Deliciously Efficient by Chef Michael Speranza, CEC

Consumers are looking at the world of food differently, steering away from ultra-processed foods and becoming more interested in sustainable, cleaner ingredients. As low- or no-carb diet fads wane, consumers are more than willing to revisit quality carbohydrates, carefully adding them back into their daily diets to fuel the body. Join Chef Reilly as he digs deeper into this 2022 trend.

Restaurants are getting more eco-conscious and making changes to reduce their negative impact on the planet. By reducing waste, your restaurant can position itself as an eco-friendly brand, help the planet, be more profitable and sustainable. Join Chef Manno as he shares some insights on Waste management.

Now more than ever, consumers want to escape. But it may not be feasible to book a trip to a far-flung destination at this time. Is there another way to satisfy that wanderlust? Luckily, new retail and menu offerings will allow consumers to travel the world with their taste buds! While pandemic eating concentrated mainly on comfort food and nostalgic ingredients, consumers have become more adventurous, craving global flavors of all kinds. Join Chef Michael Hornback as he takes us on the "Take Me Away" journey. 

Snacking is here to stay! The lines between dayparts are blurring, and one reason may be that consumers’ eating habits have been shifting away from full-size meals to more frequent middle-of-the-day snacks. Smaller meals can capitalize on convenience and portability for on-the-go eaters while meeting consumer demand for snackable options that satiate. Join Chef David as he takes us on a Snacking Way of Life journey.

Creating a more sustainable food system requires awareness, cooperation and action across the supply chain. Farmers, chefs, retailers, restaurants and consumers are working together to combat unnecessary food waste through upcycling and creative use of byproducts. Join Chef Michael as he discusses the repurposing of food, eliminating food waste, and helping drive a positive impact on the planet.

Buckle up, because this trend is all about the total experience that food provides—flavor is just one delightful stop along the way. It’s about taking an artful approach to food, especially in the age of social media. Join Chef Scott as he takes you through our fourth featured trend focused on leveraging what consumers are craving to grow your signature brand.

Mindful eating is maintaining an in-the-moment awareness of the food and beverage you put into your body. It involves observing how the food makes you feel and the signals your body sends about taste, satisfaction, and fullness. Mindful eating requires you to simply acknowledge and accept rather than judge the feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations you observe. It can extend to the process of buying, preparing, and serving your food as well as consuming it. Join Chef Smith as he shares his thoughts around this intriguing topic.

Chef Speranza discusses how to adapt to change and streamline operations to increase operational effectiveness, value added solutions, and speed scratch formats that address the challenges of labor shortages.

Plant-based foods are seeing increased demand from those who do not want to commit to a full vegan or even vegetarian lifestyle, but would rather pick and choose to suit their lifestyle, social life, or health conditions. Join Chef Michael Speranza as he takes a deeper look into this mega trend.

Plant-based cheese is gradually crossing over to the mainstream, and as the plant-based food category continues to gain popularity, the demand for dairy-alternative cheeses is also expected to witness notable growth in the upcoming years.