We ate a lot in 2014 – that's for sure. So as the year comes to an end, we think it's only right to remember the food trends that took over our kitchens and filled our plates. While we hope to see some of these trends stick around in 2015, we're not so excited about the others. Here, we've listed the 8 biggest food trends in Boston, ordered from best to worst.
Ramen
When I see ramen, my mind immediately flashes back to slurping down dirt cheap ramen noodles in my college dorm room. Obviously, I didn’t realize my go-to dinner would be so trendy down the road. This year, ramen has certainly taken off here in Boston – and across the U.S. Among other notable ramen spots, we recommend trying the NYC-based Totto restaurant, which set up shop in Allston this year.
Doughnuts
Say goodbye to cupcakes and hello to one of the best food trends of 2014: doughnuts. The sweet, glazed treats exploded in popularity this year thanks to places like Union Square Donuts, which turned the typical donut into a bacon and bourbon gourmet dessert. In 2015, Bostonians can expect to see a Boston location of Kane’s Donuts opening downtown as well as a new donut spot from the folks behind The Gallows opening in the South End.
Smoked and wood-fired fare
From Pastoral's wood-fired pizzas to smoked and grilled meats at La Brasa and Rosebud, it seems this food trend is everywhere. But the fiery fare is certainly one of our favorites to hit the dining scene in 2014. We only hope it continues to pop up in restaurants throughout next year.
Speakeasy Bars
This year in Boston, we had two major speakeasy bars open in our city. The trendy cocktail-haven, Wink & Nod, served up everything from Old-Fashioneds to a rotating culinary incubator program. The second speakeasy to open, Parla, livened up the North End with its prohibition-era inspired ambience and drinks. To this we say – keep it comin’!
French Food
Boston is now filled with pate and escargot-loving Francophiles, apparently. This year, we welcomed several new big-time French restaurants to our dining scene, including both Bastille Kitchen and Bar Boulud. Bon appetit!
Beer Cocktails
More and more, beer-cocktail concoctions are appearing on menus throughout Boston and the U.S. Personally, I prefer to stick with one or the other. But maybe I’m a bit old fashioned. If you’re looking to taste the trend, we recommend checking out The Tap Trailhouse’s long list of beer-cocktail drinks, here.
Kale
Whether this is a good or bad trend may be debatable but its health benefits certainly aren’t. This year, we saw the dark leafy greens in just about every juice, salad, smoothie and sandwich on the planet. Unfortunately, that also meant adding loads of dressings and other not-so-healthy ingredients to cover up the green’s foul taste. We’ll pass next year.
Avocado Toast
Toast, in general, was one of the trendiest foods and menu items of 2014. But when you add slices of avocado on top, you’ve got a full-on Pinterest hit, my friends. The avocado toast, topped with everything from eggs and bacon to strawberries and sardines, was certainly a food trend we loved to hate in 2014. But it did make for a great midnight snack.
Images via Bastille Kitchen, Shutterstock, and Wink & Nod