2013 Food Trends

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has released its What's Hot culinary forecast of menu trends for 2013.  The survey of more than 1,800 professional chefs - members of the American Culinary Federation - found that children's nutrition and local sourcing will continue to be the hottest trends on restaurants menus this year.  The top 10 menu trends for 2013 are:

* Locally sourced meats and seafood
* Locally grown produce
* Healthful kids meals
* Environmental sustainability as a culinary theme
* Children's nutrition as a culinary theme
* New cuts of meat (e.g. Denver steak, pork flat iron, teres major)
* Hyper-local sourcing (e.g. restaurant gardens)
* Gluten-free cuisine
* Sustainable seafood
* Whole grain items in kids' meals

This year, the NRA also surveyed nearly 200 professional bartenders who belong to the US Bartenders' Guild.  This group identified and predicted the hottest trends on restaurant drink menus for 2013 will be onsite barrel-aged drinks, food-liquor pairings and culinary cocktails.
(Source: NRA)