Take Stock of this Year’s Food Trends

It’s no stretch to say that Delivery Hero fans and readers of our blog are a highly-connected, internet-savvy group of foodies. You’re up to date with the latest meal sharing apps, restaurant reviews and gourmet food blogs, and you’re also the kind of person that likes to try new (and delicious!) things. Now that we’ve hit the midway mark of 2012 (zomg can you believe it?), we’ve decided to look back at our post from earlier this year that predicted which food trends would bust out into the mainstream in 2012. Let’s see how many food trend points you’ve accumulated so far, and if you haven’t tried any of the following trends then at least that fat tax refund is just around the corner!

Peruvian Chicken Empanada – basically a Peruvian pastie

Peruvian cuisine:  What a fabulously trendy cuisine this year! Peruvian food has been getting some hype after established chefs in Peru began perfecting their humble home cooking and producing some gourmet dishes sourced from local and regional ingredients. The food influences come from many sources including Incan, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and Italian cooking traditions, some of the best cuisines in our opinion! An empanada stuffed with minced chicken and salted olives, spiced with paprika and cumin will surely fit the bill. Or perhaps a Chinese-influenced traditional Peruvian fried rice with shredded pork and a dash of soy sauce. With the variety of flavour and colour in Peruvian cuisine, there’s certainly something for everyone. Food points: 2  if you’ve tried Peruvian food so far this year.

Gluten Free Pizza

Gluten free food:  Gluten free dieters are gaining more acceptance, and those who have an aversion to gluten are challenging our wheat flour hierarchy and adding some amazing baking to the mix. Gluten free flour can come from a variety of sources including chickpea or fava bean flour and can be used in almost any baking. And gluten free pizza is currently trending at your gourmet pizzeria and plenty of Delivery Hero restaurants can add to your street cred. James Dean Gourmet Pizza Bar can whip up your favorite pizza made with gluten free crust. We’d suggest the Texas Pizza with tasty salami and jalapenos with a gluten free crust to introduce you to the wonderful world of gluten free cooking. Food points: 3.

Sweet Pie Pops:   This year’s answer to cake pops, sweet pie pops are tiny pies on a stick. Probably served by your trendy cousin-in-law at her latest garden party, these delicious pie pops have sweet fruit fillings like cherry or lime-blueberry for some tasty food on a stick. Food points: 2, and 1 point for a cake pop.

DIY Home Canning

DIY anything:   Is your friend posting pictures on Pintest of the latest ginger pickled pears or cucumbers? If you’ve managed to get a hold of anything homemade or home-infused, preferably out of a Mason jar, then you’re moving up in the food trend points. Canned spicy Mexican salsa, fresh jam and sweet or savoury chutneys also count here. Food points: 3 if you sampled anything DIY this year, and 4 points if you’ve made it yourself!

Tally up your food points, and determine how much of cool cat you truly are. Those with 7 points or over, congrats! You are a true food trendsetter and your next gourmet taco party will be very successful, but you already knew that. If you scored between 6 and 2, you’re well on your way to being a trend food adviser, so keep up with that food photo blog. For those with less than 2, you’ve still got half a year left so seek out the local food truck and order yourself a pulled pork empanada and cheers to a good year.

So what’s your favorite food trend so far this year? What about your most hated food trend of the year? Let us know how you scored, and where your foodie adventures have taken you so far!