2024 Food Trends I’m Excited About

As we step into 2024, the culinary landscape promises a diverse and exciting array of trends. From brand immersion to the resurgence of classic favorites, the year ahead invites diners to indulge their senses and embrace the ever-evolving world of food. While I’m no food expert especially when it comes to trends, I do love to cook and I read a whole lotta food publications and online content so I wanted to share some of the most exciting. These are the 2024 food trends I can’t wait to (or hope to try).

Unrefined Salts

2024 is predicted to be the rise of salt with a unique story. Sure we have all the regular players but food experts say there will be a shift towards unrefined salts like Black Hawaiian Salt, Kala Namak, Persian Blue Salt, Celtic Salt, and Fleur de Sel as consumers seek unique flavors for their dishes. Chefs are exploring global salt producers to discover salts with rich histories and distinctive characteristics. I’m most excited about this trend because it will be interesting to see what flavors these bring to dishes. I’ve seen some of these in my local store so it might be time to give them a shot!

Cresto di Gallo

This year’s Power Pasta is predicted to be Cresto di Gallo. Named for its visual resemblance to a rooster's crest, this pasta variety promises to captivate both culinary enthusiasts and seasoned chefs alike with its classic, ruffle-edged allure. It’s a pasta that not only elevates the visual appeal of dishes but also cradles sauces with grace, creating a perfect marriage of form and function. Cresto di Gallo's distinct ridges provide an ideal canvas for holding onto the most delectable flavors, ensuring each bite is a harmonious blend of texture and taste - which I’m most excited about!

Dips

What’s not to love about a good dip? Upscale dips are making a comeback on restaurant menus, turning a once-forbidden pleasure into a hands-on dining experience. All types of restaurants are expected to start serving a variety of gourmet dips accompanied by artisanal chips or meticulously prepared crudité. I, for one, can’t wait to see all of the unique dips, flavor combinations, and dippers that will be delighting me throughout the year.

Brand Immersion

According to Datassential, diners will continue to deepen their connection with their favorite brands in 2024. The survey reveals an increasing trend of consumers incorporating food brands into their daily lives, from clothing to limited-edition items. These types of collaborations and merch include the entire collection of Hidden Valley Ranch swag and the Caviar Co + Pringles (my personal favorite!) While the love for branded merchandise grows, Datassential also warns that an overdose of gimmicks might lead to a loss of interest among consumers.

Ranch

Look, I don’t think ranch has ever lost its mojo. It’s a top-tier salad dressing and dip. However, the mention of spicy ranch in Datassentials' report hints at a ranch resurgence. From custom ranch seasoning blends to innovative recipes like the Ranch Dressing Chicken, ranch is reclaiming its popularity. As people shed their culinary inhibitions, expect to see more ranch-inspired creations hitting the culinary scene. Because, let’s face it, why would you pretend you aren’t in love with ranch?

Garleeks

Food experts have predicted the rise of garleeks, a cross between garlic and leeks created through responsible seed breeding. As consumers increasingly support hybrid vegetables, garleeks are set to become a mainstream vegetable, offering a unique flavor profile to culinary enthusiasts. As much as hybrid vegetables and well pretty much hybrid anything makes me nervous, Garleeks hit me different. When I saw Garleeks, I couldn’t help but be obsessed. It sounds like the most insane but intriguing thing and I desperately want to try it.

Listening Bars

London's dining scene is merging gastronomy with music, bringing live DJs, vintage speakers, and curated playlists to the forefront. From Bambi in London Fields to mu in Dalston, the convergence of music and dining creates a multisensory experience for patrons across Europe. I’ve never been more excited about this concept. I know many years ago there was a gorgeous bar that had listening parties where guests got to share records and enjoy them together and I was gutted when it eventually closed. More and more bars are holding vinyl nights and such, and I think it’s an incredible concept I can’t wait to experience. To me, everything about a place from the smell to the music becomes memorable and enjoyable so enjoying a place where these core concepts were well thought out to the smallest detail is exciting.

Sleepy Drinks

Embrace bedtime in a bottle this year. With a deeper focus being put on maintaining proper sleep hygiene, sleep-centric drinks are gaining popularity. From powdered supplements like Apothekary's "Chill the F* Out" to Som's canned sleep drinks, consumers are incorporating these beverages into their bedtime routines for a restful night's sleep. I, for one, back this one 110%. While I’ve been known to have a sleepy time tea or two before bed, I’ve also enjoyed adding Moon Juice’s magnesium powder to my routine from time to time to help balance myself out.

Hot Sauce Fever

Hot sauce continues its upward trajectory, with a surge in demand reported by retailers. I mean have you taken a look at the hot sauce shelf at the grocery store lately? There are so many I don’t even know where to start and I want to try them all. Food experts attribute the success of the YouTube show Hot Ones, where celebrities take on progressively hotter sauces, has contributed to the craze. Home cooks are now seeking specific Hot Ones sauces to recreate the fiery challenge in their kitchens. While I may not be on that level, I do enjoy getting to try a new one every once in awhile.

Luxury Ingredients

If your girl loves one thing, it’s a luxury ingredient. I’ve quite literally had an entire meal where everything was truffle because why the hell not? Chefs have cited luxury ingredients as a trend for this year because of the increased use of caviar and black truffles in dishes. Many companies have been able to produce higher-quality caviar, while black truffles with exceptional aromatic qualities are more widely available. The inclusion of these luxury ingredients adds a touch of opulence to culinary creations and I am here for it.