Professional chefs gave their opinions on the food,
cuisines, beverages and culinary themes that will be hot trends on restaurant
menus in 2014. Heading the list of top 20 trends are locally sourced meats and
seafood, locally grown produce, environmental sustainability, healthful kids’
meals and gluten-free cuisine.
The top hottest dining trends are healthy and
environmentally friendly foods, the association’s recent survey finds.
Also trending: unusual and ethnic fare. Expect to see street
food-inspired appetizers (tempura, taquitos and kabobs) and dips. Imported
breakfast menu items will bring Asian-flavored syrups, Chorizo scrambled eggs
and coconut milk pancakes.
Other hot trends include nose-to-tail or root-to-stalk
cooking, which uses the entire animal or vegetable to reduce food waste;
ancient grains such as kamut, spelt and amaranth; and grazing (small-plate
sharing or snacking instead of eating traditional meals.
The hottest international cuisines are Peruvian, Korean,
Southeast Asian and fusion.
Most popular by menu category:
Appetizers:
House-cured meats and charcuterie; vegetarian fare; bite-sized hors d’oeuvres.
Main dishes:
Locally sourced meats and seafood; sustainable seafood; new cuts of meat such
as Denver steak, pork flat iron or tri-tip; non-traditional fish such as
branzino, Arctic char or barramundi; half-portions or smaller portions for a
smaller price.
Starches and side
items: Non-wheat noodles and pasta such as quinoa, rice or buckwheat; black
rice; forbidden rice; red rice; pickled vegetables.
Desserts: Hybrids
such as the cronut (the croissant-doughnut), the townie (a brownie inside a
tart shell) or ice cream cupcakes; house-made/artisan ice cream; bite-size and
mini desserts; deconstructed classic desserts.
Beverages:
House-made soft drinks; gourmet lemonade; coconut water; specialty iced tea
such as Thai-style, Southern/sweet or flavored; dairy-free milk.
Alcoholic beverages:
Drinks barrel-aged onsite; regional signature cocktails; edible cocktails;
micro-distilled/artisan spirits; locally produced beer, wine and spirits; “New
Make” whiskey; gluten-free beer; food and drink pairings.
Breakfast/brunch:
Ethnic-inspired items such as Asian-flavored syrups, Chorizo scrambled eggs;
coconut milk pancakes; traditional ethnic dishes such as huevos rancheros,
shakshuka (an Israeli or Tunisian dish of eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce) and
ashta (Lebanese pastry cream); fresh fruit; egg white omelets and sandwiches;
yogurt and Greek yogurt parfaits.
Kids’ meals:
Whole grain items; fruit or vegetable sides; ethnic-inspired dishes; oven-baked
items such as chicken fingers or fries.
By using this site you agree to our network wide Privacy Policy.
The 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, released by
the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, finds 65% of Boomers (born
between 1946 and 1964) plan to either work past the age of 65 or not retire at
all. Most Boomers (52%) say they expect to continue working, at least part time
(42%), when they do retire. In addition, most who plan to continue working
say it is because of the need for either income or health benefits.
“Many Baby Boomers were hit hard during the Great Recession
and, unlike younger generations, they have less time to financially recover
before they retire,” says Catherine Collinson, president of the Los
Angeles-based Transamerica. According to the survey, Baby Boomers have total
household retirement savings of $127,000 (estimated median), an increase from
$75,000 in 2007. However, this is not enough to meet retirement needs for many.
This savings shortfall helps explain the sharp increase in
Boomers who expect to rely on Social Security as their primary form of income
when they retire, which is now 36%, an increase of 10% since 2007.
“The best of intentions to continue working and fully retire
at an older age can be easily derailed with a lack of planning,” cautions
Collinson. “Baby Boomers are not being sufficiently proactive about taking
important steps to help ensure that they continue working beyond 65 or have a
Plan B if retirement happens unexpectedly.”
Among Baby Boomers, the survey finds:
More than half (65%) are staying healthy so they
can continue working;
Forty-one percent are keeping their job skills
up to date;
Sixteen percent are networking and meeting new
people;
Fourteen percent are scoping out the employment
market and possible opportunities; and
Twenty-six percent have a backup plan if forced
into full retirement sooner than expected due health issues, job loss or other
unforeseen circumstances.
The survey also reveals a pervasive disconnect between
Boomers and their employers. While many Boomers have intentions of shifting
from full to part-time work as they transition into retirement, only 21% say
their employers have programs in place to accommodate such a shift.
“Baby
Boomers who are envisioning a transition into retirement that involves working
should do a reality check whether their current employers will support them. If
not, they’ll need to seek employment elsewhere or pursue something
entrepreneurial. All of these scenarios require being proactive and strategic,”
says Collinson.
Generation X
The multigenerational survey finds 52% of members of
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1968) expect to self-fund their retirement
with 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, or individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Ninety-one percent highly value 401(k) or similar plans as an important
benefit, and among those offered a plan, 84% participate in the plan and
participants contribute 7% (median) of their annual salary.
Generation X has been more likely than other generations to
take advantage of 401(k) features such as loans and early withdrawals. The
survey notes that when these features were introduced, they were thought to
encourage plan participation. However, it is now seen they can also eat away at
the long-term growth of retirement nest eggs. Twenty-seven percent of current
401(k) participants have taken a loan or early withdrawal.
Gen Xers estimate they will need to save $1,000,000 (median)
to retire with a comfortable lifestyle, a profound gap compared to what they
have saved to date, according to the survey results. The total household
retirement savings for Generation X is $70,000 (estimated median), an increase
from $32,000 reported in 2007. This savings gap helps explain why 54% of
Generation X plan to work past age 65 or do not plan to retire.
“Generation
X will begin turning 50 next year, a loud wakeup call for them to get
laser-focused on planning, saving and investing for retirement. Their clock is
ticking but they still have time to substantially improve their retirement
prospects,” says Collinson.
Generation Y/Millennials
Millennials (born after 1978) have a different outlook about
retirement than their Boomer and Gen Xer counterparts, since they have more
time to prepare for it, according to the survey. The majority (60%) of
Millennials plan to retire either before or at age 65. While most plan to
continue working when they retire, many intend to do so for enjoyment rather
than solely for income or health coverage.
“Millennials have heard and responded to the message they
need to start early and save as much as possible,” says Collinson. The survey
finds 70% of Millennials are already saving for retirement, and started at an
unprecedented age of 22.
Two out of three (66%) Millennials expect to self-fund their
retirement through retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs) or other
types of savings and investments. Among Millennials who are offered a 401(k) or
similar plan, 71% are participating in the plan, and participants contribute a
median 8% of their annual salary. Among Millennials currently participating in
their plans whose employers offer a matching contribution to the plan, the
survey finds the salary contribution rate increases to a median 10%.
The survey reveals Millennials, being early adopters of
digital technologies, are using them to assist with their savings:
Seventy-one percent say mobile apps to manage
their accounts are helpful (compared with 47% of Baby Boomers);
Sixty-eight percent say mobile apps from their
plan provider, including tools and calculators, are helpful (compared with 49%
of Boomers); and
Sixty-one percent say information on social
media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) from their plan provider is helpful (compared
with 28% of Boomers).
In addition, 73% of Millennials say they would like more
information and advice from their employers about how to achieve their
retirement goals.
“Millennials take their retirement benefits very seriously,
so much so that two out of every three say they would likely switch employers
for a similar job that offered better retirement benefits,” says Collinson.
The survey was conducted online within the United States by
Harris Poll, on behalf of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies,
between February 21 and March 17. Those queried include 1,021 Millennials,
1,120 Generation Xers, 1,805 Baby Boomers, and 197 workers born prior to 1946.
Respondents were full or part-time workers in for-profit companies that have 10
or more employees.
More
information about the survey, including where to download a related report and
white paper, can be found here.