Our favorite fall menu items and comfort foods

Overhead view of a table with fall themed decorations

Pumpkin, spice, and things that taste nice. Fall is finally here, and it marks the return of comfort food and carbs that were stolen from us to pay for our dreams of beach bodies and summertime brats. It is the season of harvest, bounty, crisp air, and fall menu items.

Each new season comes with unique culinary flavors and ingredients that define it to customers worldwide. To help you reintroduce that autumnal je ne said quoi to your customers, we made a list of some of our favorite fall treats, sans the tricks.

Savory Pies

Close up of a chick pot pie cut in half

Pies are the ultimate fall menu item and can be so much more than dessert (more on that later). Meat pastries and pies are fall staples at dinner tables across the nation and beyond. As the temperatures fall, our appetites rise for a flakey, buttery crust that conceals a medley of veggies, sauces, and protein just under the surface.

Chicken pot pie has been a go-to pie in American cuisine as far back as the 19th century. Much like chicken noodle soup, chicken pot pie has a wholesome reputation as food fit for the soul. With staple ingredients as simple as chicken, onion, carrot, celery, peas, cream, and stock, it is an easy-to-replicate but hard-to-master classic.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, try your hand at an Irish Shepard’s pie. Filled with minced meat and topped with mashed potatoes, this stick-to-your-ribs stalwart will keep any customer rosy-faced and warm long after they’ve left your restaurant.

For the vegan-friendly amongst you, consider a mushroom and thyme pie or a classic Greek Spanakopita. The former leverages a mushroom gravy to merge the flavors of the forest with the savory sensation you expect from a pie, while the latter utilizes feta and spinach for a Mediterranean twist on a comfort classic.

Steaming Stews

Overhead view of beef stew in a pot

So, you love saucy gravarey and steaming plates, but don’t want to bother with the presentation of a pie? Then allow us to introduce you to some of our favorite autumn stews!

Boeuf (beef) bourguignon is everything a pie secretly wishes it could be, and it is the quintessential example of why you should cook with wine. This classic of French cuisine starts with bacon fat and ends with a heavenly forkful of delicate beef, carrots, and onions that will turn curious patrons into regular customers.

But if red meat doesn’t tickle your fancy, consider building your seasonal dishes around an oft-forgotten champion of stews — grains.

Chicken with barley and vegetable farro stews go the extra mile and mix the comfort of a stew with the allure of ingredients not typically found in everyday grocery stores. These grains add heft to any beefless stew and replicate the same satisfying “fullness” without sacrificing flavor.

Spiced Desserts

Apple fritters on a plate with confectionery sugar sprinkled on them

We get it — you like dessert pies, too. So we do we! In fact, we’re dedicating an upcoming blog entirely to pies. But when it comes to desserts as a whole, don’t be afraid to differentiate yourself with fall treats that can shine just as bright.

With apple picking season in full swing, we’d be remiss to ignore your opportunity to make apple fritters. This harmonious concoction of flour, cinnamon, eggs, sugar, and milk is perfectly paired with a warm cup of coffee after an evening of family and friends at your restaurant.

That’s the way desert should be — simple, yet satisfying.

Pumpkin bars à la mode are a no-brainer when capturing the tastes and spices of autumn, particularly when cloves are added into the mix. But pumpkin isn’t the only fall veggie that transforms into a treat — transform your extra carrots into the ever-underrated carrot cake!

Are you as excited for fall as us?  Express your love of the season with menu items that will keep your customers satisfied and the tools you need to let your kitchen work its magic at etundra.com.

About Nik Heimach

Nik is the sr. copywriter at TundraFMP. He specializes in narrative branding and creating the meaning behind a message. Between writing and delightfully raging against the dying of the light, Nik loves obscure movie quotes, Shrek, piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

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