Be Grateful for Molten Chocolate Cake

The Tastemakers

Food trends—be they healthy, decadent, or just plain silly—have become big business in American cuisine. But do they spring, fully formed, from the brains of entrepreneurs and chefs? Do they spread thanks to a combination of buzz and brilliance? Or are unseen forces at play? Journalist David Sax decided to find out. Sax visits Zócalo to explain where food fads come from. Below is an excerpt from his book, The Tastemakers: Why We’re Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue.

Momofuku’s David Chang, whose stratospheric success launched a thousand pork …