Fusion Foods Satisfy Quest for Flavor.

• Position: American families show increased interest in ethnic foods - Brief Article

Fusion cooking has brought an explosion of new dishes to the traditional American table, adding variety, adventure, and enjoyment to eating. In many cases, these new "fused" dishes uniquely combine grain products, fruits, and vegetables, which yield nutritional benefits.

A survey of menus by the National Restaurant Association revealed that, even as American families search for comfort in familiar foods, they show a growing taste for more ethnic varieties and spice-infused dishes. What has sparked this interest in ethnic food? According to The American Dietetic Association, Americans have a sense of curiosity and adventure, a desire to learn, and, more than ever, are searching for nutritious and flavorful alternatives. "Many ethnic cuisines offer health benefits, especially those that focus on grain products, vegetables, legumes, and fruits," explains Cindy Moore, a Cleveland, Ohio, a registered dietitian and an ADA spokesperson. "Fusion cuisine, combining the ingredients or cooking techniques of two or more cultures, may be described as the new cooking phenomenon."

The American palate has become increasingly sophisticated, and what once were "exotic" foods are becoming part of traditional menus...