Blog

Prior to World War II, people in the US and Canada mostly ate at home. So what changed? Let’s take a look at the reasons and what’s coming next post pandemic.

History

Early 1940s was no dreamy fairy tale. It was hard for consumers to buy basic spices like thyme and sage. Supply of it had fallen as the countries they were imported from were suddenly embroiled in World War 2. Basic food items like sugar, coffee, canned food, meat, fish, butter and cheese were rationed by the government starting 1942. Everything was in short supply, and families really had to plan and stretch their food supply. For example: ground beef was chosen over steaks or roasts. Ground beef could be easily used to make meatloaf, spaghetti and stuffed peppers. Cookbooks and women’s magazines would publish articles on recipes with beef tongues and pig jowls — which were previously simply discarded by butcher shops. The war had stretched resources, there was food shortage and rationing had become key which this cartoon from the 1940s aptly describes.

By the end of the war, eating at home was more of the norm than going out to diners or restaurants and the dishes were simple and uncomplicated.

The wonder decades

Well, with the war ending, many young soldiers returned home having tasted a world of food from their deployment overseas. Second, there was also a boom in the disposable income in families in Canada and the USA. Third, the bland food choices during the war years and created a longing for different and better options in food.

These factors led to a culture where society as a whole was no longer satisfied with food only to sustain themselves. This led to the rise of having gastronomic experiences, fine-dining and restaurants, diners. Over the decades, from the late 1940s all the way to the 2020s, we have seen a constant rise in the habits of people eating out. New restaurants, new cuisines were the rage! From food shows highlighting the next best places to eat to entrepreneurs diving in to create pop-up restaurants catering to niche tastes.

The way forward

And the pandemic hit with COVID-19! Businesses have faltered, popular restaurants have shut down entirely. Some survive but they are far from thriving. With lockdowns being lifted, restaurants are ushering in customers again. Delivery apps have helped to “ease” the burden of restaurants by providing some form of relief. It is nuanced because after the fees that the delivery apps charge, the restaurants barely end up making any money at all. Patios have offered temporary relief. But winter is right around the corner and things are going to get complicated real fast.

Lately, it’s neither as easy or convenient to go to a restaurant. The fear of falling sick has also made people resort to eating in again — harking back to the times of the early 1940s again albeit not having to be restricted to rations and canned foods yet.

These are new times and we are still figuring out the new normal. You may not be able to go to a restaurant, but what if you could bring the restaurant to you? At Getchefnow, we understand the pain points of the regular family trying to get a change from their staple meals at home. We make it easy for a chef to come to you and make you delicious, scrumptious and nutritious meals while you sit back and relax.

Dining in is the new dining out! What are you going to eat today?