Biggest Food Trends That We Expect To See In 2021
EazyDiner's biggest dining trend predictions for 2021
03 Jan, 2021 by Gargi Bisht
2020 was indeed the most challenging year for everyone but it was the restaurant industry that bore the biggest brunt of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown that followed. Of course, no one could have predicted the way 2020 played out for the restaurant industry but seeing restaurants bouncing back in the past few months prove that there's indeed some light at the end of the covid tunnel after all.
As the sun sets on 2020 and we ring in the arrival of a new year with a renewed hope for healthier months ahead, it's time to focus on a fresh crop of food trends that we can expect from the culinary landscape of 2021. And who better to tap for projected dining trends than EazyDiner- a team comprising of the best Industry experts of Chefs and Hoteliers from around the world. So without further ado, below are some of the biggest restaurant trends that we expect to see in 2021.
Contactless Dining & Payment
COVID-19 has accelerated the digital transformation of the restaurant industry. In the post-pandemic era when the consumers are still somewhat hesitant to participate in the outside world, contactless dining and cashless transactions bring back some of the normalcy to ease the paranoia of the patrons. It minimizes physical contact between restaurant staff and guests by facilitating social distancing plus It gives people a taste of that old experience while minimizing contact and helping them feel comfortable. EazyDiner takes this trend a step further by allowing guests to go completely cashless & make 100% secured online payments through the app using its exclusive payment channel provider that helps you pay the restaurant bill and guarantees 25% cashback up to Rs. 400. Some of EazyDiner's PayEazy supporting restaurants include:
Berco's, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
the very popular Berco's boasting of an exquisite Thai and Chinese menu is adored by foodies for bringing its no-fuss, reasonably priced Indo-Chinese style food to plates.
Molecule Air Bar, Sector 29, Gurgaon
This sprawling two-story World War II bunker themed bar is known for its great selection of cocktails and interesting bar bites. Just like the cocktails, their food is also exemplary. Their eclectic menu offers an array of dishes in North Indian, Mughlai, and Continental cuisines.
Curated Tasting Menus
In the past few years, Tasting Menus have become all the rage in restaurant dining. for those of you who are not familiar with the concept, Tasting Menu is all about experimenting with new flavors and dishes and is a collection of several curated dishes in small portions, served by a restaurant as a single meal. Seeing that this dining trend has been catching on quite a lot in the last few years proves that foodies today have an evolved palate and a decerning taste for the finer things in life. As diners are becoming more adventurous with their dining choices the same old menus just won't cut it anymore. These EazyDiner partner restaurants are stepping up to the plate, with a smattering of delicacies on their tasting menus that will blow the minds of even the most adventurous eaters:
Indian Accent, The Lodhi, New Delhi
Chef Manish Mehrotra has designed Indian Accent’s contemporary Indian menu combining fresh seasonal produce and unusual ingredients from across the world to excite the adventurous, yet satisfy traditional tastes and evoke nostalgia. The six-course Chef's Tasting menu where each course is paired with a selection of wines from India and across the world, offers the complete dining experience of the restaurant.
The Bombay Canteen, Lower Parel, South Mumbai
Floyd Cardoz, the celebrated chef and winner of Top Chef Masters, brings his signature mark to the food at The Bombay Canteen with a menu, which highlights seasonal produce and flavorful cooking. Their Canteen Experience menu is served in the form of shared plates, with the servers guiding them through the meal, with interesting anecdotes about the dishes and their inspiration.
Clean Eating/Health Cafes
The trend of clean eating is not entirely a new thing; it has been here for a long time just masking itself under different guises. With the direct demand for menus with cleaner and healthier options taking the forefront in the past few years, there are a lot of dining destinations that are featuring natural, organic, chemical, and preservative-free preparations. And the good news is that you don't really have to give up on gluttony altogether to keep up with this trend, you just have to ground yourself with clean eating practices to fit right in. EazyDiner's selection of restaurants is also replete with quite a few eateries that can make 'Clean Eating' a whole lot tastier and enjoyable for the health concerned:
Greenr Cafe, 32nd Milestone, Gurgaon
Perfect for a mid-week pick me up this place caters to the health-conscious foodies with its all veg menu that features delicious options for vegetarians, vegans, and even those who are lactose-intolerant. Advocating clean eating, they even make their own Ketchup, Chili Sauce, and other condiments in-house without using any preservatives.
Fabcafe by Fabindia, Vile Parle East, Western Suburbs
This Indian bistro opened under the Fabindia umbrella aims at serving traditional Indian food with a healthy interpretation. Besides serving delectable healthy food, they also cater to people with special dietary needs by offering gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, sugar-free, and keto options in their menu. They do not use processed grains, refined sugar, and refined oil in their preparations and also make their own 'Almond Milk' fresh in-house.
Heritage Dining
The rise in recognition for heritage recipes has been a long time coming. With India being a cultural melting pot its high time that the uniqueness of our regional cuisines get the spotlight it deserves. With more upscale regional restaurants cropping up every now and then in India’s culinary landscape, we expect in the coming few years, people will start seeing cultures more holistically through food. EazyDiner also features a great gastronomic ecosystem filled to the brim with unique restaurants serving a melange of diverse Indian cuisines. Some of the most exemplary options include:
The Potbelly Divine, 32nd Milestone, Gurgaon
This vibrant and unique restaurant in Gurgaon has become quite popular for being one of the very few restaurants in the entire NCR that serve an authentic and unadulterated flavor of Bihar. The Potbelly Devine never fails to wow its guests with its myriad of authentic and delicious Bihari dishes, ones that will have you returning to this place over and over again.
Diva Maharashtracha, Matunga West, Central Mumbai
Diva Maharashtracha is one of the best restaurants in Bombay to sample traditional Maharashtrian fare from all across the state. The best thing about this place is that it goes beyond the typically known delicacies and offers diners a chance to try out some of the lesser-known but lip-smacking preparations from not so popular regions in Maharashtra. Their extensive menu offers more than 200 vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian options to choose from.
Comfort Food
In 2021 comfort food is expected to be a big trend. We think people tend to gravitate to comfort food, now more than ever because it invokes a kind of nostalgia of what dining used to be like in the pre covid times. We expect to see a considerable rise in demand for meals that focus on comfort like Classic Pizzas and juicy burgers.
Como Pizzeria, Sector 15, Gurgaon
Como Pizzeria is a cute and cozy café located in Sector 15, Gurgaon that serves the most amazing Neapolitan pizza in town. The crust of their pizzas defies words. Airy, light, and ever so flavorful. Try one of their pizzas and there’s no going back from there. Since we all know pizza and garlic bread go hand in hand, make sure to get a portion of their Como Special Garlic Bread with Cheese as well.
The Joint Cafe, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon
A paradise for foodies, The Joint Cafe is without a doubt the place that serves the juiciest burgers in Delhi NCR and the one place that is sure to spoil you for choice with its extensive selection of burgers to choose from. Their best seller Illegal Ammo Burger is loaded with bacon, caramelized onions, pickles, jalapenos, cheddar, and Monterrey jack cheese. Vegetarians can go for their classic Cheese Royale Burger or Caroline Veggie Burger, both of which are lip-smackingly good.
Cloud kitchens
People are increasingly choosing home-deliveries and takeaways from restaurants instead of dining in. That’s why Cloud Kitchens are becoming more popular. For those who are not familiar with the term, Cloud Kitchens are outlets that only deliver food. They do not offer any seating arrangements, but you can order food online or opt for a takeaway. Some most popular Food delivery kitchens on EazyDiner include:
FreshMenu, Powai, Central Mumbai
FreshMenu is unique because their menu changes daily. They promise to deliver freshly cooked gourmet meals featuring Chinese, Mexican, and Continental cuisine right at your doorstep.
Gourmet Couch, ITC Maurya, New Delhi
Gourmet Couch presents a distinctive menu collection showcasing our culinary legacy, bringing you the finest cuisine offerings from signature brands and award-winning kitchens at ITC Hotels.
More virtual Cooking Sessions
Online, chef-driven virtual cooking classes will continue to expand in 2021. this indeed a fun way to get together with friends and family and be entertained at home while preparing a good meal and cooking along with a chef. Well to keep up with this trend, EazyDiner is known for hosting virtual live sessions with talented Chefs that provide step by step food tutorials of gourmet recipes that you can make using easy to find at home ingredients. Some of the featured guest chefs being Nishant Choubey, Chef Vaibhav Bhargava, ace mixologist Nitin Tewari, and Chef Irfan Pabaney
Written By
Gargi Bisht is an event copywriter/conceptualizer turned writer currently working with EazyDiner Pvt. Ltd. Compulsive eater, book hoarder, dog lover and pop culture enthusiast with an innate love for storytelling. Usually the quietest person in the room, Gargi is an introvert who loves her own company. When not eating, can be found in front of her laptop watching movies. Knows a thing or two about art and literature.
