Authenticity Ethnic Foods : Berjé Inc

There is a thin line that can make or break a budding product if consumers find the brand or restaurant masquerading or improperly representing a foreign staple. Though that line is shifting as small restaurants and the trending food trucks become more widespread, regularly introducing new international fusions. In Berjé’s 2017 trend presentation we covered the trends on Gochujang, Poke and Ube, as well as hinting at Buddha bowls. Most of these mentions are now in full swing. This is especially true with Poke bowls, but what wasn’t forecasted was their ability to succeed outside of their expected divisions. What is unclear about this success is whether the trends have been generating enough strength to pull outside of their boundaries or if the consumer is softening with their expectations of authenticity. If it’s the latter, this will open doors for creatives, to develop new products that stretch the bounds of cultural cuisine.