Help! Trends in US Food 2000-2011

[SylviaLovegren]

Hi all, looking for help! I'm updating an article on general food trends in the US that had originally covered 1960-1999, but need to add the last 10 years as well. Wonder if I can pick your brain for fads that you remember from the period. Just off the top of my head, I've got:

Specialty salts (i.e., Himalayan pink salt)

Foam

Sous vide

Bite-sized desserts (cake pops, etc.)

Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cake

Mojitos

Specialty brewed beers and artisanal liquors

Flavored "martinis"

Quinoa

Locavore

Sliders

Acai/goji berry

Gluten-free

If anyone can think of particularly trendy or favorite items from the 2000s, I'd love to hear. Or if there's a particular food or drink that became really OUT during that period, that would be interesting, as well.

Thanks for your help!

Sylvia

[Darienne]

Seems I never stopped hearing about bacon?

[Holly Moore]

Cheftestants

"4-3-2-1 Step away from the table"

Food and Restaurant Bloggers

Molecular Cuisine

Liquid Nitrogen

Hanger Steak

Bistro Burgers

Cheese Plates

Heirloom vegetables

20% standard tip

Tipping for counter service

(Semi-)Decent Airport Food

Craft Sodas

Truffle Oil

Hog parts previously made into scrapple

[Country]

The rise of the Internet and websites like eGullet?

[Shalmanese]

Chipoltle, Asagio, Hickory...

[heidih]

Kale - massaged raw salad and baked chips

Vegetables are no longer steamed, but roasted

[SylviaLovegren]

Wow, great stuff. All very helpful -- I'd completely forgotten about the bacon thing. And yes, the impact of the internet -- and chef contests! -- are all really important. Kale I missed entirely -- off to go do some research there.

Thank you all so much!

One more question -- salted caramel: was that more 90s or 2000s? I'm still busy eating it myself, so I consider it ageless...