BANQUET
Must-Have
Midnight Snacks Clubs are capitalizing on the late-night snacking trend with splurge-worthy dishes members can’t resist. By Jennifer Olvera, Contributing Editor
WHEN CONSIDERING THE WAY people ate over the last year, an interesting, emerging trend can’t be ignored—the “snackification” of meals. And it’s not just for big events, like the Super Bowl. DoorDash recently released its Bracket Bites report, which followed American snacking trends from March 2020 through March 2021. It showed that, as Americans settled into the sixmonth mark of the pandemic, snacking was king. In fact, 56% of Americans reported enjoying a “second dinner” by partaking in a late-night snack. While the definition of snacking certainly varies by country and generation, a report from global, science-led nutrition company Glanbia Nutritionals (“Snacks: Trends for 2021 and Beyond”) found an increase in snacking throughout the day led to snacks replacing meals. Not surprisingly, late-night snacks leaned to the more indulgent, while also being flavor-forward. And the club industry has seen first-hand evidence of the trend. “For many of our weddings and events, we’ve seen an increase in demand for street foods, more spices and bold flavors for those late-night snacks,” says Joe Longo, Executive Chef of Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. “At the same time, members continue to look for well-executed, interesting plates that reflect great technique and quality. “As banquets continue to recover, there is a huge opportunity for growth with midnight-snack menus,” Longo adds. And in all cases, he says, members and guests at Frenchmen’s Reserve want their after-hours eats to be approachable, fast, casual and fun. Joe Longo, Executive Chef, Scott Craig, CEC, CCA, WCMC, Director of Culinary Operations at Myers Park CounFrenchman’s Reserve CC try Club (MPCC) in Charlotte, N.C., agrees. 20
l Club + Resort Chef l July 2021
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