Making Global Flavor Trends Your Own with Asian-Style Appetizers
August 2024
Written in partnership with Senior Dining Association
It’s no secret—the culinary experience in senior living is a dynamic space undergoing some major transformations. Patrons aren’t simply looking at your menu for food. They’re looking for better nutrition, an overall sense of wellness, and, most importantly, exciting dishes that trigger new and novel cravings. One obvious place to look when delivering those craveable experiences? Global cuisine. According to Datassential, 70% of operators claim consumer demand for globally inspired food is increasing in their operations.1 Unexpected flavors and innovative applications abound when you expand your horizons, and you can get started immediately with Asian-style appetizers.
Familiar fare like egg rolls and dumplings make a great foundation whether you’re looking for quick, simple starters or ready to experiment. And patrons are curious to see what you can do. “Asian cuisine is one of the fastest-growing trends we’re seeing right now,” says Chef Craig Claude, corporate chef at Schwan’s Food Service. “I think we’re only seeing the beginning of the proliferation of Asian cuisine,” he continues, “The more exposure patrons get to Asian cuisine, the more they will want to see it on menus.”
No matter if you’re currently serving Asian-style meals, proven solutions from Schwan’s Food Service can help elevate your flavors, increase check averages and lead to more success with less labor. Wondering where to start? We have some ideas for how you can take advantage of the trend towards global flavors:
Start at the starters.
Patrons are already familiar with Asian-style Appetizers like MINH® Egg Rolls. Increasingly, they’re also forming an appetite for on-trend items like CHEF ONE® Dumplings. Dumplings are heating up menus coast to coast and are as versatile as they are craveable. But why mess with a proven thing? By adding egg rolls or dumplings straight to the appetizer menu, you also add an opportunity to increase check rings and boost revenue. Plus, their complementary flavors allow you to mix and match on sampler platters and flights to grab your patrons’ attention. Worried that adding a new style of cuisine is going to be too much work? Worry not. “To deep fry dumplings or egg rolls only takes about 3-4 minutes,” says Chef Claude, “So your preparation time is very quick. It’s a great way to introduce new appetizers without introducing additional labor.”
Switch things up.
Different prep methods can create entirely different feeling dishes out of the exact same ingredients. And Asian-style appetizers are versatile enough to fit the bill. “For instance, CHEF ONE® dumplings can be served steamed, fried, or pan-seared,” says Chef Uno. “This allows for so much versatility, especially when we can offer any preparation with various sauces.”
That versatility even extends to the types of dishes you can create. Sure, egg rolls and dumplings are traditionally viewed as appetizers. But they can also be used as ingredients to liven up applications like salads or noodles, paired with cocktails to elevate and innovate a tasting menu, or even used as a garnish to hearty drinks like a Bloody Mary.
Upend expectations.
Delicious on their own, Asian-style appetizers like egg rolls and dumplings are also easy to take and make your own. Innovative fusion recipes add an extra layer of excitement to the already exciting trend of global flavors. And if you’re convinced your patrons are only comfortable with traditional appetizers, fusion lets you meet them where they are. “When I look at Asian food and how I want to introduce it into my restaurant, I decided to do it in a way that’s not intimidating to kids and adults alike,” says Chef Uno Immanivong, CEO of Chef Uno Brands and chef and owner of RedStix Street Food.
Chef Uno pairs traditional Asian appetizers, such as dumplings and egg rolls, with something familiar to consumers. For example, she tosses her dumplings in a buffalo-style wing sauce. “This allows my customers to feel comfortable trying something new while allowing me to offer a unique twist on traditional Asian flavors,” says Uno. “It creates a craving that makes customers want to return for seconds, thirds, and even a fourth time.”
More flavor makes more money.
Global flavor trends aren’t going away, but with Asian-style appetizers from Schwan’s Food Service, you’re well positioned to take advantage of them. Even better? If you do, it can mean big business. Appetizers drive traffic and trial, but also drive profits. “If you don’t have appetizers, you’re missing out on some of that incremental income,” says Chef Claude. “When people don’t know what they want as their main course they usually will start with appetizers. This extends their decision time and also allows them a way to explore new foods.”
Serving high-quality, stand-out appetizers not only increases the likability of the rest of the meal but also increases the significance of the appetizers themselves. “Offering unique appetizer options is a great way to get appetizers to the front of the menu where they belong versus being an afterthought,” says Claude.
To see how you can get started with Asian-style Appetizers from Schwan’s Food Service, visit SchwansFoodService.com/AsianAppetizers.
1 Datassential, Global Flavors Keynote Report, November 2021.