Chandra Ram Editor Plate

The Future of Food – More than Just a Trend

Finding  the  Future  of  Food:    Why  trend-­‐watching  isn’t  enough  

 Chandra  Ram  

Editor  Plate  

Hot  New  Trend  Alert!  

Hot  New  Trend  Alert!  

Hot  New  Trend  Alert!  

Hot  New  Trend  Alert!  

Hot  New  Trend  Alert?  

More  Than  a  Trend    

What  Comes  Next  

What  Comes  Next  

Look  at  Global  Movements    

•  Economy  •  Environment  •  Society    AnKcipate  what  comes  next  …  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

Distrust  of  Authority  

Distrust  of  Authority  

•  LFTB/pink  slime  •  AnKbioKcs  overuse  in  animals  •  Arsenic  in  rice  •  CA  ProposiKon  37    •  Label  confusion  

Distrust  of  Authority  

What  You  Want  It  to  Be  

What  it  Really  Is  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  

What  a  Chef  Used  to  Be  

What  a  Chef  Is  Today  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

The  Old  Standard  

The  New  Standard  

Desire  to  Slow  Down  •  Need  to  connect  –  real  connecKon,  not  surface  and  temporary  

•  Food  as  a  complete  sensory  experience    •  Farmers’  market  is  the  new  public  square    •  Foraging,  in-­‐house  charcuterie,  a  personal  touch  on  everything  

•  AppreciaKon  for  imperfecKons  •  Customers  crave  a  story  or  personality  to  go  along  with  their  food;  they  want  it  to  be  special  

 

Desire  to  Slow  Down  

“I  wanted  to  do  a  restaurant  that  was  about  my  food  and  my  experience,  where  my  family  could  come  in  to  eat  and  not  be  inKmidated,  with  the  food  they  want  to  eat.”  

-­‐  Bill  Kim  Belly  Shack  Urban  Belly  

bellyQ    

The  Challenge:  Deliver  a  high-­‐impact  food  experience  that  …  •  Tells  a  story  in  some  way  •  Demonstrates  quality  •  Is  fast  and  convenient  •  Reinvents  the  familiar,  or  reveals  something  new  •  Is  perceived  to  be  a  value  •  Comes  at  a  reasonable  cost  •  Makes  the  guest  feel  special  •  Resonates  with  the  guest  

How?  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

Change  in  weather  paPerns    

Change  in  weather  paPerns    

Pickling  and  preserving  produce  in-­‐house  extends  the  seasons  and  conKnues  the  story  about  ingredients.    

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

Growing  health  issues  

Growing  health  issues  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

ShiQing  PopulaKons    

ShiQing  PopulaKons    

•  Social  media  has  taken  down  the  wall  between  chefs  and  customers  

•  They  grew  up  with  food  as  a  cultural  driver  •  They  want  choice,  and  they  want  it  now  •  Open  kitchens  and  food  trucks  have  brought  chefs  and  their  customers  face-­‐to-­‐face  

 

ShiQing  populaKons      

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

Economy  

Global  Movements    

•  Distrust  of  authority  •  DemocraKzaKon  of  luxury  •  Desire  to  slow  down  •  Change  in  weather  paPerns    •  Growing  health  issues  •  ShiQing  populaKons      •  Economy  

What  Next?  

platem

agazineTH

ESNAC

KS

&STREET

FOO

DISSU

EnM

archnApril20

10

plateTM

March n April 2010

Creative chefs. Better menus. Real solutions. plateonline.com

Outside in

Shaking up BAR SNACKS

Roy Choi onKOGI BBQ’S STREET CRED

house-made hot dogsSWANK FRANKS:

street food steps inside

platem

agazineTH

EBEER

ISSUE

!Septem

ber

!October

200

9

plateTM

September ! October 2009

Creative chefs. Better menus. Real solutions. plateonline.com CHEERS TObeer

BEER COCKTAILSget a new mug

GOOD THINGSbrewing in Belgium

NEW BEER AND FOOD PAIRINGSStein of the times:

Beer cover.Plate.qxp 8/31/09 10:52 AM Page 1