Consumers in the United States have a big appetite for foods from around the world. Nine in 10 meal preparers (91%) polled in the 2009 Gallup Survey of Dinner report that they regularly eat ethnic foods/foods with an ethnic flavor either at home or in a restaurant. Thus, it seems clear that understanding the fast emerging new hierarchy of foreign cuisines, foods, flavors, and forms is essential for success in the U.S. marketplace.
Italian, Mexican, and Chinese remain the “Big 3” ethnic food categ…