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Chili & Maple

Consumers can’t get enough sweet and spicy flavor combinations—so much so that the combination became its own term, “swicy.” Hot honey has been the star of this phenomenon, but there are endless swicy pairings. Ford’s Garage USA VP of Culinary Jessica Tomlinson asks, “What is going to be next after hot honey?”

Tomlinson is looking to answer that question with a crispy chicken sandwich they’re testing that features a hot maple glaze. Think of hot maple as a bridge between chicken and waffles and spicy chicken sandwiches. Combining maple with chili and other spicy ingredients can also add an addictive sweet kick to beverages, desserts, and dipping sauces.

Pickles & Pepperoni

Pickle mania is everywhere, joining bacon as a go-to topping across menu categories. But the combination that hits us right in the comfort food sweet spot is pickles and pepperoni. After all, who can resist the perfect alliteration that is “Pickle and Pepperoni Pizza”?

Pickles have long brought a hit of acidity and color to deli sandwiches. Now, they’re providing those same benefits to pepperoni pizza, balancing out the meat and crust while bringing a twist to one of the most familiar pizzas.

Protein & Coffee

Consumer interest in functional food and beverages that offer highly specific health benefits continues to grow. One trend riding this wave is “proffee,” or protein and coffee.

“Protein and coffee will be coming fast,” predicts Ryan Lopez, R&D chef of Big Boy Restaurant Group LLC. “There’s already a push for added protein in beverages, and coffee will be the next to jump in. Gen Z and millennial customers will seek it out for a midday pick-me-up.”

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