# Windup Bird Cafe This Toronto-Based Restaurant Infuses Asian Cuisine with Literary Culture By Alyson Wyers | Published 2015-02-06 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/windup-bird References: [youtu.be](http://youtu.be/ovEK5UdXquU) & [windupbird](http://windupbird.ca/)  In an effort to reflect the diversity of his passions in his professional life, writer and restaurateur Sang Kim of Windup Bird Cafe created what he describes as a "literary platform in a restaurant setting." Trend Hunter recently chatted with the man behind Windup Bird Inc., which hosts a combination of [culinary and literary events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bold-fork-books) among other things. Sang Kim explains a program the restaurant has where they alternate between a famous international novel and a Canadian one to base a [five course menu](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playbook-commons) on. They then bring the author in to talk about it. For children, they have the Kid-Chen Confidential cooking club where young people can teach each other about cooking healthy food. So in addition to delicious, [local, Asian cuisine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akin-1), cultural and literary events are just as important. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Literary Cuisine:** Opportunity to create themed menus inspired by popular books, attracting book lovers and food enthusiasts alike. - **Culinary Education for Children:** Potential for cooking clubs or classes for kids to learn about healthy eating and cooking techniques in a fun and interactive way. - **Multimedia Restaurant Experiences:** Innovative concept of combining dining with literary events, opening doors for other industries to explore cross-genre experiences. ### Where This Applies - **Restaurants:** Restaurants can incorporate literary themes into their menus and events, offering unique dining experiences to attract customers. - **Publishing:** Collaboration opportunities with restaurants to promote books through themed menus and events, attracting a wider audience. - **Education:** Education institutions can explore partnerships with restaurants to offer culinary education programs for children, encouraging healthy eating habits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Immersive Cultural Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superfresh.md) - [BIPOC-Owned Korean-Parisian Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gateau-ghost.md) - [High-End Fusion Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akin.md) - [Evolutionary Toronto Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-drake-hotel.md) - [Multi-Sensory Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selva-toronto.md) - [Classic-Era Aesthetic Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seasonallychanging-menu.md) - [Hotel-Backed Literary Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/union-hotel-x-giller-prize.md) - [Asian-Fusion Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lobby-bar.md) - [Painterly Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-paintings-the-art-of-dining.md)