Radhika believes in taking life by the fork and knife every day. She has been a media woman for the last 10 years with a huge passion for video technology. While working in content management is her day avatar, nothing gets her foodie side going like a good spicy misal pav!)