Appertivo Articles

Flavor Signals: Coastal Guests Are Craving Smoke

Appertivo’s guest feedback model shows smoked elements outperforming citrus or chile notes in coastal cities this quarter.

Published October 17, 2025

IL

Ian Larsen

Ex-Chef & Owner, Appertivo

Signal

Smoked elements are indexing +18% in positive sentiment across coastal markets. Guests cite 'surprising depth' and 'campfire nostalgia' across seafood, cocktails, and plant-forward dishes.

Deploy it

  • **Smoked mussel escabeche** layered with grilled fennel.
  • **Charred pineapple spritz** that leans savory with espellette salt.
  • **Roasted carrot steak** finished with smoked miso butter and seagreens.