Book tip of the week: The future of gastronomy

Concrete recommendations and exciting visions for the future of the industry
© dfv
© dfv
8. June 2025

 | Editorial team

What does the restaurant industry need to remain successful tomorrow? In “The Future of Gastronomy”, Jan Scheidsteger and Oliver Leisse do not provide vague visions of the future, but a practical, inspiring and critical workbook for all those who shape gastronomy – today and in the future. The book is more than just a guidebook. It is a wake-up call.

With the concentrated know-how of an experienced hospitality developer and a renowned futurologist, the authors succeed in not only highlighting the challenges of the present on around 290 pages, but also developing concrete strategies on how hosts can actively shape change. And – this much is clear – it won’t just start tomorrow. We are already in the midst of change.

Info:
dfv Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH
Jan Scheidsteger, Oliver Leisse
Edition 2024
ISBN 978-3-86641-359-7
290 pages

A compass in turbulent times

The book is divided into four chapters: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, The Day After Tomorrow. This structure enables reflection on past mistakes, an honest analysis of the current situation and a bold preview of what lies ahead. It is about staff shortages, digitalization, climate change - but also about new types of guests such as the fighter, the artist and the controller. Each has their own needs and is changing the rules of the game in the industry.

Worth reading: the tone makes the music

Stylistically, the book remains pleasantly approachable: instead of lecturing with a raised index finger, the authors speak directly to their readers. Yes, they even use first names - a deliberately chosen, dialogical approach that creates closeness. At the same time, the depth of content is maintained. Numerous practical examples, impulses from trend research and pointed images of the future make the book a real treasure trove for concepts, strategies and mindset updates.

Technology meets humanity

A central topic: the role of artificial intelligence. The authors' differentiated view is fascinating. They do not see AI as a threat, but as a valuable resource - as a team member that can take on repetitive tasks and stimulate creative processes. Only one thing remains reserved for humans: To be the host. And that's a good thing.

Our conclusion

“The Future of Gastronomy” is a must-read for anyone who doesn't want to wait for the next wave but wants to learn how to ride it. It is inspiring, thought-provoking and at the same time calls for action. Anyone who works in the hospitality industry - whether as an entrepreneur, manager or visionary - will not only find answers here, but above all many clever questions. A book that encourages you to rethink your concept - and accompanies you in the process.

A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît!
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Book tip: Lasagna, Moussaka, and Co. – Happiness in Layers

Ilse Fischer's “Lasagna, Moussaka, and Co.” is a culinary journey through Europe in casserole form

Casseroles are underestimated. They are often considered cozy, filling, a little old-fashioned—but they are actually culinary narrative forms. This is exactly where Ilse Fischer comes in. Lasagne, Moussaka und Co.: Das Glück in Schichten (Lasagna, Moussaka and Co.: Happiness in Layers) is not just another “lasagna book,” but a collection of cultural identities, layered in dough, vegetables, sauces, and memories.

What sets this book apart from classic recipe collections is its focus on the principle of layering. Fischer shows that whether it’s Italian vincigrassi, Greek pastitsio, Alsatian baeckeoffe, or Savoyard tartiflette, ingredients are layered, interwoven, and combined in the oven to create something greater than the sum of its parts throughout Europe. It’s about more than technique. It’s about origin, climate, availability, and food culture.

INFO:
Lasagne, Moussaka and Co. – Happiness in Layers
Author: Ilse Fischer
Illustrations: Gudy Steinmill-Hommel
Publisher: Christian Verlag GmbH
Publication date: November 2025
Length: 256 pages
Binding: Hardcover
Language: German
ISBN: 978-3-9895101-6-6

How price acceptance actually arises

Why guests are happy to pay the price for menus, rooms, and non-alcoholic alternatives when quality and character match

Price has long been more than just the result of a calculation. It is a signal. For attitude, for standards, for credibility. Guests read prices as a silent message about what a business stands for and how consistently it lives up to its promise of quality. Today, guests no longer pay for the cheapest option, but for the most harmonious one. For an offer where price, product, and atmosphere form a coherent whole.

Highballs, Deep Cuts & Vienna's New Underground

How Salon Paradise at The Hoxton is reinventing the night—and why Vienna's most exciting cultural space is emerging beneath it.

Vienna has many bars. But only a few places that truly create their own world. Salon Paradise is exactly that: not a nightclub, but a state of mind. A dimly lit basement bar where conversations become deeper, drinks taste clearer, and music doesn’t accompany, but leads. After the summer break, Vienna’s most iconic underground bar returns to The Hoxton, Vienna on November 22—with a new tempo, a new sound, and a sharpened attitude. The rebellious soul remains, but it now beats with greater focus.

quick & dirty
The future of gastronomy © dfv
Book tip of the week: The future of gastronomy

What does the restaurant industry need to remain successful tomorrow? In “The Future of Gastronomy”, Jan Scheidsteger and Oliver Leisse do not provide vague visions of the future, but a practical, inspiring and critical workbook for all those who shape gastronomy – today and in the future. The book is more than just a guidebook. It is a wake-up call.

With the concentrated know-how of an experienced hospitality developer and a renowned futurologist, the authors succeed in not only highlighting the challenges of the present on around 290 pages, but also developing concrete strategies on how hosts can actively shape change. And – this much is clear – it won’t just start tomorrow. We are already in the midst of change.

Info:
dfv Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH
Jan Scheidsteger, Oliver Leisse
Edition 2024
ISBN 978-3-86641-359-7
290 pages