# When and why did \[insert food trend\] become a thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [August 19, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177 "2021-08-19T21:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/21 "2021-08-20T09:04:29Z")
If you live in California, it’s hard to escape avocado in a lot of things (and I dislike avocado). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/22 "2021-08-20T11:50:25Z")
Before running into it with food trucks, I had no idea Korean Street Food was a thing. Now it’s one of my favorite things. And aioli. I love aioli. I’ve always made my own mayonnaise, making aioli is even better. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/23 "2021-08-20T12:32:44Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > When did that turn the corner from “ewwww! You’re eating BAIT!” to “gourmet”? I think sushi gained widespread acceptance in the United States during the 1980s. If a character on television was hip and up to date on their trends they were often depicted as liking sushi. I’m trying to think when I started seeing sushi in grocery stores and I’m drawing a blank. Even today I’m somewhat picky about where my sushi comes from and tend to avoid them at Chinese buffets or supermarkets. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/24 "2021-08-20T14:02:57Z")
Yeah 80s it was become popular as “yuppie food” from what I remember, by the 90s when I was in college, it was fairly mainstream. Cilantro I’ve always known (between Mexican and Indian cuisines, I don’t really remember a time not knowing what it was), but in terms of wider acceptance, I would have put that in the 90s. Now chipotle is one that I don’t remember seeing becoming very popular nationally until the 2000s. I know the restaurant exists back into the early 90s, but, despite being reasonably versed in Mexican cuisine and living in a Hispanic neighborhood, I don’t recall learning about it (the pepper) until around 2000, and then it seemed to be popping up everywhere (though that may have been an example of the Baader-Meinhof effect/frequency illusion.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/25 "2021-08-20T14:11:02Z")
The Nashville hot chicken thing started trending (in my recollection) about seven years ago. I remember when nobody knew what the hell that was and suddenly hot chicken joints are popping up all over the place and even commerical establishments like KFC have some “nashville chicken” menu items (which are poor simulacrums of their blazingly hot namesakes, of course.) The variety and quality of ciders available also exploded about a dozen years ago. I had been, mid-2000s, making cider at home using my friend’s apples as the cider selection at stores was fairly stagnant, and now, it’s blown up. Lots of craft cideries out there. SImilarly, rye whiskey. When I returned to the US from living abroad in 2003, there were only three ryes you could find at most stores: Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Old Overholt (often, just the first two.) Very shortly thereafter, the market expanded. Also, right now, craft non-alcoholic beers. As I’ve eased off the juice, I’ve discovered, much to my delight, that there are actually tasty non-alcoholic beers out there produced by major craft brewers like Lagunitas and Brooklyn Brewing, plus some NA breweries like Wellbeing and Athletic that have popped up. It’s an expanding market. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/26 "2021-08-20T14:11:45Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I think sushi gained widespread acceptance in the United States during the 1980s. While I loved sushi in the 80s, around me it was still considered odd into the mid 90s. I remember taking my kids to a Japanese Restaurant where they cook table-side. My kids loved sushi so we ordered a sushi appetizer platter and shared it. The others at our table were _shocked_ to see kids eating “that raw fish”. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/27 "2021-08-20T14:21:00Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong – late '80s saw an explosion of **Orange Roughy**. Never heard of it before, trend seemed to have died down within a half decade, or so. Did it come from another planet, then return to its home world? I know the price exploded rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/28 "2021-08-20T14:27:55Z")
That sounds familiar. I know my parents were in love with orange roughy around that time (it was their preferred fish for our traditionally meatless Christmas Eve dinner). They still buy it for special occasions, so it’s still around, but overfishing has dwindled its stocks in stores. Looking online, the peak of orange roughy catches was about 1990/1991. Here’s that graph (catches by ton): [![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNeJZaRzozc/Thdlf-BMApI/AAAAAAAAACo/3EQjGDGLRe0/s1600/World+Orange+Roughy+Fisheries.bmp) ](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNeJZaRzozc/Thdlf-BMApI/AAAAAAAAACo/3EQjGDGLRe0/s1600/World+Orange+Roughy+Fisheries.bmp) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/29 "2021-08-20T14:56:26Z")
^ You, sir, have buried the needle of my Impress-o-meter! I confess I contributed heavily to OR’s decline as I ate the beastie 'til it ran out my ears! **Meatless Christmas Eve Dinner** sounds like a very wholesome tradition, much better than ours which was **Stay The Hell Out Of Dad’s Way As He Puts Up The Christmas Decorations, Which He Hates Doing But Doesn’t Want Help Because We’ll Just Futz It Up (grumble, grumble)**. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/30 "2021-08-20T15:00:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I remember taking my kids to a Japanese Restaurant where they cook table-side. I think sushi kind of rode the coattails of the teppanyaki/Benihana boom of the Eighties. The drinking party atmosphere was ideal for getting people to try something exotic for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/31 "2021-08-20T15:48:12Z")
Peruvian Roasted Chicken became a thing in NoVa for a while, a few years ago. I tried it. Can’t say I was particularly impressed with the chicken or the sides. Not bad. Just not sure why it deserved to become a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/32 "2021-08-20T16:09:56Z")
What’s the deal with frozen yogurt places? There’s either too many in a town or none at all. When I moved to this college town ten years ago there were about a dozen self serve froyo shops. As of a couple years ago (before the pandemic) there is only one, but now twice as many ice cream parlors. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/33 "2021-08-20T16:20:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > While I loved sushi in the 80s, around me it was still considered odd into the mid 90s. I remember taking my kids to a Japanese Restaurant where they cook table-side. My kids loved sushi so we ordered a sushi appetizer platter and shared it. The others at our table were _shocked_ to see kids eating “that raw fish”. It’s still considered odd by a good number of people here in Arkansas despite us having a few sushi places scattered throughout our more populous areas. But I think by the 1980s enough people had heard of sushi for it to be “a thing” whereas in the 60s it was likely unheard of by most Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Happytree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happytree/32/3555_2.png) [@Happytree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happytree)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/34 "2021-08-20T16:23:06Z")
Hows about putting all kinds of toppings/fillings in pancakes and waffles? Used to be a rare novelty. Now even crappy diners have a big pancake/waffle menu. Nothing is better than butter and syrup! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/35 "2021-08-20T16:25:03Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > What’s the deal with frozen yogurt places? There’s either too many in a town or none at all. When I moved to this college town ten years ago there were about a dozen self serve froyo shops. As of a couple years ago (before the pandemic) there is only one, but now twice as many ice cream parlors. Little Rock used to be the headquarters for TCBY and Simmons Tower downtown used to bear their logo. I think frozen yogurt was one of those things that peaked in the 80s or 90s and and declined since then. There were almost 1,800 TCBY locations in 2001 but as of 2011 there were about 500. I think frozen yogurt’s popularity just declined. Is it really any healthier than ice cream? Just eat ice cream then. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/36 "2021-08-20T16:28:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > When I returned to the US from living abroad in 2003, there were only three ryes you could find at most stores: Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Old Overholt (often, just the first two.) Very shortly thereafter, the market expanded. I drank lots and lots of Old Overholt in college and was very grateful when the market exploded. I think it coincided with the rise of classic/craft cocktails. You can’t claim to make a proper Manhattan without rye. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/37 "2021-08-20T16:29:11Z")
> [@Somethingwitty1](#): > > Mac n Cheese? No brainer. Kraft might be the worst example, but Pasta and real Cheese? Gift from god. This has been a thing since Thomas Jefferson brought it over from Europe back in the late 1700s. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/38 "2021-08-20T16:48:52Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I think frozen yogurt’s popularity just declined. Is it really any healthier than ice cream? Just eat ice cream then. This is why. It isn’t any healthier, and tastes weird, so just have ice cream. I’m old enough I remember when Ranch Dressing and Salsa were both novelties. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/39 "2021-08-20T18:57:11Z")
Has the pumpkin spice insanity gone away yet? I guess we’ll find out real soon as the air turns crisp. mmm ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177/40 "2021-08-20T19:14:50Z")
> **[Error | The Splendid Table](https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2019/01/10/how-thai-food-took-over-america)** > > From The Splendid Table, the show for curious cooks and eaters. The part I found most interesting is how the Thai government actually played a part in promoting Thai food around the world. Although in the US Thai food was already becoming trendy by the 1990s, so it wasn’t _just_ the Thai government. > The Thai government has been invested in this to promote Thai cuisine. It’s part of their economic national development plan that was started around the early 2000s. They train chefs and export them everywhere around the world to open and work in restaurants. It’s to stimulate tourism to Thailand, but it’s also an effort to standardize Thai taste around the world because the government feels like the different kinds of Thai food around the world has given it somewhat of a bad name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-insert-food-trend-become-a-thing/949177.md?page=3)