CityLife

Oysters to offal in 2009?

Simple food prepared at home will be popular, says Olive

A RUSTIC approach to cooking and dining will be all the rage in 2009, according to research by BBC food magazine Olive, with treats like champagne and scallops shunned for mutton and home-grown vegetables.

The monthly publication has used interviews with food writers, experts and restauranteurs - plus panel research - to identify the most likely culinary trends for the year ahead.

It predicts that more people than ever will be cooking from scratch; bargain-hunting in supermarkets and street markets; growing their own produce; favouring informal venues over traditional restaurants - and eating mainly British food.

Economical

Italian food also remains popular, with Scandinavian and Japanese being increasingly appreciated for their healthy and varied options.

But most of all, Olive expects 2009 to be "the year of staying in", with dinner parties featuring more economical cuts of meat.

"This is the year when we refuse to be ripped off," says Christine Hayes, editor of Olive.

"Forget scallops and sirloin. We'll be inviting friends over to share big, generous slabs of belly pork or shoulder of lamb - and eschewing ridiculously expensive destination restaurants for the local pub."

But do you agree? Will you be exchanging your champagne for sparkling wine; and your smoked salmon for home-battered coley?

Share your own predictions for 2009's food fashions in the comments area, below.