Eastern Influence

Without a doubt, the Far East has had the most dramatic effect on American culinary, restaurant dining, and in-home eating trends in recent years and will continue to do so for generations to come.

According to a DLG Research survey for Restaurant Business last year, 40% of high school students were planning to try Vietnamese foods, 40% Thai, 38% sushi, 31% Japanese, and 5% even more exotic Chinese dishes. Asian Americans, the second fastest-growing population segment, have kept their preference …