2005 Flavor Forecast -- Trends that will influence the menu development process this year and beyond (2/2)

Chefs are looking beyond the blanket regions of China and Japan to learn more about Pan-Asian regional cuisines. There is great interest in Singapore’s street food, thai curries, classic Hunan cooking styles, and Korean grilling techniques. Strong Asian influences include Yuzu, Kaffir lime, ginger, tamarind, tempura, plum sauce, black bean sauce, papaya, sake, miso, galangal, thai basil, tea-spice-citrus rubs, tropical fruits, cilantro, pho, khai soi and other noodle dishes, bao or steamed buns filled with savory stuffings. Desserts Go Asian Sweet Asian desserts (warm, sticky rice dishes, tapioca, rice or bean-flour cakes) are finally taking root; classic old world sweets (rustic Calabrian, Umbrian or Milanese cakes), which are often heartier and less gooey, are also part of the quest for authenticity. Other notable trends for desserts include less sweet desserts are getting popular, such as tart tropicals like caramelized pineapples and citrus tarts. Cheese courses with dried or fresh fruit are replacing dessert altogether. Nuts are adding texture, crunch and flavor to desserts, whether as toppings, fillings or crusts, and malt--a nostalgic flavor is resurfacing in ice cream, cakes and classic milkshakes. (Article is an excerpt edited from the report of 2005 Flavor Forecast, produced on original research by Flavor and The Menu. The report can be downloaded by visiting http:// www.flavor-online.com/forecasts.html) THE FLAVOR EVENT About The Business of Flavor ? Presented by Flavor & The Menu magazine August 9-11, 2005 Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa ? Coronado, CA The FLAVOR Event delivers a conference with 100% focus on the business of flavor…a “live” resource, a place where foodservice professionals can understand the economic principals of flavor as a critical profit-builder for business. Attendees will receive the highest quality flavor-forward information in an environment that encourages learning, interaction with flavor, discovery of new tastes & new ideas, and time to network, all in a beautiful setting full of opportunities for some much-needed relaxation and regeneration. To register for the event, visit http://www.flavor-online.com