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

American Metalcraft, a kitchen accessories brand, often offers products that are trendy and innovative, while still remaining practical. They are a fantastic option for anyone looking to update their dining room or kitchen. Products they currently offer include ice molds, aesthetically pleasing soup cans, and other stylish decorations. These are just a few of a line of recently-released products this year. Their merchandise has the potential to bring a new creativity to any kitchen or dining room.

Key Takeaways:

• Tabletop and server creators, American Metalcraft is considered a major trendsetter in their industry.
• Riding the giant ice cube trend with ease, Metalcraft is launching new food and dishwasher-safe, BPA-free silicone ice cube molds.
• The attractive, distinctive, five inch, Square Black Poplar Wood box, part of Metalcraft’s newest server line, makes a good alternative to the more traditional type of bread basket.

“Let’s peruse some of the new merchandise and see what sparks your interest!”

Read more: http://blog.etundra.com/spotlight-on/revitalize-dining-room-american-metalcraft/

A new survey has found that Millennials are apart from older consumers when ranking their satisfaction with restaurant chains. Some of the highest rated restaurants include Chick-fil-a and The Cheescake Factory. Experts believe this is because of the business strategy of these restaurants to appeal to the millennial crowd. A lot of these businesses have put very significant investments into technology that can make their dining experience more enjoyable and even more convenient than ever before.

Key Takeaways:

• The annual Equitrend study, from Harris poll, is designed to measure brand equity across thousands of brands, including chain style restaurants.
• Latest high-scorers in the category, include Starbucks, The Cheesecake Factory and Five Guys.
• Millennial customers appreciate that these types of restaurants use technology, like mobile apps, to make getting food easier and quicker.

“The large generation of mostly 20-somethings gave higher marks to restaurant chains than their older counterparts, according to the latest EquiTrend Study from The Harris Poll.”

Read more: http://www.nrn.com/consumer-trends/survey-millennials-rank-restaurant-chains-higher-older-consumers