Savory Soda and Spicy Doughnuts: 2018 Food Trends That Will Make You Drool All Year

2017 gave eaters delicious food trends to savor. You devoured innovative takes on classic American pie and donut flavors. Specialty Food Association notes that global food trends like Thai rolled ice cream, Caribbean moringa, and Asian fermented vegetables are only just taking off. But as soon as the ball dropped on 2018, chefs around the country have been itching to present exciting new options on their menus.

According to a poll by the National Restaurant Association, you can expect an increase of exciting seasonings like harissa, ras al hanout, and peri peri. Across the board, more international flavors are coming your way. And on menus you’ll soon see more sustainable seafood and new cuts of meat. (Oyster steak, anyone?) The subtlety of fresh chervil, lovage, and lemon balm will grace fancy plates everywhere.

This is already shaping up to be an amazing year for eating, so check out these 2018 food trends to keep an eye on, from coast to coast.

Housemade Condiments and Beverages

Allowing chefs to eliminate food waste and how customers unique cooking chops, housemade condiments and beverages are one of the top 2018 food trends.

For condiments, look for fermented chillies in hot sauce, and herbs, oil, and eggs whisked into mayonnaise and aioli. Simmered tomatoes become ketchup. And pickles and kimchi are fermented on-site. But the biggest change will be how the condiments are crossed into all sorts of cuisines. Korean or Thai hot sauce made locally will be served and delivered with American burgers or German brats. Classic Italian pizzas and pastas will get dished up with flavors from Mexico or Portugal. When condiments are made in-house, anything goes.

On the beverage side, you’ll soon be drinking non-alcoholic drinks with healthier, more natural ingredients made in-house. Sweet teas, sodas with housemade syrups, gourmet lemonade, and kombucha will dominate. Check out savory variations of soda and mocktails with vegetable and herbal infusions, too.

Read the rest of our 2018 food trend predictions here