You know, Chipotle has a new burger concept called Tasty Made Burger. The menu is somewhat reminiscent of In-N-Out Burger with a nano menu of simply burgers, fries and shakes. But of equal representation on the menu is the one thing that sets it apart from other burgeries: the Tasty Bacon Sauce. The only thing it divulges about the proprietary condiment is that it’s better than ketchup and it’s smoky. But that’s OK. Mystery plays its marketing part. The important thing is that it has bacon, and that it doubles as a dip for fries.
Sauce may be the most neglected item on menus. It can play the conduit for ethnic flavors, spice, indulgence or better-for-you.
As we all know, Sriracha has been a sauce game changer over the past few years, but I’m detecting less of it as more spicy sauces rely on more natural ingredients, which makes sense in today’s BFY-crazed world.
In that regard, chipotle peppers are coming out on top. According to research firm Mintel’s October 2016 foodservice report Sauce, Dips & Spreads, menu mentions of chipotle peppers as a sauce flavor increased 8% between Q2 2015-Q2 2016. But other peppers are showing up in the sauce—mixed with honey to provide that sweet+heat flavor balance. Consider these added to menus, either permanently or as LTOs in the past year:
- Taco John’s honey habanero sauce that comes with its Chicken Sopapilla Taco described as warm, flaky sopapilla filled with crunchy chicken, that sauce and fresh pico de gallo.
- G.I. Fridays’ spicy ghost pepper honey sauce used to coat crispy chicken fingers for its Hot Southern Chicken. It’s served on Texas toast with pickles and a side of sweet potato fries.
- Chili’s smoky pasilla-honey chili sauce served as a side to its Char-crusted Sirloin with ancho-garlic rub and chopped green onions.
Ranch is the other sauce powerhouse. According to the Mintel report, ranch sauce as a menu ingredient increased 14% in the past year. It’s another channel through which to deliver spice.
- For its newish Crispy Corn Bites, Buffalo Wild Wings includes “not-too-spicy” red chili ranch sauce.
- Fazoli’s includes zesty Parmesan peppercorn ranch on its Turkey Mozzarella Fresco that features smoked turkey, sliced mozzarella cheese, pesto drizzle, marinated Caprese-style bell peppers and shredded lettuce on a toasted garlic roll.
What will the next sauce trend be? Watch as sauced sauce heats up. Alcohol in the sauce is coming on to menus near you.
Jody