Chefs Worldwide Spark 'Find Dining' Revolution with Wild Ingredients
Chefs worldwide are leading a culinary revolution, integrating wild ingredients like seaweed, mushrooms, and wild herbs into mainstream diets. This trend, known as 'find dining', not only offers health benefits but also educates palates and supports sustainable food practices.
At the heart of this movement is the use of wild plants and coastal greens. Seaweed, packed with nutrients like potassium, iron, and magnesium, is emerging as a superfood. It's being commercially cultivated to meet growing demand, with chefs playing a crucial role in its integration into mainstream diets. Mushrooms, too, are taking centre stage in modern kitchens, showcasing their versatility in dishes and menus. The trend also celebrates wild herbs and edible flowers, which have sustained at least 1 billion people, connecting heritage and innovation on the plate.
Find dining connects the farm, forest, and coast to the table, easing pressure on food systems and protecting the planet. This approach supports sustainable food practices, with chefs and home cooks expected to respond to pressure on food systems by incorporating wild plants, fungi, and coastal greens through foraging by 2025.
The United States, with nearly 2 million farms and half the nation's land devoted to agriculture, stands to benefit from this trend. As agriculture remains sensitive to climate shifts, find dining offers a practical and playful solution, proving that the untamed side of food belongs in modern kitchens as much as in the wild.
