Plant-based ingredients, including cannabis and CBD, and zero-waste cooking will be the hottest overall culinary trends of 2019, new research from the National Restaurant Association finds.
According to the Association's 2019 What's Hot Culinary Survey, a barometer of U.S. food and beverage trends, 650 professional chefs - all members of the American Culinary Federation - said infusing food and drink with cannabis and CBD could create unique cuisine opportunities and potential new markets for experiential dining occasions.
In fact, 77 percent of the survey's respondents identified cannabis/CBD-infused drinks as the No. 1 trend. In addition, 76 percent of them tapped cannabis/CBD-infused food as the second most popular trend.
However, as chefs and restaurateurs consider incorporating the ingredients into menu items, Association officials stressed that cannabis and CBD are...