Hot New Restaurant Trends for 2016

Canadian chefs have revealed their top picks for the hottest restaurant trends for 2016 and an unlikely item tops the list.

According to Restaurant Canada’s 2016 Canadian Chef Survey, craft beer and microbrews are the top trend for 2016. This is the second year in a row that brews have topped the list. The top 10 up and comers include home-made condiments and sauces, which is new for 2016.

Close to 500 professional chefs from across the country identified menu items and cooking methods that are at the peak of popularity. In addition to house-made condiments, the "Up-and-Comers" list features several other first-time items: alternative pulse proteins, chef-driven fast casual concepts, ethnic cheeses, and house-made/artisan pickles.

A total of 494 professional chefs participated in Restaurants Canada's seventh annual Canadian Chef Survey, conducted by independent market research firm BrandSpark International between Jan. 11 and Feb. 1, 2016.

Top 10 Hot Trends

1. Craft beer/ microbrews
2. Charcuterie/ house-cured meats
3. Ethnic sauces (e.g. Sriracha, raita/raitha, chimichurri, soy sauce)
4. Locally sourced foods (locavore)
5. Food smoking
6. House-made condiments/sauces
7. Gluten-free/food allergy conscious
8. Inexpensive/ underused cuts of meat (e.g. beef cheek, brisket, pork shoulder, skirt steak)
9. Organic produce
10. Leafy greens (e.g. kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion, beet greens)

Top 10 Up-and-Comers

1. House-made condiments/sauces
2. Ancient grains (e.g. kamut, spelt, amaranth, freekeh)
3. Alternative pulse proteins (e.g. pigeon peas, cranberry beans, black beluga lentils)
4. Inexpensive/underused cuts of meat (e.g. beef cheek, brisket, pork shoulder, skirt steak)
5. Micro-distilled/artisan liquor
6. Ethnic/street-food-inspired appetizers (e.g. tempura, taquitos)
7. Chef-driven fast-casual concepts
8. Unusual/uncommon herbs (e.g. chervil, lovage, papalo, lemon balm)
9. Ethnic cheeses (e.g. queso fresco, paneer, labneh, halloumi)
10. House-made/artisan pickles