Winter warmer: The Benefits of comfort food
As winter approaches and the temperature drops, people start on craving warm, nourishing food to help them get through the cold season. According to Mintel and Foodnavigator(2024), consumers are turning to comfort food as a coping mechanism to become happy and rekindle sweet memories1. It shows that comfort food is not just a temporary trend but a permanent one.
To underline this state of mind, the International Food Information Council and health survey2 showed that “74% of Americans believe the food and beverages they consume have a significant or moderate impact on their overall mental and emotional well-being” and that 61% also believe that food and beverage choices are impacted by their mental and emotional state. In short, Comfort food, appreciated for its heartwarming qualities and satisfying ingredients, takes center stage as the best way, not only to fend off the chill but also as a relief against sorrow. For instance, In Thailand, 77% of consumers agree that salty snacks are a good way to treat and comfort oneself in addition to ice cream, chocolate, milk, coffee, carbonated soft drinks, tea, vitamin water and others3.
Comfort food is not about satisfying an appetite but first and foremost a primary well-being matter.
Winter menu Ideas
Traditional foods like raclette, creamy stews, and hearty casseroles highlight the richness of these seasonal ingredients, making them ideal for cold-weather dining. Classic options such as beef stew, mushroom soup, and shepherd's pie topped with fluffy mashed potatoes are perfect for comfy evenings. To finish the meal, desserts like sticky toffee pudding or spiced apple pie provide a delightful sweet ending. Featuring these dishes on your winter menu fosters a sense of belonging among customers and serves as an effective business strategy.
Seasonal Ingredients for Winter Menus
There are a number of advantages to choosing and serving vegetables in season. Picked when ripe, they offer every possible flavour and taste. What's more, you can support local producers by cutting out the middleman and reducing costs. These short circuits are often more environmentally friendly, so you're helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
Our advice is to eat and offer seasonal produce sourced locally, which will benefit both financially and in terms of taste.
Winter offers a bunch of root vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and potatoes, as well as squash varieties such as butternut and pumpkin. Leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard provide nutrition, while citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits add a refreshing twist to salads and desserts. By focusing on these ingredients, you’ll create comforting dishes that embody the tastes of winter.
Our starter Ideas to warm up your restaurant menu
When it comes to comforting winter recipes, simplicity is the key. Simple and comforting dishes will not only satisfy your customers, but will also keep your kitchen running smoothly and allow you to serve meals in a short time.
And what better way to start your menu than with a simple and delicious winter salad! It's both hearty and soft, and the roasted butternut adds a rich, warm element, perfect for those chilly evenings. In this velvety line we can also add the poached egg recipe, served with our seeded miniguette, for a creamy, irresistible starter.
What to Eat for Lunch in Winter?
You can easily reinvent your usual menu with seasonal greens such as spinach, cabbage or broccoli. Don't be afraid to get creative! by experimenting with different combinations, you can create unique flavour profiles and textures that will add a new dimension to your dish.
Offer stewed sauce dishes that add flavour to your meats and a gourmet aroma to your restaurant. Favour regional dishes that best represent comfort with the idea of being at home.
Add a large loaf of rustic bread to add a little character to your meal. It's ideal for dipping in sauces or making toast.
If you want to propose something lighter, egg sandwich paired with a toasted bread is perfect to boost your brunch offer.
Easy dinner: Hearty Recipes for cold evenings
For the main course, consider meals that sets the tone : The giotto fondue: With its creamy emmental cheese base and its variety of seasoning, it's a winter classic meal that never disappoints. You can also put a focus on a variety of cheeses by introducing the iconic four-cheese pizza nicknamed "pizza quattro fromaggi", revisited with pear and walnuts for an extra flavour.
For cold seasons like autumn and winter, what could be more comforting than a seasonal vegetable soup? You can use any vegetables that are available in your kitchen. For an even more delicious and original dish, you can serve your velouté directly in a hollowed-out squash, or in a round loaf of bread.
Chef's Tips: Add some extra cheese to your recipes for a creamy, melt-in-the-mouth result.
Desserts and sweets for a comforting winter
Winter calls for indulgent desserts that warm both body and soul. Embrace the season with a luscious bread pudding, enriched with vanilla and cinnamon, served alongside a velvety custard sauce. For fruit lovers, a baked apple stuffed with nuts and dried fruits offers a healthier yet satisfying option.
Chocolate enthusiasts will relish a molten lava cake, its gooey center providing a delectable contrast to the crisp winter air.
These sweet finales not only cap off a meal beautifully but also create lasting memories of cozy winter evenings spent with loved ones.
To wrap up your menu, consider classics like Tarte Tatin, Chocolate Lava Cake, and Apple Tart. These timeless desserts never disappoint and evoke a sense of nostalgia that comforts your guests. You can embrace tradition by featuring the Normandie Apple Tartlet, or showcase your creativity by trying our new product: the Caramelised nut and mascarpone teardrop!
Chef tips: Don't hesitate to add cinnamon for even more autumnal flavour.
Discover our comforting desserts
Twist your sandwiches to make them comforting
During winter, we’re so focused on stews that we tend to forget that sandwiches can also be comforting. Take, for instance, the carrot and leek egg mimosa sandwich, it offers a creamy seasonal touch, and by combining it with some others seasonal vegetables it creates a perfect balance between comfort and lightness . And by including hearty sandwiches on your restaurant's menu is a good business move since it sets you apart from the competition with a takeaway or eat-in offer.
To stay aligned with this strategy of offering seasonal, hearty dishes that are both comforting and quick to prepare, the Butternut Tuna Melt and Grilled Cheese Sandwich are perfect additions. These options, ready in just 5 minutes, stand out not only for their rich flavors but also for their quick preparation and attractive presentation.
Make It Plant-Based: Vegan ideas
What would a menu be without a plant-based range? By offering vegan winter dishes, you show yourself as a well-rounded and inclusive business. For those looking to enjoy plant-based meals, consider the velouté as an option that delights the palate with its rich flavors and creamy texture, making it a perfect addition to your winter offerings. To enhance it all you can add some bread sticks.
You can also revisit the classics by creating vegetarian or vegan versions. Replace the meat with gourmet vegetables or beans, or use carne simili such as tofu.
Perfecting Comfort with Hot Beverage and Pastry Pairings
Creating memorable customer experiences goes beyond simply serving coffee; it’s about crafting moments of indulgence that keep guests coming back. Expertly pairing hot beverages with pastries and viennoiseries can elevate any coffee shop menu, appealing to the senses and enhancing customer satisfaction.
A rich, dark roast coffee, with its bold profile, pairs beautifully with spiced treats like gingerbread or cinnamon rolls, creating a cozy, warming effect. For something milder, consider pairing creamy drinks such as chai lattes, golden lattes, or matcha lattes, all of which add a hint of sweetness that balances well with plant-based or dairy milks for that extra layer of indulgence.
For a classic treat, an espresso complements chocolate-based desserts exceptionally well — think cappuccino with a slice of Black Forest cake. Lighter pour-over coffees, on the other hand, pair perfectly with fruit-forward pastries like cranberry scones or apple tarts, delivering a refreshing twist.
Hot chocolate, the ultimate comfort drink, is a crowd-pleaser with its creamy richness, especially when topped with whipped cream or paired with buttery mini croissants. And for tea enthusiasts, a spiced chai latte and pumpkin bread or carrot cake create a cozy, autumnal pairing.
These curated pairings not only highlight the unique flavors in each item but foster a warm, welcoming atmosphere, encouraging customers to linger a little longer.
Sources :
1 Food navigator, 2024: consumers are craving comfort food and beverages|2IFIC,2023: 2023 Food & Health Survey |3Mintel, 20204: Supporting mental health through food and drinks