TOP DINING TRENDS

Veganism and vegetarianism, increased use of technology, and offering exceptional experiences to diners. These are some of the key trends expected to make an impact on the New Zealand food scene this year, according to recent research by the Restaurant Association of NZ.

The Restaurant Association, an industry body that represents more than 2,300 hospitality businesses nationwide, asked its members to weigh in on what they think will be the hottest trends in 2019.

“The global trend towards wellness, coupled with a focus on environmental concerns and animal welfare, is having a huge impact on consumer interest in more plant-based menu items,” explains Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois.

Bidois says that hospitality-specific technology has continued to develop at a very fast pace over recent years. “The lack of skilled labour and increasing wage costs are putting a huge strain on business owners, so the use of technology in restaurants could be beneficial in increasing efficiency and profitability without having to increase costs to diners,” she states.

“However, whilst these systems are good for more casual eateries, the higher end establishments still rely on human interaction to enable them to deliver world-class experiences to their diners,” she adds. This includes the way the dish is served, the theatre surrounding it, or how the dish is sold to diners – including the back story, the history of the producer or the heritage of the ingredients or even the cooking methods.