Global Food Trends
May 2022
Explore global foods to open up world of opportunity
You already know that food does more than sustain us. It can be a form of artistic expression, a way to connect with our neighbors, or an act of love and care. And increasingly, Americans are using food to explore the globe and experience cultures beyond their own – opening up a world of opportunity for you.
According to recent research by Technomic, 80 percent of Americans eat global cuisine at least once a month, and 66 percent eat a more varied diet than just five years ago. While cuisines like Italian, Mexican and Chinese still lead the way, more diners are venturing out to African, Caribbean, South American and Southeast Asian fare.
When the pandemic shuttered restaurants and halted international travel, nearly a quarter of home cooks reported experimenting with new cuisines, ingredients and flavors to replicate their favorite global dishes in their own kitchens, according to a March 2021 survey.
Now that business is back to normal, those same diners will turn to restaurants for the unique preparations and hard-to-find ingredients they crave – giving you the chance to experiment with new spices, sauces and more.
Beyond the pandemic, changing demographics have also influenced palate preferences. Unlike boomers, millennials and Gen Z have had greater access to global foods their whole lives, making them more daring diners. Additionally, as the U.S. becomes more diverse, diners will be seeking out a greater array of cuisines to enjoy.
Why should you incorporate global flavors into your menu? Simply put, people love to be adventurous and try new things, from cross-category mashups to sweet and savory combos. Exploring these new flavors also makes financial sense: 77 percent of operators feel they can command a higher price for “premium” global foods, and 32 percent of consumers say they will pay more for authentic dishes.
Some diners may be willing to dabble in global flavors, but they still need to be approachable. One easy way to introduce new flavors in innovative ways is to start with a safe and familiar food, like burgers, chicken sandwiches or pizza, then add a twist on the traditional.
“Fusebiquity” is the new buzzword for this type of cuisine – the blending of familiar formats with cutting-edge flavor. Lean into your guests’ love for spice with a rub or sauce featuring tajin, gochujang or sambal oelek, or look to international comfort or street foods (like Mexican elotes or Canadian poutine) for inspiration.
Diners also crave authenticity and tastes that are true to a region. Connect with your roots by incorporating family recipes to bring your own experiences into your menu. Whenever possible, partner with representatives of a cuisine’s culture to avoid appropriation, educating yourself on the techniques, history and ingredients that make it unique.
The best part about global foods is that they transcend borders, cultures and beliefs, and thanks to the near-instant dissemination of ideas and recipes over the internet and social media and our love of all things new, demand for dishes from around the world shows no signs of stopping. So whatever you’re cooking up in 2022, make sure that global flavors are on the menu.
