Tried These Quirky 2018 Trends Going Mainstream in 2019?

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Even foods known to be healthy and delicious since ancient times need to be renewed and improved these days.   We spotted trends in 2018 that we predict will become mainstream. They range from beautifully colored foods being used to describe clothing, foods used as party floral decoration and bouquets, to ancient, classic foods that once required lengthy preparation or shopping time are now boxed and ready to be popped into the pot or oven.

(1) Using food to describe the color of clothes.  I’ve purchased “burgundy” and “grape” colored clothes  but this mulled wine milkshake color silk shirt mixes it all up.  Below is the “milkshake meadow” color choice that says it all.   We were startled to see it on a competitor in a recent holiday  “Great American Baking Show” this past season!

(2) Bone broth coffee?  Once Bone broth at OSSO GOOD made the transition from clear chicken and beef to veggie additions, owner-founder Meredith Cochran let her imagination run wild. So OSSO GOOD’s new brick and mortar location now offers bone broth in this eccentric grande-size drink packed with caffeine, as well as in waffles (that taste richer because the broth replaces water in the recipe).   It was already the star of her sippable soups that include a spectacular carrot with Thai seasonings and Super-green.   Bone broth is jam-packed with natural anti-inflammatories, healing amino acids, minerals, and compounds like collagen and hyaluronic acid that add richness to the soups without disturbing the flavors.   But the huge cup of delicious cold brew coffee had sooo much caffeine power we were wired in minutes.  Wonder what it would be like in an espresso?

(3) Shrink-wrapped, boxed main meals.   We prepared this mouth-watering French lentil, sweet onion and kohlrabi dish, with ingredients from Melissa’ Produce and Trader Joe bits of bacon ends in under 15 minutes!  It otherwise would have taken hours on the stove to cook the beans alone.  Every plate of the tender lentils was cleaned and ready for seconds in a short time. This is our new “go-to” dish.

(4)  Rollins Greens Millet Tots, newest boxed version of tater tots “that are not potatoes” were conceived as a whole grain alternative to that American comfort food staple,  Tater Tots.  White potatoes contribute to diabetes and currently 30 million Americans suffer from the disease.  But not to worry.  There are sweet potatoes in the crispy bites with the tender center.  The gluten-free, vegan, non-gmo and soy-free Millet Tots contain no binders, fillers, or additives. Higher in protein and fiber than white potatoes, Millet Tots were created as an alternative to the roughly 70 million pounds of white potato Tater Tots annually consumed for nostalgic reasons (our family ate them once in a while) even though they are high in fat, sugar, and calories.  They were a natural convenience product developed after WWII with a history of the white potato being an inexpensive American comfort food staple since the 1800’s.   The “Millet Tots” are sold nationwide in more than 1,000 retailers. “We plan to debut other American comfort foods with a healthy twist in 2019,” says Lindsey Cunningham,  Co-Founder and CEO of RollinGreens.

RollinGreens, founded in 1980 by the Cunningham family, served as Boulder’s first organic and local food truck and catering service. In 2011, the company was successfully relaunched by the youngest Cunningham son Ryan and his wife Lindsey.  By 2015 the Cunninghams wanted to reach more consumers and retired the food truck to create their products from family recipes.   Please visit www.rollingreens.com for more information.

(5) The Original Farmers Market has been Los Angeles’ favorite gathering place since 1934.   In its earliest days, Hancock Park matrons had their cooks come and shop the market for fresh produce.   Most recently, delivery companies are known to deliver a single donut (Yes!  From Almondine) when the craving hits.  Now it is possible to shop “curated” produce from the more than 100 grocers, retailers and restaurants at the Original Farmers Market. Shoppers can also speak directly to the merchants.  New Mercato, the online ordering and same day delivery service  for independent Original Farmers Market grocers, now delivers from 11 quality grocers and merchants in The Original Farmers Market with Market favorites hand-selected by artisan grocers for one low fee.

Shops at The Original Farmers Market available on Mercato.com include:

• Dragunara Spice Bazaar – Organic spice and herb shop
• Farmers Market Poultry – Poultry shop
• Huntington Meats – Butcher shop
• Magee’s House of Nuts – Nut shop
• Magee’s Kitchen – Prepared specialty food shop and deli
• Marconda’s Meats – Butcher shop
• Marconda’s Puritan Poultry –  Poultry shop
• Michelina Artisan Boulanger – French artisan bakery
• Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market – Gourmet cheese, wine and European groceries
• Monsieur Marcel Seafood Market – Seafood shop
• T & Y Bakery – Russian-inspired bakery

Shoppers simply enter their zip code to browse through thousands of food products in every category online from their favorite local grocers and stores. Customers are also able to communicate directly with merchants and rate their experience.    For more information visit www.farmersmarketla.com.    Mercato offers same-day delivery of high-quality groceries and specialty foods from more than 500 leading independently-owned stores across the country.  Visit Mercato.com