Future restaurant trends to watch, according to this global expert
Take-Away with Sam Oches
Nation's Restaurant News
4.9 • 17 Ratings
🗓️ 5 May 2026
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Rafael LaRue, the chief creative officer for global foodservice consultant Livit and its sister company, Fast Fine Restaurant Group. Rafael and his partners have a fascinating perspective because they study the industry at the global level, and not only do they consult on everything from guest experience and architecture to interior design, culinary, and operations, but they also put their advice into practice through their portfolio of restaurants. Sam and Rafael talked in person at the Restaurant Leadership Conference last month in Scottsdale about growing trends from around the world that are soon to influence the U.S. restaurant industry.
In this conversation, you’ll find out why:
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing concepts
- AI lets GMs and employees focus solely on guests
- AI can create one-of-a-kind restaurant experiences
- Gen Alpha is the algorithm generation — and could totally disrupt restaurants
- Authenticity will continue to win the day
Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at sam.oches@informa.com.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Attention restaurant operators. Get ready for the 29th annual Menu Masters, the culinary event of the year |
| 0:05.9 | happening May 16th at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago. |
| 0:10.0 | Presented by Nation's Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods, this premier gathering |
| 0:14.6 | celebrates the industry's most iconic innovators and showcases the winners of the prestigious |
| 0:19.9 | menu masters awards. |
| 0:21.8 | Plus, you don't want to miss the epic after party, where the vibe is cool, the music is hot, |
| 0:27.1 | and this year's party swag is top notch. Join fellow tastemakers and industry leaders for an |
| 0:32.8 | unforgettable night of inspiration and connection. RSVP today at the link in our show notes. |
| 0:38.6 | Early registration is strongly recommended as this event sells out every year. |
| 0:43.5 | Welcome to Take Away with Sam Okas, a podcast for leaders of growing restaurant companies |
| 0:47.8 | looking to take their businesses to the next level. |
| 0:50.8 | In nearly two decades covering restaurants, I've gained access to some of this industry's |
| 0:54.7 | most influential decision makers, and I'm letting you in on the conversations. In today's |
| 0:59.9 | episode, you'll hear from a global food service expert about the future trends that will |
| 1:03.9 | influence U.S. restaurants and about how to properly design a restaurant around AI. |
| 1:10.1 | Rafael Leroux is the chief creative officer for global food service consultant, |
| 1:14.5 | Livet, and its sister company Fast Fine Restaurant Group. |
| 1:18.3 | I've literally run into Raphael all over the world as he is based in Spain, |
| 1:22.2 | and he travels around the globe to speak at restaurant events. |
| 1:25.7 | Rafael and his partners at Live It and Fast Fine have a fascinating perspective because they |
| 1:30.7 | study this industry at a global level, and they not only consult on everything from |
| 1:36.4 | guest experience and architecture to interior design culinary and operations, but they also |
... |
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