 This is the sixteenth installment of "Eat This List" - a semi-regularly recurring list of things chefs, farmers, writers and other food experts think you ought to know about. As Eatocracy's editors, we're (that's Kat Kinsman and Sarah LeTrent) lucky enough to get to travel and eat all over the country, both for work and because it's what we love to do. We've seen some trends popping up in restaurants from coast to coast, and in 2014, here are a few we think stand a chance of catching on in more home and restaurant kitchens across the country. 1. Fish collars, heads and trash fish Heads and collars, which are the section of flesh and pectoral fins behind the gills (pictured at Peche restaurant above), are bubbling up on menus from New Orleans to Nashville to Atlanta and beyond. Once mainly the provenance of sushi chefs, this easily-crisped section of fish is catching on with diners weary of belly and sides. Heads - especially the sumptuous cheek meat and the full-bodied stock they produce - are a must in many Hunan dishes, Malaysian curries and traditional Gullah recipes that are in the midst of a much-deserved renaissance. And you can't catch the big seafood stars (like cod, shrimp and salmon) without snagging some tagalongs with them. Eco- and budget-conscious eaters are discovering the virtues of varieties like triggerfish, porgy, drum, wolf eel and sand dabs, which would previously have been tossed back, discarded, ground into organic soil amendment or turned into fish sauce. Not only does this give overfished breeds a breather, getting diners comfortable with a more diverse range of options helps ensure a tastier tomorrow for everyone. Gullah fish head and catfish stew at Husk Nashville 2. Heirloom beans, peanuts and field peas And bonus: chefs and home cooks are rapidly discovering that heirloom legumes grow like gangbusters in many different climates and soil types, are GMO-free (a selling point for an increasingly conscientious dining public), dry gorgeously for use throughout the year and are an excellent alternative to pricey and potentially dubiously-raised meat. Fried blackeye peas at Beasley's Chicken + Honey 3. Haute Jewish deli Gone are the kitschy, signed, celebrity photos and overstuffed novelty sandwiches of the old days. Simply-presented, artfully smoked fish, lavishly peppered pastrami, crafty poutine, amped-up chicken liver and deeply deckled corned beef are the focus of this new deli vanguard - and also popping up on non-deli menus across the country. Perhaps it's the inevitable evolution of the house-made charcuterie frenzy. Maybe it's a collective need for a nostalgic nosh. Whatever the impetus, it sure is appetizing. Poutine at The General Muir 4. Indie printing In 2011, former Saveur magazine staffers Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton skirted the system by self-publishing the first volume of their studio's recipes, "Canal House Cooking," to tremendous fanfare (they're now on Volume Eight). In 2013, a small group of food industry veterans began a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 to produce the "Short Stack Editions" series of single-subject, hand-bound cookbooks with a guaranteed payment for each author. The campaign finished out at $92,672, and a second batch of six is underway. At the same time, "Brother" launched as a self-printed zine, helmed by Atlanta chef Ryan Smith and cohorts, and born out of a desire to share an unflinching view of where our food comes from - chicken guts and all. Across town, chef Linton Hopkins and Holeman and Finch bartender/partner, Greg Best, printed two Thomas Payne-meets-punk-rock "Feed Publishing Serial" on the topics "Seven Drinks by a Barkeep" and "Mayonnaise by a Chef." Best has since left H&F, but the free pamphlets have made it into the hands of an awful lot of chefs, food writers and fans who may just see the writing on the wall. In 2014, the food revolution will not be (totally) digitized. 5. Reconsidered rice Pizza oven-roasted cauliflower served with sea salt and whipped goat feta at Domenica Honorable mentions: Grapes in savory entrees and more muscadine desserts and drinks, exciting cauliflower sides, non-cabbage kimchi, cake slices in restaurants, beer brewed in-house at restaurants, chicken-fried rabbit and whole small birds like quail and squab. And goodness, will I be happy if I never taste stevia again in my lifetime. Sarah's picks: 1. Raw beef The classic version of the bistro mainstay includes finely chopped beef, capers, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with a raw egg yolk garnish to stir in for creaminess. Spins on the classic sub in rose veal, homemade pickled vegetables and confit duck or quail egg yolks. Expect restaurants to also beef up their carpaccio fanfare, a dish named after Italian Renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio's signature red and white hues reminiscent of marbled meat. Paper-thin beef will become an edible canvas for peppery greens, nutty cheese shavings and more in 2014. https://www.instagram.com/p/d5hGvlPxLR/ 2. Eating with your hands The trend is twofold with the emergence of haute finger foods like fried chicken, small fish and burgers. The best part? Servers are often trained to instruct diners to use their hands so they aren't left anxiously waiting to see what their date does first. https://www.instagram.com/p/QfnMxgvxKi/ 3. Housemade hot sauces 4. Parfaits Chefs and pastry chefs alike will embrace the tiered presentation as a way to ensure the perfect spoonful. It’s essentially a way to deconstruct a dish without the molecular fuss, and zero in on complimentary flavors, temperatures, colors and textures. Parfait: To me, you are perfect. https://www.instagram.com/p/bSFzgPPxGQ/ 5. Breakfast for dinner https://www.instagram.com/p/aQuw-YPxEd/ Honorable mentions: In-house bread and butter programs, rotisserie chickens, self-service kegs while you wait for a table, candied vegetables, country ham. A girl can also dream about the demise of the communal table. Previously: |
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Awesome post, thanks for sharing this post..
Why is poutine listed in the jewish section? A bit of confusion here, it's a Quebecer dish, invented by French-Canadians. Even the Jewish delis in Québec generally don't have it on their menu...
I'm not a sophisticated or adventurous foodie by any mean. I just like what I like and enjoy the hell out of it when digging in. Does that count for anything...? I enjoyed what I read here as I usually do when I visit eatocracy. Will I be eating much of the foods mentioned (other than the ones I've already been eating with my fingers)? Probably not but I am drooling to try that cauliflower pizza thing. Thanks!
For the first time looking at an article involving food trends I have completely and genuinely lost interest. None of those types of beans are 'heirloom' varieties, they're very commonly found in most of the country – people have loved them for generations. Jewish-style delis have never gone out of favor, especially in the NY metro area. Breakfast for dinner? – gosh what a groundbreaking concept! At least Kinsman and LeTrent got a jab in at the bunk raw food fad, and pointed out the serious lack of diversity in rice being served at restaurants. There are so many beautiful varieties of rice that are great for many different cuisines, and you rarely ever see them. As for muscadines, let's face it, most people outside of the Southeast simply don't have the patience for their thick skin and huge seeds, despite having more flavor and succulent flesh than pretty much all conventional table grapes. I would be amazed to see them become a national trend.
A few things:
1. There are PLENTY of heirloom cranberry, lima, etc. beans. I know because I grow them, and got the seeds from farmers who are trying hard to keep those strains alive. Yes, those are broader classes, but within them, there are many, many varieties that are heirloom - and those are the ones that are showing up on menus with increasing frequency.
2. Delis are indeed in peril. Take a look at a site maintained by a man whose mission in life it is to preserve them: http://www.savethedeli.com/ Many may still technically be there, but they're now corporate-run, rather than maintained by someone with an eye on the heritage, and there is a palpable difference.
3. There are a few businesses that are now trying to promote muscadine juice and preserves beyond the South. No need to deal with seeds and skin.
Thank you for reading.
Kat
The picture on the top looks like fried bat from Anchorman 2.
Fads for the 1%. Not trends.
Yup.
I am all for eating the whole Animal concept, most of the stuff we toss, is just because we tend to try to separate ourselves from the fact that meat came from a living animal, when we eat parts that remind us of this, makes us fill bad. However I grew up on a farm, and I am well aware where my meat comes from, and that each animal had it own personality, and we have killed it, so we can eat it. If we are to eat a living animal that we killed, we should eat the whole thing, maximize the worth of the animals life.
However Raw meat just for the sake of being raw, doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Sushi is preserved with the rice, however animals that get closer to our DNA doesn't seem like a good idea, as they have more viruses and bacterium that are harmful to us. If the animal is warm blooded... Cook it before eating it.
By following the references, escolar is substituted for tuna, not Tilapia, as stated at the beginning of the article. Tilapia are in fact a highly renewable resource (as well as very plentiful).
Reblogged this on Around the world in 365 cheeses... and commented:
A look into the not to distant future of food in 2014
Wow. We are talking about food here, the preparation and eating of which is a singular joy in life. What's better than thinking about food, shopping for food, preparing food, serving food to friends? Why all the hate??
Eh, sometimes it gets a little annoying. Sometimes people just wanna eat without all the frou frou.
The better question is, for those people, why are they taking the time to comment? I suppose to try and balance it out.
Agreed.
Best piece of fish I ever ate was a gigantic grilled yellowfin jaw with two delicious cheeks attached. It was seasoned only with sea salt.
Never ate fish cheeks before, and I was blown away. I'm no foodie but I'll never forget that simple meal.
I never pay attention to these wannabes. Who are they to tell me what is trendy or not?
Wannabes? I'm pretty sure we actually ARE.
Perhaps you should just wait for your table in the STFU café, and remain quiet until then...
I didn't see one thing on the list that I would eat.
Stick with your mcNuggets then...
I dunno, some of this is really pushing it.
Reblogged this on crebistual.
You guys are fascinating!!!
Noooooo, don't make salmon heads popular, I love that nobody else wants them and they're so cheap.
Fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads...
Eat them up, Yum!
One of the worse things about working night shift and reading these posts is the risk of getting obscure songs stuck in your head for the whole shift. :)
Pretentious and yet quite low brow. The parfait looks like something on a desert rack at "Golden Corral" and the raw beef looks like something cooked up by someone who thinks the stove is a giant square clock. Bravo Eatocracy! You just ruined my breakfast! Maybe your blog should be called "Eat-o-CRAZY"!
Rob, bitter and angry party of one?
Your table is ready in the STFU café...
Not bitter, just an educated opinion from a sophisticated pallet!
If you an American, you obviously have the palate of a goat, and have no business criticizing anything you see on this blog. Stick with your big macs and ribs you slob.
Well Pierre, perhaps you could save up some money and we could dine together? I'll have to see what I'm doing in 5 years because that's probably how long it will take you to be able to afford anything beyond a baguette. Good night froggie. You've been laid to rest!
Since your so educated and sophisticated-do you prefer eating off the plastic or wooden pallets? DumbAzz.
Sorry all, the auto correct on my iPhone incorrectly inserted "pallet" instead of "palate" in my prior post. Also, if you plan on correcting one's spelling, please take the time to go back to second grade and learn the proper use of "your" and "you're". Imbecile.
If someone truly believes the American palate is limited to Big Macs, "Pierr," that just shows ignorant of the world you truly are.
That is also the weirdest spelling of that name, unless you are planning to go jump off one...if that is the case, I encourage it
All I want to know is when indulging in fine wine, how do you feel about sniffing the cork?
Misspellings aside, even, I can't say I put a lot of stock in the opinions of a person who feels the need to call out their own sophistication. My favorite people with whom to eat, from non-adventurous friends to food world professionals, are the ones who are open to enjoyment, no matter from where it originates.
Once you get off your high horse, you have access to and appreciation of so many more delicious things.
Talk about pretentious. Since we're on the subject, it's "dessert", not "desert".
All fresh, no canned or processed foods. Skip the restaurant and cook your food yourself. Best trend ever and it will never go out of style.
Fish collars aren't just a 2014 thing, I have been obsessed with them FOREVER! Hamachi Kama is my JAM! :) I almost hope it doesn't become more popular because I want them all to myself, lol!
How long have you been posting on here? The few times I've came on here, i've seen a few comments from you. Just wondering.
I cannot recall, I visit every so often and always have something to say, ha!
You forgot to mention the part about only talking about yourself. You are your best friend, aren't you?
You better believe it! What's the point of living if you don't love yourself?