04/19/07 2007 Year of the Steak

The Chinese calendar states that 2007 is the year of the Pig but for those in the know it is really the year of the cow. When it comes to Food Trends I am delighted to report it that 2007 will be all about Steak. Naturally this is wonderful news for our beef producers especially when you have folks like the editor and chief of Food and Wine Magazine, (a "tony" publication geared towards urbanites) saying that there will be no peak to the steak craze. The steak house is back with a vengeance, course I never thought it went anywhere. Trend analysts state that while people will consume more beef they will also crave more information about it. The consumer now wants to be privy to where and how the animal was raised, how long their meat was aged and how it was slaughtered thus opening the door for even more branded beef products. When you think beef, think Starbucks. Really! The coffee dynasty has trained us all by now to purchase coffee based on country or region and to select from a variety of processing methods. In 2007 it will be the same with our steaks.