Rising Food and Drink Trends for 2020
With the new year well and truly underway (Where did February come from?!) we have been looking at the trends that are set to be big this year and we’re excited to see so many of them already being done here in Scotland...
Micro-Cuisines
Focusing on smaller regions of a country and how the food of that country can vary, can be an interesting way to look at popular cuisines. For example, rather than “Italian food”, restaurants may brand their food according to the smaller regions which their dishes are from, such as Roman, Bolognese, Neapolitan.
One of our caterers, Yu.Ca.Taco takes its name from the word “Yucateco” meaning, from the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, so while everyone may be familiar with generic Mexican cuisine, Yu.Ca.Taco are putting the spotlight on a specific region which is exactly what this trend is all about.
Dairy Alternatives
Plant-based milks and cheeses are nothing new but numbers of vegans and dairy allergies are on the rise, with interest in veganism rising sevenfold between 2014-2019, according to the Vegan Society. With this comes increasing quality and options of dairy alternatives.
Hitting the dairy free nail on the head are Faceplant Foods! Making their own dairy free “Cheeze” to create delicious meals such as their Chilli Cheeze Fries and Mac n Cheeze Grilled Sandwich, they are killing it!
Fusion Foods
With an increasingly global society and exposure to different cultures, there is the idea that diners have “tried everything there is to try” causing people to look for something new. Enter fusion food – something which has always been popular in places with high levels of migration, for example, Austalia where there are many Australian-Asian fusion restaurants.
A brilliant example of this, in the Scottish street food world, is one of Ginger and Chilli’s Asian-Scottish fusion dishes - Keralan Cullen Skink with curry leaves, mustard seeds, turmeric, tamarind and Arbroath smokies!
Coffee Based Drinks
We all know about the popularity of the espresso martini in the past few years, but it doesn’t end there. We’re seeing other drinks pop up on menus like the espresso tonic and various cold brews. Whether it’s alcoholic or non-alcoholic, the caffeine bug is continuing to grow and if anyone does it well, it’s Fallen Tree Coffee Truck.
Running their mobile multi-roaster coffee truck, they serve up all manner of coffee-based drinks from hot drinks to cold brews to cocktails, featuring rotating roasters such as Dear Green and Campbell & Syme coffee.
Food Halls and Communal Dining
Tipped as a big thing for 2020, people are moving away from formal dining experiences and enjoying communal & casual style dining. This style of dining is great for creating theatre around dining, with all the sights, sounds and smells making for a great atmosphere. There are also options to suit so many different tastes, dietary requirements and budgets. Lucky for you, this is what strEAT is all about!
So, whether it’s a meeting in the office, a 50th birthday party or a large-scale festival, we can offer a great social dining experience.
Gut Health
We’ve been hearing lots in the past few years about the physical benefits of fermented foods and drinks such as kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha. The benefits of eating these have been proven to include healthy skin, good digestions, decreased joint pain and faster healing. Tempo Tea Bar are a fantastic company we work with, who do both event catering and have their own shops in Glasgow and Edinburgh making bubble-tea. Tempo Tea Bar now create their own homemade kombucha, brilliant for gut health!
We’re excited to see any other trends which unfold this year and how all our brilliant chefs, restaurants and street food vendors tackle them! Which trends are you most excited to try?
To find out more about booking any of the caterers mentioned in the article, please click here!
