Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued

The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients

- Sanjeev Kapoor

I have been part of the food & beverage (F&B) industry for over three decades. I have seen many changes, some good, some not so good, but never could I have imagined that there would be an event in my lifetime that would put India’s F&B service industry in dire straits. Business has been put to ransom by the pandemic. But I still continue to believe the virus is just another hurdle in this race of life.

It may be a temporary bump and would surely cost a lot, the cost being not only money, but also lives and livelihood. I would say that this is a ‘detox programme’ designed by nature, and each one of us will come out of it stronger. It will take some time to get back on the road and resume businesses at the same pace again but there’s no reason to believe that it won’t be back to normal. People have started to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and we have seen some huge modifications in our industry.

Let’s look at some key trends that have emerged during the pandemic and continue to flourish:

HYGIENE, A TOP PRIORITY

When we talk about the food industry, the main concern for most people since the pandemic began is safety. One of the most appreciated changes is sanitised services at restaurants, which in my opinion, should be continued now and forever. Right from the pani puri walas to renowned chefs at fancy dine-ins, everyone is wearing gloves, masks and hairnets to ensure maximum safety and sanitisation. The staff is trained to frequently sanitise surroundings and tables for guests at restaurants. Even at gatherings and weddings, waiters are trained and equipped with solid supplies to serve the guests most hygienically.

CONCEPT OF ‘NAKED KITCHENS’