I am honored to have my 2016 food and wine trends featured in Australia.com and for it to form the basis of an international campaign promoting Australia’s great food and wine, so have a read at some of the mouth watering foods and wine we can look forward to in the next 12 months, and of course all made with wonderful Australian produce:

From naked wines to savoury desserts, here are the food and wine trends that will define what travellers can expect in Australia in 2016.

It’s no secret that Australia has fresh produce. What’s less well-known is that the country’s foodies are exceptionally innovative and creative so the food scene is dynamic and ever-changing.

Here’s what food-and-wine loving travellers can expect in Australia in 2016.

Australia loves a good taste trend. In 2015, our food and drink obsessions included everything from craft beer and cronuts to kale and salted caramel. While we will remain infatuated with all of the above into 2016, we also have our eyes fixed on the future. Business futurist Morris Miselowski says although the fashion for foams has dissipated in Australia, food “trends” such as foraging, farm-to-fork eating and fermenting are now mainstream. The industry guru predicts that, in 2016, we will be drinking more naked wines, embracing desserts that are more savoury than sweet, cooking over charcoal and continuing to crave comfort food such as burgers.

Barbecuing … it’s on fire

The nation’s obsession for barbecuing has moved from the back verandah to prime position in restaurant kitchens around the country. Author of Food + Beer, Ross Dobson, believes the parilla (Argentine) and robata (Japanese) methods of cooking are particularly popular in Australia because “barbecuing is being recognised as part of the national identity no matter where you’re from”. “There is something magical about the hiss of food on the grill and the aromas that accompany this ritual,” says Dobson.

Try … the smoked cauliflower and barbecued banana split at Stockroom in Sydney’s InterContinental, Double Bay.

Margaret River Gourmet Escape, The Forager Saturday Dinner Event, Margaret River, WA

Food … it’s on everybody’s lips

Writer Barbara Sweeney is the curator of Food & Words, an annual food writers’ festival and member of the TEDxSydney Food team. Sweeney says she has noticed a definite trend in Australia toward talkfests and food festivals that bring together everyone from bakers to makers who want to establish meaningful connections. “There is nothing more human than getting together to talk about food,” says Sweeney “It’s the antithesis of our online lives and it’s the intimacy of these events that the community seems to be craving.”

Try … Food & Words; Margaret River Gourmet Escape.

Fermented foods … going with the gut

Once the preserve of the home cook, the cult of the cultured vegetable has spilled over into markets and restaurants. The age-old art of preserving food is back in the picture thanks to a “cottage-based resurgence” says Ferment It production manager Belinda Smith, who sells everything from kimchi to sauerkraut at market stalls around Sydney. “Traditional preservation methods were a lost art form,” says Smith. “They are popular again because of the health benefits: they help the gut replenish its flora.”

Try … kimchi at Rice Queen in Melbourne; Moon Park in Sydney; or from Eat Art Truck’s speciality menu in Sydney.

Naked wines … it’s only natural

When it comes to natural winemaking, sommelier Byron Woolfrey has noticed an upward spike in demand for wines made with minimal intervention. Woolfrey, who also runs Trolley’d, a mobile bar business, says what he loves about natural wines is they capture the true terroir of the region. “Consumers are more conscious of having a completely expressive and natural wine so you can taste the flavours of the land,” says Woolfrey. “It’s also about knowing where your product comes from.”

Try … Harkham Wines from the Hunter Valley (sold at Momofuku Seiobo and Chiswick) or Lucy Margaux, from the Adelaide Hills (available at Billy Kwong restaurant in Sydney).

mandarin, cocoa nib brittle, almond and rosemary ice-cream at Monster Kitchen and Bar, Hotel-Hotel, Canberra, ACT

Just desserts

While sweet treats such as the Nutella doughnut milkshake have their own cult following, the menu does not necessarily need to end in tooth-achingly sweet “afters”. In 2015, ingredients such as bacon and sea salt helped bridge the gap between savoury and sweet, says business futurist Morris Miselowski. “Australian palates are now more refined,” he says. “We are also happy to experiment and finish a meal on a savoury note using everything from dark chocolate to chilli and salt.”

Try … the brioche filled with warm blue cheese custard and honey at EXP. Restaurant in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley or the mandarin, cocoa nib brittle, almond and rosemary ice-cream at Monster Kitchen and Bar at Hotel-Hotel in Canberra.

Update:

Chris Isley of 6PR Perth radio and I chatted about these trends and what trend tracking is, have a listen now (recorded 12 October 2015 – 9 mins 48 secs)
Audio Player