Energy Sheets, Max Martini and Jewish Delis: Gut Check Predicts 2012 Food Trends
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
I’m a list girl. Oh, and by the way, I’m also the girl who’s taken over the dining editor slot here at @NorthernVAMag.
Anyway, it’s the end of the year, which means it’s a maze of lists out there as we catalog 2011 and start predicting 2012.
The Washington Post Style writers decided to celebrate the history of their listery and publish the archives of the “Out / In” lists starting from 1978. While I don’t understand/remember every reference, I particularly enjoyed arugula receiving some street cred back in 1982. (Poor Barack just knew his foodie trends.)
Here’s a look at the food world forecasts from 1982, 1992 and 2002, according to the all-knowing WaPo writers. But we couldn’t let authors Nina Hyde, Tony Kornheiser, Martha Sherrill and Robin Givhan get the final word. We’ve added a column with our gut (re: un-reseached) reaction/predictions for next year.
You can scroll through the full WaPo archive here. (The 2012 list arrives tomorrow.)
Below the jump revel in past fads (Frusen Gladie?!) and enjoy our fortune telling. And be sure to tell us your NoVA dining-world soothsaying.
| 1982: OUT (Says WaPo) | 1982: IN (Says WaPo) | 2012: In (Says Gut Check) |
| Watercress | Arugula | Point: Obama |
| California wines | Spanish wines | Virginia wines |
| Ribbon pasta | Stuffed pasta | Paccheri, Garganelli, Trofie |
| Haagen Dazs | Frusen Gladie | The Dairygod Mother |
| Coffee | Tea | Where Do You Take a Sheet? |
| Safflower oil | Green olive oil | Pumpkin seed oil |
| White wine | Red wine | Sparkling |
| Charcoal grills | Sub-zero fridges | Ninja |
| Jelly beans | Gummy bears | Taking the stairs instead of snacking |
| Saltines | Croquettes | Housemade Charcuterie |
| American beer | Mexican beer | Local beer |
| Tangerines | Clementines | Tangerine Tango |
| Nouvelle cuisine | Tex/Mex | Jewish Delis |
| Paper napkins | Cotton napkins | Remember-what-you’re-eating napkins |
| Idaho potatoes | New potatoes | Rutabaga |
| 1992: OUT (Says WaPo) | 1992: IN (Says WaPo) | 2012: IN (Says Gut Check) |
| Dry beer | Martinis | Black IPAs |
| Carbo-loading | Good cholesterol | Diabetes Prevention |
| Chardonnay | Pinot grigio | French-Spanish blends |
| Chinese food | Hong Kong cuisine | Sichuan hot pot |
| Animal Rights | Bill of Rights | Precision Agriculture |
| 2002: OUT (Says WaPo) | 2002: IN (Says WaPo) | 2012: IN (Says Gut Check) |
| Clementines | Blood Oranges | Limes |
| Flintstone-sized portions | Tapas | Pintxos |
| Garlic mashed potatoes | Spaetzle | Latkes |
| Quinoa | Condoleeza Rice | Max Martini |
Tags: 2012 list, 2012 trends, food, Gut Check, Jewish Delis, Martha Sherrill, Max Martini, Nina Hyde, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, Robin Givhan, Stefanie Gans, Tangerine Tango, Tony Kornheiser, Washington Post, Where Do You Take a Sheet?