cream

From unicorn ice cream to sushi burritos, foodies clamor for these treats.

By Rieva Lesonsky

Millennial “watcher” YPulse says millennials and Gen Z are self-identified “foodies,” eager to try new restaurants. According to one of its surveys on cooking and food trends, nearly half (48%) of 13- to 34-year-olds call themselves foodies, 38% have tried new restaurants they’ve discovered via social media, and 30% are willing to wait in line to taste a food or beverage everyone is buzzing about.

YPulse asked these foodies, “What is the biggest food trend you’ve been interested in recently?” The top 10 answers (in order of popularity):

  1. Fusion/Hybrid
  2. Fancy baking/Crazy desserts
  3. Vegan
  4. Meal kit services
  5. Sushi burritos/Donuts
  6. Healthy eating
  7. Food trucks
  8. Poke
  9. Rainbow/Unicorn foods
  10. Rolled ice cream

I had to admit, being neither a millennial or Gen Z, I have no idea what a sushi burrito/donut is. (In case you’re wondering, they’re sushi “reimagined” in the form of other foods—which could be a great way to break someone of a donut habit.)

On the other hand, I recently tried some “unicorn” (brightly colored) ice cream in Greenport, Long Island, and have to admit my plain vanilla cone tasted a little more special because it was pink, yellow and blue.

I didn’t know what rolled ice cream was either, but learned from researching this post there are at least three places within three miles of my house where I can buy rolled ice cream (which is a Thai frozen treat also known as stir-fried ice cream.) Want to make it yourself? Try this.

YPulse attributes some of the popularity of these foods to their being “Instagram-ready,” meaning if you want to jump on the trend, make sure your business is social-media savvy.

Of course, don’t forget Starbucks’ baristas were not pleased about having to create time-consuming Unicorn Frappuccinos.

Photo: “Creative Commons Jogasaki Truck / Spicy Salmon Sushi Burrito” by punctuated is licensed under CC BY 2.0