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SALT LAKE CITY — Chipotle flavor is making its way into everything these days. It's easy to spot in grocery store aisles and fast food restaurants. That got us wondering: What does it take to bring a food product from the gourmet into the mainstream?
Do you remember when ranch dressing was the rage as a food trend, and then it was teriyaki sauce? Well, those are still popular, but the new kid on the block is chipotle. You find it in chips, salsas, dressings, even desserts.
But what is chipotle?
To find an answer, I went to Harmons Cooking School Chef Adalberto Diaz Labrada. He said chipotle is the Indian-Mexican word for "smoked chili pepper."
"Originally, it doesn't have to be a jalapeño, but the way it is nowadays is we only call chipotles as red jalapeño that has been smoked," Labrada said.
So, "chipotle" is actually a process, not an ingredient, although you will find chipotle listed as an ingredient.
"I think that the word started to come out, at least in America, around four years ago," Labrada said.
Now it's everywhere.
The Center for Culinary Development tracks food trends. According to researchers there, it took about 13 years for chipotle to find its way from fine restaurants and gourmet food magazines and onto grocery store shelves.
But that is so last century. Thanks to social media, taste buds are changing much more rapidly.
So, what are some is the next food trend going to be? I'm hearing the pickle is making a comeback — but you've got to use special cucumbers and artisan salt. There's also salt (trendy salt has to emphasize it came from a special sea), Korean cuisine (it's the new Thai), anything gluten-free and DYI foods (check Pinterest).
Even staples like chocolate are getting a makeover. You've got to have a unique and fancy flavor like, yep, you guessed it: chipotle.
I told you it's everywhere!
