Good hospitality is a personal choice
A chance conversation with a friend got me thinking recently about how people have such different perspectives about what’s good and what’s not so good. In particular how we choose hospitality venues and the food and drink we consume in them.
If you are a slave to social media, you are likely to get a distorted view of the best places to go to and could be influenced into buying a particular dish or drink. There is, after all, a whole industry based on “influencing”. You might have a friend or family member whose opinions you value and whose taste you know is likely to mirror your own, but can you rely on the opinions and advice of strangers?
I read a lot of beer and wine reviews and, if they are to be believed, there are only a handful of options that are readily accessible, drinkable, and cool to be seen with. It’s the same for pubs and restaurants and there’s a real pressure on being seen in the ‘right’ places. But does it matter what other people think about our choices and should we be ashamed if we’re not drinking the go-to vintages, the latest hop-forward, hazy collaboration beers or are missing out on the trendy establishment with a 6month waiting list to experience their tasting menu?
No – we absolutely shouldn’t! We are all different and have different tastes, likes and dislikes. Sometimes we might be in the mood for going to a fancy restaurant for a top-notch dinner, on other occasions it might be catching up with friends over a drink in the local pub and at other times we might just want to have a TV dinner at home in our pyjamas. There is also a budget consideration which may influence our choices and what you eat or drink shouldn’t define you. Experts may share their knowledge about the latest hop characteristic in their favourite beer or how the terroir of a particular grape variety has an impact on the taste of the wine – all of which is valid, interesting and can help some people to distinguish between different options. But to most people it may not impact on their decision making – and that doesn’t make anybody better than anyone else, it just makes us different.
So take on board recommendations and be open to trying new places and new tastes within your domain but don’t be a slave to thinking that anything you eat or drink is right or wrong just because someone might infer that on Insta. There’s no judging to be done here – you either like something or you don’t and it really doesn’t matter if it’s a fashionable choice or not. On trade outlets are still facing a multitude of cost pressures and, although closures are slowing down, four hospitality venues a day were reportedly closing in the first quarter of the year so it’s vital that we still support them when we can. Yes, they must be safe, inclusive, hygienic and welcoming but beyond these basic criteria there are so many different styles and options available that you’re always going to find somewhere that is right for your taste, mood and bank balance.
And as for the food and drink; if it suits your palate then fantastic, savour and enjoy it. Try a range of options if you can, and work out what types of food or styles of drink you enjoy most and see if there are others that have similar characteristics to expand your repertoire as there are so many to explore. I’ll have my favourites and you’ll have yours – none of them are right or wrong; they’re just the right selections for each of us.
Photo by Edward Franklin on Unsplash
