We hear it in our music, watch it on our screens, see it in our fashion: country rap, dramedy, retrofuturism. Genres, cultures, and eras are coming together in new ways. Food and beverage menus aren’t immune to this mixing and matching.
In our predictions for 2024 food trends, we shared that restaurants would continue playing with exciting mashups. With so many opportunities for culinary crossovers, we needed an entire article to delve into this trend for the new year.
Globe-Hopping Eats
From ramen as a burger bun to kimchi in a burrito, cross-cultural cuisine shows the versatility of many international staples. Chefs have found inventive ways to use global flavors while keeping the integrity of the ingredients. The appetite for multinational combinations is still growing, as the mashups below spread across the West.
Itameshi:Itameshi (that’s “Italian food” in Japanese) gained popularity in Japan in the 1990s, with chefs combining a respect for Italian cuisine with local ingredients. Wafu (or Japanese-style) takes on Italian fare, like spaghetti topped with seaweed or pork ragu with a soy sauce brine, are increasingly providing a fresh alternative to American-Italian dishes in U.S. restaurants.
Viet-Cajun: For Vietnamese families in the Gulf Coast, crawfish boils are a special tradition, where Vietnamese ingredients and cooking techniques are mixed with the usual Cajun fixings. The sour and umami flavors of Vietnamese fare pair nicely with the bold spices of Cajun cuisine, making Viet-Cajun a vibrant combination.
Indian Inspiration: Dot Foods Corporate Chef Tim Gump expects the fun, exciting flavors of India to make a bigger splash across more menus. As more people reduce their meat intake, Indian mashups offer a flavorful approach to meatless dishes, like a Nashville hot paneer pita or chana masala (chickpea curry) tacos.
Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Savory
Savory dessert? Spicy beverage? How about a spicy-sweet-sour-savory entree? Give diners the culinary exhilaration they crave from restaurants with flavor combinations that are bold but nuanced, complex but not fussy.
A good place to start is with tried-and-true favorites in need of a little wake up. A bit of MSG adds depth to a standard chocolate cake. Mustard adds an unexpected note to martinis. Finely chop pickles to incorporate a tinge of sourness to guacamole.
Newstalgia Trips
It seems like everyone wants food and beverages that take them back to their childhood or a seemingly simpler time. Eating and drinking awakens all five senses, creating vivid memories that linger long after the final bite or sip.
But our taste buds have grown up, so we need new ways to enjoy nostalgic treats. Combine the ’90s espresso martini with childhood smores, complete with graham cracker rim and torched marshmallow garnish. Create a new take on Dunkaroos with an elevated cookie and dipping sauce. Use retro cereal as a coating for fried shrimp or chicken. Update macaroni and cheese with kimchi.
Your Sourcing Solution
Experimenting with mashups doesn’t mean massive menu reinvention. Simply testing out an LTO using an existing ingredient in an unexpected application can drive restaurant traffic. Let Dot Foods help you with your limited-time offers and sourcing, so you can play with flavors with less risk.
Travel through our website’s picks for cross-cultural menu innovation.