Appetite lost for brekkie buffets

Binging on bacon, eggs and pastries may be less of a temptation as coronavirus prompts some hotels to dump breakfast buffets.

Social distancing rules took buffet dining off the menu until New Zealand reached alert level 1.

Scenic Hotel Group general manager Brendan Taylor was happy to see it go and his restaurants have shifted to an a-la-carte breakfast menu.

‘‘To be honest buffets are a lazy way of serving food . . . it’s like food out of a trough.’’

Taylor said some overseas travel wholesalers now specifically requested no buffet food for their clients, because the rapid spread of Covid-19 on cruise ships had highlighted the infection risks associated with that style of dining.

Nelson hotelier Garry Munro is not a fan either. ‘‘Hotel buffets have a notorious reputation for being cold or lukewarm.’’

Coronavirus convinced him his Trailways Hotel and Hotel Nelson could operate without buffets, although he will bring them back in a limited way for conferences and larger tour groups.

Munro said it took about three hours to set out and clear up the buffet, plus a ‘‘massive’’ amount of food was wasted.

Cafe-style breakfasts have gone down well with guests who paid about the same price for far superior quality, he said.

‘‘Our customers are very happy because everything coming to their table is freshly prepared instead of having something that has been on the buffet since 6.30am when they come in at 10am.’’

Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said many of her members had decided to stick with offering a-lacarte only, particularly for breakfast, to reduce waste and labour costs.

Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White said wastage was a problem when occupancy levels were low, but health and safety was not the issue, and she believes buffets will return.

‘‘That’s part of the magic of going to a hotel, it’s a feast for your eyes. There’s definitely a place for buffets, but I don’t think it will look like it used to.’’

At conferences, it was likely that buffets would be replaced by banquet dinners where food was brought to the table by wait staff, White said.

Auckland’s Cordis hotel specialises in lavish buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but had to adopt table service under coronavirus restrictions.

A spokeswoman said buffets would resume this weekend.