Foodie trends

Years ago, there was no such thing as fashion in food. But for quite some time now food trends have been as common as trends in fashion and couture. There are some pretty crazy trends at the moment, that’s for sure.

We know that a combination of sweet and savory flavors is a popular one right now and we are yet to try (if indeed we ever do) the latest offering from Burger King, their Bacon Sundae. This is ice cream with bacon crumbles. “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it” they say. Hmm…

Do you take a look at our daily online paper?  It’s normally updated at some time during the late morning. We keep an eye on it to see what’s happening in the world of food, cheese, wine and craft beer. We’ve noticed two major trends at the moment. The first is for gourmet grilled cheese. Grilled cheese used to be a staple on kids’ menus in restaurants – an American processed cheese sandwich broiled or fried. It might have had a slice or two of tomato if the child was lucky. But now we’re seeing gourmet food trucks that specialize in grilled cheese delights. (You have tried our grilled cheese, yes? Wow.)

Another phenomenon we have noticed is the popularity of gourmet bread puddings. Bread pudding? Yes! If you have some fabulous bread that isn’t fresh enough any more, a few staple ingredients and some wonderful cheese, create a bread pudding!

Here’s a sample recipe but feel free to experiment. You’ll need about half a pound of older bread cut into slices to start with. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Oil or butter a baking dish. Then mix together half a cup of Gruyere and a quarter cup of fresh, grated parmesan.

Add half the bread to the baking dish. Top this with about half a pound of tomato slices. Add salt and pepper on top, and the fresh chopped herbs of your choice (maybe thyme, rosemary or basil, it’s up to you). Grate or mince a little garlic over the tomatoes too. Top this with half the cheese. Repeat the layers.

Beat four eggs with two cups of milk. Use low fat if you prefer. Season with salt and pepper and pour it over the bread and tomato layers. Bake this for about forty five minutes until the pudding is browned and puffy. This will serve between four or six people. You can serve it as an appetizer, a side dish or as a meal on its own, with a gorgeous fresh salad.

Experiment with different cheeses, vegetables and herbs. Let us know how it turns out!

Cheese Culture
813 East Las Olas Boulevard.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-533-9178