So you know about trends- here today, gone tomorrow. That’s why they’re trends. So, as an update from my January Trends post, here’s the latest and greatest in Food Trends, as seen by your humble Foodie in Miami.

1. Outrageous Prices Anywhere you go to eat, this seems to be the trend. I remember the first time I almost fainted at a $10 glass of wine at Houstons. Now, that’s seems like a deal! I listen to a podcast called Ill Advised by Bill Nighy (of Love Actually fame) and he said he’s done with Fine Dining and 8-course meals where you fall asleep and pay a fortune. You will probably now find him at the local pub.
2. Sandwiches Really seem to be trending. There’s a new place in Coral Gables, Fuku, that offers Japanese fried chicken that’s been brined and is served on a butter-toasted potato roll. There’s also Buccan Sandwich shop on Miracle Mile, offering delicious-looking sandwiches (like a Beef Carpaccio) for around $18 and Frankie and Wally’s, also in Coral Gables with sandwiches between $14 and $25. Sandwiches are trending and sandwiches are expensive.

3. Dot Cakes If you’re on Instagram or Tik Tok, you know these cakes are really trending. Dot cakes are last summer’s Dubai Chocolate. They are a viral dessert featuring sponge cake, butter cream icing and a thick covering of non-pareil sprinkles. It was started at The Dotcakes Bakery in New York and is prized for its colorful appearance, crunchy shell and ASMR eating experience.

4. Matcha Matcha has been around for a hot minute- since 7th Century China (Tang dynasty) to be exact- but suddenly, it’s everywhere. I tried a cup of the Honey Veil Latte at Honey Veil, the very popular matcha spot in South Miami; I thought it tasted like a cup of grass until I mixed it together with the sweet meringue topping. Then, it was delicious, but I try not to start my day with a cup of sugar. Matcha, with its beautiful green color, is also popping up in other desserts, like cakes, donuts, cookies, ice cream and candy.

5. Visually Spectacular Foods This trend is popping up on my Instagram, with amazingly beautiful food presentations. We eat with our eyes first, right? When the world is so hard, at least our food can be pretty. According to AI: “In the era of scroll-first discovery, platforms like Instagram and Tik-Tok have made camera-ready plates a non-negotiable part of the dining experience.”

6. Burrata Has been trending for a while. While some people (like Tina Fey) say it tastes “like nothing”, other people can’t get enough of the slimy ball of goo. As Tina Fey said “Burrata has a good publicist.” I think it’s just a blank canvas that you can heap other flavors onto, such as grilled peaches, pesto or pistachios.

7. Dates Are trending as snacks, as natural sweeteners and everything in between. In the quest to reduce evil granulated sugar, the date appears to be the new hero in offering an alternative to satisfy ze sweet tooth.

8. Protein Is still trending. Has been for years. Doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. Even babies are told they have to “get their protein intake” in.

9. Bar-B-Que Is having a moment in Miami. Hometown Barbecue has been around a while. It’s in Allapattah and not cheap, but it is good. Apocolypse Barbecue has also been around, and won awards at the South Beach Food and Wine Fest, but recently moved to a new location with more room. The new kid on the block that everyone is talking about, is La Traila in South Miami. I have been and it was good, but once again, expensive. The days of cheap Barbecue seem to be over.

10. Omakase Has been around for a while, but seems to be trending big, at least in Miami. Places like Shingo in Coral Gables, Hiden in Wynwood and Ogawa in Little River offer world-class omakase. It’s a relatively expensive way to get your protein, with prices ranging from $200 to $500! My first experience with it was Naoe, still around on Brickell, which only has five seats and chef Kevin Cory prepares everything in front of you, including a Bento Box and ice cream. We went on our 5 year anniversary and it was a memorable experience.

11. Interesting Spritzes Spritzes are everywhere these days, especially in the Summer. They offer a lighter, refreshing alternative to a sugar bomb glass of wine. But if you don’t like the Aperol Spritz (I kind of think it tastes like cough syrup) alternative Spritzes are popping up. The most popular may be the Hugo Spritz, with elderflower liqueur and crushed mint to brighten it up.

While it hasn’t happened yet, I’m hoping with all the over-the-top expensive dining experiences, more reasonable dining choices will pop up in Miami, like lunch specials for $10. I will try to do a future Foodie in Miami on restaurants that offer good food at affordable prices. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Speaking of more reasonable prices, Taste of the Gables started July 1st, offering prix fixe meals in Coral Gables. More than 70 restaurants are participating, including Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants. Lunch menus start at $30, dinner at $45. Of course, some are more, like Shingo, which offers a 16-course omakase menu for $180 per person. I guess this is considered a good deal! (insert shocked face emoji here).

Up Next: Greece!