Nestle Stouffer White Mac and Cheese - banner - both - 08.18

Check Out the Major Products Product Guide - skyscraper - OE - 03.22

Cargill - Truvia Sweet Customer Satisfaction Naturally - skyscraper - both - 03.19

Dixie Ultra Surface Systems - skyscraper - both - 02.23

Reel in Greater Appeal - both - banner - 10.22

Sugar Foods ecoStick Less Waste - banner - both - 10.16

Indiana Packers - Vertical Integration - banner - both - 07.21

Simplot Harvest Fresh Avocado - banner - both - 01.20

Indiana Packers - Vertical Integration - skyscraper - both - 07.21

Sugar Foods Barista Blend - banner - both - 04.17

Entree Redi Wild Alaska Pollock - skyscraper - both - 08.25

Cargill - Truvia Serve Americas Best Selling Stevia Sweetener - banner - both - 03.19

Sugar Food Traina California Dried Fruits - banner - OE - 10.19

Nestle Minors Slow-Simmered Stock - Free Sample - banner - both - 02.20

Hormel - Fontanini - Handcrafted Meats - Unparalleled Flavor - banner - both - 02.20

Nestle White Cheddar Mac - Customize Creamy Comfort - banner - both - 04.19

Nestle - Hot Cocoa Bulk and Single-Serve Packets - skyscraper - both - 09.21

Simply Potatoes Low Sodium Mashed Potatoes - skyscraper - both - 09.23

Hormel - Fire-Braised Chicken - Don't Labor Over Great Chicken - banner - both - 02.20

Tyson Cortona Pepperoni - skyscraper OE 1.23

Grab 'n Go! Anytime. Every Time - banner - both - 07.23

Ambrosia Chocolate - skyscraper - both - 03.23

Nestle Vitality - Build a Refreshing Beverage Program - banner - both - 04.20

Wild Alaska Keta Salmon - skyscraper - both - 08.25

Rich's Plant-Based - Good Things Grow - skyscraper - both - 11.20

Nestle Stouffers Can Your Classics Do This Recipe Ideas - banner - both - 01.20

Simplot Sidewinders - Bendy is Trendy - banner - both - 01.20

Sugar Foods - Turn Up the Beets Crispy Beets - skyscraper - both - 05.18

Find Fresh Inspiration - skyscraper - both - 08.22

Butterball - Quality, Versatility, and Consistency - banner - both - 07.19

McCain - Takeout and Delivery Menu Ideas - banner - both - 05.20

La Ranchera Birria Base - both - 09.24

Jennie-O Premium Turkey Breast Turkey that Turns Up the Quality - skyscraper - both - 02.20

Empress 5-Compartment School Food Tray - 05.22

Sugar Foods Deliver It Better - banner - both - 04.20

Nestle White Cheddar Mac - Customize Creamy Comfort - skyscraper - both - 04.19

Simplot Sidewinders - Bendy is Trendy - skyscraper - both - 01.20

Simplot Delivery Solved - Conquest Fries - banner - both - 08.20

Nestle White Cheddar Mac - Mac Pizza - skyscraper - both - 04.19

Simplot GoodGrains - banner - both - 01.20

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Rich's Plant Based and Gluten Free Crusts - banner - both - 07.18

Rich's Plant Based Cooking Creme - skyscraper - both - 02.18

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Certified Cage-Free Egg Bites - Portable, Protein-Packed Breakfast - banner - both - 09.23

This Soup Can Do That Cream of Chicken Garlic Parm Chicken - both - banner - 10.03.25

Nestle White Cheddar Mac - Mac Pizza - banner - both - 04.19

Sugar Foods ecoSticks Beautiful Inside and Out - skyscraper - both - 04.18

This Soup Can Do That Chicken Noodle - both - skyscraper - 10.03.25

Chef-mate We Can Better - skyscraper - both - 06.23

Breakfast Anytime - OE - banner - 01.26 - 04.26.26

Wild Alaska Salmon Burger - skyscraper - both - 04.25

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Simplot Harvest Fresh Avocados - skyscraper - both - 01.20

This Soup Can Do That Tomato Chicken Tinga and Ratatouille - both - banner - 10.03.25

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Ambrosia Chocolate - banner - both - 03.23

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McCain - Tactical Takeout Webinar - skyscraper - both - 05.20

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Rich's Plant Based and Gluten Free Crusts - skyscraper - both - 07.18

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Simplot Conquest Crispy Potato Strips - banner - both - 01.20

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Deliver Flavor and Value with Galbani Mozzarella - skyscraper - both - 07.22

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Sugar Foods Deliver It Better - skyscraper - both - 04.20

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Nestle Stouffers White Cheddar Mac and Cheese - skyscraper - both - 08.18

Ready to Eat Frozen Vegetables - banner - both - 03.23

This Soup Can Do That Mushroom Dijon Chicken - both - skyscraper - 10.03.25

Banner Ad - 2 - MM - Food calculator - Operator - Supersized

Today&rsquo;s foodies are looking for escape&mdash;and the chance to step out of their everyday lives and into something or somewhere more comforting. There&rsquo;s a sense of nostalgia that&rsquo;s inspiring innovation to meld the past with the present. According to the National Restaurant Association&rsquo;s 2026 What&rsquo;s Hot Culinary Forecast, restaurant operators are ramping up their efforts to meet those needs and offer their guests comforting, flavorful foods that are appealing in their global complexity, but healthful and accessible at the same time.
What&rsquo;s old is new again
Social media, for example, is turning the smashed burger &ndash; once a nostalgic staple &ndash; into a tempting item that appeals to younger generations. The challenge, however, is to make one of America&rsquo;s ultimate comfort foods seem new and globally popular, too. To achieve that goal, chefs are cooking up interesting twists, such as smashed burger tacos. &ldquo;Menu innovation is an important driver of sales, especially during these uncertain times when people are looking to food and drink to make them feel good and give them comfort,&rdquo; says Dr. Chad Moutray, Association Senior Vice President of Research &amp; Knowledge and Chief Economist. The Top 5 dishes also highlight a deep-seated desire to experience the world through various types of cuisines. Consumers want to be transported with every bite, whether it&rsquo;s a Caribbean curry bowl or a protein-packed miso dish that teleports them to the streets of Tokyo. Restaurant menus are eager to bring that global interest home via exclusive interpretations of a variety of dishes. They include:
<ol>
<li>Smashed burgers:&nbsp;The ground beef is cooked on a hot griddle or in a cast-iron skillet, creating a burger with a crispy, caramelized crust and juicy middle.</li>
<li>Elevated instant noodles:&nbsp;This restaurant version of instant noodles, such as ramen, features complex flavors in a high-quality, customized, and affordable way.</li>
<li>Caribbean curry bowls:&nbsp;This fusion dish features a distinct flavor profile that consists of different aromatic spices, like turmeric, allspice, and thyme, with a bit of peppery heat.</li>
<li>Smoothie bowls:&nbsp;Colorful, customizable, and healthy, these delicious and nutritious, veggie- and fruit-based bowls fit various dietary needs and are easy to eat on-the-go.</li>
<li>Miso-glazed proteins:&nbsp;Typically made with a fermented paste of soybeans, koji, salt, and sometimes grains, these dishes are steeped in complex flavors and healthfulness, and bring depth to a variety of fish, meats, and plant-based proteins</li>
</ol>
Thanks to these elevated recipes, access to the world of food is at everyone&rsquo;s fingertips at all types of restaurants&mdash;whether they&rsquo;re fine dining, casual, or quickservice locations.
Source: National Restaurant Association

Global smashed burgers, Caribbean curry bowls and elevated noodles are faves.

What Foods Will Be Hot in 2026? Healthy and Spicy Top List

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What Foods Will Be Hot in 2026? Healthy and Spicy Top List