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Fortune Favors the Bold in Flavor

Tags:  Cooking Techniques  |  Ingredient Spotlight  |  Innovation

Bold flavor has always been at the heart of great cooking. But today’s diners are leaning into dishes that take that boldness even further — layering smoky, spicy, sweet, sour, and umami elements in ways that feel exciting, unique, and just a little unexpected.
 
To get guests talking, lean into contrast and a touch of the unexpected. A hint of citrus brightens rich, savory dishes. A touch of sweetness rounds out heat. An unexpected ingredient makes a familiar dish feel new again.
 
But it’s not just about piling ingredients on the plate. It’s about thoughtful layering. Each component should add something to the experience: depth, brightness, heat, aroma. Think chili paired with citrus, smoky notes balanced with sweetness, or globally inspired sauces layered into dishes guests already love. These combinations feel adventurous, but when they’re built thoughtfully, they still deliver the harmony guests expect.

Custom Culinary® products make it easy to build these layered flavor experiences across the menu. The Escabeche Grain Bowl showcases how Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Latin Citrus, Latin Herb, and Latin Chili Liquid Flavor Concentrates can work together to create bright citrus notes, savory depth, and balanced heat in a single dish. For a globally inspired flavor combination, Al Pastor Kabobs pair sweet pineapple, savory pork, charred vegetables, and Custom Culinary® Al Pastor Sauce to deliver a bold blend of smoky, tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors. Operators can also explore the versatility of products like Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Birria Broth, Custom Culinary® Chef's Own® Pork Barbeque Spice, Custom Culinary® Master’s Touch® Roasted Garlic Flavor Concentrate, and Custom Culinary®’s range of ready-to-use sauces to layer complexity into everything from soups and sandwiches to bowls, tacos, marinades, and signature sauces.

At its heart, maximalist flavor is about discovery, opening the door for chefs to get creative and diners to discover new flavor experiences. When each bite offers something unique, it keeps dishes engaging from first taste to final morsel — and entices guests to come back for more.

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61% OF GLOBAL CONSUMERS ENJOY FOODS AND BEVERAGES WITH UNUSUAL FLAVORS.1

81% OF GLOBAL CONSUMERS SAY THEY ENJOY TRYING NEW FLAVORS AT LEAST OCCASIONALLY.2

WHILE PREFERENCES FOR CERTAIN FLAVORS DIFFER BY MARKET, SWEET AND SOUR MAKE UP THE LARGEST SHARE OF GLOBAL ONLINE CONVERSATION.3

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FEATURED PRODUCTS

Create bold, craveable shareable menu items with ease using Custom Culinary® products.


CHEF TALK

“Maximal flavors are fun, expressive, and culturally rich. I can see even more cross-cultural mashups driving the next wave of flavor innovation.” —Chef Michael Hornback


Michael Hornback
Director of Culinary
 

Chef Daniel Diaz
 


Shareables Menuing Guide




 

ShareAbles Menu Inspiration

Throughout this guide, you’ll find recipe ideas for shareables that span a range of cuisine types, popular dishes and hot trends. To help you get even more mileage out of these menu concepts, you’ll also find tips for adding dipping sauces and toppings and ways to “plus up” speed scratch products with signature appeal.

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Texture foods
 


FEATURED RECIPES

These shareable menu items invite guests to linger, explore flavors together, and maybe even steal a bite off each other’s plates.

CREATING AN IRRESISTIBLE HAPPY HOUR

We're here to help you build your business and increase customer satisfaction with ideas, insights and inspiration. This kit is designed both for those who are new to the world of happy hours as well as those with existing promotions who would like exciting new ideas and support. 

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Happy Hour Guide
SOURCES
1. FMCG Gurus, March 2025, FCT512. 
2. Technomic, "Global Consumer Trends: Q2 2024 biannual update of shifting consumer usage and attitudes," 2024. 
3. Al Palette, June 2025.