Americans’ Love Affair With Mexican And Mexican American Foods Is Expanding While South American Fare Increasingly Piques Their Interests
(Chicago, November 10) – When it comes to Latin cuisines, Americans are holding true to familiar Mexican and Mexican American foods, according to Culinary Visions™ Panel studies done by Chicago-based Olson Communications.
In fact, the main change since Olson last surveyed on this topic in 2008 is that they want more. Respondents said in 2008 they’d like to see tamales, enchiladas, tortilla soup, tacos, salsa and Mexican chili offered at the casual dining restaurants they frequented. Today, they’ve added burritos, beans, rice, quesadillas, fajitas, fried ice cream, stews and soups.
In the most recent survey, 72 percent of respondents named traditional Mexican and Mexican American dishes as items they’d like to see on the menus of their favorite casual dining restaurants. Only 18 percent named dishes from the Caribbean, and Central and South America as menu items they’d like to see. However, diners are not unaware of offerings from the deep, deep south and they have also become more knowledgeable of them.
In the earlier survey the most-mentioned Latin food flavors were chile, tomato and cilantro, all traditional Mexican and Mexican American food flavors. In the latest survey, people also named Caribbean and Central and South American dishes. Respondents said Cuban pork sandwiches, ceviche, fried plantain ice cream and even coconut shrimp served with pineapple curry rice and plantain chips were Latin recipes they’d be likely to try.
“What we’re seeing is potentially the beginnings of a wider interest in foods from countries south of Mexico,” said Sharon Olson, president. “With casual diners naming specific dishes we can see those flavors are becoming memorable to them, so it’s a good bet they will be seeking them out.”
Olson’s latest survey on this topic asked consumers to rate how likely they would order Latin, Asian and Mediterranean menu concepts that were based on classic American dishes: burgers, chopped salad, pizza, side dishes and ice cream. Consumers were interested in all concepts and ethnic variations, yet some ethnic flavor profiles scored higher. The consumers who participated in the survey had the highest awareness of authentic Latin dishes.