Chef at home and other ways to experience a unique dining experience

Nowadays, experiential dining is a trend that has become very popular in many parts of the world due to what it offers. Giving your guests at home or in your own restaurant an unforgettable dining experience is not just about turning on the cookers and starting to cook.

In this article, we are going to talk about a few things you should know if you want to carry out one of these experiences and enjoy them. In this way, you will learn everything you need to know to start implementing, or adapting, this trend in your venue in the right way.

What is experiential dining?

If we want to define experiential dining, we can say that it is a ‘complete journey’ offered to a customer. The experience starts right from the moment they enter the restaurant and ends the moment they leave.

As customers, they expect your restaurant to offer you not only a menu of the highest quality, but much more. Good food, décor, lighting or customer service are some of the things that the customer expects to receive. Having said that, we can say that these experiences should stimulate all the senses:

• Taste
• Smell
• Sight
• Hearing
• The brain
• Food

The concept of experiential dining encompasses all of these factors, for which providing a unique experience is the ultimate goal. If you make the visitor love it and want to repeat the experience, then you’ve done it right.

Gastronomic experiences with local chefs and hosts

Culinary, or gastronomic, experiences can also be small group gatherings where tourists enjoy excellent food together with local people. These people can make visitors feel at home and those memories can stay with them for a long time.

Of course, these plans require a host, who will also share some traditional recipes while telling stories about each of the dishes. No matter if it is a professional chef or an amateur, hosts share the passion for gastronomy in equal amounts.

Through the food, at the experienced dinners, you will get to know all the history behind what you are eating. Not only that, but you’ll enjoy an amazing atmosphere and great company that you won’t want to leave.

How to organise your own gastronomic experience?

We will make a little space to talk a bit about how you can make your own experience, and what you need. Speaking straightforwardly, we can say that the ingredients for an unforgettable dinner are:

• Cooking and tasting in a group: this way, everyone will be able to share stories and get to know their hosts a little better. Besides, it is well known that food tastes better in good company.
• Have a passionate host: it is no use having a host who is not so passionate about food. In this experience, it is best to have one who loves their job and can share their stories and knowledge with others.
• Do it in a unique location: the location is an extremely important factor and it’s best if it’s something unusual. Maybe behind a campfire, a farm or something like that, the important thing is to stand out.
• The atmosphere: in conjunction with the venue, the atmosphere should be pleasant and fun at all times so as not to bore the diners.

Ideally, the hosts should have their stories ready before they start cooking. The same goes for the plate of food they plan to serve, as the aim is for the diners to take away with them all the flavours they have experienced.

An example: blindfolded eating.

How do I adapt my business to these new trends?

Even though you may think that experienced dinners can only be offered by the most luxurious restaurants, they can actually be done in any venue that is well prepared. Adaptation is important, so we’re going to show you what to do to make it a success.

1. Make diners see the food being prepared, as this stimulates the senses.
2. Make use of good plating to make the food look more beautiful and appetising.
3. Show off the decoration of the place because, even if your menu is undeniably good, customers will not come in if you don’t catch their attention.
4. Create a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere with music, and if it is live, even better.

If you consider these 4 points, you will be able to see how little by little your business adapts to this good and lucrative trend. Remember, a dinner experience should be unforgettable and for that, you don’t need much as long as you have what you need.