The
Woodlands (Houston), Texas, August 2007 ... Benchmark Hospitality International,
which manages 30 award-winning hotels, resorts, conference centers and
condominium resorts throughout the United States and in Japan, has just
released its Five Tasty Dining Trends for 2007, as observed by its properties.
The trends were announced by Bob Zappatelli, vice president of food &
beverage, and his team of 18 food & beverage professionals.
"America's chefs are mixing it up in the kitchen and drawing on memories
of hearth & home," said Mr. Zappatelli, speaking for the Benchmark
culinary team. "And we mean ALL of the Americas -- from the top of
Canada to the tip of Cape Horn, we've not been this "blended" in 500 years!
It's amazing what flavor and cuisine can accomplish!"
Trend #1 Dessert Downsizing
- in size only. Never in flavor! A tapas-style dessert menu
is the trend. Who can possibly say no to bite size desserts -- especially
when they are bursting with flavor and cost only a buck or two per morsel
per tasting?
How does a sampling of mini-crème brûlée, pot au
crème, pomegranate flan and tropical fruit spanakopita sound to
your taste buds? Mighty flavorful and with considerably less guilt
that larger desserts selections. No need to skip this finale!
Trend #2 America Goes
Latin!
Or at least Latin American. Mediterranean, Spanish and Portuguese
cuisine are still in vogue, but look out cause America has fallen hard
for Latin cuisine.
Latin flavors and the incorporation of fruits, vegetables, meat and
fish indigenous to the Caribbean, Central and South America with American
sensibility is where cooking is headed. Acidity, marinades and one
pot meals with a dash of peasant flair and the family legacy Latin chef's
so often bring to the kitchen -- all set the stage for passionate, over-the-top
flavor and presentation. And the infusion of Creole and Spanish techniques
with local availability is no longer just a New Orleans's prerogative.
There's beautiful Ceviche as translated with fish from Ecuador and Honduras.
Vaca-Frita, Ropa-Vieja beef dishes from Cuba, and Chimichurri served with
Argentinean grilled meats.
Just maybe for the first time in five centuries, the Americas are border
free and one with flavor! Ooh la la.
Trend #3 Grow Naturally,
Harvest Locally
Ok, agreed, interest in organic foods and ingredients isn't new - but
today's consumers and restaurants are demanding food that is grown organically
and that doesn't cost next month's mortgage payment.
Growth hormones and antibiotics in meat, poultry, eggs and dairy are
mighty unappealing when your think about it. The elimination of pesticides,
synthetic fertilizers and bio-engineering in produce necessitate seeking
out local resources for produce, meat and more. Which is how it should
be anyway, so food is the freshest possible and presented when in season
at its peak flavor.
Oh, and get to know your favorite local producer. Chances are
he or she shares your passion for fresh, flavorful and naturally grown
ingredients for your table. Who knows what you might learn from each
other.
Trend #4 Here's to the
Memories
Cooking seasonally aside for a moment, more chefs create based on memories
of mom's, dad's and grandma's cooking than anything else. As important
as culinary school is, childhood memories influence the styles and techniques
of many great chefs much more than anyone in the dining room imagines.
Memories of family gardens from childhood are responded to with chefs'
kitchen gardens and seeking out local growers. Cooking techniques
and flavor combinations learned in childhood find their way into the menus
of some of the nation's best restaurants. Favorite family recipes
are reinterpreted and updated by chefs and pastry chefs who associate hearth
& home memories with every ingredient added in the kitchen or bakery.
So cooking seasonally makes sense for flavor and freshness reasons,
but just maybe this has as much to do with chefs' memories of tending the
family garden, harvesting the family's produce, helping prepare family
meals and enjoying nature's bounty originating out of the back yard.
Trend #5 Food & Beverage,
Quite Literally!
Lemon Verbena Cosmopolitans, Purple Basil and Mint Mojitos, MarTeaNis.
Truffles and chocolate flavored cocktails, add superfruits like Goji Berries,
Pomegranates and Mangosteens - they are all making their way onto the beverage
list. Or how about Bloody Mary Salad served with pickled vegetables
and shrimp when in the Mid-Atlantic? The mixologists have taken center
stage by mixing it up - mixing it ALL up!
The popularity of premium beverages merged with fresh ingredients that
might otherwise flavor a meal's starters and entre - and the specialty
drink menu have ushered in a return to the classic days when the cocktail
was king.
Call it a 21st Century Renaissance: Manhattans, Rob Roys, Rusty
Nails, Negronis, to name a few, are today joined with flavorful Mojitos
with purple basil added, Cosmopolitans with lemon thyme, and Gibson's with
garlic chives. A scrumptious renaissance at that!
After dinner, add chocolate, caramel, ice cream and sorbets to premium
vodkas, gin and rum. Talk about finishing the night right!
Five More Quick Takes -From Benchmark's Bars
(And from Mary Watson, Sommelier at Benchmark's Lansdowne Resort in
Virginia Wine Country. Ms. Watson also serves as company-wide Field Staff
Support for Benchmark Hospitality.)
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Consider a hearty Rose for dinner. It's great with steak and seafood,
widely available and guess what, it's delicious!
-
As more people rediscover Rieslings, they are reminded of how wonderful
the wine pairs with an infinite variety of foods -- and how delicious it
is when sipping with friends.
-
Sparkling Shiraz delivers a full-bodied red - chilled and bubbly.
It's perfect when grilling on a warm afternoon.
-
Martinis continue to grow in popularity - and they are increasingly being
made with non-traditional ingredients. It's no longer just "Would
you like vodka or gin"
-
Torrontes from Argentina will soon be "white hot"! Tango anyone?
Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management
company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference
centers, hotels and condominium resorts both domestically and internationally.
For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information,
visit Benchmark's Website at www.benchmarkhospitality.com.
For more information on Bob Zappatelli, visit: http://benchmarkhospitality.com/Media_Center/Executive_Bios.asp
To access Benchmark's Portfolio of properties, visit: http://benchmarkhospitality.com/Property_Profile/Property_Profile.asp |