Flash in the Pan

I've never heard of food being called hand-held, though obviously the term is apt in a number of cases. (Just so long as I can avoid the front-of-shirt held experience.) A food and beverage consulting company called the Center for Culinary Development regularly produces a food trend report. Here are some of the "[e]xciting hand-held foods trends" the company sees:

Multiculturalism- Indian, Chinese and Latin American street foods, such as dosas, empandas, and bao, encase sweet or savory fillings in unique carriers. Now, making a cultural cross-over and expanding American palates, these hand-helds have intriguing shapes, and can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients.

Fresh & Wholesome- Paletas are bright, Mexican frozen pops made from fresh fruit or vegetables, spices, water or milk and just a little sugar. They feature chunks of hand-mashed fruit, rice or nuts for texture and ingredients such as cucumber, mango, avocado, corn, chili, lime, salt and mint.

Premium Twists to the Familiar- Sliders are craveable mini burgers that elevate the typical burger experience through creative variations of protein like premium beef or lamb, unique sauces and specialty cheeses. Their appetizer size encourages sampling for the culinary curious and also appeals to kids.

If you've been feeling left behind by the world of foodies, now's the time to get a handhold ... uh, handful?

Labels: snacks, street food, trends