Discover What’s Next: Yelp’s 2024 Food and Drink Trends
As we approach the new year, some food enthusiasts are curious about upcoming trends. Offering insights into these upcoming trends, Yelp has recently unveiled its 2024 Food and Drink Trends Report. They collaborated with their data scientists and experts to highlight some interesting patterns based on millions of searches from 2022 to 2023 in the restaurant, food, and nightlife categories.
One noticeable trend is the increasing interest in caviar, with searches up by 31 percent. Yelp predicts continued growth in caviar-related content as diners explore this delicacy. Many restaurants are adding caviar options to their menus, and a rising number of new customers are seeking it in grocery stores and gourmet retailers.
More anticipated Yelp trends.
Another shift anticipated by Yelp is in the concept of “girl dinner.” Traditionally associated with home-cooked meals, the trend is moving towards gatherings for small dishes at restaurants. Nationwide searches for “noshing” have increased by 140 percent, prompting some eateries to introduce “girl dinner” specials featuring various appetizers as the main course.
In the realm of beverages, smoothies maintain their popularity. Throughout 2023, organic, super smoothies gained traction on social media, with upscale supermarket chain Erewhon’s smoothies experiencing a 178 percent increase in searches. Similarly, the Hailey Bieber Smoothie witnessed a significant 408 percent surge in interest, featuring a combination of organic strawberries, almond milk, and collagen.
In the ever-evolving world of cocktails, the carajillo, which is a spiked two-ingredient coffee drink, has emerged as the latest coffee cocktail phenomenon. Searches for carajillos surged by 118 percent this year, following in the footsteps of the espresso martini.
The Hugo Spritz and Aperol Spritz gained popularity on social media last summer, and they started showing up at home cocktail bars and high-end restaurant menus. According to Yelp, these drinks are expected to remain in demand throughout the year.
Check out more food and drink trends for 2024 with the full report here.
You Should Probably Skip These Foods At A Breakfast Buffet
Eggs
Many establishments opt for powdered eggs instead of fresh ones, as it’s a cost-effective way to prepare large quantities of scrambled eggs to cater to numerous guests at once. However, powdered eggs cannot compare to the taste, texture, and color of their fresh counterparts. Another concern lies in the fact that these eggs are pre-cooked, which means they might sit at unsafe temperatures for extended periods.
According to the FDA, serving eggs immediately after cooking is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, in a buffet setting, it’s challenging to determine how long the eggs have been sitting out.
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Fruit
Unless you witnessed the fruit being freshly prepared in the kitchen, it’s nearly impossible to gauge how long that eye-catching fruit display has been sitting there. According to the FDA, when fruits are cut, their protective skins are breached, leaving the flesh vulnerable to the surrounding environment and any potential bacteria. This creates two primary reasons that heighten the risk of contamination. Firstly, cutting the fruit makes its water content and nutrients readily available to microorganisms. Secondly, without any heating process, disease-causing germs aren’t eliminated, further contributing to the potential hazards of consuming cut fruits from a buffet display.
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Waffles
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There’s a joy of pouring your own batter into a Belgian waffle maker, flipping it eagerly, and waiting for that gratifying green light before embellishing it with toppings. However, it’s best to exercise caution and avoid the waffle station. As per TikToker Brandi Augustus, a former hotel employee, the waffle batter served there is often old and sour. Instead of disposing of the old batter, new batter is mixed with it. It’s worth noting that not all places offering breakfast buffets adhere to this practice, but it’s wise to stay informed and make a decision based on the circumstances.
