TREND BITES:

Skewers

April 5, 2023

For this month’s trend, instead of featuring a global cuisine or flavor, we’re exploring a format: skewers. Not only are skewers themselves trending, but you can also use them as a simple way to bring other trends to your menu, like Island and Indian cuisines.

Flavor and the Menu chose skewers as one of their Top 10 Trends for 2023, calling them a “low risk/high reward snackable, shareable menu item” and pointing out that skewers deliver high value due to small portion sizes.

Evolution of "Food-on-a-Stick"

Food has been eaten with sticks since before history was recorded. Several cultures incorporated wooden sticks into their dishes—either by skewering foods on a stick or eating food with sticks. Chopsticks were first used in China before 10,000 BC, and the first recorded use of "kebabs" was in Turkey in 1377. Now, centuries later, we use the on-a-stick eating style in the US for fun, handheld foods found at state fairs, street markets, music festivals, and more.

An Easy Way to Showcase Flavors

Because skewers are so simple and versatile, they’re a great format for your restaurant to try out new flavors and ingredients with customers. In Flavor and the Menu's interview with Rob Corliss of All Things Epicurean, Corliss said chefs can “apply a signature touch with global interpretations, trending meats, flavor-forward marinades, various cooking techniques ...and complementary sauces, dips and side dishes.” Offer unique skewers as shareable appetizers or single entrees, depending on what works best on your menu.

Keep it Casual

For decades, Americans have associated skewers with backyard BBQs, and though consumers may be getting more adventurous, that doesn’t mean your customers will reject their summertime favorites. If you serve them a fresh-off-the-grill, backyard experience, they’ll love it, remember it, and spread the word. Make a premium grilled kabob by using whole muscle chicken fillets and crisp, fresh produce. Add the perfect sweet or spicy kick through sauces and seasonings. We recommend these swicy (sweet + spicy) sauces, which your customers will find absolutely delectable.

Try these skewer applications!

Elote Chicken Tenders

Hop on the street corn and skewers bandwagons with these simple Elote Chicken Tenders. They're a fun way to serve your versatile chicken tenders—just add skewers and flavorful elote toppings.

Chicken Caesar on a Stick

Bring some fun to your salad offerings by serving traditional salad ingredients on a skewer. This Grilled Chicken Caesar on a Stick uses juicy, tender grilled fillets with lettuce, croutons, and parmesan cheese.

Chicken Parm Bites

Turn your Chicken Parm into a shareable, snackable platter with this Chicken Parm Bites recipe. We used our Brakebush Signature Crispy Fillets, but you could use boneless wings or popcorn chicken too!

Sampling

Skewers—especially small ones like the Chicken Parm Bites above—are ideal shareable appetizers. Add toothpicks to bite-sized portions and serve them as a bar platter or offer them as hors d'oeuvres. This gives your guests a fun taste of the flavors you have to offer without the commitment of a full meal.

Make it a Mini Meal

For a different take on “Food on a Stick,” serve some deconstructed dishes by adding all the ingredients to a skewer instead of serving in their traditional format. Instead of a Philly Chicken Sandwich, serve Philly Chicken Skewers, or offer a fun kabob alternative to a basic Caesar salad.