Top Trends in Downtown Dining

As we move full swing into 2012, we can't help but notice how everything is beginning to blossom all around us, including these flourishing trends in downtown dining. We've compiled a handful of what we feel will continue to be some top trends in St. Paul dining throughout 2012.

1. Craft Beer - With all of the great, local, Minnesota breweries, it'd be only natural that we'd embrace the flowing tide of great imbibement options. This year, get hoppy and try something new. Who knows, you might actually find a whole new hobby! Check for Cork's weekly features as we often get in some hard to find bottle options. 
2. Food Trucks - Food trucks have been a mainstay staple in other large cities for some time now; however, the concept in our market is still a relative novelty. Really gaining tracking over the last two summers, the presence of food trucks in both Minneapolis and St. Paul is becoming a much beloved fixture in our warm weather dining pursuits. 
3. Dining al Fresco - With what little gorgeous summer weather we even get around here, we love to spend it out of doors. Soaking up the sunshine while enjoying our meals and even drinks with friends and family, what more could one ask for? (Hence our newfound love affair with food trucks, see above). 
4. Sustainable & Local Ingredients - Our own culinary team embraces this trend, loving to scour the local farmer's markets for inspiration. It appears that our team is not alone, in that many of our downtown neighbors also look to the local growers for inspiration as well as push for more sustainable options to offer diners. 
5. Gluten-free Items and Healthier Options - As an increasing number of diners are more health-conscious and eschew gluten, we restaurants must respond accordingly. Here at Cork's, we ask that you notify your server of any special dietary requirements or restrictions when dining with us, so we can ensure that your needs are met. 

Did we miss any in our list? Let us know in the comments. We'd love to hear from you!