The food trends we’d most like to leave behind in 2023
The end of the year is approaching, which means it’s time to look ahead — for example, at what next year’s food trends will be — but also to look back. And that’s what we’re going to do now, by going over the food trends from the past year that we’d really, really like to leave behind in 2023. Because once again, quite a few trends have passed us by that we here at FavorFlav did not exactly welcome with open arms.
So it’s time for a little overview: which food trends would we most like to leave behind in 2023?
The food trends we want to say goodbye to
1. The crompouce
Yes, sorry — but we’re pretty much done with it by now, right? The idea was fun, and it tasted good, but then suddenly there was a frikanpouce, a pannenpouce, an oliepouce, and it’s been more than enough for a while now. The final straw for me? The herringpouce. Who is actually waiting for raw fish with pastry cream and pink icing? No one, right?! For anyone who still can’t get enough of the crompouce, we recommend the crompouce Christmas ornament.
2. Walking away without paying
It’s actually bizarre that this happened so often over the past year that it can even be considered a ‘trend’… Because this summer, many terraces saw people leave without paying the bill. A friend of mine owns a restaurant in Amsterdam’s De Pijp district, and he immediately confirmed this when I asked him about it. It happens so often that they already factor it into their monthly calculations. Truly disgusting; let’s please leave that behind in 2023.
3. Extremely expensive, sweet, weird candy and energy drinks
I mainly see TikTok as the instigator of this trend: so many people have become obsessed with ridiculously expensive (American) candy, snacks and drinks — but they cost an absolute fortune. Take Takis chips, for example. They went completely viral a few years ago, but a bag or packet still costs around five or six euros. Seriously expensive chips. Or that Prime energy drink, which children in particular absolutely love. Created by (questionable, I’m personally not a fan of him) influencer Logan Paul, and packed with caffeine. Not exactly ideal or sensible to drink a lot of…
4. Pasta that isn’t pasta
Of course, I understand that courgetti is a healthy alternative, but let’s call it what it is: zucchini strips. In no way, shape or form does it have anything to do with pasta, so let’s especially not call it that. The same goes for pasta made from lentils or other vegetables that is now available in supermarkets. You can probably make tasty dishes with it, but don’t present it as pasta — because it isn’t.
5. Anything to do with insects
Yeeah, according to some people it’s incredibly healthy, full of protein, and so on… But I find the extent to which we’re suddenly seeing this everywhere a bit much. What happened to introducing something gradually? The other day, there was a fried grasshopper on my cocktail and I had to swallow hard for a moment. Because however healthy it may supposedly be, and however tasty people claim to find it, I don’t want it as a bar snack, let alone as a meat substitute. Let’s especially not pretend that fried insects are a worthy replacement for a bowl of nuts and olives or part of a meal.
6. Tartelette amuses
Very specific, I know, but it’s something that both Sharon from FavorFlav and I would rather not be bombarded with anymore next year. Because let’s be honest: a tartelette — the amuse-bouche that can be filled with anything — is really just a terribly twee little thing.
7. Polarization
From little things like amuses to something as major as polarization; but we’re really done with this too. 2023 was the year of all or nothing. There was hardly any middle ground left. Take veganism, for example: people who eat vegan are completely torn down or massively praised. And vegans can be pretty extreme in their own way too; do you still eat animal products such as cheese? Then you belong on the pyre (I seriously received that in my DMs), because the only way you’re supposed to live is vegan. Whatever happened to respecting one another’s views and opinions (and eating habits)?
8. Abbreviations
I actually wanted to write this as ‘abbrevs’, but I resisted the temptation. Because yes, I think we’ve had enough of all those abbreviations. I cringe every time I hear someone order an ‘Esma’ or a ‘Poma’ on a terrace. And don’t even get me started on ‘Oat cappu’s’. Some people swear by these abbreviations so much that you’d think they believe they’re gaining years of their lives by using them. As if the word ‘cappuccino’ were pure time theft. Let’s do things differently next year.
9. The far too expensive (takeaway) sandwiches
In the past, you could easily get a sandwich from the bakery, butcher or sandwich shop for under five euros. These days, that’s quite a find: many takeaway sandwiches now cost more than ten euros without a hint of shame. And I find that pretty steep, no matter how much I may enjoy them. And yes, of course you can easily have lunch at home — but it would be so nice if more normal options made a comeback. And I really don’t need burrata with Parma ham and pine nuts; a simple ham-and-cheese sandwich is perfectly fine too.
10. Concepts
I’ve been arguing for this for several years now, but I’ll keep trying: can we please stop with the phrase ‘are you familiar with our concept?’ AARGH. Just writing it already gives me the creeps. Besides, by now we’re familiar with pretty much all concepts, because nine times out of ten it’s shared dining, and we’ve been bombarded with that since 2006. Yes, we’re familiar with your concept. YEEAH.
