TREND BITES:
Picnic
Red, White, and Blue on the Menu for America 250
This month, we are exploring a foodservice trend that gives your guests the classic summer experience they're longing for, with grilled flavors, nostalgia, shareability, and a healthy dose of American pride. Put that all together, and what do you get? Picnics! Below, you'll find inspiration for picnic-themed menus, along with helpful statistics on what your guests want during the summer of the USA's 250th birthday.
The Picnic Experience, Made Easy
Data shows that a memorable dining experience drives repeat business. 74% of consumers say they would return to a restaurant after a unique or noteworthy experience. Adding a few picnic touches when serving guests this summer is a simple, gimmick-free way to ensure they have an enjoyable visit. Engaging each of their senses in small ways will have a big overall impact.
- Sight: On tables, add fresh flowers, checkered tablecloths, and refreshing pitchers of water with lemon. When plating dishes, skewer sandwiches with wooden toothpicks, serve sides in small buckets, and pour drinks into mason jars or plastic cups.
- Touch: Consider the textures of your tables, seats, and napkins. Bring outdoor textures inside through the use of wicker placemats or hot pads and paper napkins.
- Sound: What kind of music is typically played in your area at outdoor events? Play similar tunes over your speakers to raise the energy in your dining room.
- Smell and Taste: Bring on the flavor and smell of summertime BBQ! If you don't use grills, no problem. We flame-seared a few products ahead of time so that they can be full of grilled flavor and a mouthwatering, charred aroma when you serve them. Try our Flame-Grilled Chicken Burger or Flame-Seared Pulled Chicken Breast.
Timeless Summer Flavors with Trendy Twists
Datassential's Menu Trends platform lists summer items that are in ubiquity, which they describe as items you can "find just about anywhere." It's no surprise that classics like fried chicken, BBQ, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, and watermelon make the list. Consumers love these items, and your kitchen likely serves them as staples that are easy to execute.
However, even the most iconic summer foods can benefit from an intriguing twist! Combine emerging summer flavors with classic items to give your operation a competitive edge. Some flavor ideas Datassential identified as up-and-coming for this season include hot honey, lemongrass, heirloom tomato, elote, yuzu, hummus, hibiscus, white BBQ, and summer squash.
Try our recipes for modern takes on summer favorites!
Summer Slider Flight
Serve these sliders as a shareable appetizer or as entree packed with a variety of flavors. Try our recipes for Berry Chicken Salad Sliders, Raspberry Honey Mustard Chicken Sliders, and Chicken Biscuit Sliders.
American Appetizer Platter
Serve your guests' favorite appetizers on a shareable platter with red, white, and blue sauces. We used ketchup, ranch, and our blueberry BBQ sauce recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Burgers
This idea is so easy and fun that we created recipes for three versions: a Red Apple Slaw Burger, a Firework Chicken Burger, and a Pickled Red Onion Burger.
Independence Day LTOs
The USA only turns 250 once, so make the most of it all summer long. Enhance your menu with fruity drinks, shareable apps, and delicious grilled flavors that taste like American summertime. Datassential's Summer Trends report shared that 54% of Americans associate the Fourth of July with special flavors or limited-time menu items from restaurants. We expect to see a lot of American-themed LTOs this year, so now is the time to start planning yours—even if you're simply adding some red, white, and blue toppings to the dishes you already serve.
Chicken Items that Shine in Picnic Meals
Making Summer Menus Memorable
Picnic-inspired menu items tap into everything guests love about summer dining: familiar flavors, laid-back sharing, and moments that feel special without feeling overdone. As you plan seasonal features and LTOs around America’s 250th birthday, small touches and simple menu twists can go a long way in creating unforgettable experiences that keep guests coming back.
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