Food trends to track for 2018

More than ever, food means many things to many people: a political act, an investment in one’s well-being, entertainment (aka eater-tainment) a pick-me-up, a treat-yourself, a celebration or a solitary desk lunch. That all leads back to food’s original purpose: nourishment that holds the possibility of being very functional or very enjoyable and sometimes both. The food that serves this purpose can fall into one or more trend categories…trends as strong and steady as plant-based cuisine and as fun and ephemeral as Dorito donuts or unicorn-tinted food. These are the culinary trends to keep an eye on as we prepare to open the menu on another delicious, adventurous year.