What’s hot on the food scene lately? Many Millennials and Gen Z’s are turning to Instagram to help with dinner decisions, and the results prove Japanese cuisine continues to rule, followed closely by Italian. This according to Chef’s Pencil , an Australian-based magazine specializing in global food trends.
According to writer Caroline Williams for Chef’s Pencil, “Instagram is not only the place to showcase food, (but) food is the most photographed subject you’ll find there.”
The top food hashtags of 2020, says Williams were “#Food, #FoodPorn, #Yummy, #Foodie, and #Delicious.” In fact, the hashtag, #food alone “accounted for 430 million Instagram posts.”
That’s a whole lot of dishes!
It’s a given food continues to fascinate on a variety of levels, but many say it started with the onset of seeing chefs under the celebrity umbrella, much like today’s entertainers and film stars, not to mention the impact all those TV food shows and competitions have had on the world.
The food industry subsequently illuminated a passion for many to create beautiful dishes that are also movie-star-worthy, leading to millions of foodies sharing their works of art on a series of social media platforms.
This is not lost on those in the food industry, with many recognizing this power, and producing gorgeous, professional, photo-worthy menus to add to the excitement.
Instagram has been playing such a key role that it’s actually driving culinary trends, and offering the perfect platform for the food industry in general. (It can also have its downside, as witnessed by food companies burned by bad revues and photos.)
Chef’s Pencil research also shows that roughly “44% of consumers are happy to follow brands that resonate with their ethical values and #sustainability has more than 3.3 million mentions.”
It’s a given that we eat with our eyes – Instagram helps with the styling! Here are the Top Ten cuisines and foods trending worldwide, according to Chef’s Pencil:
1. Japanese Cuisine – 15.523 million tags
2. Italian Cuisine – 14.720 million tags
3. Indian Cuisine – 8.589 million tags
4. Korean Cuisine – 7.524 million tags
5. Thai Cuisine – 7.324 million tags
6. Mexican Cuisine – 6.708 million tags
7. Chinese Cuisine – 6.489 million tags
8. Indonesian Cuisine – 3.815 million tags
9. Vietnamese Cuisine – 2.845 million tags
10. Filipino Cuisine – 1.661 million tags
Japanese cuisine continues to be the most popular because of its visual impact, and attention to the most minute of details in something as simple as one serving of sashimi. Italian cuisine continues on its trajectory of popularity because pizza and pasta are two of the most popular food dishes, as well as the Italian cuisine, in general, being emotional to its core. (Eat! eat! Or you’ll break my heart!)
It should also be noted that Peruvian food continues to be one of the most popular cuisines worldwide. “Peru has a fantastic biodiversity and a multicultural heritage, but only recently (has) it been recognized as one of the best culinary destinations,” notes Williams, adding, “Lima, its capital city, is a fantastic foodie city and home to some of the best restaurants in the world.”
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2021
