2023 Midyear Roundup: Top 10 F&B Articles
by David Klemt
There’s always a lot going on with food and beverage in our industry, and the variety of topics amongst our top ten F&B articles midway through 2023 shows that.
As you’ll see by scrolling through the top ten articles below, we’ve covered cocktail recipes; American, Canadian, and global F&B trends; the classic “mother” sauces; plant-based foods; and more.
Cheers!
8 Glendalough Distillery Cocktail Recipes
Offer your guests something different for your St. Patrick’s Day promotion with Glendalough Distillery cocktail recipes.
Without a doubt, you should have plenty of the expected Irish whiskeys on hand. However, Glendalough Distillery Double Barrel, Pot Still, Wild Gin, and Rose Gin are extraordinary Irish whiskeys and gins.
Each spirit the distillery crafts honors the art of Irish distillation, a craft that stretches back centuries. What’s more, each whiskey Glendalough crafts is single malt—there are no light-bodied blends in their lineup.
To learn more, check out episode 71 of the Bar Hacks podcast with Glendalough Distillery co-founder and national brand ambassador Donal O’Gallachoir.
Sláinte!
Ocean Casino Resort Offers Big Game Cocktails
Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City’s award-winning oceanfront casino and resort, is ready for the Big Game with four cocktails that team with the theme.
Now, by “Big Game,” we all know what I’m talking about. We know the sport, we the know the league, and we know precisely which game is under discussion.
However, due to very “enthusiastic” attorneys, we also have to talk like we’re spies or actors in a mob movie. We wouldn’t want to tempt anyone to file a lawsuit now, would we?
And I’m going to encourage you to continue following this childish way of speaking about the Big Game. When you’re promoting your Sunday, February 12 event, don’t use any trademarked terms, logos, images, etc.
Alright, the Big Game legalese is out of the way. Let’s talk themed cocktails!
Can ChatGPT Write Food and Drink Menus?
After my “conversation” last month with ChatGPT about AI, I had another conversation during which I asked it to write me four menus.
Of course, I did this to prove a point. And upon reviewing the ChatGPT menus, you’ll likely reach the same conclusion.
Curious about how creative the AI-powered chatbot could be, I asked for four specific menus. As you’ll see, two are cocktail specific, one focuses on food, and one is a 20-item F&B menu for a specific event.
So, yes, ChatGPT can write food and drink menus. But there’s a caveat.
Follow this link to read the full article.
Canadian Trends 2023: Technomic
Restaurant, bar, and hotel operators will find this year’s data-driven trend predictions from Technomic for 2023 insightful.
Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly, some operators may be looking beyond North America for inspiration.
Per Technomic, Central and South American cuisines could influence menus in Canada this year. Other food trends that might take hold are “retro” health items, and all manner of pickled foods.
Of course, not every Canadian trend prediction involves F&B. According to Technomic, tech and the guest experience will play important roles.
To review last year’s Technomic predictions, click here.
How to Make a $3,500 Mint Julep
If you want to craft an incredible $3,500 Mint Julep, the first step is to acquire one of 50 Woodford Reserve gold Secretariat Julep cups.
Now, should $3,500 seem a “bit” exorbitant, you can also opt for one of 100 silver Julep cups for $1,000.
Cup in hand, simply fill it with crushed ice and pour a refreshing Mint Julep over it. Et voilà—a delicious $3,500 or $1,000 Mint Julep!
Okay, so you’re probably wondering what I’m on about. Am I really suggesting you craft thousand-dollar-plus cocktails? I mean…if you have guests who’ll pay that much, yes, I am.
In reality, however, I’m making you aware of this year’s Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep™ charity program. This program is a longstanding Kentucky Derby tradition.
For 2023, the $1,000 Mint Julep™ will benefit the Secretariat Foundation. That makes sense given that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat winning the Derby.
The New Wave of Plant-based Foods
A key takeaway from the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show is this: a new wave of plant-based foods has made landfall.
In fact, given how many booths had plant-based items on offer, more waves will be crashing ashore. Plant-based items had a presence inside every building at McCormick Place in Chicago. For those who haven’t attended to show, McCormick Place has well more than two-million square feet in exhibit space.
There were, of course, the plant-based standards to which we’ve all grown accustomed. Burger patties, breakfast sausages, “chicken” nuggets, “pepperoni” pizzas… However, we now know there’s more innovation on the way.
Years ago, F&B experts declared seafood alternatives as the “holy grail” of plant-based foods. The race has been on to “crack the code” and offer seafood alternatives that look, cook, and taste like their animal counterparts.
One brand that appears to have reached their goal? New Wave Foods. And their staunchest culinary supporter? The revered and iconic Chef Brian Duffy.
Datassential: The Flavors and Menu Items of 2023
Food and beverage market research agency Datassential has some data-driven thoughts on the flavors and menu items that will define 2023.
Featured in their latest Foodbytes report are 20 items for operators to consider this year. There are ten food items, drinks, and ingredients Datassential predicts will be on basically every menu.
And there are another ten food items, drinks, and ingredients the agency feels could suddenly hit in 2023.
For you own copy of Datassential’s 2023 Food Trends, click here.
Click here to continue reading.
American Trends 2023: Technomic
Foodservice research firm Technomic has some interesting predictions for the hospitality industry in the United States of America this year.
On the topic of operations, Technomic foresees more negotiating power among workers. Additionally, the firm looks at both the economy and pent-up guest demand.
When it comes to food, the US and Canada have a trend prediction in common. And as the image atop this article signifies, a particular color may be a hit on menus in 2023.
Global Trends 2023: Technomic
Not content to focus solely on North America, foodservice research firm Technomic is predicting foodservice trends that will span the globe in 2023.
As the firm points out themselves, making predictions is a best-guess proposition. Many of Technomic’s 2022 predictions for Canada, the USA, and the globe have proven true. However, a handful of their trend predictions have yet to manifest.
Further, not all trends will work for all operators and their concepts. Chasing every passing fad or trend is great if you like to watch your costs spiral. Doing so is also an excellent way to confuse guests and stress staff.
So, when considering any trend, make sure it works with your concept, has some staying power, and will resonate with your guests. Speaking to that last point, this is one reason it’s crucial to collect guest data. Making important menu and guest-impacting operational decisions without data just doesn’t make sense.
Say Hi to Your Mother Sauces for Me
Written by Nathen Dubé
A well-crafted sauce can elevate a dish, tying all the elements together, adding richness, texture, and colour to almost any recipe.
French cuisine in particular is renowned for its liberal use of flavorful sauces. Developed in the 19th century by French chef Auguste Escoffier, the five mother sauces are basic recipes that serve as the foundation for any number of secondary sauce variations. Each mother sauce is categorized primarily according to its unique base and thickener.
The five French mother sauces are: béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Historically, Chef Escoffier originally designated only four mother sauces, and mayonnaise as a cold mother sauce, with Hollandaise below that.
Interestingly, when his book was translated to English, mayonnaise was forgotten or omitted; Hollandaise was listed as the fifth mother sauce.
Beginning culinary students and experienced cooks alike commit these five sauces to memory. They learn that by tweaking their basic formulas, all manner of great sauces can be crafted.
Image: Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
