The Green Bar and Grill in London is offering a 6,000-calorie menu inspired by Antarctic explorer Earnst Shackleton. It is the polar opposite of the healthy diet that most restaurants are promoting today.
The £75 four-course feast honors the exploits of Shackleton, who tried and failed to become the first person to reach the South Pole over a century ago. It contains the recommended amount of calories a grown woman should eat in three days--or one, if you were on Shackleton’s failed journey.
It stinks more of PR than charity, but they say that £10 from each meal sold will go towards an attempt by descendants of Shackleton who try to complete the mission their ancestors failed back next year. The leader of this group said: “Obviously this isn’t a meal for the faint-hearted, but I’m sure there are a few people in the city who’ll be up for the challenge.” Either that or a heart attack!
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Anti-health Dining
- There is a trend towards offering exceptionally unhealthy dishes in the restaurant industry as a way to grab attention and appeal to adventurous diners.
- Novelty Menus
- Restaurants are turning to unusual or themed menus, as a way to differentiate themselves in a competitive industry, and garner media attention.
- Charitable Dining
- Some restaurants are looking to combine eccentric menu offerings with philanthropic endeavors, perhaps as a way to temper the guilt of indulgence.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Restaurants
- The restaurant industry is constantly evolving and trends such as anti-health dining and novelty menus could be viewed as openings for innovative restauranteurs to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
- Philanthropy
- Restaurants should consider partnering with charitable organizations and non-profits to attract diners by providing unique experiences while also highlighting important causes.
- Marketing
- In an increasingly connected world, restaurants should leverage above trends to create unconventional marketing campaigns to generate buzz and customers.
