Ever wonder how restaurants originated? and what’s the concept behind restaurants? . A major study by the “Canadian Restaurant Food Association” revealed that 23% of Canadians eat out at least once a week and on average Canadians purchase about 1.7 meals a week. Many food historians claim that public food serving dates back all the way to ancient Rome. This came in the form of food vendors, Private & public caters and later during the Medieval times travelers dined at inns, taverns, monasteries and hostelries. It is claimed that the first cafes (generally defined as places selling drinks, snacks and placed for people to socialize) was established in Constantinople in 1550.
However the French revolution and the industrial revolution gave birth to the launch of the restaurant industry at the end of the 18th century. Restaurants were licensed by the king to control specific foods [eg. the Patissiers, Rotisseurs, Charcutiers]. The Restaurants attracted hungry, middle-class customers. Later on, entrepreneurial French chefs were quick to capitalize on this market menus, offering dishes individually portioned, priced and prepared to order, were introduced to the public for the first time.
Three reasons why restaurants emerged as a result of the French Revolution and was : the rage for English fashions, including the taking of meals in taverns; the influx of large numbers of revolutionary deputies from the provinces; and cooks seeking re-employment after the break-up of the aristocratic households.
All this makes me wonder how will dining and eating look like in the digital age. Lets see !!