Renowned TV chef Mathijs Vrieze, who travels extensively at home and abroad, has curated the top 10 food trends for 2017. His global experiences keep him at the forefront of the hippest culinary developments. Food has never been a bigger conversation starter—here's what to expect.
#FoodTrend 1: Vacationing at Culinary Hotspots
Exceptional cuisine is now a prime reason to choose a travel destination. Vibrant culinary scenes, street food adventures, and iconic local flavors define these spots. It's no surprise that sushi bowls, hummus, gourmet burgers, dim sum, and poké bowls have gained traction on Dutch menus. This year, bao buns take center stage—steamed spherical buns filled with meat or chicken, often including a boiled egg and veggies like onions and mushrooms. Street foods from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, such as fresh Vietnamese spring rolls, Burmese tea leaf salad, Cambodian noodles, and Laotian fried insect snacks, are making waves. Embark on a culinary journey.
#FoodTrend 2: Artisanal Foods
After years dominated by mass production, demand for artisanal foods is surging. These are pure, additive-free creations made with passion, time, and expertise, delivering explosive flavors. Quality over quantity: savor less but better. Artisanal butchers can't keep up with requests for premium meats, while well-crafted breads make a triumphant return. Hearty, overflowing sandwiches are hugely popular. Home food and drink experiments—like limoncello, homebrewing beer, fermenting veggies, cheesemaking, stocks, and sourdough baking—highlight our appreciation for craftsmanship.
#FoodTrend 3: Food Connects
Sharing meals fosters connections across people and cultures. Host surprise dinners for neighbors, receive home-cooked meals from friends, or book spots at local cooks' tables via social media. Ditch TV trays for communal dining. We're more mindful, cherishing food and company. Blending global flavors yields exciting combinations, sparking conversations and lasting friendships.
#FoodTrend 4: Vegetables All Day
Vegetables dominate plates around the clock. Pinterest searches for veggie dishes have tripled year-over-year. Enjoy them at lunch or as snacks. Cauliflower is booming—healthy, low-carb, low-calorie, packed with fiber, vitamin C, potassium, glucosinolates, and folic acid. Innovations include cauliflower-crust pizzas, rice, mash, and whole roasted heads. Veggies star as mains, even for non-vegetarians. New vegetarian spots thrive, delighting flexitarians with creative, flavorful dishes.
#FoodTrend 5: Less Extremes, More Enjoyment
A welcome shift: respect your body with balance and self-care for true joy. Ditch calorie counting for whole foods and moderation. Indulge guilt-free in fresh whole milk, homemade mayo with organic fries, premium chocolate bonbons, or artisanal pastries. Healthier, mindful eating includes savoring traditional treats. Extremes like zero-fat, no-carb, or sugar-free diets are fading; the golden mean prevails. Comfort foods shine—pancakes with chocolate and nuts alongside veggie-packed smoothies.
#FoodTrend 6: Plant-Based Foods
Sustainability drives a greener, more conscious approach. Plant-based options surge in restaurants, cookbooks, blogs, and supermarkets. Zero food waste: innovative uses like cashew mozzarella, coconut yogurt, and aquafaba meringues. Not everyone goes fully vegan, but alternatives reduce animal suffering, environmental impact, boost health, and tantalize taste buds. Legumes stay hot, reimagined creatively for healthier, pimped-up dishes.
#FoodTrend 7: Fermented Snacks and Drinks
Fermentation is exploding: curry cauliflower, ginger beets, orange carrots, lemongrass cucumbers, and reinvented sauerkraut. Once a preservation technique, sour notes now captivate. Drinks evolve beyond lemon and lime to yuzu, kalamansi, sumac, and tamarind. Ginger-turmeric fermented veggie drinks are everywhere—or DIY them. Bacteria break down carbs and sugars, yielding fresh, tangy results.
#FoodTrend 8: Alternative Proteins
Rising protein needs spark diverse sources, especially plant-based. Essential for tissue building, repair, and active lifestyles. Beyond animal products, embrace beans, chickpeas, mushrooms, peanuts, sprouts, seaweed, and nuts. Pea protein powder leads, perfect for smoothies, shakes, and baking. Sunflower seeds and chickpeas provide flour alternatives.
#FoodTrend 9: Purple Foods
The future is purple—vibrant veggies making a comeback. Purple cauliflower, carrots, kale, broccoli, eggplant, and potatoes brim with anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that fight inflammation, boost immunity, and enhance brain function and memory. Colorful, tasty, and health-boosting.
#FoodTrend 10: Foods and Drinks for Relaxation and Sleep
In our 24/7 world, we crave rest amid constant stimuli. Relaxation drinks, teas, and evening snacks aid unwinding and sleep. Yoga's rise brings Ayurvedic foods into focus. Key ingredients: turmeric, ginger, Swiss chard, asparagus, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, nuts, avocado, cocoa, cinnamon, blackcurrant, honey. Relax, sleep deeply, eat well.
