Market leading trade show Casual Dining asked some of the UK’s favourite pubs, bars and restaurants what Casual Dining Food and drink trends 2020 they have an eye on. More than a dozen industry experts took part that collectively operate circa 8,000 venues.
While their responses were varied – banana blossom, bergamot, better beef, mussels, seacuterie, kohlrabi, Asian broths, premium fried chicken, protein drinks, British seasonal produce, prebiotic ingredients, fermented veg, alcohol free seltzers, coloured gins, and Picpoul wine for example – the majority agree that health, sustainability and plant-based innovations will all continue to have a big influence on what we’ll be eating and drinking in 2020.
Sustainability = the new norm – Jane Treasure, food & beverage director at PizzaExpress
“Consumers will be increasingly focused on self and their sense of wellbeing, plus their impact on the world and documenting it. The big opportunity for food operators will be to elevate the whole dining experience, with beautiful food presentation and great flavours with great ingredient combinations. Strong sustainable credentials to all ingredients and removal of unnecessary packaging will be expected and become the norm.”
Mindful eating – Amir Ali, culinary innovation strategist at Mitchells & Butlers
“It’s hard to sell fish that are not one of the big five (cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns). Aquaculture has traditionally been given a bad rap – but things are changing and eating mussels is one way of getting very good quality protein while having a very small impact on the planet.”
Small colourful dishes, packed with flavour – Nisha Katona MBE, CEO of Mowgli Street Food restaurants
“Each dish must individually pull its own addictive punch. Indian, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese cultures major on flavour, colour and chaos. People are far keener to have a table full of colour, flavour variety and a sharing way of eating. I see this on my Instagram posts — photos of tables laden with a myriad of dishes, colours and entirely lacking in formality are the ones that inspire the most appetite.”
Read all the trend comments here: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/news/food-drink-trends-for-2020.
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Casual Dining returns to ExCeL London on 25-26 March 2020