Urban Cookhouse is a new fast-casual restaurant in Nashville that's setting itself apart from many other established Midtown eateries. While comfort food items like burgers and chicken wings are typically staples of Southern cuisine, Urban Cookhouse is proving that it can function successfully without offering these items on the menu.
What Urban Cookhouse does serve includes a range of locally and regionally sourced ingredients that are prepared freshly in-house. All meats, vegetables and sauces are prepared on-site on two kamado grills, which are used in place of fryers and microwaves.
The eatery devotes a section of its retail space to selling food products from local brands like Nola and Two Roast. To expand upon its community-boosting efforts in the future, there may even be plans for the Urban Cookhouse to host a summer farmer's market when a large selection of seasonal ingredients are available.
Contemporary Southern Cookhouses
Urban Cookhouse Encourages Diners to 'Buy Local, Eat Urban'
Trend Themes
1. Local Sourcing - Urban Cookhouse shows the growing trend of using locally and regionally sourced ingredients to create fresh, healthier meals.
2. Community Building - Urban Cookhouse's community-focused approach, including selling local food products and possibly hosting a summer farmer's market, demonstrates a trend towards building relationships with customers beyond just serving them food.
3. Alternative Cooking Methods - By using kamado grills in place of fryers and microwaves, Urban Cookhouse exemplifies a trend of using alternative cooking methods to create unique and healthier menu items.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Casual Dining - Fast casual dining establishments could adopt the trend of using locally sourced ingredients and alternative cooking methods to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
2. Food Product Retail - Retail establishments that sell locally-produced food products could benefit from partnering with local restaurants like Urban Cookhouse to cross-promote their products.
3. Community Events - Urban Cookhouse's potential farmer's market shows a trend towards restaurants hosting community events, which could encourage collaboration and community building among local businesses.