By Julia Nikolaus, Contributor
We live in the golden age of food innovation. Our options are more bountiful and accessible than ever. With the click of a button, we can have exotic cuisines delivered to our door in record time. Specialty grocery stores allow consumers to pick up hard-to-find ingredients. Social media has replaced traditional cookbooks with easy-to-make recipes and step-by-step video tutorials.
The food and beverage industry is changing at an accelerated pace. Consumers are the driving force behind the evolving industry. We’re more mindful of what we put into our bodies and are moving toward incorporating healthier eating habits into our diets. Trained professionals, amateur chefs, recipe creators, and hobbyists alike are all leaving their mark, and contributing to new and exciting advances in food preparation, cooking methods, and flavor combinations.
It’s not just how we prepare our food that’s changing, it’s the ingredients we use and how we source them. We’re prioritizing health over convenience, and implementing lifestyle changes as opposed to following impossible fad diets. Looking at food consumption through a refreshed lens has enabled us to develop new recipes and fusion cuisines. Entrees aren’t the only stars of the show, frozen fusion treats are making a huge splash in the culinary world.
For restaurant operators and managers, this means opportunity to create exciting and unique desserts that will have your guests and neighborhood talking.
Here’s a look at what’s trending.
Non-Diary Ice Cream is on the Rise
Ice cream has historically been a dairy-based product made of cow's milk, heavy cream, eggs, tons of sugar, and artificial flavoring. While absolutely delicious, it’s not the healthiest thing on your restaurant’s menu. Not to mention the dairy in ice cream makes it a treat that some people’s stomachs simply just cannot handle. And it’s absolutely ok for this to be a guilty pleasure treat, but it doesn’t have to be.
And it doesn't have to be something lactose intolerant consumers have to steer clear of, thanks to the rise of plant-based and non-dairy options!
Dairy-free ice cream refers to any product that does not contain dairy, but may still contain other animal products. Vegan ice cream is made entirely from plant-based ingredients and contains no products that come from animals. Both options are generally considered a healthier alternative to traditional dairy ice cream. Both non-dairy and vegan ice cream are usually lower in three key dietary red flag areas -- saturated fats, sugar, and calories.
Unique & Novel Flavor Combos
Are your guests tired of plain old boring chocolate or vanilla? Unique flavor combinations are totally worth the extra scoop! You and your guests can go beyond the basics and experiment with flavor. It’s a fun way to offer your guests a new experience and earn some well-deserved name fame.
As the number of self-described foodies increases across the globe, so too does the demand for envelope-pushing flavors. Foodie isn’t a term reserved for adults with a keen interest in good eats. Parents are serving their children dishes you won’t find on the average kid’s menu, resulting in an up-and-coming generation of food enthusiasts.
Many bold, outside-the-box flavors are inspired by local cuisines. You’ll find Old Bay & Caramel flavored ice cream in the Chesapeake Bay area, a region known for its affinity for seafood and where Old Bay is a staple seasoning.
Native New Jersians fiercely defend the pork roll, so it should come as no surprise that a pork roll and French toast flavored ice cream is on the menu in New Jersey.
Crocodile egg ice cream is a Filipino delicacy. Before you pass, the ice cream is made with crocodile eggs for consistency, the flavors are reflective of local fruits like mango and jackfruit.
Flavor inspiration doesn’t have to come from all over the world. You can discover unique pairings much closer to home — right in your restaurant’s own kitchen! Browse adventurous recipes or choose from these imaginative combos:
Apple & Prosciutto
Coconut Curry
Blue Cheese & Fig
Green Tea Matcha
Chicken & Waffles
Brown Sugar & Banana
Blueberry & Goat Cheese
Sunflower & Honey
Nutella & Hazelnut
Trail Mix
Adults-Only Ice Cream
Eating ice cream comes with a little bit of nostalgia. You’d be hard-pressed to find an adult who doesn’t fondly remember chasing down the ice cream man on hot summer days. Enjoying it as an adult brings back that same rush of child-like happiness. And that joy is augmented when the ice cream is of the boozy variety.
Alcohol-infused ice cream is all the rage and for good reason — it's a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy a cocktail. Boozy ice cream is hands down one of the best, most innovative food inventions. This delectable dessert mixes eclectic ingredients to serve up a yummy scoop of pure joy that mature taste buds everywhere can appreciate.
Alcohol and ice cream are both superb on their own, but when carefully blended into an exquisite scoop they create the ultimate adults-only dish.
So, what makes seemingly opposite flavors work so well together? It’s all about contrast.
The cold temperature of the ice cream is perfectly complemented by the warm feeling you get from alcohol, creating a perfectly balanced harmony. The best part? There is a flavor and alcohol combination for every preference! Not a fan of whiskey, no worries there’s a tequila ice cream for that.
Bottom line, magic happens when you combine booze and ice cream.
Turn Ice Cream into an Entire Experience
Ice cream lovers everywhere would agree that indulging in their favorite treat is more than a quick bite to eat -- it’s a whole experience! From that first decadent bite — sending waves of delicious flavor elating their taste buds and their improving mood — to the last satisfying bite, ice cream can be more than just dessert. This is a powerful tool restaurants should look to cash in on.
For example, restaurants can hop on the homemade ice cream trend with a build-your-own sundae bar, giving guests that burst of childhood nostalgia as well as a tasty treat. Or, if you have some talented bartenders, staff could use their entertaining drink mixing skills and put on a show while they make a guest’s boozy milkshake.
Venues that combine great food and an interactive dining experience are for sure ahead of the game. Not to mention the social media frenzy that will surely ensue when happy patrons take snapshots of their yummy inventions! Creating space or hosting events conducive to sharing on social media is a start business move for you, and a lot of fun for your guests! Consumers are looking for an Instagram-worthy experience, so why not give them what they are looking for!
Ice Cream is for Everyone: Now, Forever & Always
Let’s all raise a pint of our favorite ice cream fusion! Whether you’re clinking glasses filled with boozy shakes or creating a flavor as unique as you, great ice cream is something we can all stand behind, and enjoy!
