Sizzling news: Bacon is recession-proof

Seems our love for bacon is strong enough to withstand this recession. The savory treat is predicted to be just as popular in 2010 as restaurants find more creative uses for the crispy treat.

According to a trends report from J. Walter Thompson, bacon is one of the top five trends to watch in the coming year. The others are organic fast food, wine cocktails, a backlash against healthy food claims, and sardines. Yes, sardines. JWT predicts the smelly little fish will be the new tuna.

Bacon has been exceptionally popular for a while now as oddities like bacon ice-cream and bacon chocolate have captured our attention. Not only does bacon smell and taste great, but it triggers a nostalgic reaction that is comforting, especially in difficult times. But how many more ways can chefs find to use bacon?