Experienced event, meeting and conference planners know that an exceptional culinary experience can elevate an event from fine to fabulous. Today’s guests have sophisticated palates and high expectations. As 2020 arrives, you’ll want to keep up-to-date with some of these top foodie trends for the new year:
Unique Global Cuisines
Foods with an international flair are nothing new, but in 2020 we’ll be experiencing the unique new flavors of Mongolian, Taiwanese, Peruvian and Ethiopian cuisines. According to Whole Foods‘ list of top food trends for 2020, West African ingredients and flavors will be on-trend: tomatoes, onions and chili peppers, peanuts, ginger and lemongrass.
Locally-sourced Beverages, Signature Cocktails and Mocktails
Offer your attendees craft beverages from local distilleries and microbreweries, as well as handcrafted signature cocktails and low alcohol sparkling waters. Predicted to be a hot trend in 2020: zero-proof drinks like hops-infused sparkling waters and creative faux cocktails like the offerings from The Mocktail Project .
Healthy Grab-and-Go
Health-conscious event guests will appreciate fresh grab-and-go items on the menu in 2020 – like refrigerated protein bars, drinkable soups and better-for-you chips made with ingredients like chickpeas, beets, quinoa, and kale.
Plant-based Ingredients
Foodies seeking to benefit both their health and the environment crave sustainable, plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy. Innovative plant-based meals that we’ll see for 2020 events will include animal protein substitutes like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, and seeds (chia, hemp and flax), as well as pumpkin and avocado.
CBD Infusions
We’ve seen CBD (a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant) as a hot trend in 2019. Hospitality company Benchmark predicts that the CBD-infused trend will continue one the rise in 2020 with a focus on waters, coffees, teas, energy drinks, beer, wine and spirits. (Note, of course, that state regulations vary, so do your research before adding CBD to your next event menu.)
Instagrammable Experiences
Food has become more than mere sustenance, it’s an experience to be posted, storied, tweeted and shared. In 2020, expect to see more companies making meals special with unique chef-manned food stations, interactive experiences and instagrammable presentations. Now this trend…we’re here for it!
Innovative Entertainment provides a one-of-a-kind entertainment and speaker experiences for events, conferences, fundraisers and corporate meetings worldwide. If you’re looking to incorporate memorable, forward-thinking or interactive experiences in your next event click here to connect with Innovative Entertainment!
