Why the tavern food trend is more than just another social media craze

Like many food trends on social media, the tavern food trend revolves around aesthetics. Of course, the aestheticization of food, reducing something so fundamental to human existence to mere visual fodder to scroll through absent-mindedly, has its critics. However, unlike trends such as the freakshake or smoothie bowl trend, the tavern food trend gained popularity not just through its visual appeal but through something far more profound and nostalgic – something we can all fall in love with.

For many of us today, whenever we go out somewhere fancy to eat, it has become routine to take a photo. I am especially guilty of this, and I imagine most of us are as well. Our priorities shift from nourishment and good company to how Instagrammable our plates are. However, this is not a purely negative cultural shift. We can all appreciate the visual appeal of food, and it is wonderful to see how the visual aspect of food alone can bring so many people together. Something is refreshing about the tavern food trend and how it differs from the other aesthetic food trends we see on social media.

We think of a tavern as an intimate setting with a comfortable ambience, where the food is just as important as the setting and how it makes us feel

Firstly, what imagery comes to mind when you hear the word ‘tavern’? For lots of us, we might imagine a medieval scene characterised by a sense of rustic simplicity, or a warm inviting space. We might think of a cosy, secluded haven for weary travellers, or a candlelit inn filled with a low murmur of conversation. We think of a tavern as an intimate setting with a comfortable ambience, where the food is just as important as the setting and how it makes us feel. This is what the trend is meant to represent.

The kind of food served in taverns is what we could characterise as ‘too plain’ or stereotypically as ‘too British’. It includes meals such as Sunday roasts, shepherd’s pie, stews, and toad in the hole. However plain these foods may seem, they represent home. We remember the heartiness of a family-cooked meal and the savoury aromas that would fill our homes. We remember the meals from our childhoods and the comfort of hot food on a chilly autumn evening.

Equally, this kind of food reminds us of classic favourites at local pubs and restaurants. Think hamburgers, toasties, fish and chips, or steak and ale pies. We are not only reminded of the food but of the charm of these restaurants and the jovial feelings we associate with them.

When we see pictures of tavern foods on social media, it is not just the food that we long for, but the memories and feelings that they invoke

The meals can be relatively plain and bland – nothing like the impressive creations we see all over social media. For many of us, they depict simplicity, warmth, and nostalgia. When we see pictures of tavern foods on social media, it is not just the food that we long for but the memories and feelings that they invoke.

Today, restaurants and food bloggers share their updated versions of these classic dishes, taking traditional ingredients and merging them with more modern cooking styles. Chefs take these seemingly bland foods and transform them into gourmet dishes. All the while, social media users can share their creations and recipes online. They are not simply showing us how the food is prepared, but how it can be enjoyed, breathing new life into tavern foods we are already so fond of.

Ultimately, the tavern food trend is more than just another social media fad. It represents a sentiment that has been a part of a wide cultural identity for centuries. Its appeal lies in the memories it can evoke within us, reminding us of both simpler times and a place where food and community come together.