TREND BITES:
Southern
Southern food's impact on American cuisine today is so widespread it’s almost overlooked. But which of our favorite foods have Southern roots? And how can we use Southern cuisine techniques to serve irresistible LTOs and up-and-coming trends?
According to FSR, “There is no U.S. region that has a more distinct culinary tradition than the South.” Southern influences on national and even global food trends range from soul food to Cajun food to the recent fast food takeover of fried chicken sandwiches. Southern food, at it’s core, is America’s comfort food. So here are a few hearty, Southern-style ideas to bring to your menu.
The United States of Comfort Food
A lot of what we think of as Southern cuisine staples (cornmeal, beans, greens, grits...) became that way because rural and poor Southern households did everything they could to make the most of the ingredients they had. Southern meals are thought of as big, hearty, family-style affairs, but that's only because the willpower and scrappiness of Southern cooks made it so.
Over decades and decades, meals like fried chicken, mac 'n cheese, dumplings, and cornbread have become comfort foods for Americans who have never even been to the Southern states. We associate these foods with childhood, simplicity, and our shared history—as if the generations of families who served and enjoyed those meals are supporting those who eat them today.
Restaurants can't go wrong by serving comfort foods. Any time life gets rough, comfort foods soar in popularity, and people never get tired of them. If you're looking for some surefire breakfast or lunch specials, try this Buttermilk French Toast Sandwich or Breaded Chicken Mac recipe, and your customers will leave feeling comforted and satisfied!
Latest Trends Coming from the South
A few Southern foods currently basking in mainstream popularity are pimento cheese, Nashville hot, dressed-up mac ‘n cheese, and fried chicken sandwiches. While they aren’t new and exciting, they manage to constantly climb in popularity because successful operators continue to adapt these classic favorites in delicious ways. For a few innovative twists on these southern-inspired dishes, try these recipes: Nashville Hot Breakfast Burritos, Buffalo Chicken Mac 'N Cheese, and The Southern Pride Chicken Sandwich.
Try these Southern-inspired recipes!
Creole and Cajun Inspiration
Louisiana's Creole and Cajun cuisines pull their origins from West African, French, Spanish, and Native American culinary traditions. There are many differences between Creole and Cajun food due to Creole people living in New Orleans and having access to more spices from abroad while Cajun people lived in rural areas and adapted cooking techniques from having to make the most of local game and produce. However, whether Creole or Cajun, there's a level of bold and complex flavor consumers expect when eating Louisiana's cuisines.
You can serve something "Louisiana-Inspired" by using premade Cajun seasoning or Creole mustard and spicing your dishes with cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic. Or you can whip up some jambalaya, po boys, etouffee, muffulettas, gumbo, or red beans and rice. To start, try our Chicken Filet Muffuletta or Jambalaya Bowl recipes.Other Ideas from our Recipe Library
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