Blog Layout
Trending: Plant-Based and Authentic Global
CSSI Staff Post – July 8, 2020
With summer in full swing, restaurants around the country—at least those in regions where COVID-19 cases are flattening or declining—are beginning to cautiously open up for consumers. Here’s what we’re seeing:
- Well-spaced outdoor seating that allows for proper social distancing, with many restaurants enlarging patios to allow for more tables
- Whole street closures in some cities to increase capacity
- Mandatory mask mandates
- Sanitation stations, which are as common as server stations
- Streamlined back-of-house teams to minimize any nonessential contact
- Hygiene—rather than food—as the number one focus in marketing and advertising
As the restaurant industry continues to adapt to meet new standards and make it possible for consumers to comfortably and safely eat out again, it is time to think about what will draw them out. Many Americans have been cooking more at home for the past four months—either as a new hobby/passion or out of necessity. We predict that menuing plant-based and authentic global cuisines can entice and delight these consumers, as restaurants can deliver on certain flavors, preparation styles and dishes in ways that would be nearly impossible to recreate at home.
Inspire Consumers With Plant-Based Menu Items
Plant-based eating was up before COVID-19, and the trend will likely continue as restaurants reopen. Nearly 86% of consumers who were interested in plant-based items pre-pandemic will still look for them on menus now.* With the shortages in the animal protein supply chain and the issues at the processing facilities, consumers—even those who are new to the trend—are quickly incorporating plant-based foods into their routine.
Retail sales of plant-based proteins have skyrocketed during the pandemic, but the general public will still be looking to the restaurant industry to teach them how to effectively incorporate them in recipes they make at home. Chefs can do this by adding more plant-based proteins into classic dishes as a way to showcase newer ingredient in more comfortable formats.
Serve Up Authentic Global Fare
Incorporating authentic global cuisine will be another effective way to draw customers back in. Nearly 30% of all consumers noted that they would search out authentic Asian and Latin cuisines when they can eat out again.* This is likely due to the fact that many authentic recipes incorporate unique cooking techniques and potentially difficult-to-source ingredients. Consumers are eager to get out and stretch their comfort zone again.
Even if restaurants aren’t set up to create these authentic dishes, they can rely on manufacturers to ideate and develop everything from authentic ready-to-use sauces that can be added to any dish to fully ready-to-heat proteins that take out the complicated cooking processes.
Innovation never stops, and it will be crucial in getting consumers back through those doors in the coming months. CSSI is here to assist chefs and restaurant operators by working with their teams and connecting them with manufacturers who are constantly producing turnkey menu innovation solutions for the problems facing the foodservice industry.
*Datassential, “One Table: Consumer Insights and the Path Forward,” May 2020.
Carl Schwartz
Culinary R&D Manager
March 1st, 2023 We’re thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our culinary family: Chef Steve Madonna. Formally trained in both Italy and the United States, as well as having worked for Wolfgang Puck, Chef Steve brings an extensive set of connections and culinary knowledge to our already stacked chef roster. Featured in this month’s issue is one of Chef Steve’s favorite recipes for making memories at home with your loved ones.
October 19, 2022 Pumpkin pie is a nostalgic menu item and my personal favorite when it comes to fall and winter menus, as it goes hand in hand with a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. We elevate the nostalgia by turning this must-have holiday dish into a clarified cocktail that leaves your taste buds as curious as your eyes. We get adventurous as we replace expected visual elements with an ice-cold glass of clarified liquors infused with pumpkin pie. This cocktail defies all visual expectations, while leaving your sense of smell and taste immersed in a seasonally nostalgic experience.
October 19, 2022 Canada is well known for many things. Hockey, snow, maple syrup, and a few other stereotypical but somewhat accurate concepts may immediately come to mind. What you may not know, though, is how invested we are in the snacks that we consume. Compared to the U.S., sure, we are no match for the quantity and variety offered in the land of the free, home of the snacks. However, what we know in our hearts is that Canada has a long-standing, tried-and-true, flawed, yet beloved top-notch snack game. I’m talking about comfort foods that have become so integrated and so established that they are classified as cult-favourites—and no, I did not spell favourites incorrectly. You are about to see a lot more of the letter “U” in this article. Sorry! The great Canadian snack game is easy enough to understand. You think of a flavour and either slap it on a potato or pair it with chocolate. Snacking has always been a huge part of Canadian food culture, but it is only going up from here. To put it lightly, the past few years have been tough on everyone around the world, and Canadians have chosen to increase their spending on snacks by 67% as an indulgence or, personally, as a coping mechanism. In no way, shape, or form am I claiming to be a culinary expert somehow employed in the field of Finance, but I have eaten a lot in my life and right now, I’m the best and/or only Canadian guide you’ve got. Let’s get into the details:
Created by Olive + Ash.
Managed by Olive Street Design. 