2009: The next big things: cooking and dining

Star Tribune asked experts and visionaries in Minnesota to look over the horizon and tell us what's coming our way in 2009. What do they predict?

Here's a shocker: We're going to be eating at home more often in 2009, said Kay Logsdon, senior editor of foodchannel.com. "But because we have been watching cooking shows and reading cooking websites, we all have a lot more knowledge about cooking, and so we're going to apply that knowledge at home," she said. Apparently our Crock-Pots will enjoy a place of pride in our kitchens. Allrecipes.com reports that searches for slow cooker recipes increased 222 percent between 2007 and 2008, and more people are packing brown-bag lunches. Fad diets are also on their way out, and calorie counts are showing up on restaurant menus.
David Shea, principal of Shea Inc., a Minneapolis design and marketing firm that works with restaurants around the country, says that diners might spend less, but they'll drink more, a trend that will encourage cocktail-friendly small-plate fare. "People aren't cutting back on enjoying themselves; they're just spending less, and alcohol brings the excitement a little faster," Shea said.
RICK NELSON