Saskatoon has many restaurants, one to please virtually any taste. It’s a short walk from our studios on 3rd Avenue South to at least a half-dozen. I admire restaurateurs who obviously have to work very hard to provide the level of quality food and service that attracts customers and keeps them coming back. Of course the more places there are to choose from means competition. I read an article recently entitled, “Ghost restaurants set to disrupt traditional eatery industry”. So-called “Ghost” restaurants or kitchens are an innovation being seen across North America, Europe and Australia. They are “virtual” eateries that bring the food straight to customers by delivery. There is no actual restaurant with tables and servers. You order what you want through a third party delivery company and the food is brought to you. The benefit for the operator is low overhead. All that’s needed is an industrial-type kitchen with a few chefs. I can see the plus side of utilizing a Ghost restaurant if, say, it’s 30 below outside and we don’t feel like cooking, or if there’s a big game on TV and friends are coming over. However, there’s still nothing like a nice evening getting out of the house to go to one of your favourite restaurants where the atmosphere is inviting, the food is delicious and the service is great, so it would seem logical that “real” restaurants will continue to co-exist along with “Ghost” restaurants. Oh, and one great way to be noticed is to remind people who, what and where you are through local radio!

That’s Coffeetalk. I’m Vic Dubois.