Where is the trend going to go?

I used to cook, and enjoy doing it. Maybe it was Covid that ended that. These days I don't even like to thaw things out. Just grab something while I am out. But now even the least expensive drive through meal is at least $11. (Given the increase in food prices and the labor costs finally catching up with the cost of living.) On top of that, those meals are usually unhealthy and boring. Close to town you might have some nifty mom and pop food trucks or a small Indian storefront but here in Oldham Co. (so well known for its inclusiveness and cultural diversity in everything *snicker*) the best you can hope for is another Chick-Fil-A or some sort of pizza. However…I have noticed that the new Fresh Market @265 and 22 does have a wide variety of heat and eat options either in their prepared foods or their refrigerated section. The cost is comparable to a drive through. And it set me to wondering if this could be how fast food morphs into a new existence? Has anyone seen any studies about the new, super- prevalence of higher end prepared foods? The new grocery stores are (as Robin mentioned in another post) are mega sized and located in urban areas while the remodeling of inner city grocery stores seems to have gone begging. Will bricks and mortar drive through eateries go the way of the drive -in movie theaters?

I think the "morph" you mention has already happened!

In Chicago, I think every mid-sized and smaller grocery chain has a full 'buffet' of carry-out dinners that rival many restaurants (and exceeding every fast food). Even Jewel offers a wide range of mains/sides/desserts/et al freshly made and just awaiting a quick heating. Whole Foods no longer stands alone as the only grocery with a sit-down dining area.

In Louisville, I remember around 20 years ago an up-and-coming young chef left restaurant work for Kroger; when asked, he mentioned now working 9-5, having weekends off to spend with family, and earning a significant raise in pay even without the benefits (health insurance, paid vacations, etc) that came with the new job. Wish I could remember who it was, but all over I see groceries buying chefs with job security in return for having a destination carry-out restaurant section.

About three years ago Kroger purchased Mariano's Grocery in Northern Illinois, a chain famous for "to-go'" options in every section of the store . . . the hope was that Kroger would move to that model, although I really haven't seen that yet.

Within an easy drive of my house (Northern Chicago burbs) there are a multitude of Asian, European, and ethnic groceries with free-standing food booths and/or food courts and dining areas for patrons to enjoy carry-out or dine-in meals.

The world has morphed . . . hopefully Oldham County will catch up to the rest!

The larger Krogers have a seating area. Whole Foods, Publix, and the Mexican supermercados have seating and food.

The last 3 summers when I spent a month each in Canada, I would often grab premade food to bring home or just sit and eat.

My take is that fastfood will continue to grow as well as premade food in stores. Urban populations are growing, the periferies are expanding, traffic is less fluid, and people are simply out longer and further. Plus, cars are becoming accessible to sit somewhere and write emails, read, watch videos, eat, etc.

All said, there are more of us, we are out more and for longer, and we have to eat. People still cook, but probably less frequently and with more love and attention..... as for costs of fastfood? Folks are no longer working for $9 per hr. It stands to reason that it cost more these days.

And THIS is exactly why I like these boards - these reminders that what is MY world isn't necessarily THE world. Thank you gentlemen for a preview of what may be coming into my area. It was also heartening, Andrew, to hear of the chef that moved over to Kroger and was able to work his craft with out the sacrifice of his personal life. I'll add too that I've seen a proliferation of personal chefs willing to come into others' homes and prepare meals. (Too pricy for my budget but a great service for those that can afford it.)

And THIS is exactly why I like these boards - these reminders that what is MY world isn't necessarily THE world.

Precisely, Carla!

We grow when we share. There is not really a wrong or right, but rather observations from different vantage points. When we cobble together different perspectives of a given subject, we can see it more holistically. One can draw their own conclusions from there.

“In Louisville, I remember around 20 years ago an up-and-coming young chef left restaurant work for Kroger; when asked, he mentioned now working 9-5, having weekends off to spend with family, and earning a significant raise in pay even without the benefits (health insurance, paid vacations, etc) that came with the new job. Wish I could remember who it was”

Andrew Mellman, this sounds like chef Mark Wilson who was maybe working at Porcini before he went to Kroger

Maybe dining out will return to something "special" and saved and savored for special occasions? I like getting bargains as much as anybody but not at the expense of slave labor pricing .

But now even the least expensive drive through meal is at least $11.

This is going to take the discussion decidedly lowbrow, but the McDonald's app is a guilty pleasure. The rewards points are pretty good--you can redeem 1500 points for a free cheeseburger, which I think equates to a free one every time you spend $15. That and a McDouble or some nuggets make a meal for me. I bring my own soda. Plus, if you don't have points to redeem, the app has various deals you can apply to your order, sometimes a BOGO burger and nuggets, or a 20-30% discount on a single item (I think--the app is glitching for me right now).

All of this is great for people who stop at McD's semi-regularly and usually dine alone. I say that because there are redemption limits on the points and deals (you can't redeem rewards points and get a special offer in the same order, and there are time limits as to how often you can claim a special offer, so you can't just stack orders unless you're using multiple accounts, which is difficult in the "app era"). I could easily see families who take their kids to McD's racking up hundreds of thousands of points that they will never be able to realistically use because they're limited to a single points item per visit, although it's still worth doing for the convenience and scoring the occasional deal.

duplicate. oops!

Well, OK. I can go for a Big Mac at times but it's usually for nostalgic reasons. (Same with White Castles .) But if I want was really good burger (cheap!) I'll go for a single patty Steak and Shake burger meal, It usually comes in at less than $8 and there's that added plus of getting a milk shake made with icecream instead of that frozen chocolate water stuff . Frankly, I bet the single thing that's saved McD's in the past couple of years is adding frozen cokes to their menu. People hit their drive thrus for just those.
(apologies Robin, I know this isn't the kind of culinary convo we're accustomed to here. But at least it does illustrate how the public is altering it's relationship with food. )

Well, OK. I can go for a Big Mac at times but it's usually for nostalgic reasons. (Same with White Castles .) But if I want was really good burger (cheap!) I'll go for a single patty Steak and Shake burger meal, It usually comes in at less than $8 and there's that added plus of getting a milk shake made with icecream instead of that frozen chocolate water stuff . Frankly, I bet the single thing that's saved McD's in the past couple of years is adding frozen cokes to their menu. People hit their drive thrus for just those.
(apologies Robin, I know this isn't the kind of culinary convo we're accustomed to here. But at least it does illustrate how the public is altering it's relationship with food. )

Oh lordy. Carla used the "M" word on this forum!

Let's face, I have my moments when I feel like grabbing a burger from McDos. I actually grab a coffee from there quite often.

This St Louis native craves a "belly bomber" from time to time as well. But the last two times I gave in to a White Castle attack were pretty gross. Each time tasted like the grease on the grill had been there for way too long! It left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Robin Garr]

(apologies Robin, I know this isn't the kind of culinary convo we're accustomed to here. But at least it does illustrate how the public is altering it's relationship with food. )

Oh lordy. Carla used the "M" word on this forum!

No worries, friends! The only fast food I'll succumb to is an occasional Impossible Slider at White Castle, but we're allowed to talk about any level of the culinary world here, and wide digressions beyond that!

No worries, friends! The only fast food I'll succumb to is an occasional Impossible Slider at White Castle, but we're allowed to talk about any level of the culinary world here, and wide digressions beyond that!

My kiddo says if I ever mention CheeseWhiz someone in the forum needs to come to my home and whip me with a limp noodle. They have their standards. Apparently I do not.

(apologies Robin, I know this isn't the kind of culinary convo we're accustomed to here. But at least it does illustrate how the public is altering it's relationship with food. )

Oh lordy. Carla used the "M" word on this forum!

No worries, friends! The only fast food I'll succumb to is an occasional Impossible Slider at White Castle, but we're allowed to talk about any level of the culinary world here, and wide digressions beyond that!

Robin, I've tried the WC Impossible Sliders a few times (first time was right after WC introduced them). I'll be kind and call them uniformly disappointing.

[Robin Garr]

Robin, I've tried the WC Impossible Sliders a few times (first time was right after WC introduced them). I'll be kind and call them uniformly disappointing.

More for me.

The secret, though, is to reject the sauces the offer with it and have them grill/steam it with onions and a pickle just like a regular slider.