Flights aren’t just for alcohol anymore. More restaurants are seeing the benefits of serving different samplers of small bites and quick sips:
-
Flights appeal to indecisive customers who want to have it all.
-
Questioning a bold new menu flavor? Introduce it on a flight as a safe way to experiment.
-
Draw in homebodies with delicious tastings that are hard to replicate in their kitchens.
What are the food and beverage flights taking flight on foodservice menus?
Starter Samplers
Appetizers are already built for sharing, especially sampler platters. But instead of the usual smorgasbord of fries, sliders, and cheesesticks, try serving different, bite-sized takes on a specific item.
Think eggrolls inspired by different regions or wings with a flight of sauces. Yelp saw a 496% increase in egg flights in 2024, a trend that took off on TikTok. Just about anything, from harissa to pimiento, can jazz up deviled eggs for tasty shareable starters.
Collection of Coffee
We’re most familiar with flights for tasting alcoholic beverages. However, as more people abstain from alcohol, it’s natural to expand beverage flights to zero-proof options. With non-alcoholic flights, consumers can experience the subtle notes of various coffees, indulge in mini monster shakes, or drink up zero-proof cocktails that are just as good as the hard stuff.
Pasta Party
When it comes to flights, entrees may not be the course that first comes to mind. But serving up fun takes on dishes to pass around the table is a perfect way to enliven a meal.
One approach to flights is to offer different takes on classic comforts, like pasta. Yelp reported a 127% increase in pasta flights last year. Turn the Italian staple into a global feast with small pasta dishes using Chinese chili crisp, Japanese soy sauce, or Cajun spices and crawfish. Explore different noodles, sauces, or proteins to excite diners.
Finale Flights
For Dot Foods Corporate Chef Tim Gump, one of the big dessert trends of the year is mini desserts, such as macarons. These colorful delicacies are practically made for flights.
Chef Tim has also seen more savory flavors making their way to the dessert menu. Incorporating savory ingredients into a sweet treat may seem like a tough sell. But because flights offer multiple options, it’s less risky to experiment. Serve more traditional offerings alongside unexpected flavors, like a cheesecake flight with the more savory Basque cheesecake or a matcha cupcake as part of a cupcake sampler.
Your Sourcing Solution
Another nice thing about flights? They can help restaurants deliver variety and flavor without extra resources and labor. Taking the same base and incorporating different toppings or fillings is a labor-saving approach to flights.
With Dot Foods’ large range of products, you can serve flights for every part of the meal. Visit our website to explore all our items or click below for our curated list.
Discover our picks for both food and beverage flights.