November 5, 2018 By Sophie Mir
Healthy food need not be light, leafy and unsatisfying, and restaurant operators are driving that fact home. Pizza chains, which are rarely spoken about in the same breath as health food, are taking steps to change that (although they’re not leaving the classic cheese-laden slice behind, either). Protein-packed seeds are popping up with ...Read more about this post
September 10, 2018 By Sophie Mir
With summer drawing to a close, restaurants are ringing in the seasonal turn by getting back to basics. Lemon-based sauces and dressings are showing up on menus more frequently, while old-school favourites are provoking nostalgia trips and, operators hope, a corresponding wave of social media support. And while house-made dish components are any good ...Read more about this post
August 7, 2018 By Sophie Mir
In this edition of Concept Watch, we highlight three restaurants that are making an impact on Canadian diners, including a pair of fast-casuals from Alberta and a new-ish Ontario chicken joint. Below, we look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique.
Lovepizza
The Numbers
Locations: 2 (Edmonton and St. Albert)
Instagram: 11,200 followers | Facebook: ...Read more about this post
June 18, 2018 By Sophie Mir
In this edition of Concept Watch, we highlight a trio of trend-setting restaurant concepts that are changing the way Canadians eat. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Rolltation
Locations: 4 (Toronto)
Concept characteristics:
A Toronto-based, limited-service emerging chain highlighting customizable and hybrid sushi options.
Inspired by Toronto’s unique multicultural diversity ...Read more about this post
May 18, 2018 By Aaron Jourden
Spring has officially sprung, giving chains and independent restaurants leave to launch fresh new concepts and push the trends that will help define 2018. Below, we highlight some of the standouts to watch on Canadian menus.
Thin and Flat
Demand for lighter options, texture contrasts, authenticity and new ethnic ingredient experiences are some of the ...Read more about this post
May 10, 2018 By Jo-Ann McArthur
Plant-based eating is mainstreaming, and it’s not hippies who are setting the agenda. Instead, Nourish Food Marketing’s 2018 Nourish Trend Report found that the average, non-vegetarian consumer is driving growth. Restaurants have historically introduced the trends and patterns that later manifest themselves throughout the food ecosystem, but this is one area where most ...Read more about this post
May 4, 2018 Fast-growing health and wellness brand Freshii continues to drive forward its mission — to make healthy food convenient and accessible for all — with the launch of an energizing new bowl. Developed by Freshii’s lead nutritionist and inspired by the flavours of Morocco, Biiblos makes its debut at locations worldwide starting today, only for a ...Read more about this post
April 18, 2018 By Sean Moon
Long the go-to meal for doting Italian grandmothers, spaghetti-loving kids and comfort-food aficionados, pasta has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Today, the use of pasta in Canadian restaurants is less influenced by Nonna and more by such modern factors as clean-eating, plant-based or gluten-free diets and a world of unique and ...Read more about this post
April 3, 2018 By Aaron Jourden
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Una Pizza + Wine
Instagram: 15,000 followers | Facebook: 2,712 likes | Twitter: 13,000 followers
Locations: 3 (Calgary, Saskatoon)
Concept characteristics:
Casual-dining concept with ...Read more about this post
March 22, 2018 By Robert Carter
Is it lunch time yet? A common question echoed across the globe by billions of hungry people as the middle of their day nears. And for most of these hungry people, lunch represents the second meal of the day. In Canada, by the time lunch hour comes around, most of us will have ...Read more about this post
March 5, 2018 By Aaron Jourden
Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus this month.
Sweet heat
About the trend: Operators are catering to demand for bold and exciting flavour experiences by developing complex sauces and toppings that combine spicy and sweet components. These condiments can be found on new items and LTOs ...Read more about this post
February 5, 2018 By Aaron Jourden
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Rosemary Rocksalt
Instagram: 1,237 followers | Facebook: 1,617 likes | Twitter: 2,175 followers
Locations: 5 (British Columbia)
Concept characteristics:
Bakery-cafe concept offering dense and ...Read more about this post
January 31, 2018 By Jordan Knox
In the restaurant industry, things are always changing and evolving as new restaurants and new products are constantly becoming available. To keep up, restaurants need to consistently update their menu offerings, but what is the best way to do this? For most restaurateurs, changing a menu can be a daunting task that may ...Read more about this post
January 25, 2018 Giving diners some food for thought, RC Show 2018 – Canada’s largest foodservice and hospitality event – presents the top trends you can expect to see on restaurant tables this year. From Neuro-nutrition to floral flavours and even medicinal mushrooms, here’s what will be blooming all over menus:
Coffee with a kick – Turmeric syrup and ...Read more about this post
January 24, 2018 By Laura McGuire
Trending seafood and fish dishes are giving many Canadians cause to dine out. Some of these items, like poke bowls and seafood boils, hail from different U.S. regions, while others such as conservas originate from farther regions of the world.
What’s driving fish and seafood innovation? One catalyst is consumers’ increasing need for better-for-you ...Read more about this post
