May 22, 2012

I have been busy even while school has ended and I am back into the real world!  Working Boston University culinary events to gardening in the Cape I have been surrounded by food still-not a complaint at all!

The rise in technology and food is increasing, not in terms of cooking equipment but in relation to the internet and mobile apps.  People are trying to figure out how to connect people, food, and technology in many ways - but the question I ask is, is there a purpose?

I understand utilizing the internet to buy products, promote, look up recipes, book reservations etc. But what is the next big thing that people are looking for?

Is it finding out where to get the best mushroom risotto in Boston? What to order at Ashmont Grill?  Where the beef comes from? What recipes goes with seasonal products? Seeing people take ingredients and come up with different recipes? Ordering online? A driving food tour of farms to the gourmet table?

We are in a time where so much can happen quickly because of the internet, but people fall short in asking the question before they begin a business concept - What do people want? What do people need? How can I make their life better?

I am all for Blogging :) and people rambling on what they believe and sharing it with friends and family - but don't you all feel overwhelmed at times about all the things that is going on? How can I catch up with everything in the food industry - read magazines, blogs, cookbooks, watch The Food Network, go to conferences, but there will always be more.  So what is needed, what is wanted and how can the next generation of graduates give it to you?

Some of these concepts are AWESOME others I question.

Some sites that merge tech and food: A whole taxonomy of food websites are needed!!
-RealtimeFarm.com  (is this needed?)
-foodgenius.com (is this creepy, great or needed?)
-theeatery.com
-Aglocal.com
-lillystable.com
-eatdrink.it
-opentable.com
-tastedmenu.com (growing and seems in the right direction)
-Yelp.com
-seamlessweb.com
-freshdirect.com
-kitchit (growing and seems in the right direction)