A New Direction for Mash-Ups
Whether we call it the global mash-up, eclectic cuisine or even throw it back to “fusion,” we are firmly in the era of borderless cooking. It’s not a trend. It’s a movement and a strategy that guides much of today’s menu innovation. But once in a while, a seismic shake-up redirects a movement to a different course, one that can offer new pathways for creative flavor play.
The Hi-Lo Road
Sometimes a trend takes off that utterly captures the zeitgeist, defining a cultural mood. Enter the hi-lo phenomenon. Perfectly reflecting the sensibility of today’s diner, it combines the opulence of high-end ingredients with the approachability of low-brow items.
A Soft Sell on Handhelds
The rise of globally inspired bakeries and cafés is fueling a wave of creativity in the sandwich world, particularly when it comes to Asian-inspired builds. This goes beyond clever flavor combinations, though that is an indisputable part of the story. The trend today is about innovative uses of techniques that deepen flavor and boost textural play.
![Pressing On](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Pressing-On-HERO.jpg")
Guava Gains Ground
Get ready for guava, the tropical fruit perfectly poised to move deeper onto American beverage menus. Its flavor game is impressive, evoking a floral aroma with a taste profile best described as a blend between strawberry, mango and pear, sometimes with a hint of citrus. A versatile fruit with global roots—grown in Latin America, the Caribbean, India and Southeast Asia—guava also plays comfortably in any number of cuisines.
The Casualization of Pasta
Pasta is a menu mainstay, a best bet, a beloved classic. It carries trends deftly, offering a familiar, satisfying base for in-demand flavors and ingredients. That hasn’t changed. But today, we’re clocking a shift in how pasta is coming to market—with huge support from enthusiastic diners.
Dumpling Discovery
It could be argued that dumplings hold the title as one of the world’s first comfort foods, spawning a glorious cross-cultural bounty of replication, interpretation, translation and reinvention—all finding favor thanks to a simple truism that dough-encased morsels of savory goodness are the epitome of craveability.
Dumplings Around the World
A quick primer to seven of our favorite dumplings from cultures across the globe
The Jang Gang
One of the most exciting elements of menu development is the drive to “What’s next?” in flavor innovation. Thankfully, inspiration is everywhere, waiting to be discovered in pantries both near and far. Chefs in the U.S. have been exploring Korean flavors for a number of years now, opening up a brave, new world for many American diners.
Dive Bar Culture
Most of us have stories to tell about our favorite dive bars, even those not visited since our misspent youth. And although each dive serves up its own eclectic, moody personality, they share a common theme of community and familiarity that generates collective reflections of warmth and nostalgia. Today, there’s a new wave of dive bars capturing the hearts of consumers.
Global Pastries on the Rise
There’s a big, beautiful world of scrumptious baked goods to explore beyond ubiquitous go-tos like the American donut or French croissant. This is not breaking news, but what is striking today is the proliferation of both large chain and smaller concept global bakeries across the country.
Experience Coffee
Drinking coffee is a deeply ritualized experience for many consumers, from the eye-opening morning routine to the daily afternoon pick-me-up. But today, we’re witnessing a profound shift in how we consume coffee drinks. Coffee is now being served up as an experience.
