The dining industry has been turned inside-out in recent months, with Americans reducing the frequency of dining out by two-thirds within the first three weeks of the global health crisis. With strict regulations in many states, the next few months will continue to see trends in the industry that would have been unheard of at the commencement of 2020. If you are an avid home cook or you enjoy dining out (and are able to do so now or in the near future), the following trends will most likely be dominating the era of ‘new normality’.
Small And Home-Catered Dining Experiences
The flame has not been put out in Michelin-starred or gourmet dining experiences, and across the globe, savvy establishments are finding ways to connect with discerning diners with a penchant for the avante-garde. Michelin-starred restaurant Acanthum, in Spain, for instance, decided to battle the health crisis with small group dinners featuring a maximum of 10 diners. What changed from the previous tasting menu? This time the Chef was to prepare all dishes in front of (and alongside) diners, engaging in conversation about food, ingredients, and ground-breaking preparation techniques. The Chef was certainly on to something. Food & Wine quotes the Chef of the prestigious Liholiho Yacht Club in San Francisco as saying, “Small-group private dining will be hot. Restaurants that can provide safe, intimate spaces for small groups will be sought out at a premium.”
Outdoor Dining
Home confinement has led people across the globe to favor more opportunities to connect and form bonds with nature and the greater life force it represents. Expect to see more restaurants capitalizing on this need through al fresco havens set within lush green surroundings. Giant outdoor candles melting into abstract shapes, live music, and stunning nature-inspired and sustainable décor will appeal to those who see a direct connection between the choices we make and the way the planet responds.
Gourmet Takeaway Meals
For at least the first half of 2021, lovers of cuisine from an array of different culinary traditions will continue to bring the party home, ordering gourmet meals that make dining at home feel more like a restaurant-style experience. Restaurants are stepping up to the plate, offering diners services such as food boxes, home chef show cooking experiences, and special menus (including four-course menus). Some restaurants (take the elegant The Wolseley in Mayfair, London) are catering to group diners by offering larger orders such as a hearty, whole beef wellington or a melt-in-the-mouth salmon coulibiac. Yet other establishments are preparing aperitifs and cocktails you can serve at home to enjoy the pre-dining lounge experience before tucking into your main meal.
Home Dining Equipment
As restaurant dining remains a somewhat elusive pastime, many budding home chefs are investing in quality machines they can use to serve up professional quality meals at home. Just a few items to consider if you have the space and budget for it include wood-burning pizza ovens, Josper grills, and sous vide machines. Beginner cooks that may have enjoyed most of their meals in restaurants, meanwhile, are trying out small, safe, flame-free portable induction cooktops, which do not require a flame that comes from burning gas. The best portable induction cooktop is light yet effective, and works via an electromagnetic field below the glass top, which exclusively heats the pan, leaving the space around it at room temperature. Additional equipment purchased by those seeking to establish a ‘party atmosphere’ for two at home include ice makers, ice-cream makers, and high-end slow-rotation juicers.
Plant-Based Cuisine
This trend commenced prior to the events of 2020, and all signs point to its continued importance in 2021 and beyond. Research shows, for instance, that the number of Americans embracing this lifestyle has surpassed 9.7 million in recent years. The reasons for the popularity of vegan and vegetarian cuisine are manifold. They include the concern about global warming and the effect that the meat industry has on this problem, as well as the findings of recent studies showing that high-fiber, plant-based diet can do wonders for your gut health (and, therefore, your mental health). That’s right; there is an inexorable link between your gut and your brain. To keep this powerful connection in shape, consume a diet that is low in refined foods and high in fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.
The restaurant industry may be one of the most affected by the current global health crisis, but imaginative restaurants are finding ways to continue to entice keen gourmets. From gourmet meals at home to home-cooked chef meals, there are many safe ways to continue to enjoy fantastic cuisine from across the globe. Sophisticated home-cooked meals are also in style, as is the plant-based lifestyle, which is a boon to the planet as well as to our physical and mental health.
