While some trends stick, others don't. Those that manage to hold our attention morph into classics, all the things we love that never really go out of style. Others take up space in our memories, a reminder of something we once went crazy for, and now we can't even stomach the thought of.
As 2015 comes to a close, New Times decided to take a look back at all the things we ate and drank in the past 12 months, a sort of highlight reel of South Florida's food trends, if you will.
Here it
1. Cold Brew Iced Coffee
When Starbucks announced earlier this year that it would be adding cold brew to its menu, we knew it was only a matter of time before everyone would be ordering the drink like it was something new and different. For those of you
2. Octopus
Pretty much any restaurant in South Florida serving seafood has its own iteration of octopus. By now, we've tried it so many times, we can't decide if we love it or hate it — and it seems like diners can't decide either. Despite all these chefs that love it,
3. Charcuterie
This year, cured meats made a major comeback. According to Cafe Boulud executive chef Rick Mace (whose in-house charcuterie program includes a stellar foie gras terrine and house-cured
4. Herbal Liqueurs
Craft
5. Juicing
OK, juicing is certainly not a new trend in 2015, but it did continue its viral spread. In the past 12 months, several independent juice shops have set up shop across Broward and Palm Beach County. It has made the transition from niche trend reserved for the wealthy to favored weight-loss trick of the masses with millions of Pinterest posts. Hotels, upscale supermarkets, and delis are getting in on the action, adding "lifestyle" juice bars for patrons to get their health fix on. That includes Miami's Jugofresh, which recently partnered with Whole Foods Market (and just scored the No. 5 spot on The Daily Meal's list of "25 Best Juice Shops in America") to bring their cold pressed concoctions to multiple locations in Broward and Palm Beach counties, including Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. Sure, we could all use more veggies in our life. I guess that's why local chain Raw
6. Peruvian Food
This year, it seemed like everywhere we turn in South Florida, a new Peruvian restaurant is popping up. The cuisine has become increasingly popular over the past several years, mostly thanks to its fusion of Japanese, Italian, South American, and Chinese influences, making for a flavorful and colorful array of dishes. Some of our favorite Peruvian places right now include Runas Peruvian Cuisine in Hollywood, which scored the No.1 spot on our list of best restaurants in Hollywood. Of course, we can't forget La Huaca in Hollywood, C-Viche in Pembroke Pines, and newly-opened SuViche in Fort Lauderdale where an in-house pisco bar makes for a truly unique experience.
7. Craft Spirits (not just beer!)
With more than a dozen craft and microbreweries operating in Broward and Palm Beach, it's no secret the craft spirits world is growing. Most recently, South Florida welcomed its first cider works in November with Accomplice Brewing & Ciderworks in West Palm Beach. And earlier this year, Fort Lauderdale-based Fwaygo and Riviera Beach-based Black Coral Rum — both local distilleries — made headlines as the first of their kind to open in each respective county. So what are we looking most forward to now that the craft beer bubble has burst? We're hearing rumblings of a meadery headed for Lake Park, so that works for us.
Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.