Regional cuisines gaining popularity everywhere.
The mantra “Buy American!” is making its way into restaurants everywhere. The proliferation of regional tastes beyond their actual borders is a result of pride for all things American, plus it helps alleviate concerns about the origin of certain foods. That’s why operators are scrambling to add these cuisines to their menus.
Chains, for one, are increasingly highlighting specific regions in their menu descriptions. Pizza sauces, glazes, dipping condiments and other accompaniments are being identified as regional to emphasize flavor differentiation. And the popularity of ultra-spicy Southern Chicken items is guiding menu developers toward other bold regional flavors, from hot to spicy to sweet.
What consumers are craving.
According to Technomic Center of the Plate, pork is still the consumer favorite protein for BBQ. Other pork facts include:
What’s to come?
Restaurant menus will continue to explore the regional foods and flavors of the American melting pot and adapt to consumers’ flavor preferences. These ingredients and preparations will reflect various ethnic influences, especially for Southern-style cuisine.
Trending Regional Flavors
TexMex Tacos. Northwest Salmon. Hawaiian Poke. New England “Chowda”. Restaurant operators are looking coast-to-coast to bring unique and interesting options to their menus. Regional flavors imply that the offerings are fresher, more premium and less mass-produced. Consider that:
- America has always featured a wealth of distinct culinary styles based on the ingredients and cultures of its varied regions.
- The entire notion of regional American cuisine is changing… It’s getting more specific, using a city or state versus a cuisine type.
- This has long existed in pizza, notably with New York, Chicago and Detroit styles, which have different crusts, topping layers, ingredients and baking techniques.
- Barbecue also has diverse styles, featuring various smoked meats and distinctive rubs and sauces.2
Popular Regional Barbecue Flavors
BBQ styles are a prime example of regional flavors that garner popularity beyond their borders. Consider these:
Memphis Style – Generally liked overall
Kansas City Style – Popular overall, but skews to Midwestern tastes
Texas Style – Popular overall, but more popular in the South and West
North Carolina Style – A style that’s particularly preferred in the South
Tennessee Style – Growing in preference due to the trend of alcohol-infused sauces and foods, such as whiskey flavor
Hawaiian Style – Preference peaks in the West
“No, the best pizza IS…!”
Everyone has their favorite pizza style. But believe it or not, some Chicagoans like New York-style pizza, and vice versa! Consumers are expressing interest in authentic regional food and flavor variations; in fact, chains that specialize in specific regional-style pizza have been growing and expanding their presence out of region. In addition:
- About 49% of consumers expressed that they are more interested in pizza establishments that offer more authentic pizzas.3
- While toppings and proteins still reign as most important elements on pizza, consumers are even becoming more discerning about their pizza crust flavors.
- Though most consumers are familiar with a few, there are more regional variations to be explored, including options like Rhode Island-style grilled pizzas.
Style of Pizza3
Regional American pizza styles are most preferred
Menu Highlights
Bees from the ranch’s onsite apiary make the honey used in these wings’ sweet, sticky and salty soy-and-honey glaze.
Valley Kitchen
The Cubano: Roast pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on a toasted roll.
Snarf’s Sandwiches
Korean War Pig sandwich: features seared pork belly and pulled pork in a Korean barbecue glaze.
Melt Bar
1. Ethnic food and beverage CTR, 2018
2. QSRMagazine.com
3. Technomic, Flavor consumer trend report, 2017
To discover what Smithfield Culinary can do to satisfy the handheld cravings of your customers while building business for you, contact a Smithfield Culinary sales representative or call 888-327-6526.
