The Food and Drink Trends of 2023 – Martha Stewart

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2022, we're also getting ready to say cheers to 2023—and wondering what the new year will bring to the food and beverage landscape. Will this be the year that kelp goes mainstream? Will tinned fish become a staple in your pantry? Will you be making floral cakes or just eating them this year?
We asked trend forecasters within the grocery, restaurant, and hospitality industries about their food and drink predictions—and how they will define how we eat (and sip!) in the coming year.
Related: Outdated Kitchen Appliance Trends to Avoid
As Molly Yeh once told us, beans are the little black dress of food. They work in almost any scenario, and we expect them to be one of the star ingredients we reach for again and again this year. The reason? In addition to their versatility, beans are a great source of protein and—as the BOSH! team reminded us this year—offer an excellent way to cook vegan on a budget.
We'll also be reaching for more beans and lentils because they're environmental stars, leaving the soil better than they found it, and more and more of us are eating with the planet in mind (more on that later!).
Martinis got a bit fishy this year (the drink's liquors were often infused with cold-smoked fish—or made with fish sauce or brine). According to the experts at af&co. and Carbonate, who recently published their 2023 Hospitality Trends Report, we'll be seeing more coastal-inspired cocktails in 2023. Think briny ingredients like oysters, clam juice, and even dehydrated kelp.
"Kelp can be used in the distilling process or house-made liquor infusions to lend a more subtle saline or savory note, or it can be dehydrated and powdered for a garnish which is decorative, but helps make flavors pop," says Leith Steel, senior strategist and head of insights at Carbonate.
The rise in home baking spurred by the pandemic is here to stay, but you can forget banana bread and sourdough: According to Pinterest Predicts 2023, we're going floral (they call it "wildflour") next year. The site has seen daily searches for cupcakes increase by more than 85 percent, wildflower cupcakes by 110 percent, and purple floral cakes by 85 percent. Want to get in on this trend? Here's how to use edible flowers in your cooking and baking.
Now more than ever, we're paying attention to how our food choices impact the environment. According to a 2022 survey from the IBM Institute, more than half of respondents said environmental sustainability is more important to them today than it was 12 months ago. Experts from Natural Grocer's Nutrition Education team, Thrive Market, ButcherBox, and Whole Foods Market all predict that more and more of us will be eating with the climate in mind.
How we do that, however, will vary. Some of us will eat more plant-based dishes, others will look for regeneratively produced foods, and others still will pay close attention to where their food comes from (and how it's made). One thing we all need to do is avoid greenwashing: Thrive Market suggests looking for certifications like Regenerative Organic Alliance or the Upcycled Food Association, while Whole Foods Market reminds us to do our research and take a moment to read through a brand's website.
"I'm excited to see an increasing number of companies doing much more than just placing the words 'climate-friendly' on their packaging. They are providing consumers real visibility into the inner workings of their business models and how they prioritize climate conscious practices," says Rachel Bukowski, Whole Foods Market's team leader of product development and member of the Trends Council. "Companies also are seeing the benefit of sharing in-depth information and data with customers by making it easy to find on their website."
Thanks mostly to TikTok, tinned fish is having a moment. It's been dubbed "hot girl food," and we expect to see more home cooks stocking tinned fish in their pantries—and noting it on more restaurant menus. Much like beans, tinned fish is versatile; stocking up on it means you can create a quick dinner on nights when figuring out what to eat is a challenge.
Note that while the art of preserving fish is rooted in centuries-old tradition, this isn't your grandmother's tinned fish and it's not just tuna. Young fishermen are canning their own catches and reimagining the process by adding new flavors and options.
Kelp has appeared on food trend lists for several years now. Will 2023 be the year it finally becomes a mainstay item on home and restaurant menus? We're putting this in the maybe column. While Steel believes more bartenders will experiment with kelp, the ingredient's demand still needs to be developed. Whole Foods Market named kelp a 2023 trend because in-demand products like noodles, sauces, and broths are centered on the seaweed—and they also see a lot of room for growth.
There's an environmental consideration, too: "Consumers are more aware of the broader conversations around kelp because of the increased attention and emphasis being placed on the health of our oceans. It's a really interesting ingredient to discuss with chefs and nutritionists, and there's still a lot more room for innovation," says Bukowski.
Millennials continue to drive the nostalgic food trend, and they're taking on snacks this year. Expect to see healthier remakes of classic '80s and '90s snacks. Think Blake's Seed Based as the new Rice Krispies Treats, Hippeas Nacho Vibes Chickpea Puffs instead of Cheez Doodles, and so on.
In the future, food may come in glass jars. Over the past several years, interest in preserving foods has risen, thanks in part to TikTok and restaurants like Noma. Experts at af&co. and Carbonate think we'll see even more interest in preserved foods, especially fermented ones, in 2023.
Ube, the pretty purple yam that stars in many Filipino desserts, has been ultra-trendy over the past couple of years. That's why experts at af&co. and Carbonate think 2023 will be the year that Filipino cuisine is fully honored and appreciated on the "mainstream" food scene. According to their data, Filipino restaurants are becoming increasingly popular dining destinations, with some booking out months in advance.
The mocktail movement shows no signs of slowing down. According to Pinterest Predicts 2023, searches for fancy nonalcoholic drinks are up 220 percent; mocktail bars are up 75 percent. "In sync with this sober-curious movement, we'll see individuals taking breaks from alcohol and spending time in social settings without drinking, or choosing alcohol-free libations," says Natural Grocer's Nutrition Education team.
So far, the rise in nonalcoholic options has mainly focused on booze-free gin and tequila copycats. This year, expect to watch the nonalcoholic wine category grow.
Dinner parties, backyard barbecues, and gatherings returned with force this year, which we were so glad to see. As we head into 2023, data suggests that these events—even on a small scale—are here to stay partly due to inflation. A recent report by the market research firm NPD notes that a typical restaurant meal costs 3.4 times as much as meals made using groceries.
Climate-friendly eating isn't just for humans. Primarily driven by millennials and Gen-Z, pet food is also getting a sustainable and better-for-pets upgrade. Brands like Petaluma, Bundle x Joy, Farmer's Dog, and more are focusing on ingredients from organic farms.

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