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    Yummy's the word: Food trends to look out for in 2016

    Synopsis

    The world is changing fast, but the food industry is changing even faster. Here is a list of trends we foresee in 2016.

    By Rupali Dean

    The world is changing fast, but the food industry is changing even faster. This can be seen reflected in the Food trends, which includes: Increased popularity of fine dining stand-alone restaurants, regional and international food restaurants, 'local' food sourcing, healthy menus, kid-friendly menus, sustainable food, malls as food destinations and café's going international to name a few….we talk here of the trends we foresee in 2016!!

    Ancient Grains

    - Ancient whole grains are the hottest trend; one would come across Ragi, Jowar, Quinoa, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Rajgira, Nachani and other ancient grains in many kitchens these days as not only are they healthier options but delicious too and come in various shapes and sizes from tiny Quinoa seeds to large kernels! It is a decadent way to ensure good health and optimum nutrition.

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    Fusion ingredients and ancient grains are yum

    Slow Food

    - An age-old trend which had got lost in our fast food lives. This movement aims to preserve cultural cuisine and in so doing to preserve the food plants and seeds, domestic animals and farming within an eco region. Most chefs are making every effort to find ingredients of the highest quality.
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    Lemon, cucumber Sorrel

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    Chicken tikka thin crust pizza

    Fusion With Desi Ingredients

    - Fusion as we know and understand is basically an amalgamation of things not meant to go together but inevitably, a way or process makes them one and the end product, no matter how original and authentic enough. Many chefs across the country now use the 'Kerala Vanilla' to make their desserts which is easily available and a lot cheaper than importing it all the way from Madagascar or Tahiti.

    Communal Dining
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    High tea

    - Most of us have grown up with eating what Mummy has cooked and whether we liked the particular vegetable or not there was no option as it was a healthy and balanced meal according to her. Fortunately this model does not work in many restaurants and we are given many choices on an a la carte menu. That said, many menus now offer you the promise of a deeper and more engaging experience beyond a usual meal; through experiential and sharing platters and you get drawn to an emotional connection between you and the food.

    Tea Culture

    - Teahouse tradition is about companionship, although tea rooms are often associated as a European attraction, they were common at one point in American history too. The growth in health food has given tea huge potential, especially with the release of numerous research studies highlighting tea's status in the antioxidant elite. It is not so hard to get a good cup of tea, now even though it is much more complex than coffee, as it has such a variety of flavours... and Dimsum Tea Houses and the English Afternoon Tea make for a fashion statement in India now!

    (The writer is a Delhi based food and travel writer)

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