Dressing up menus with specialty sauces

By Kristin Menas As chefs experiment with new ways to surprise diners, they should look no further than the sauces and dressings adorning their dishes. By continually creating unique and bold sauces, operators are able to appeal to consumers’ shifting preferences and set their menus apart from competitors. Overall, 42 per cent of diners prefer […]

Restaurant concepts to watch for in February

By Kristin Menas 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: The Green Panther/La Panthere Verte Instagram: 3,969 followers | Facebook: 13,251 likes | Twitter: 4,537 followers Locations: five […]

Menu trends to watch: cauliflower, flavoured breads and specialty cold brew

By Kristin Menas Below we will highlight some of the leading trends to watch on Canadian menus for January 2017. Cauliflower About the trend: Cauliflower is becoming a diverse menu addition, appearing in everything from fried items to soups and salads At quick-service and casual-dining concepts Cauliflower is a diverse ingredient that can be prepared […]

Menu trends to watch: Healthy bowls, pickling and honey

By Kristin Menas Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus. Healthy bowls About the trend: Bowls are serving as a popular format to highlight better-for-you ingredients like superfoods At quick-service and fast-casual concepts Smoothie bowls are a booming health trend Bowls eliminate the need for hearty starches […]

Appetizers take centre stage with bold flavours and ethnic influences

By Kristin Menas Appetizers are currently at the forefront of menu development, with operators using starter menus to test and experiment with bold flavours, unique ingredients and creative preparations. That appetizers can be ordered as a lead-in to a meal or as a snack between meals makes them particularly appealing options for diners looking to […]

Restaurant concepts to watch for October

By Kristin Menas 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: Kupfert & Kim Instagram: 9,156 followers | Facebook: 4,310 likes | Twitter: 1,500 followers Locations: 6 (Toronto) Concept […]

Watch for topped doughnuts on menus in September

By Kristin Menas Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus in September. Korean barbecue About the trend: Operators are rolling out pork sandwiches, wings and other meat-focused items made with specialty Korean-inspired barbecue sauces Featured at quick-service and casual-dining restaurants Korean mentions are up 34.6 per cent […]

Restaurant concepts to watch for August

By Kristin Menas In this edition of “restaurant concepts to watch”, we highlight three concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique: Nuba Instagram: 2,215 followers | Facebook: 5,109 likes | Twitter: 4,522 followers Locations: 4 (Vancouver) Concept characteristics: Modern […]

July menu trends include sweet and spicy pairings

By Kristin Menas These trends have been seen frequently on restaurant menus this year. Below are some of the leading menu trends to watch this July. Mango and pepper pairings About the trend: Restaurants are pairing mango with spicy ingredients like habanero and chipotle, particularly in sauces, salsas and seasonings. This trend is seen most often […]

Restaurant menu trends to watch

By Kristin Menas The following trends will continue to make a big impact on restaurant menus this year. Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus. Pretzels About the trend: A number of operators are experimenting with pretzels beyond pretzel buns, including the use of this salty snack […]