Textured cocktails and flavoured salts are next top culinary trends
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio, is returning with its annual Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast, highlighting predictions from its vast team of global culinary and beverage experts that will be featured on plates and bar menus in 2024.
From global salts and seacuterie, to textured cocktails and umami flavors, Kimpton is forecasting both new and evolving trends that will further enhance the dining experience.
Kicking off in December 2023 and continuing throughout 2024, guests will have the opportunity to experience many of these trends at Kimpton restaurants and bars across the globe.
2024 culinary trends
Salt with a story
While salt is one of the most common ingredients in cooking, expect to see a noticeable shift to unrefined salts (Black Hawaiian Salt, Kala Namak, Persian Blue Salt, Celtic Salt, Fleur de Sel) as consumers move away from table salt staples in search of something far more unique to add to their favorite dishes.
Sourcing will also be a priority for many chefs, working with global salt producers to identify salts from around the world and understand their history and use cases.
Tinned fish and “seacuterie”
In the last year, luxury tinned fish sales have soared as people embrace seafood’s diverse range of flavors and sustainable practices.
Expect to see more unique conservas on charcuterie boards as well as dedicated ‘seacuterie’ boards including samplings of luxury canned fish like Spanish sardines in olive oil, habanero smoked oysters, and Maine eel smoked in alderwood packed in California olive oil.
Cabbage is king
Cabbage will take over plates as culinary professionals and consumers alike turn to the cruciferous vegetable for its versatility, taste and texture.
Both well-known varieties such as Napa, Savoy and Red Cabbage and the more coveted Caraflex or Conehead cabbage will be showcased in a multitude of ways on menus including charred, fermented, roasted, braised, and even caramelized.
Creative dry-aging
The technique of dry aging has grown in popularity and is increasingly sought after by consumers. Leveraging the proper equipment, dry aging provides enhanced control of texture, adds depth of flavour and complexity to elevate any dish.
With dry aging, chefs are able to push beyond beef into more interesting dishes with duck, lamb and fin fish. Vegetables like beets and carrots are being dry aged with koji to create a charcuterie-like texture and flavor.
Even spirits like bourbon and gin are being treated with dry aging techniques to take cocktails to the next level.
Pastry makes a comeback
Consumers are saving room for dessert as chefs roll out inventive confections.
Kimpton is particularly seeing a rise in Asian and French influences for the sweetest course.
Guests can expect to see a rise in sweet and savoury combinations, such as carrot mochi and chocolate smoked salt croissants with alternate sugars like date-based sugar, beet sugar and coconut sugar growing more prominent.
2024 cocktail trends
Along with food trends, Kimpton has released the following predictions for cocktail offerings in 2024:
Textured cocktails for the senses
Rose and pistachio dust, dragon fruit crisp and edible helium bubble clouds are some of the sensory ingredients diners will soon find on bar menus in 2024 to add texture and visual appeal to the liquid base.
A new wave of umami
Kimpton bar leaders predict more experimentation with different types of fat washing as a new way to create smooth, creamy and velvety undercurrents in spirits rather than more traditional sweet syrups. Expect to find creations like a salmon martini or beverages using unique washing ingredients such as duck confit and spam.
Pantry ingredients featured in cocktails
Bars will incorporate ingredients from the kitchen to up level cocktail and non-alcoholic beverages, including biquinho peppers, salsa macha, soy sauce, fish sauce, whole cacao, black tahini, lion’s mane and sweetened condensed milk as an alternative to more traditional cocktail infusions.
Over-the-top garnishes
From snap peas to using 3D printers, simple garnishes will evolve to elaborate final flourishes that completely transform a cocktail from salty and savory to citrusy and bright in an instant.
Cinnamon revisited
Breaking out of its autumnal shell, the versatility of cinnamon will offer dynamic flavor pairings as a popular additive and bridge to trans-seasonal beverages and dishes, like cinnamon and smoked salt coffee and chica moradas.
Unique Latin American spirits
While tequila, gin and bourbon continue to shine on menus, 2024 will see the rise of Latin American spirits and liquors such as Aguariente, Singani and Cocuy, served within craft cocktails or enjoyed on the rocks.
