De acordo com um inquérito realizado pelo National Restaurant Association (EUA) junto de 1500 "chefs", o "top ten US menu trends for 2011" vai ser o seguinte (informação obtida via New Zealand Trade & Enterprise):
- "locally sourced meats and seafood
- locally grown produce
- sustainability as a culinary theme
- nutritious kids’ dishes
- hyper-local items
- children’s nutrition as a culinary theme
- sustainable seafood
- gluten-free/food allergy-conscious items
- back-to-basics cuisine
- farm-branded ingredients
Other trends include artisan liquor, locally produced wine and beer, smaller portions for a smaller price, organic produce, nutrition as a culinary theme, culinary cocktails, newly fabricated cuts of meat, fruit/vegetable children’s side items, ethnic-inspired breakfast items and artisan cheese.
Mobile food trucks and pop-up restaurants will be the top operational trend in restaurants next year."