Delectable Food Trends You Just Can’t Miss
A glance at some culinary delights you can indulge in not only to tantalise your taste buds but also satiate your soul.
The pandemic in 2020 gave birth to viral online trends like frothy Dalgona coffee, the aesthetic versions of which dominated social feeds and fuelled the pleasure centres of our brain. It was comfort at a time most needed.
The concept of ‘comfort food’ is as old as time. Researches prove how food has always been a source of joy and solace for humans across cultures and geographies, especially pleasure-giving food when there is stress. Today, in the fast-paced times that we live in, food is a tool we use to cope with the daily grind and pressures. And, in 2024, food trend experts predict, ‘little treats’, K-cuisine and Indian cheese are what we will swear by.
Pamper Yourself with Little Treats
Given inflation, managing finances wisely is the need of the hour-which is why the concept of ‘little treats’ is now gaining popularity the world over. These mini-treats help keep expenditure in check and allows you to cheer yourself up with affordable luxuries. Buying your favourite stationery or a bunch of your choicest flower to distract yourself on a bad day are perfect examples of doing so.
This is reflecting on food and beverage consumption patterns as well, with people using edible rewards to elevate their mood or relax after a long day. Rather than mindlessly engaging in consumerism, people are consciously hopping onto the self-care bandwagon by treating themselves to a cup of premium coffee or a delicious croissant.
With quality being the focus, high-end and luxurious foods are bound to be in the spotlight. Dr Pragati Sawhney, founder of Chockriti, a designer chocolate brand that specialises in unique Indian flavours made with cacao sourced from Belgium and a single estate organic farm in Mangaluru, agrees. “In my experience of over a decade, irrespective of the many brands available or the current trends, at the end quality and flavour are supreme. People will only buy what tastes good and make them feel good,” she says.
Chocolate lovers can try out a vast array of artisanal Indian brands like All Things Chocolate, Naviluna, La Folie, Paul & Mike, and Soklet. Another decadent food that you cannot go wrong with is caviar, with its latest version in the form of ‘bumps’ going viral.
Entice Your Palette with K-Food
Hallyu or the K-wave, which refers to the phenomenon of popularity of Korean culture globally can be majorly attributed to its pop music and drama-intensive shows (K-dramas). With music bands such as BTS, SuperM and BLACKPINK, and the larger Korean entertainment industry, Korean culture has fans all around the planet. Netflix India reported that in 2019-2020, the viewership of K-dramas on their platform increased by 370%.
Thanks to food being the central narrative of many K-dramas like Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Let’s Eat, Hospital Playlist, and reality shows like Three Meals a Day, Youn’s Kitchen, and Baek Jong-won's Food Truck, curiosity about Korean cuisine is at an all-time high and you have Korean cafes and restaurants popping up in every major city in India. Korean restaurants like Gung (The Palace), a thriving chain in NCR region is, in fact, now welcoming franchise partners across India. Owner Jimbum Kim (a Korean national who studied in Delhi University) has attributed the success of his restaurants partly to the rise of K-dramas in India.
“Our clientele has definitely changed post the K-wave. Previously only the older, corporate crowd tried our cuisine. But now we have lots of young college-goers coming in for soju. The spicy and savoury aspects of K-food appeal to Indians and this is sure to make it a bigger hit in the future,” he says.
As a result, K-style hot dogs are now being relished as a popular street food. One can easily spot crunchy seaweed and shrimp crisps, onion rings, and Korean ramen of brands such as Nongshim and Samyang at local supermarkets. Kimchi, bibimbap, tteokbokki and Korean barbeque and fried chicken are some foolproof bestsellers that do not disappoint. Korean cuisine also offers a variety of dishes made from animal offal, blowfish, eel and spoon worm for those who are adventurous at heart.
Think and Support Local
According to the Godrej Foods Trends Report 2023 - India - An Atlas of Flavours launched with the contribution of over 350 food and beverage industry experts like chefs, mixologists, nutritionists, restaurateurs, sommeliers and food producers, homegrown cheeses will be in high demand in 2024.
In case you did not know, artisanal Indian cheese brands like Eleftheria, Darima Farms, Begum Victoria and The Cheese Collective are just a few that will leave you spoilt for choice with their wide range of French, Italian and Greek style offerings. India being the largest manufacturer of milk in the world, has a long tradition of producing its own desi cheeses like the salty bandel from West Bengal, the silky topli nu paneer (a Parsi delicacy) and the most common chhena, which forms the base for many an Indian sweet and dessert. So, don your creative hats and use these Indian cheeses for your next salad and cheeseboard instead.
