APF First Friday: The Restaurant of the Future

About the session: The Restaurant of the Future

This APF First Friday, we will discuss the works of APF Award Winners Erich Eichstetter and Jose Pelaez. At BCC Innovation, they envision the future of gastronomy with the purpose of enabling companies and governments to anticipate the challenges that lie ahead. To achieve this objective, a diverse range of methodologies for forecasting and designing future scenarios is employed, always in alignment with the organization's principles and values. In this regard, BCC Innovation actively participates in the implementation of strategies aimed at realizing desirable futures. They diligently seek out signs of change within their sector, identifying key leverage points for preferred scenarios, and assess these indicators in conjunction with global megatrends and disruptions to establish plausible future scenarios.

BCC Innovation has authored several reports on future prospects across various contexts, all firmly rooted in the realm of food. Their overarching aim is to confront the challenges presented by the future food system through the lens of gastronomy, addressing them in a humanistic, sustainable, health-conscious, and delectable manner. They have created a platform where multidisciplinary stakeholders can reflect upon the impending challenges in the future of food and gastronomy, crafting pertinent solutions for the present day. Through dialogues, networking, and practical initiatives, BCC Innovation facilitates the sharing and cultivation of collective visions of the future, empowering stakeholders to drive transformative change.

Our Speaker: Erich Eichstetter

With nearly 20 years of experience in the food industry across Europe and Latin America, Erich Eichstetter is a seasoned professional with a background in communication design and culinary arts. His journey began as a cooking apprentice, and he swiftly advanced to roles as head chef and pastry chef. However, his recent focus has shifted towards innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. Currently serving as a Tech Scout and New Digital Product Developer at LABe Digital Gastronomy Lab, Erich explores the exciting convergence of food and technology. Alongside his professional endeavors, he is a Co-founder and Co-Host of the Pot Luck Food Talks Podcast, as well as a GastroGems Expert Food Tour Guide in San Sebastián, Spain. His passion lies in creating memorable experiences for the people he works with. As a chef, project management runs in his DNA, as he navigates through an exhilarating maze of many daily deadlines.