Loaded everything: putting extra toppings on everything is a trend
Fries? No, loaded fries. A hotdog? No, loaded hotdog. We’re seeing it more and more often, and trade magazine Food Inspiration puts its finger right on it: the ‘loaded’ trend is taking our country and our appetites by storm. And we don’t mind one bit.
It probably started with loaded fries: fries with extra sauce and other toppings. Need an example? Well, how about these Mexican loaded fries with tortilla chips, cheese sauce and slices of frikandel – isn’t that just a party on a fork? Such inventions come from snack bars, because those fry cooks certainly know what tastes good.
Poutine or kapsalon
Sometimes star chefs get to work with fries, like Jord Althuizen with his loaded fries with pulled pork, good grief, what a brilliant idea. And to think that those hip loaded fries probably descend from ordinary poutine, a Canadian heart-stopper with gravy and cheese. And what about our very own, quintessentially Dutch Rotterdam kapsalon? Yep, those are loaded fries before the term even existed.
Everything and the kitchen sink
But it doesn’t stop at fries. Hotdogs are also buried under everything and the kitchen sink, like the hotdog variations by Julius Jaspers. An oriental hotdog with atjar, ssamjang (Korean dipping sauce) and crispy fried onions, yes please! Or the luscious hotdog with a soft-boiled quail egg, hollandaise sauce and parsley—you really can’t call that a snack anymore.
Hawaiian pizza counts too
According to Food Inspiration, pizzas with the most creative toppings, such as pizza with pineapple, broccoli or even Oreos, are part of this trend, as are all those creative hamburgers with not just pickles, cheese and a slice of tomato between the buns, but also crispy bacon, guacamole or sriracha mayonnaise.
Basically, all ordinary snacks elevated to the next level with surprising and exclusive toppings can be considered part of this trend. How about loaded baked sweet potatoes? YUM. Good business for hospitality entrepreneurs, because they can naturally charge much more for a loaded whatever than for an ordinary hamburger bun. And with an original topping or a kick-ass combination, they can stand out from the competition.
What’s next?
The hotdogs with all kinds of toppings and loaded nachos will probably survive the trend, the trade magazine expects. And what else could be overloaded with deliciousness? Schnitzel, suggests Food Inspiration, is a strong contender. No longer just that vintage gypsy schnitzel and the Wiener schnitzel (with one of those obligatory lemon wedges), but topped with crispy bacon, Japanese mayo and mashed avocado, schnitzel is conquering the world. Wait a minute, where can we order one? Because that sounds amazing!
