I remember when I got married 6 years ago the food vendor was trying to sell me on a kale salad. "Kale is hot, its the new spinach, you gotta go kale." She was right.

Sun-dried tomatoes are another big one. Popped out of nowhere and were everywhere for five or so years.

I think it usually starts with someone wanting to sell something...a food company wanting to sell their food product, a chef wanting to sell their creation/book tables at their restaurant/make a name for themself, or a gadget company wanting to sell you another object to make room for in your kitchen. It's all about money and someone trying to take your away from you. I think sometimes it's good...like kale is actually really good for you so the recent surge in popularity isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there are plenty of other examples that are. (Do you really need another gadget, another jello mold, another blender or whatever.)

IDK, but I would really like the sushi and raw fish craze to have ended yesterday.

I think there have been some trend setters. A lot of it starts with chefs out in la. Wolfgang Puck started the whole Asian chicken salad trend, the BBQ pizza (which changed the course of pizza topping boundaries forever), and I think he might have even started the beets an goat cheese salad trend.

I also notice more subtle popular foods. Right now it's brussel sprouts or kale, whereas the popular side veg of choice used to be asparagus or sauted spinach.

OMG with the bread machines. My family got obsessed with those and gained tons of weight.

I think a lot of it starts with celebrities.

I was thinking back even further; Jello molds, Waldorf salads, Frto/taco salad, seven layer dip, bread machine bread...

Can someone explain how these start? Companies promoting stuff? Celebrities? Curious about the vitamix smoothies, coconut oil, paleo etc.