Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s choice to go vegan may spark the next culinary trend, but for black America, 2013 was already an interesting food year. Here are some nontraditional foods that sashayed their way into the African-American diet, because who says black people can’t be foodies?
1. The Cronut
Questlove was so excited about this croissant-doughnut hybrid that he asked the creator to come on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to teach him to how to make it. Arguably the biggest trend of 2013, this dessert was reportedly introduced by chef Dominique Ansel for Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York. It’s made from laminated dough, which is then sugared, filled and glazed.
2. Whiskey
No longer just a drink for grown men, whiskey grown so popular that there has been an explosion of new craft distilleries across the United States.
3. Kale
This leafy green was sighted in a few photos Beyoncé posted to show fans her new vegan diet. Once considered a boring vegetable, it has had a big year: Kale chips, pizzas, cakes, salads, drinks and soups abound in restaurants and grocery stores.
4. Quinoa
Mommy Knowles described how she chowed down on this protein-rich “ancient grain” as a way to shed her pregnancy weight after giving birth to Blue Ivy. It’s a great carb substitute for rice, and we like it in place of oatmeal with healthy doses of cinnamon and brown sugar. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 the International Year of Quinoa for its role in the fight against world hunger.
5. The Ramen Burger
This burger is attributed to Keizo Shimamoto, the blogger behind Go Ramen! who created it for the Brooklyn, N.Y., food fair Smorgasburg. It features a standard patty swaddled between two lightly fried ramen-noodle “buns.”
6. The Mac Attack Burger
Chicago’s Rockit Burger Bar contributed to the 2013 novelty burger craze by creating yet another carbtastic creation. The black-angus patty, topped with Sriracha ketchup, lettuce, tomato and onions, is housed between a gooey, fried mac ’n’ cheese bun.
7. Cold-Pressed Juice
The cold-pressed juice trend of 2013 has grown exponentially. It is so popular with Miami Heat players that Lebron James’ wife recently opened the Juice Spot, Miami’s first organic cold-pressed juice and Wi-Fi bar.
8. Cool Ranch and Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos
Taco Bell added the Fiery Doritos flavor to the Doritos Locos Tacos family, making it an instant hit. The shell is made of Flamas Doritos and holds a bed of ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream. Food reviewer Daym Drops took to YouTube to describe his taste-testing experience.
9. Sriracha
Though not a new product, this spicy sauce got a lot of attention in 2013. Slapped with a lawsuit for its strong chili-odor emissions, the Los Angeles-based factory that makes it continues to produce the sauce, though at a reduced rate—for now.
10. Bacon
No other staple has evolved as much as bacon: Baconnaise, chocolate-covered bacon, doughnuts, vodka and ice cream are just some of the available products featuring bacon—none of which should be consumed on a vegan diet.