A progressive restaurant in California is experimenting with the way music truly enhances the total dining experience. They have done this by combining music with the meal itself via wifeless headphones.

These “tasty tunes” dinners are the brainchild of Union Restaurant in Pasadena in collaboration with HUSH concerts from San Francisco. Diners wear headphones and the nature and tempo of music changes with each course.

No word on whether additional digestive aids might be needed.

Key Takeaways:

• Music during meals is key to the ambiance of many restaurants, requiring careful planning
• Music is one of the key factors in creating a scene that will lure in diners over and over again.
• Attempts to time music to expected course length proved difficult as people eat at different speeds

“Kalman said the music was more about setting the energy, grabbing attention and getting diners focused.”

Read more: http://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/trends/choreographing-dinner

Certain cuisines such as Indian, French, and other outside snacks are food that are on the rise at colleges. College students are on the run so they are looking to try to get healthy food while not having to sit down fully to enjoy it. This is why fruit along with sports drink are more common on college campuses while other food such as fruit smoothies, which can take a while to make, are on the decline.

Key Takeaways:

• This study shows that students at colleges are eating/drinking healthier alternatives at a fantastic rate.
• Plant based beverage consumption has more than doubled in the past 7 years and the trend is still skyrocketing.
• Some universities are using a more open format of dining, including grocery stores and restaurants near the campus to show what kind of healthier foods are available in the near areas.

“Some all-time favorites (smoothies, anyone?) may no longer be top picks.”

Read more: http://www.foodservicedirector.com/menu-development/menu-strategies/articles/10-menu-winners-losers-colleges