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Smoke is the new trend in restaurants

Jun 28, 2012

A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled, Move Over Bacon: Foodies Just Want the Smoke, discusses the passing of one food trend (e.g. bacon) and the emergence of a new one — smoke!  We cannot deny the appeal of smoke-flavored foods, from the distinct taste to the pleasant aroma, smoked foods are definitely rising in popularity.

The beauty of smoke is that nearly any food or dish can be smoked; smoked meats, desserts and even cocktails have been featured at various restaurants across the nation. All you really needs is some wood chips (such as hickory, apple, maple, cherry, ash, alder, mesquite etc.), a grill or smoker, optional herbs and seasonings, and your own creative imagination!

A BBQ master may have his own smoking technique down pat and might swear on it, but there are various ways you can smoke foods so it’s important to understand all your options and the basics first. There are a few types of smoking, including dry smoking and wet smoking. Aside from knowing how to pair wood  chips and food, you’ll need to know at what temperatures you need to smoke your food and on what kind of grill or smoker. Check out this Better Homes and Garden Article on How To Smoke Food for details and good tips.

Smoked dishes

Looking for some inspiration in your kitchen? Check out these great smoked dishes served up by imaginative restaurant chefs:

  • Cedar wood infused Tequila at Smoke Restaurant in Dallas, TX (Find more by checking out Where to Drink Smoked Cocktails)
  • Roasted Alaskan halibut with turnips, almond, pickled turmeric and smoked butter sorbet from Blackbird Restaurant in Chicago, IL
  • Chocolate smoked sea salt ice cream at Humphry Slocombe in San Francisco, CA
  • Smoked gouda mac & cheese from Wine Wood in Grapevine, TX
  • Smoked ricotta ravioli, tomato and soft herbs at The Dutch in NY, NY
  • BBQ chicken and grilled corn made from mozzarella, jalepeno, scallions and smoked tomato sauce from the Westside Tavern in Los Angeles, CA

Do you need help with sprucing up your menu with some smoked flair? Contact our menu development team at Synergy to learn more about improving your menu to attract more guests.