Nostalgic foods are making a comeback this winter, with diners craving familiar flavours and hearty dishes - discover more in our insight paper!

Nostalgic foods are making a comeback this winter, with diners craving familiar flavours and hearty dishes that bring a sense of warmth and home.

With 6.4 million Brits planning to adopt a meat-free diet in 2024 (Source: Finder.com), offering plant-based comfort foods can help foodservice providers cater to a wider audience. With Whirl butter alternatives, chefs and foodservice operators can reimagine these classics to suit today’s dietary needs, offering all the richness of traditional butter.

Our latest insight paper, Old Favourites – Fresh Flavours, dives into the rising “newstalgia” trend, showing how to put a fresh spin on retro favourites.

Here’s a taste of how Whirl can help transform classic dishes – from starters to dessert:

• Creamy mushroom and herb vol-au-vents
  These retro pastry bites are perfect for a plant-based makeover. Using Original Whirl in the pastry and Garlic & Herb Whirl in the filling creates a creamy mushroom and herb mixture. These vegan-friendly vol-au-vents bring back a beloved classic with a contemporary twist, perfect for sharing platters or appetisers.

• Elevated mac and cheese
  Create a creamy, indulgent sauce that’s dairy-free with Original Whirl. Add a smoky or spicy twist by incorporating Lion’s Maple & Bourbon BBQ Sauce or Garlic Piri Piri Sauce.

• Decadent spotted dick with a twist
  Add lemon and poppyseed for an update on the classic sponge, using Whirl to bring a buttery richness. Stir a small amount of thyme into a vegan vanilla custard for a contemporary serving suggestion.

Whirl butter alternatives make it easy to recreate these nostalgic dishes with a modern edge, allowing chefs to cater to diverse dietary needs while delivering the comforting flavours diners love.

As the newstalgia trend continues to grow, Whirl is here to help foodservice operators bring these reimagined classics to life.

Explore more ideas and inspiration – download our insight paper today!