The food delivery revolution - 6 Minute English

Summary

The 6 Minute English episode explores the revolution in takeaway food, driven by the rise of delivery apps like Deliveroo and Just Eat. The pandemic has seen a surge in demand for home-delivered meals, with a variety of cuisines available worldwide. The episode delves into 'dark kitchens,' virtual restaurants that cater exclusively to delivery, ensuring dishes are designed for travel. The trend raises concerns about the loss of basic cooking skills, suggesting that cooking may become a hobby rather than a necessity. The show concludes with a quiz revealing Hawaiian Poke bowls as Deliveroo's most ordered dish.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ The popularity of takeaway food has surged due to the convenience of food delivery apps like Deliveroo and Just Eat.
• 🌐 A wide variety of dishes and styles from around the world are now available for delivery, expanding beyond traditional options like pizza and curries.
• 🏠 With cafes and pubs closed during lockdowns, many food chains and restaurants have shifted to delivery-only services to cater to those in isolation.
• 📈 Takeaway companies have seen a dramatic increase in orders as people are spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• 🍔 The most ordered dish on Deliveroo last year was Hawaiian Poke bowls, reflecting changing tastes in takeaway options.
• 🏡 'Dark kitchens' are digital, delivery-only restaurants that operate without waiters, tables, or diners, focusing solely on preparing high-quality dishes for delivery.
• 👨‍🍳 Chef Anton Soulier's Taster is an example of a 'dark kitchen' operation, managing twelve kitchens in London, Paris, and Madrid.
• 🛵 Delivery by bike has become a significant factor in how food is prepared and presented, influencing the types of dishes that are popular for takeaway.
• 🍲 There is a concern that the rise in takeaways and delivery-only food could lead to a decline in basic cooking skills among the population.
• 🔮 The trend of eating out and takeaways may continue to grow, potentially shifting cooking at home from a daily necessity to a hobby or leisure activity.

Q & A

Who are the hosts of the 6 Minute English episode?

The hosts are Neil and Georgina.

What is a 'poke bowl' mentioned in the conversation?

A poke bowl is a Hawaiian dish that typically includes raw fish, rice, and various vegetables and toppings.

What significant change in takeaway food is discussed in the episode?

The episode discusses the explosion of food delivery apps and the rise of a wide range of food dishes being available for delivery.

What are 'dark kitchens'?

'Dark kitchens' are delivery-only restaurants where chefs cook in kitchens without waiters, tables, or diners, preparing dishes solely for delivery.

What was Deliveroo's most ordered dish last year according to the episode?

Deliveroo's most ordered dish last year was Hawaiian Poke bowls.

How have cafes and pubs adapted during lockdown according to the episode?

Many cafes and pubs have switched to delivery-only services to bring meals to people who are isolating.

What concern is raised about the increase in takeaways?

The concern is that people are losing basic cooking skills due to the increase in takeaways and delivery-only food.

What does Anton Soulier predict about the future of home cooking?

Anton Soulier predicts that in the future, cooking at home may become a weekend hobby rather than a daily necessity.

What does the term 'dog's dinner' mean as used in the episode?

The term 'dog's dinner' is an informal way to say something that looks messy or has been very badly done.

What trend does the episode suggest might happen in the future regarding kitchens?

The episode suggests that in the future, people might not have kitchens as they rely more on takeaways and delivery-only food.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Takeaway Food Revolution and Dark Kitchens

The first paragraph introduces the topic of the 6 Minute English podcast, highlighting the growing trend of takeaway food and the impact of food delivery apps like Deliveroo and Just Eat. It discusses the variety of food options now available for home delivery and the shift towards delivery-only services due to the closure of cafes and pubs during lockdowns. The script mentions the increase in takeaway orders during the coronavirus pandemic and introduces a quiz question about Deliveroo's most ordered dish. It also explains the concept of 'dark kitchens,' which are delivery-only restaurants without a physical dining presence, and profiles Taster, one of the pioneers in this space, founded by former Deliveroo employee Anton Soulier. The paragraph concludes with a visit to a Taster kitchen by BBC Radio 4's Sheila Dillon to understand the design of delivery-oriented meals.

05:00

🚴‍♂️ The Future of Cooking and Virtual Restaurants

The second paragraph continues the discussion on the changing landscape of food consumption, focusing on the rise of virtual restaurants and the implications for home cooking. It emphasizes how the quality of dishes for delivery has become a critical factor, with chefs creating recipes that maintain taste and texture during transit. The paragraph uses the phrase 'dog's dinner' to describe the undesirable outcome of meals that do not hold up well during delivery. It also touches on the concern that the convenience of takeaways and delivery services might lead to a loss of basic cooking skills among people, as suggested by Taster's boss Anton. The script ends with a reflection on the potential future where cooking could become a hobby rather than a daily necessity, and wraps up the podcast with a playful connection to other leisure activities like cycling and learning English.

Keywords

💡Takeaway Food

Takeaway food refers to prepared meals that are ordered from a restaurant or food outlet and are intended to be eaten elsewhere, typically at home. In the context of the video, takeaway food has evolved beyond traditional options like pizza and curries to include a wide range of global cuisines, reflecting a significant shift in dining habits due to the convenience offered by food delivery apps.

💡Food Delivery Apps

Food delivery apps are mobile applications that facilitate the ordering of food from local restaurants for delivery to the customer's location. Examples mentioned in the script include Deliveroo and Just Eat. These apps have played a pivotal role in the revolution of takeaway food by expanding the variety of food options available to consumers and contributing to the growth of delivery-only services.

💡Poke Bowl

A poke bowl is a Hawaiian dish that consists of diced raw fish served over a bowl of rice and topped with a variety of ingredients like avocado, cucumber, and sesame seeds. It is highlighted in the script as an example of the diverse and non-traditional options now common in takeaway food, reflecting changing consumer preferences and the influence of global cuisines on local food scenes.

💡Dark Kitchens

Dark kitchens are commercial kitchen spaces used exclusively for preparing food for delivery, without a physical dining area or customer presence. The script discusses how the increasing popularity of takeaways has led to the rise of these digital kitchens, which operate as virtual restaurants, focusing on creating high-quality dishes designed specifically for delivery.

💡Delivery-Only Services

Delivery-only services refer to food businesses that do not have a physical dining area and are solely focused on preparing food for delivery. The script mentions that more food chains and restaurants are switching to this model in response to circumstances like the COVID-19 lockdowns, which have increased demand for home-delivered meals.

💡Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on various industries, including food services. The script notes that the pandemic has led to an increase in orders for takeaway food as people are more frequently stuck at home and seeking meal delivery options.

💡Virtual Restaurants

Virtual restaurants are online food establishments that exist solely on the internet and do not have a physical location. They are created to appear as real restaurants, offering a menu and accepting orders for delivery. The script describes how these virtual restaurants, like those on the Taster website, are part of the trend towards delivery-focused dining experiences.

💡Designed for Delivery

The term 'designed for delivery' in the script refers to the concept of creating food dishes that are specifically prepared to maintain their quality and presentation during transit. This involves careful selection of ingredients and cooking methods to ensure that the food remains appealing and appetizing upon arrival at the customer's home.

💡Dog's Dinner

In the script, 'dog's dinner' is used as an informal expression to describe something that looks messy or has been poorly executed. It is used metaphorically to illustrate the goal of ensuring that food delivered via takeaway services does not end up in a state that would be unappetizing to the customer.

💡Underlying Trend

An underlying trend refers to a general development or pattern in behavior, preferences, or societal changes that is not immediately obvious but has a significant impact over time. The script discusses the underlying trend of people increasingly relying on takeaways and the potential future scenario where cooking at home may become a hobby rather than a daily necessity.

💡Hobby

A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. In the context of the script, there is a discussion about the possibility of cooking transitioning from a daily necessity to a hobby due to the convenience and prevalence of takeaway food and delivery services.

Highlights

The explosion of food delivery apps like Deliveroo and Just Eat has revolutionized takeaway food, with a wide range of dishes and styles from around the world now being delivered to people's homes.

With cafes and pubs closed during lockdown, more food chains and restaurants are switching to delivery-only services to cater to people isolating at home.

Takeaway companies have seen orders increase dramatically as people find themselves stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deliveroo's most ordered dish last year was Hawaiian Poke bowls, reflecting changing tastes in takeaway food.

The increasing popularity of takeaways has led to the rise of 'dark kitchens' - delivery-only restaurants with chefs cooking in kitchens without waiters, tables, or diners.

Dark kitchens like Taster prepare high-quality dishes designed to travel well, ensuring they retain their quality and don't end up looking messy upon delivery.

Taster, one of the first dark kitchen operations, now operates twelve kitchens catering to customers in London, Paris, and Madrid.

The rise of virtual restaurants and dark kitchens is shaping modern eating habits, with delivery playing a significant role in how food is prepared and presented.

Some are concerned that the increase in takeaways and delivery-only food options is leading to a decline in basic cooking skills among people.

Taster boss Anton notes a trend where cooking may become a weekend hobby rather than a daily necessity, as people increasingly rely on takeaways.

The transcript discusses the underlying trend of people choosing takeaways over home-cooked meals, which may become more apparent in the future.

The transcript highlights the strong influence of recent developments like high-quality restaurant meals being delivered by bike on modern eating habits.

Cooking at home may soon become just a hobby, an activity done in spare time for pleasure or relaxation, as takeaways and delivery services continue to grow in popularity.

The transcript concludes by emphasizing the importance of happy cooking and learning English as hobbies that can be enjoyed alongside the convenience of takeaways.

Transcripts

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from

BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.

And I'm Georgina. I'm going to order

some takeaway food, Neil,

do you want anything?

Maybe a pizza? Fish and chips?

Indian curry?

Hmmm, takeaway food to eat at home -

that's a great idea. Yes,

I'll have a poke bowl,

please.

What's that? It doesn't sound like

typical takeaway food.

It is nowadays, Georgina! Over

the last few years the explosion

of food delivery apps

like Deliveroo and Just Eat has seen

a revolution in takeaway food.

Today it's not just pizza

and curries being delivered to people's

front door - there's a wide range

of food dishes

and styles from around the world.

And with cafes and pubs closed during

lockdown, more and more

food chains and restaurants

are switching to delivery-only services -

takeaways - to bring meals

to people who are isolating.

Over the last few weeks many takeaway

companies have seen orders

increase dramatically as

people find themselves stuck at home

due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But what are they

choosing to eat? That's my quiz question

for today, Georgina - last year

what was Deliveroo's

most ordered dish? Was it:

a) Hawaiian Poke bowls?

b) Cheeseburgers?

or, c) Chicken burritos?

I would have thought it was 'fish and

chips', but I'll go with b) Cheeseburgers.

OK, we'll find out later if you were right.

One consequence of

the increasing popularity

of takeaways is something called

'dark kitchens'. Unlike apps such

as Deliveroo and Just Eat

which connect customers to local

takeaways, these digital 'dark kitchens'

work as just-for-delivery

restaurants. Inside, chefs cook in

kitchens without waiters, tables or

diners, preparing

high-quality dishes ready for delivery

straight to your home.

One of the first 'dark kitchen' operations,

Taster, was started by chef Anton Soulier

who in 2013 was working for Deliveroo

when it was just a tiny company

operating only

in London. Now he's in charge of twelve

kitchens catering for

customers in London, Paris and

Madrid.

Sheila Dillon of BBC Radio 4's The Food

Programme went to the

Bethnal Green area of east London

find out more.

When you go on the Taster website the

restaurant names are virtual,

all of them sold as 'designed

for delivery' by Taster. What that means is

all the menus, drawn up by

serious chefs are

designed to travel well, chosen so they'll

be warm, retain their texture

and won't look

like a dog's dinner when they come off

the back of a bike. So strangely

the delivery,

the bike, has become

a shaper of the foods we eat.

All the restaurants on Taster are virtual

- existing online and

created by computers

to appear like the real thing.

Chefs cook the dishes using recipes

and ingredients designed to

travel well - be transported a

long way without being damaged or their

quality being spoiled.

That's to avoid the takeaway food ending

up like a dog's dinner - an informal

way to say

something that looks messy or

has been very badly done.

Usually the takeaways are transported

in a box on the back of a

delivery cyclist who

rushes them from the kitchen to the

customer's home. It's a very

modern way of eating, which

Sheila thinks has become a shaper of the

foods we eat - meaning that

it has a strong influence

on how a situation develops.

However some are worried that the

increase in takeaways and

delivery-only food means

people are losing basic cooking skills.

It's something that Taster boss

Anton has noted too.

There is a strong underlying trend that

maybe, in twenty, thirty years people

won't have

kitchens - and it's already happening in

the US for example. I love cooking,

it's one of

my passions but I'm rarely doing it -

occasionally on Sundays and everything as

it's almost going to become a

weekend hobby.

People choosing to eat takeaways

instead of cooking at home

has become an underlying trend

- a general development in how people

behave which is real but

not immediately obvious.

And in the future, cooking at home may

even switch from being a

daily necessity to a hobby

- an activity someone does in

their spare time for pleasure or relaxation.

I do enjoy tucking into a takeaway

sometimes but personally

I couldn't survive without

my kitchen, Neil.

Ah, but could you survive without

Deliveroo? Remember in

today's quiz question I asked

you what Deliveroo's most ordered dish was.

I said b) Cheeseburgers.

But the correct answer was

a) Hawaiian Poke bowls - a Hawaiian

version of sushi.

Now that's something

I couldn't cook at home!

Today we've been discussing the

revolution in takeaways

and home-delivered food which

in recent years has become an underlying

trend - a general development

in how people behave,

or in this case, eat.

Another trend has been the creation of

virtual restaurants - online restaurants

which look

like the real thing but exist

only on the internet.

Chefs create dishes using ingredients

which travel well - can be

transported a long way

without being damaged or spoiled.

That's so the customer doesn't

end up with a dog's dinner

- an informal expression meaning

something messy or badly done.

Recent developments like high-quality

restaurant meals being delivered

by bike are shapers

of modern eating - things that have

a strong influence on how

a situation develops.

All of which means that cooking may

soon become just a hobby - an

activity someone does in

their spare time for pleasure or relaxation,

for example cycling...

...or learning English.

That's all we have time for today.

Happy cooking and goodbye for now!

Bye!