As summer 2025 comes to a close, we’re still buzzing about the culinary trends that shaped this season. From a mezcal cocktail served with a candy cigarette to a hot dog with caviar and peach mostarda, this summer undoubtedly brought the heat.
1. New Takes on Omakases
The concept of “omakase” meaning “I’ll leave it up to you” has long been revered in traditional Japanese dining as a means of submitting oneself to an expertly curated dining experience. In a time where indecision is a plight for many diners, this “hands off” approach has begun infiltrating other concepts across the South from exclusive cocktail speakeasies to cheese counters.
- From Atlanta’s Electric Hospitality, Tiger Sun is an intimate, omakase-style cocktail lounge set in a 1960s tour bus. Duck into the vibey, retro-revamped bus draped in psychedelic memorabilia and enjoy a curated menu of pairings centered on cult classic films. Their current menu is dedicated to Pulp Fiction and is decidedly “Tokyo meets Tarantino,” adhering to the precise techniques of omakases while fully immersing guests in nostalgia.
- Stevie and Michelle Webb have launched Wedgewood Cheese Bar in Carrboro, North Carolina, a neighborhood cheese counter, market, and small plates counter serving up European-inspired fare. Curate your own cheese and charcuterie board, or join the fun with their “Omaqueso” option, submitting to the cheesemonger’s picks and pairings.
- Why not leave it all to chance? Miami’s latest Italian eatery decided to fully omit a menu and opt for chef curations only. San Lorenzo offers a single choice: select fish or meat for your main and receive three antipasti, with desserts available for an additional charge.
2. Statement Cocktail Garnishes
Whether it’s barrel-aged spirits, exotic syrups, extravagant glassware, or tableside service, cocktails are never short on drama. The timeless way to transform subtlety into a statement? A garnish. Find some of our favorite garnishes gracing glasses in the South here:
- Served in cordial glass with an antique ash tray, Mister Mao’s “Life is a Drag” cocktail is a romanticized reference to a post-dinner coffee and menthol cigarette. Mixing mezcal, coffee liqueur, creme de menthe, Xocolatl bitters, the drink had a seductive, burgundy hue. But the real showstopper is the lightly-torched candy cigarette lingering in the ashtray.
- At Raleigh’s Peregrine, a committed fan base has been clamoring behind the Tokyo Highlander, a globally-inspired take on a classic Penicillin. They swap the scotch for Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey then mix with fresh lemon, ginger, and local honey from their own beehives. The cocktail is finished with a mist of Dalmore 12 Scotch and a skewer of local honeycomb, candied ginger, and lemon oil.
- For home bartenders, Christian Favier of Seahorse in Charleston shares his riff on the traditional Caribbean cocktail, the Corn n’ Oil, with The Local Palate. Serve with a classic lime slice or upgrade the garnish with an angostura jelly-filled lime.
3. Halal Dining Options
The South has always been marked by rich flavors, intentional ingredients, and cultural diversity, so the integration of halal food into Southern cuisine is a natural progression. Prioritizing ingredients with integrity and opening up accessibility for Muslim guests is a growing movement in the South. Whether restaurants are spearheading halal food as the first offering in their city or fusing Southern ingredients with halal techniques, accessibility is on the rise.
- Popular with locals, Aladdin’s Mediterranean in Jackson, Mississippi, is a rare halal find in the state and offers extensive options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and catering.
- Find authentic Ethiopian flavors infused with Texas smoking tactics at Michelin-recognized Smoke’N Ash in Arlington, Texas. The drive is worth it for their ribs smothered in Awaze sauce served with Ethiopian lentils.
- Charleston’s go-to spot for Pakistani street eats, Malika, is an easy option for locals to get classics like kebabs, burgers, and curries.
- Hal and Al’s Barbecue in Arlington, Virginia, hints halal preparation techniques in name. From the son of Pakistani immigrants, Hal and Al’s is centered on the idea that “BBQ is the universal binder of humanity” and ensures all their meat is certified halal.
4. Fancy Hot Dogs
At the start of 2025, we had readers vote for which trend you expected to see rise this year, and those who voted for fancy hot dogs had the right premonitions! This summer saw abundant ways to top and style the American classic from caviar to kimchi.
- One of Verna Hospitality’s latest concepts in Nashville, Connie’s doesn’t serve your standard dog. Topping their list are the Tokyo dog with bulldog sauce, kewpie, bonito, togarashi, and sesame and the kimchi dog with cream cheese, kimchi, kewpie, and togarashi. For a deep dive into ’90s nostalgic twists, pair your dog with their Yoo-hoo espresso martini.
- For a truly extensive hot dog menu, Hillbilly Hot Dogs has been serving gourmet dogs for 25 years in Lesage, West Virginia. Notable dogs include their StrictlyBusiness dog with a deep fried weenie, chili sauce, mustard, onion, slaw, jalapeños, cheese, and fried Spam or their Pine-Applalachian dog with barbecue sauce, country ham, cheese, and crushed pineapple.
- We can’t forget to shout out our friends at Babas in Charleston with their iconic Tasty Dog parties. While these are currently pop-ups, we highly recommend trying the Pinkies Out dog with caviar, peach mostarda, and potato sticks or settling in for a more casual time with their Onion Dip Dog topped with housemade onion dip and chives.
5. Community Supported Agriculture
In recent months, inflation has turned grocery receipts into jumpscares. Grocery quality and prices have come into serious question, and in 2025, discontentment is pushing shoppers to embrace eating local-first. Examining CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options, prices are now competitive if not becoming improved over big box stores. While budgets might steadily creep up with inflation, switching to a CSA ensures quality, confidence, and kitchen creativity.
Here are a few tried-and-true CSAs the TLP team recommends:
- Elmwood Stock Farm out of Georgetown, Kentucky
- Ambrose Family Farm out of Charleston
- Heritage Harvest Farms out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Red Hills Market out of Tallahassee, Florida
- Community Supported Grocery out of Charleston
- Clemson Area Food Exchange in Upstate South Carolina
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