Not surprisingly, the closing of 2016 and beginning of 2017 was brimming with food trend predictions from coast to coast. While trends vary from city and city, there are more prominent ones that sweep the entire country. Read below to find out what the trends are for 2017, what made headlines in 2016 and what we're paying attention to now.
Canada's first case of worms by way of grocery store raw salmon
The first officially reported case of worms in Canada comes by way of one poor gentleman who had made sushi at home using raw salmon allegedly purchased from a local grocery store. Perhaps making sashimi is best left to the professionals and using high-quality products?
Alberta craft beer boom projected for 2017
It's looking like it's going to be another great year for Alberta's growing craft beer community. This CBC article claims at least 20 microbreweries and brewpubs are projected to open up across the province in 2017. Here's to plenty of cheers-ing with IPAs, double IPAs and all sorts of Doppelbocks and other brews we love to sip (but occasionally may not pronounce correctly).
Ontario's new calorie count law not ideal for everyone
The law that was passed in Ontario just before the new year that requires any restaurant chain with more than 20 locations to post a calorie count for each menu item has gotten a lot of people talking; the most vocal of which are eating disorder awareness advocates, who raise the point that calorie counting can have a negative effect on people with disorders like bulimia and anorexia.
Toronto's getting a Mediterranean-style food hall!
If you've ever visited the Time Out Market in Lisbon, Portugal, then this is likely what you'll picture when you read Now Toronto's announcement of a new Mediterranean food hall that's currently in the works at King and Spadina. It might not be quite as vast, but the hall, owned by chef Rob Bragagnolo, is said to open in the summer with a mix of vendors and a restaurant.
Toronto Star writes about Winnipeg
It's pretty rare to see an unassuming Prairie city showcased by a national publication coming out of Toronto for its travel appeal. Toronto Star food writer Jennifer Bain notes the many ways to have a great weekend in Canada's most central major city, which include things like eating dinner at deer + almond (agreed), brunch at Clementine (agreed) and hanging out in the lounge at Rae & Jerry's to enjoy a martini (could not agree more). Colour me impressed!
The Globe and Mail's food trend prediction for 2017
Taking the idea of sustainability to heart in her story about food and drink trends in 2017, The Globe and Mail's Christine Sismondo focused primarily on how everyone from chefs and restaurants to grocery stores, and even liquor companies, have become more aware of carbon footprint: restaurants are aiming for "zero waste" operation and people are moving towards plant-based diets away from animal proteins.
Lesley Chesterman's hopes for the Montreal food scene 2017
Of all of the "year that lies ahead" stories I've read through online, I found Chesterman's to be the most interesting. Perhaps its even more interesting for someone who does not frequent Montreal, it was enlightening to read through the qualms with a food scene that so many Canadians, especially those in the restaurant industry, praise. Chesterman brings up the topic of gender balance in the culinary industry (both in restaurants and media), local food fraud and also questions the lack of contemporary international cuisine, something which both Vancouver and Toronto excel at.
It just makes you realize that even in an acclaimed food scene like Montreal's, things aren't always perfect!
You can read Lesley Chesterman's full Montreal Gazette piece here.
