Flavor Trends, Strategies and Solutions for Menu Development

By Rob Corliss
February 9, 2023

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The combination of flavors from various trending Asian cuisines with approachable Mexican formats offers a rich playground for breakfast innovation. Indeed, Kogi Taco opened the floodgates years ago to the idea of Latin-Asian mash-ups. Today, the trend expands to all regions in Asia, and has moved seamlessly into breakfast. Operators can find menu success by focusing on flavor complexity and inspirational ingredient combinations. We’ve worked up three plated and three on-the-go breakfast formats, demonstrating the opportunities in these two powerhouse flavor regions and how they work together to create signature breakfast menu items.

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

  • Tocino Huevos Rancheros: Blue corn tostada + smashed ube + over-easy egg + tocino gravy + pico de gallo
  • Thai Huevos Rancheros: Griddled flour tortilla + refried Sriracha black beans + fried egg + Thai chile-green chile sauce + queso fresco crumbles

CHILAQUILES

  • Hot Honey Roja Chilaquiles: Fried honey butter chips + Korean salsa roja + scrambled eggs + pork belly
  • Chinese Elote Chilaquiles: Fried tortilla chips and wonton chips + light hoisin-mole + fried egg + wok-charred sesame street corn

ENCHILADAS

  • Hanoi Chicken Enchiladas: White corn tortillas filled with smoked and shredded chicken (lime, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar) + queso blanco + sambal oelek + roasted crushed peanuts
  • Mapo-Chiladas: Flour tortillas filled with ground pork, scrambled eggs and silken tofu + spicy bean red sauce + crema drizzle

BURRITOS

  • Adobo Breakfast Burrito: Yellow rice + marinated and stewed tangy boneless chicken thigh chunks + blistered bell peppers + hard-boiled egg wedges + flour tortilla
  • Togarashi and Tots Burrito: Crispy tater tots + scrambled eggs + seared chorizo crumbles + queso blanco + togarashi-coated flour tortilla

TACOS

  • Filipino Sausage-Potato-Egg Taco: White corn tortillas + shredded hashbrowns + over-easy egg + pan-fried pork longaniza link
  • K-Dog Taco: Flour tortilla + batter fried Korean panko corndog (split beef hot dog) + maple sugar dusting + gochujang aïoli

QUESADILLAS

  • Pho-nominal Quesadilla: Flour tortilla + small-chopped carne asada + small-chopped cooked rice noodles + bean sprouts + jalapeño + Jack cheese + pho beef broth (dipper)
  • Beefy Red Curry Quesadilla: Pandan flour tortilla + Thai red curry beef guisada + Jack cheese + coconut crema (dipper)

 

 

About The Author

Rob Corliss

ROB CORLISS is a three-time James Beard House guest chef with more than 30 years of experience that includes running world-class hotels, launching new concepts, working in top marketing agencies and owning the culinary consultancy ATE (All Things Epicurean) since 2009. Based in Nixa, Mo., ATE has an energizing passion focused on flavor innovation and is dedicated to connecting people to their food, environment and wellness. Rob is also a regular contributor to Flavor & The Menu.