We've pored over the myriad articles, columns and survey on what to expect in the world of food in 2011, and if the consensus is to be believed*, two things are clear: there will be vegetables, and there will be pie. Consider the evidence:
The Wall Street Journal:
New York Magazine's late 2010 feature, "Vegetables Are the New Meat":
[U]nrestrained vegetable eating has never been more eagerly pursued. ... Vegetables, you see, are newly and increasingly fashionable... Simply put, the once-meat-obsessed populace is realizing that vegetables actually taste good. Especially when fresh, in season, and carefully prepared...
Epicurious' Food Trends Predictions for 2011:
"Meatless Mondays & Tofu Thursdays: While it's hip to go whole hog, with butchers gaining star power and roasts as the focus of many a dinner party, there is a concurrent trend of eating less meat."
José Andrés on 60 Minutes earlier in 2010:
"I believe the future is vegetables and fruits. They are so much more sexier than a piece of chicken."
Restaurant consultancy firm Andrew Freeman & Co.'s 2011 food predictions:
"Vegetables, i.e., Meatless Mondays, etc."
Meatless eating pioneer Annie Somerville:
"I see more people just being really excited about cooking vegetables..."
Kate Krader, Food & Wine's restaurant editor, in Eater's 2011 food prediction round-up:
"More vegetables, especially if there's a crazy foraging story to tell about them or they're from some sort of roof top/urban garden)."
Gabriella Gershenson of Saveur in the same feature:
"Vegetables: They're back, for the very first time."
"Most of this is silly, but I agree, Vegetables will be the next focus."
"Pies are really coming back into style. We are seeing pies have their day in the sun because they are the ultimate comfort food. There is something so familiar about pie. In many ways, it can be a one-dish meal."
NPR:
"Cupcakes Are Dead. Long Live The Pie! .. Trend-spotters are calling pie the food of the year. Texas and New York restaurants offer pie happy hours. Pies are showing up at weddings, and pie shops are opening in a neighborhood near you. Pies come in sweet and savory, maxi and mini, deep dish and deep-fried."
"Pie for Dinner, Meat Pie, Pies 'n' Thighs, there's no stopping The Age of Pie."
Talia Baiocchi, wine writer, in Eater's 2011 food prediction round-up:
"Pie Defeats Cupcake in Epic Baked Goods Battle"
Restaurant consultancy firm Andrew Freeman & Co.'s 2011 food predictions:
"If I had one trend -- one trend -- of the year that I could predict, that's why it's in the No. 1 position, this would be the trend for pie. I think that we're going to make room for pie shops in the next year. ... This is not just sweet pies, this is savory pies, bite-sized pies. They are even blended into milkshakes," he said. "I'll eat pie if I don't get this one right at the end of the year."
Pies of all types - hot and cold, sweet and savory - are increasingly popular. ... Page views for AllRecipe's pie recipes were up more than 20 percent from 2009. Ice cream pie was 2010's fastest growing pie type.
* Are you convinced? Should we expect more pie and vegetables in 2011? Tell us below.