News & Media
CCD's work and innovation process are frequently profiled in highly regarded trade and general consumer publications. Learn more about how we successfully track trends and create craveable consumer products from our latest news healdine or contact one of our expert innovators to speak at your next food and beverage industry event.
PRESS RELEASES
08/16/2010: Artisan Foods Grow Mainstream While Connecting Consumers to Values
04/28/2010: Street Food Renaissance - To Influence Consumer Eating Habits for Years
03/08/2010: Confection & Dessert Trends Create New Sweetscapes for American Consumers
01/19/2010: Global Cuisines Capture the Attention and Appetite of Every Generation
01/06/2010: What’s cooking for 2010? Top 5 trends shaping the food and beverage marketplace
More Press Releases »
EVENTS
7/14/10 - Kara Nielsen joined Ron Tanner for the NASFT webinar@work Trendspotting: What's Hot in Specialty Food Now. The webinar explored the hottest trends from the Summer Fancy Food Show and the driving forces behind those trends. Read more »
CCD IN THE NEWS - LATEST HEADLINES
8/2/10 - "Why is America so fixed on food fads?" asks Salon.com
Kara Nielsen commented on the nature of America's fascination with food fads in this insightful piece on consumer culture at Salon.com. America as a place without long-standing cultural
roots, America as a wide open frontier, America as the land of abundance and where science and technology rule the day, these elements all play a role in our attraction to novel
foodstuffs, along with an insatiable media and expert food marketers.
Read more...
7/30/10 - CCD on the growing gluten-free trend in the IndyStar
"You don't have to sacrifice taste on a gluten-free diet" profiles several Indianapolis-based gluten-free food producers and illustrates how sourcing gluten-free products has become
much easier. The question remains: Is gluten-free food a fad or a long-term trend? Keep watching.
Read more...
7/28/10 - Kara Nielsen comments on U.S. regional food trends in Wall Street Journal
Food and fashion trends vary by region and sometimes are even similar; read more in "Fashion Nation: What retailers know about us."
Read more...
7/21/10 - CCD Trendologist speaks on Imported Health at IFT
This panel at the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technology explored current health and wellness trends making news, including digestion, cognitive function and satiety,
explored case studies of how oversees markets have been quicker to market products aimed at key wellness issues, and showcased imported and domestic functional products aimed at
addressing these consumer health concerns.
Read more...
6/30/10 - Kara Nielsen joins Trendspotter Panel to pick food trends at Summer Fancy Food Show
Kara Nielsen joined a group of esteemed trend watchers, including Sara Moulton, to spot the hot foods, flavors and themes at the summer NASFT show in New York City. Top spots went to
Great Vinegars; Indian Products; Grains, Nuts & Seeds; Squash, Pumpkin & Sweet Potato; and Handcrafted Local Heritage Foods. For more of Kara's observations, see our Trends Blog.
Read more...
6/4/10 - Kara Nielsen discusses consumers' desire to know the sources of their food in San Francisco Chronicle
Large manufacturers, such as Chiquita, find new ways to allow consumers to trace the origins of food products. Smartphone technology is assisting. Read more in "New systems allow
shoppers to trace produce."
Read more...
6/10 - CCD Trendologist talks about consumers craving marinated grilled meats in MeatingPlace
"Marinated: A matter of taste" explores how consumers have mixed feeling about pre-marinated meat in the marketplace. At the same time, marinades are becoming more globally flavored.
Read more...
5/20/10 - Kara Nielsen explores trends around wraps in Culinology magazine
Taste, hunger satisfaction, portion control and healthful qualities are some of the reasons wraps continue to resonate with consumers. New innovation is coming from global wraps
and even the gluten-free world. Read more in "Wrap World" and
"Wrapping Without Gluten."
05/01/10: In Shopper Marketing, Kara Nielsen comments on how snack foods have become more sophisticated
"Snack Time!" charts the growth of salty snacks and how consumers are seeking bigger flavor profiles, more a unique flavors from their snacks, which have grown in value to busy consumers.
Read the article see page 36 »
04/01/10– Kara Nielsen forecasts what "New Flavors of Summer" consumers will be using
In Specialty Food Magazine, CCD's Trendologist lists Pan-Latin and Pan-Asian sauces we expect to see on the grill, such as Adobo, Yucatecan and Korean, as well as yogurt-based marinades and lemongrass flavors. Read the article »
04/10/10: Caramels: Rediscovered retro comfort gone artisan in C Magazine
In "Candyland" in C/California Style magazine, Kara Nielsen explains that brown flavors (as in caramelized sugar) are hot again as they represent familiar comfort. But new caramel confections are stepping out with upgraded ingredients such as goat milk, organic maple syrup and honey, and pricey sea salts.
04/10/10: Pastry chefs move into the spotlight with new explosion of interest in sweets, Associated Press reports
In "Pastry chefs rising stars of the culinary world," former pastry chef and CCD trendologist Kara Nielsen chimes in on current fascination with the profession, and its delightful sweets. CCD Chefs' Council member and master bread baker Peter Reinhart also comments. Read the article »
04/01/10: Dessert-flavored chocolates a growing trend in premium and boxed chocolates
Speaking in Candy & Snack Today, Kara Nielsen talks about comfort food cravings and chocolate flavor trends in "Boxed Chocolate Continue to Evolve." Read the article see page 12 »
More CCD in the News »
CHEFS' COUNCIL® NEWS
September 2010: Chef Hubert Keller will be a judge on Bravo's upcoming Top Chef Just Desserts. We can't wait to see his exacting French standards applied to the creative dessert competition!
Read more »
August 2010: Gregory Dunmore's new project is the forthcoming Nojo, a Japanese skewer restaurant in San Francisco's Hayes Valley.
Read more »
Summer 2010: Rosemary Mark launched her Get Cooking Simply blog this summer. It features "Easy, really good recipes from Rita and Rosie's Test Kitchens."
Read the blog »
May 2010: Laxmi Hiremath appeared on "View from the Bay," a news program on San Francisco's KGO TV, and demonstrated preparing Chicken Korma. Her Laxmi's Delights flaxseed spreads continue
to impress specialty food audiences.
View the clip »
May 2010: Busy traveler and BBQ guru Steven Raichlen was featured in the Frequent Flier column in the New York Times talking about his traveling habits. Steve combs the earth in search of great barbecue and grilling traditions, flying 40-50 times a year.
Read the article »
March 2010: Mike Kalanty’s baking cookbook a finalist for IACP Cookbook Award
Mike Kalanty’s groundbreaking new book How to Bake Bread: The Five Families of Bread is one of three books nominated in the Professional Kitchen category by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Congratulations Mike!
February 2010: We congratulate a number of our Chefs’ Council® members who are semifinalists in the James Beard Awards this year:
Michael Dellar, Lark Creek Restaurant Group – Outstanding Restaurateur
Craid Stoll, Delfina Restaurant – Outstanding Restaurant
Nicole Plue, Redd Restaurant – Outstanding Pastry Chef
Laurence Jossel, Nopa – Best Chef: Pacific
February 2010: Alice Medrich shares chocolate and vanilla recipes with Better Homes & Gardens
In an article focusing on flavor pairings, Alice tempts readers with a collection of vanilla and chocolate baked goods. Recipes include
Vanilla-Sparkling Wine Pound Cake, Rustic Chocolate Pie (looks delicious!) and Vanilla Flan with Butterscotch Sauce. So on-trend, Alice!
February 2010: David Shalleck creates Mediterranean menu for Windstar Cruises
The cruise line’s Wind Surf’s Degrees restaurant now features a seasonal menu showcasing authentic ingredients and classic culinary techniques. David’s menu features
dishes he mastered while working as a chef on a private yacht in France and Italy (see his entertaining book Mediterranean Summer for the whole story!) and includes Canapé Pissaladierre, Griddled Tuna Misticanza and Pan-Roasted Duck Breast with Apricots. Read the article »
12/1/09: Commonwealth Club features two CCD Chefs’ Council® members on State of Pastry Panel
Elizabeth Falkner, of Orson and Citizen Cake, and William Werner
of Quince joined two other local pastry chefs to outline the state of pastry trends in San Francisco today. Stepahnie Rosenbaum summarizes key ideas, including what dessert trends are
coming next. Would you believe porcini syrup, olives and miso? Read the article »