Artisan Foods Tempting Americas Palate

ROCKVILLE, Md.Artisan foods are everywhere, from their pervasive presence at large chain grocery store bakeries featuring in-house baked artisan loaves to fast casual chains that have built an entire sandwich menu around freshly baked breads.

The recently released Artisan Foods: Culinary Trend Mapping Report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and Packaged Facts, examines the growing artisan foods market and identifies several important drivers that revolve around local and seasonal eating, a love of handmade and authentic food, a quest for exciting new flavors, a desire to engage with food and producers and eco-consciousness.

Manufacturers and restaurant operators have recognized that artisan has become another term for quality. It evokes small producers making traditional foods by hand, treating production as a craft and putting great care into the outcome. Larger producers are able to capture the aura of artisan with rustic-looking products, distinctive ingredients, unique cooking methods and stories that connect products to consumers.

Consumers, manufacturers, and restaurant operators all recognize that artisan is synonymous with quality when it comes to ingredients and preparation, said Kimberly Egan, CEO of CCD. The appeal lies in the stories that connect products to consumers which in turn offer deeper meaning and connects to personal values.

Exciting trends that are redefining quality for consumers include:

Gastropubs. This hybrid breed of pub mixes a wide selection of often-artisanal beers and spirits with high-quality house-made comfort food and a casual, community-oriented atmosphere.

Condiments, Preserved Foods & Heirloom Produce. These locally sourced and home-grown foods are made using traditional cultivation and preservation methods, bringing consumers closer to the sources of their food and appealing to eco-minded people seeking to go green.

Boutique Booze. Small-batch spirits appeal to consumers seeking liquor with diverse and unique flavors.

Handmade Ice Cream. Using old-fashioned methods and organic and local ingredients, these ice cream innovators offer extraordinary versions of a familiar favorite.

Butchery. Rock star butchers are raising interest in meat, hosting meat cutting classes and demonstrations while placing an emphasis on locally sourced and heritage options.

Artisan Pizza. An Italian classic turned American staple gets an artisan makeover, as pizzaiolos take the craft to a new level, perfecting wood-fired crust, incorporating more high-quality ingredients and going global with toppings.

Reinvented American Cheese. Indulgent, hand-crafted and all-natural, artisan cheese is easily incorporated into a diverse array of dishes or enjoyed on its own.