2024 was the 12 months Indian meals and beverage tradition acquired a severe improve. Bars grew to become extra refined, eating experiences turned cosier, and we began paying extra consideration to what we eat and drink. Bingeing misplaced its allure, diets grew to become extra private, and sustainability grew to become greater than only a buzzword. While India gained world recognition, we additionally took a second to dig deeper into our personal roots for inspiration.
Here Are 10 Food and Dining Trends That Ruled 2024:
1. Indian Bars Are Having a Moment
What Indian eating places did within the 2010s, bars are doing now. A brand new wave of drinkers is transferring away from the same old, predictable experiences, whereas bars are rewriting India’s ingesting tradition. Think of locations like Ekaa in Mumbai, the place the menu attracts from Indian ingesting traditions and affords 42 small plates and cocktails. It’s not nearly drinks anymore; it is a vibe shift.
2. Dining Destinations Are Spreading Beyond the Metros
When Prateek Sadhu launched Naar within the Himalayan foothills – 90 km from Chandigarh’s airport-it marked a rising pattern. India’s coolest eating spots are not restricted to Delhi and Mumbai. Smaller cities and sudden places are getting in on the motion. Take Hortus in Kochi, for instance, the place a Seventeenth-century Dutch botanical e book, Hortus Malabaricus, evokes the bar’s theme.
3. Zero ABV Cocktails Are Mainstream
Mocktails are formally previous information. Enter zero-proof cocktails, now a legit a part of bar menus. Chennai’s Pandan Club, India’s first Peranakan restaurant, launched a zero-alcohol program that company execs and health lovers swear by. These drinks are not only for designated drivers – they’re for anybody who needs the bar expertise with out the thrill.
4. Intimate Dining Is The New Big Thing
Restaurants are getting smaller and extra private. Think Omakase-style setups, like Papa’s in Mumbai, the place simply 12 diners get a front-row seat each night time. It’s all about breaking the barrier between cooks and diners to create extra interactive, memorable experiences.
5. Gut Health Takes Center Stage
Post-pandemic, immunity remains to be a scorching matter, and intestine well being has grow to be the brand new focus. Fibre, prebiotics, and gut-friendly meals are actually key gamers in shaping well being tendencies. From the grocery aisle to well being cafes, it is all about caring for what’s inside.
6. Dining That Plays With Your Senses
Experiential eating is not new, however in 2024, it acquired next-level cool. Goa’s Floating Feni Tour actually places your desk in water at a secret location. Meanwhile, ITC Grand Chola’s Kitchen Lab added soundscapes to create multi-sensory experiences that transcend simply style.
7. AI Steps Into F&B
Artificial intelligence is creeping into each a part of the F&B world, from streamlining operations to bettering meals security. Restaurants are utilizing AI-powered stock methods to cut back waste and reduce prices. AI is even serving to decode what prospects love most so menus may be optimized for optimum satisfaction.
8. Going Local, Getting Global Love
Indian bars and eating places are leaning into homegrown inspiration, at the same time as they make waves globally. Icons like Indian Accent in Delhi and Masque in Mumbai are getting world shoutouts, whereas spots like PCO in Mumbai are designing menus tied to native historical past – like town’s textile mill legacy. Soka in Bengaluru created a menu celebrating the scents and flavours of Bangalore, like jasmine and Yellaki bananas.
9. Personalised Nutrition Is the Future
Fad diets are fading, and personalised vitamin is stepping in. Dietitians and apps are diving into genetic knowledge to craft plans that really work for people. What’s best for you may not work to your fitness center buddy, and the F&B world is catching as much as this actuality.
10. Sustainability Is Serious Now
Sustainability is not only a good advertising and marketing gimmick-it’s an actual motion. Social media has made eco-conscious decisions mainstream, even in smaller cities. From daily groceries to high-end eating, customers are pushing for extra accountability and transparency, driving actual change throughout the board.
