Small-bite sweets, #1 new food trend?
Read an article today which said the National Restaurant Assoc. predicts 2008's #1 food trend will be small-bite desserts. Why...according to the article..."health-conscious individuals" would rather have a taste of 3 different things rather than a large slice of one thing. Plan to see these mini-tarts, mini creme brulee & petit fours on more fancy-pants restaurant menus. Does this appeal to you? Or, have you been there, done that already? Would you try this concept at your next home dinner party? What bite-size sweets would you like to prepare or sample in a restaurant? Since my meals take a back seat to desserts...love the mini idea!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
17 Comments:
Well, you KNOW I'm all over it when it comes to mini pies and tarts, right? :-)
Ann Fisher at 7:08PM on 01/10/08
Ann---thanks for this delicious link...I see lots of potential bites I'd like to eat!
JEP at 7:17PM on 01/10/08
Over the last couple of years I've eaten at restaurants that serve bite-size desserts, and I've got to tell you, I LOVE the idea! First, with normal-size desserts, I never get to eat them - hubby is lactose intolerant, so for the most part, there is no sharing. I usually order 2 appetizers when I eat out, but even after that, I simply cannot eat a full-size dessert. I love creme brulee and simply have to order it if the restaurant has it on the menu, but oh so many times did I have to leave heartbroken because I could not finish it:-). Whereas when I could take a bite-size portion of creme brulee (or creme caramel or flan or a mini-tart), I could finish it and leave happy and satisfied:-). So yes, I'm all for it, and am planning to serve some at my housewarming party in a couple of weeks. Come to think of it, I love the idea of bite-size food in general, dessert is no different:-).
brooke29 at 7:29PM on 01/10/08
Wow... JEP... no _____ in your post??? You feeling okay?
;-x
p.s., i always do dessert mini (stealing a bite from somebody else is my favorite way). It's impossible for me to down a whole dessert...
BUT, if you set a big ol' bag of salty chips in front of me... well... LOOK OUT!!!
LoCo at 8:14PM on 01/10/08
Hmmm. I seem to remember posting this here not so long ago:
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2007/11/cup-pies-the-new-revolution.html
Anne and I were ahead of the curve on this one!
KarynMC at 8:46PM on 01/10/08
Definitely loving this idea...the one restaurant where it has been in play for at least a couple of years is Seasons 52, which is part of the Darden Group. I believe they're in FL and in Atlanta and I'm hoping they creep further north soon! They have an overall healthy approach to their menu, and that includes desserts, which are available in square (iirc) double-sized shot glasses, all for just a couple of bucks each. Benefits? Calorie cutting, of course, but the sweet freaks (I'm not one) also have the option of trying a few desserts instead of having to pick just one (which of course, doesn't do much for the calorie count, does it?) And so it goes...
I'm with LoCo--I can be totally satisfied with 1 or 2 bites of dessert. Better yet, I'd like to drink my dessert...port, anyone? :-)
Curlz at 9:05PM on 01/10/08
i'd much rather have a mini of a really good dessert than a huge portion of a mediocre or sad dessert (like the oversized ones of most chain restaurants).
beth1 at 10:06PM on 01/10/08
Once I've had soup or salad and my entree, or the portion I had room for, I'm too full for dessert. But, if I could have just a taste or two? Always room for that. Perfect way to end a great meal and not feel stuffed, or wasteful, or sinful.
PerkyMac at 10:55PM on 01/10/08
Maybe I'm just a sucker for sweets....
I guess if I could get a few different mini desserts, that would be cool. But I'd still rather order a larger quantity of one quality dessert. Don't get me wrong--I'm usually too stuffed to get dessert at all. But if I want something, it's got to completely satisfy me!! I seem to be the odd one out in this post!
luswim06 at 12:19AM on 01/11/08
small plates are in. I love making mini muffins, cheesecakes, cakes, petit fours, its all so lovely to make and serve
JerzeeTomato at 12:34AM on 01/11/08
I love the idea. My sweet tooth is minimal, and usually I just want a taste, so that seems perfect. One bite of a perfect cheesecake would be heaven.
chisai at 8:59AM on 01/11/08
I love the idea because the smaller portions let me sample more things. I also seen. chefs doing a certain food in three different preparations for the same course. For example, I recently had an appetizer of sea scallops three ways. One was served pan seared with roasted tomato coulee, the second was panko crusted and deep fried and the thirds was wrapped in bacon. This trend is great for indecisive people like me.
KtMc24 at 10:58AM on 01/11/08
I've also seen rich soups served in demitasse cups. I've enjoyed perhaps the best mushroom bisque I've ever tried - via a small "taste" in a demitasse cup.
I think it's a great idea to serve dessert this way. It's a very small indulgence that won't undo a whole day (week?) of discipline but still a great little taste of sweet for the mouth.
chiff0nade at 11:45AM on 01/11/08
Like the idea b/c I love variety but I find that mini desserts almost never taste as good as the full portion ones. I am not sure why but a mini cheesecake usually does not compare to a slice of cheesecake proper. Same for mini pecan pies or tarts, and I just love these desserts, maybe it's the crust thing, I love the crust and on the minis you can't really experience that as well. So..I don't know, I welcome the trend and maybe I am just not trying the right ones....
cristi at 11:48AM on 01/11/08
I'm all about the small bites! Unless I'm hungry, I don't need to eat large slices of desserts. Bring them on!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 1:58PM on 01/11/08
JEP, it's great that you bring this up. Rather than being a fad, I think it's just a more sane way to eat. Pretending that eating a box of Snackwells or Entamins is healthy, I'm hoping is on the way out. We all would be much better off from a health standpoint if we ate small portions of something was was divinely tasty, than huge super-sized amounts of fake things resembling something edible. Plus, little is always cuter, right? :)
FigswithBri at 4:08PM on 01/11/08
FigswithBri--I agree, it is so much more satisfying to have a couple of bites of quality ingredients made into a tasty dessert (or any other dish)! Personally, I'd like to be served 3 small-bite sweets, each a vastly different flavor & texture.
Even Ed, had a bite of each BonBonBar!
JEP at 5:33PM on 01/11/08