Another great conference! Some of the relevant trends and emerging trends to watch that I noticed at this year show were the following:

1. Low Sodium and Salt reduction ingredients. Finally the industry is heeding the desire from the public for our food to NOT be loaded with sodium.

2. Gluten-Free products and applications

3. Clean label/simple ingredients. Imaging that, consumers want food without having to reference a molecular chemistry dictionary of ingredients.

4. Multi-Grain, Vegetable, Beneficial Fiber and other pro-biotic inclusions into foods.

5. Omega 3′s encapsulated products

There was also a strong international foods and ingredients presence at the show. With the advent and popularity of internet food sites and all of the cooking shows, more and more Americans are realizing the bounty of the worlds’ food basket.

Stay Tuned!

Mark

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is partnered with Rubicon Resources to market the concept’s oven-ready seafood entrées and appetizers, including Chipotle BBQ Shrimp and Soy-Ginger Shrimp & Noodles, at retail outlets nationwide.

Happy St. Patty’s Day Everyone!

One of my favorite Foodie websites, Gayot.com published a recommended list of the top pubs and bars around the country to celebrate tonight.

Authenticity is a must. Check Out The List Here:     Pub List

Cheers!

Mark

Mark

It’s that time of year again…for my out of town friends who are coming down to Texas for SXSW, here is a quick list of hot places in or near most of the events taking place.  There are also some great “Street Carts” food  vendors around the downtown area. Check ‘em out

Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
401 West 2nd Street. Austin, Texas 78701

Whole Foods
525 N Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
At least three sit-down places to eat within the store itself, including BBQ. Whole Foods has some of the BEST people watching in the area. Gorgeous women, healthy food, and a great fresh food environment!

Iron Works BBQ
100 Red River Street. Austin, TX 78701-4127
Close to the Convention Center, not the music venues such as Stubbs on Red River

Brick Oven
1209 Red River Street, Austin, TX‎
Head north from the Red River music venues

Gueros
1412 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX‎
Just across from the Continental Club in SoCo

Magnolia Café South
1920 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
South from Gueros, serving 24 hours

Katz’s Deli and Bar
618 West 6th Street, Austin, TX
Cousin of the 2nd Street folks, serving 24 hours, downstairs from Momos

Huts Hamburgers
807 West 6th Street, Austin, TX‎
East of Whole Foods, voted best burgers many times in the Chronicle

Fran’s Hamburgers
1822 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX‎
South from Gueros, close to Magnolia Café. Get the onion rings!

Opal Divines
700 West 6th Street, Austin, TX
Across from Katz’s

Cuba Libre
409 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
Austin’s best mojito, worth every penny. In the Warehouse District just east of Antones.

Here is a list of the most popular Sushi Rolls in Japanese restaurants

I have a ton of respect for Darden Restaurants  CEO Clarence Otis. Not only has he raised the quality of food at Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden…he is truly focused on customer experience and customer service.

Here is his interview on CNBC:

Emilia-Romagna and Sicily are two favorite Italian regions for food, according to a recent poll of Nation’s Restaurant News food blog readers.

h as veal marsala and the stuffed pastry, cannoli. It is also known for excellent seafood.

Food Writer’s Diary readers are mostly chefs and others involved in the foodservice industry, as well as food writers, food-studies scholars and amateur food enthusiasts. About 20 percent are based in the metropolitan New York City area and most of the rest are from elsewhere in North America.

The poll was conducted for the first two weeks of February and had a total of 54 participants.

Earlier this year, the menu trends research firm Mintel said the prevalence of regional ethnic cuisines are among five dining trends for 2010, as broader ethnic cuisine types like Chinese, Mexican or Italian have already grown mainstream.

In the Food Writer’s Diary poll, Tuscany came in third place with 11 percent of the vote, followed by Puglia, with 9 percent of the vote. Campania, where Naples is located, was in a three-way tie with Liguria and Sardinia for a ninth place finish among Italy’s 20 regions.

Piedmont, the region on the border of France and Switzerland that is lauded for its white truffles and Italy’s most highly-rated wines, tied for 5th place with Abruzzo, on the central Adriatic coast.

Favorite Italian regions for food, based on percentage vote for the top spot:

• 1. Emilia-Romagna (18%)
• 1. Sicily (18%)
• 3. Tuscany (11%)
• 4. Puglia (9%)
• 5. Abruzzo (7%)
• 5. Piedmont (7%)
• 7. Umbria (5%)
• 7. Veneto (5%)
• 9. Campania (3%)
• 9. Liguria (3%)
• 9. Sardinia (3%)
• 12. Basilicata (1%)
• 12. Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1%)
• 12. Lazio (1%)
• 15. Calabria (0%)
• 15. Lombardy (0%)
• 15. Le Marche (0%)
• 15. Molise (0%)
• 15. Trentino-Alto Adige (0%)
• 15. Valle d’Aosta (0%