Those of us at Restaurant Hospitality regularly see what independent operators are dishing out, but some menu items make us stop and stare — whether they involve an out-of-the-box way of using an ingredient, the appearance of a burgeoning trend or simply stunning presentations. We bring you NOM: our New on the Menu weekly roundup.

The latest dishes and drinks that have us doing a double-take this week include a fermented root beer float, new alt-noodle options from Minigrow and a tomato-strawberry dessert served in a glass at one of Daniel Boulud’s restaurants.

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