Roughly a decade ago, whimsy ruled everything we ate. Don’t believe me? We served everything in mason jars until it practically became a Portlandia sketch—and loved anything pickled to the point that it actually was a Portlandia sketch. We roséd all day and relished in serving anything in a rainbow ombré (to the point that we mythologized it to “unicorn” status). We fully embraced the racier-than-it-sounded naked cake.
Now, in 2025, all of our Pinterest board fever dreams are creeping back into our lives. Every week, a new pickle-themed snack emerges, from dill-flavored Goldfish and pistachios to an entire menu at Popeyes. Fancy Sprinkles has built an empire off of edible glitter, and Sonic Drive-In launched the Unicorn Dreams Slush, complete with swirly-horn straws. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has essentially relaunched The Tig 2.0, now a 360-degree lifestyle brand with a hit Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, where she serves up 2010s staples, such as mason jar margaritas, naked cakes and rainbow fruicuterie boards.
Sure, trends come and go, but what’s compelling such a cluster of mid-2010s hits to return?
After covering food trends for 15+ years, I have a theory: We’re seeking a comfort food time machine.