2018 Food Trends

With the nights closing in, the Coca-Cola truck revving its engine and John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and alike battling it out for the greatest Christmas advert ever. It’s time to start looking into what could be big next year…

Alcohol-Free…
Your liver has taken a beating over the festive season, New Year’s resolutions are on your mind, but 2018 is looking to be the year where 18 to 24-year-olds are shunning alcohol altogether. An increased interest in improving our health and wellbeing, and technology changing the way we socialise has meant drinks brands are having to step-up their alcohol-free offer. Bars and destinations are dedicating as much time creating and serving Mocktails as they are the traditional cocktails. Low and zero percent beers and wines will grow in 2018 and alcohol-free spirits like ’Seedlip’ will also be more common.

Image source: SeedlipDrinks, SeoulEats

Gangnam Style Cooking…
For a long time, Korean food has gone fairly unnoticed against the more mainstream Asian cuisine, but 2018 will see it hit the big time with fermented favourites like Kimchi due to hit the big time. Already a favourite on the Street Food scene, expect Korean inspired dishes to go mainstream this year.

Veggie Dining…
There has been a steady increase over 2017 in the popularity of plant-based diets, this will show no signs of slowing in 2018. So expect an increase in Vegan dishes in menus.

The All Day Breakfast…
You often hear that ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ but 2018 will see restaurants adopting interesting ‘breakfast-inspired’ menus. Whether it’s the traditional All-Day breakfast or an Artisan Poached Egg and Avocado on Sourdough toast, going out for breakfast is growing.

Reduced Waste…
With the spotlight on food waste, you should expect to see an increase in dishes in 2018 that strive to use every part of the ingredient being used.

Hybrid & Fantasy Food
Want something new? The Cronut craze kicked it off and people are pushing their culinary skills to push this into the next year. With more and more outrageous combinations being pushed by smaller artisan producers the big players are taking notice, this won’t be limited to just sweet treats either expect to see hybrid fruit and veg on the supermarket shelves in 2018. Check out some of the amazing combos below:

The Unicorn Candy Burger – consisting of avocado, tofu and rainbow coloured rice.

The Cragel – another croissant combo, this time blending a croissant and bagel

Sushi Donuts – a ring of rice and adding traditional sushi ingredients like fish, sesame, avocado and ginger