Discover What’s Next: Yelp’s 2024 Food and Drink Trends

As we approach the new year, some food enthusiasts are curious about upcoming trends. Offering insights into these upcoming trends, Yelp has recently unveiled its 2024 Food and Drink Trends Report. They collaborated with their data scientists and experts to highlight some interesting patterns based on millions of searches from 2022 to 2023 in the restaurant, food, and nightlife categories.

One noticeable trend is the increasing interest in caviar, with searches up by 31 percent. Yelp predicts continued growth in caviar-related content as diners explore this delicacy. Many restaurants are adding caviar options to their menus, and a rising number of new customers are seeking it in grocery stores and gourmet retailers.

Another shift anticipated by Yelp is in the concept of "girl dinner." Traditionally associated with home-cooked meals, the trend is moving towards gatherings for small dishes at restaurants. Nationwide searches for "noshing" have increased by 140 percent, prompting some eateries to introduce "girl dinner" specials featuring various appetizers as the main course.

In the realm of beverages, smoothies maintain their popularity. Throughout 2023, organic, super smoothies gained traction on social media, with upscale supermarket chain Erewhon's smoothies experiencing a 178 percent increase in searches. Similarly, the Hailey Bieber Smoothie witnessed a significant 408 percent surge in interest, featuring a combination of organic strawberries, almond milk, and collagen.

In the ever-evolving world of cocktails, the carajillo, which is a spiked two-ingredient coffee drink, has emerged as the latest coffee cocktail phenomenon. Searches for carajillos surged by 118 percent this year, following in the footsteps of the espresso martini.

The Hugo Spritz and Aperol Spritz gained popularity on social media last summer, and they started showing up at home cocktail bars and high-end restaurant menus. According to Yelp, these drinks are expected to remain in demand throughout the year.

Check out more food and drink trends for 2024 with the full report here.

From fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon to fruits and omelets, the breakfast buffet offers an abundance of choices. As tempting as it may be, there are times when it's probably best to avoid certain food items to ensure a healthy and enjoyable dining experience.

Overall, breakfast buffets make a great choice if you're on the hunt for an economical meal or have specific dietary restrictions or preferences, as they allow you to handpick the items that perfectly match your requirements.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that foodborne illnesses were responsible for sickness in approximately 48 million Americans. Within this number, it is estimated that around 128,000 cases required hospitalization, and tragically, 3,000 cases resulted in fatalities.

Breakfast buffets that lack proper maintenance and supervision may fall prey to stale and unappetizing food items. Dishes sitting out for too long lose their freshness and flavor, posing a risk to your taste buds and stomach. It’s best to opt for recently prepared items to savor the true essence of a breakfast buffet.

In breakfast buffet setups, hygiene can sometimes take a backseat. With numerous diners handling the serving utensils, there is a potential for the spread of germs and contaminants. Items like communal bread baskets and self-service stations may be susceptible to bacterial growth.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), buffets should prioritize swapping food trays rather than refilling them with new food to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses and ensure food safety. The duration for which an old batch of food has been sitting on the buffet is often uncertain. After two hours at room temperature, the risk of harmful microorganisms thriving on the food increases significantly. Refilling food trays creates a potential risk of cross-contamination between the fresh food and any remaining food on the tray.

When encountering a breakfast buffet, knowing which foods to skip is wise. Here's a rundown of foods to avoid at breakfast buffets.

Many establishments opt for powdered eggs instead of fresh ones, as it's a cost-effective way to prepare large quantities of scrambled eggs to cater to numerous guests at once. However, powdered eggs cannot compare to the taste, texture, and color of their fresh counterparts. Another concern lies in the fact that these eggs are pre-cooked, which means they might sit at unsafe temperatures for extended periods.

According to the FDA, serving eggs immediately after cooking is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Unfortunately, in a buffet setting, it's challenging to determine how long the eggs have been sitting out.

Unless you witnessed the fruit being freshly prepared in the kitchen, it's nearly impossible to gauge how long that eye-catching fruit display has been sitting there. According to the FDA, when fruits are cut, their protective skins are breached, leaving the flesh vulnerable to the surrounding environment and any potential bacteria. This creates two primary reasons that heighten the risk of contamination. Firstly, cutting the fruit makes its water content and nutrients readily available to microorganisms. Secondly, without any heating process, disease-causing germs aren't eliminated, further contributing to the potential hazards of consuming cut fruits from a buffet display.

There’s a joy of pouring your own batter into a Belgian waffle maker, flipping it eagerly, and waiting for that gratifying green light before embellishing it with toppings. However, it's best to exercise caution and avoid the waffle station. As per TikToker Brandi Augustus, a former hotel employee, the waffle batter served there is often old and sour. Instead of disposing of the old batter, new batter is mixed with it. It's worth noting that not all places offering breakfast buffets adhere to this practice, but it's wise to stay informed and make a decision based on the circumstances.