It’s the new year so that means: stand up straight, get more sleep—meditate!—and try all the food trends for 2019, which is possible right here in Northern Virginia. Sourced* from trend lists, reports, Pinterest clicks and journalists’ best guesses, here is (maybe) what we’ll be sipping and supping for the next 365 days. Now this is a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.
Trend | Cheese tea
You gotta see what the kids are up to, right? Apparently it’s drinking tea with a sour cream floater.
Find it at OCha Thai Kitchen and Cafe: 5037 Westfields Blvd., Centreville
Trend | Single-item restaurants
Far from the globally spanning menus of Cheesecake Factory comes the hyper-focused trend of single-dish spots. Leesburg tried with churros (Churrology) this year, but it already closed. The town now welcomes Balls of Glory, a meatball shop.
Find it at Balls of Glory: 15 Loudoun St. SE, Leesburg
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Trend | CBD oil
Hemp is legal. CBD is everywhere. This could be fun. Add CBD oil to Bon Vivant’s espresso drinks and smoothies.
Find it at Bon Vivant Cafe + Farm Market: 2016 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Trend | Zero-proof cocktails
With alcohol use down in the 20-something demographic, Dry January can last all year with an entire slate of sodas, fizzes, juices and zero-proof cocktails at the new Punch Bowl Social.
Find it at Punch Bowl Social: 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1180, Arlington
Trend | Less plastic, less waste in packaging
Remember the vile anger thrown at plastic straws last year? The industry listened, and it’s already showing up with more paper straw factories, and an eco-friendly bamboo version in the tiki drinks at Sense of Thai St. in One Loudoun.
Find it at Sense of Thai St.: 20413 Exchange St., Ashburn
Trend | “It” cuisines
Mediterranean flavors may still be the top tastes this year, but new “It” cuisines could also come from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, dubbed the “Stans,” the Pacific Rim (including Filipino food) and Africa.
Find it at Rus-Uz; Bistro 1521; Egg Karne; Calabash
Trend | Keto, pegan and phat fats
Fats are in and sugar is out, or at least that’s what followers of keto, pegan (a combination of paleo and vegan) and phat fats (deriving fats from healthy, paleo-approved fats) diets are telling us. Big brands quickly embrace these food fads, like BurgerFi’s new KetoFi sandwich: two beef patties with bacon, a fried egg and mustard wrapped in lettuce. Bunless burger just got a new name.
Find it at BurgerFi: Multiple NoVA locations
*Sources: Bon Appetit, Eater, Fast Company, New York Times, Pinterest, Washington Post, Whole Foods
