Back to Basics

Customers may have different ideas of what constitutes comfort food. But many agree on a sense of domesticity, plus “real” pleasure and satisfaction. Food-trend researchers are calling this the “Classics Revival.” Consumers are craving new foods and experiences, yet are still comforted by familiar elements.

Today’s most comforting foods often have an upgrade or ethnic twist to bring them on trend and boost their appeal. Making these dishes shareable or customizable also makes them decidedly modern. As does putting favorites together, like BBQ chicken and grilled cheese, or steak and ribs. Also, dramatic presentation: Your holiday menu is a perfect place to celebrate classic comforting dishes with a “special” factor.

Steak lovers can be tempted with a crust of kosher salt and cracked black pepper, or a spicier blend of smoked paprika, ancho, cayenne, salt and brown sugar. The perfect steak begins with dry aging and custom cuts from Gold Canyon Meat Co. Simply slice steak and present with a trio of sauces for social eating. Even the classic comfort-food hamburger can be treated to a dry rub and wood fire to take it to a new level, along with condiments such as caramelized onions, Dijon mayo or roasted chiles. Double up on the patties; then serve that burger with a steak knife standing tall through the bun, as one trendy restaurant does.

Cooking techniques can be important here, with roasting and braising adding flavor and nostalgia. For many people, dishes like pork chops and stuffing stir up savory memories. Then there’s chicken: The National Chicken Council boasts that consumption of its namesake product continued to climb last year. Regal Crest Farms® Natural* Reserve Chicken is especially appealing to consumers with its promise of No Antibiotics Ever (NAE). Diners keep gravitating toward fried chicken, but restaurants are also menuing chicken and waffles, with ingredients like pepper jack cheese and Sriracha butter alongside traditional maple syrup. Chicken tenders for adults are also making an appearance – presented in tortillas with kimchi, chopped on salads, or in a colorful takeaway box with slaw and fries.

Pinterest reported a 336% increase in the word “veggies” in its 2016 comfort-food searches. And with Mintel research and Baum + Whiteman both predicting further expansion of plant-focused dishes, giving them more menu space can help you turn a profit. Inspiration is everywhere, including ethnic cuisine. One flavorful Italian riff: a polenta bowl, rich with sage and cream and topped with caramelized cauliflower and
cremini mushrooms.

There’s simply nothing like the aroma and taste of freshly baked bread to please customers. And when it’s as easy as using Brickfire Bakery® frozen dough, why not bake your own every day? Serve real buttermilk biscuits with fried chicken. Offer warm-and-wonderful breadsticks with pasta dishes. And present a flourish of dinner rolls and mini loaves with everything comforting, from roast pork to prime rib, carved tableside.

For many people, a comfort-food meal simply must end with dessert. If your guests are interested in something on the Southern Comfort side, Bourbon Pecan Pie is just one appealing option from Dianne’s Fine Desserts®. Creating shareable choices can encourage sweeter sales as well. Menu a stack of just-baked cookies, a plate of brownies with an array of sauces/sprinkles, or a selection of mini cheesecakes. Delectable homestyle desserts – and plenty of them – are a snap with Brickfire Bakery®.

Stylish Homestyle
A few tricks make family fare taste better away from home!
• Shepherd’s (Cottage) Pie: Include beer and paprika in the beef-stew base and horseradish cream in the mashed-potato topper
• Meatloaf: Use chorizo along with beef; grill baked slices before serving
• Fried chicken: Smoke the meat before frying; try cornmeal batter
• Prime rib: Serve with a sauce of red wine, butter and thyme