Health, nutrition and plant-based sensibilities aside, a big menu trend I see for 2022 is the outpouring of cheese. It fits within nostalgia, comfort, familiar, crave worthy and delish with applications that a guest probably wouldn’t make at home.
As long as there are R&D chefs, there will always be new ways to bring the cheese, and no one is complaining. Imagination led to some very creative LTOs in the later months of 2021. I predict the cheese will continue to flow through 2022.
Before I address chain-specific mac and cheese dress-ups, I want to give my verbal prize to what struck me as the most refreshing idea. In November 2021, Red Robin came out with a fondue-themed LTO with its Cheesy Bacon Fondue Burger along with a side of Cheesy Bacon Fondue as a fry dip or to pour over any side or appetizer. In an age when queso is going the distance, the fondue alternative is fresh and nostalgic at the same time (for boomers).
Another noteworthy LTO at the same time was Applebee’s Cheetos Wings & Cheese Bites that essentially panko crusted boneless wings as well as cheese bites with Cheetos crumbles before frying. If that sounded unappealing, another option featured the two items tossed in “original Cheetos Wing Sauce.”
The brilliance of this that I want to point out is the brand collaboration that brought that about. I think we will see more partnerships like this. Already Dine Brands’ Buffalo Wild Wings has partnered with Doritos for a wing sauce and other associations with the snack food beast I recently blogged about. The Cheetos LTO must be Inspire Brands’ answer to that. This leaves room for someone to partner with Cheez-it!
Also, there is still some distance to go with the simple cheeseburger. Consider Culver’s CurderBurger LTO. That was a cheeseburger topped with breaded and fried cheese curds.
But now for what some chains have done to get comfy with mac and cheese.
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If chicharron-topped mac and cheese doesn’t fit into an operation’s wheelhouse, come up with a crunchy alternative that does. Long John Silver’s promoted Mac & Cheese with Crumblies, which tops the iconic comfort dish with small pieces of fried batter. High five, Long John Silver’s!
- How about putting a little black dress on mac and cheese? Noodles & Company promoted Truff Mac, which was Mac & Cheese drizzled with Truff Black Truffle Hot Sauce. That’s a blend of chilis, agave nectar, black truffle and spices.
- Qdoba did the right thing and substituted in queso for the cheese in its recent Mac & Queso LTO. But this wasn’t just a simple craveable side. Besides Mac & Queso, the promotion also included Cholula Mac & Queso Bowl or Burrito with chicken; Tex Mex Mac & Queso Bowl or Burrito topped with smoked brisket; and Loaded Mac & Queso Burrito also with smoked brisket.
It’s possible we haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s possible with cheese on the menu. I used to be editor of a magazine that was just about the possibilities of fruits and vegetables on the menu. It would probably still be around today if cheese had been the focus ingredient instead!
Tell me what you think.
Jody
