Large cities, like Los Angeles and New York, are some of the biggest cultural hubs in the United States, and often set new trends in culinary arts. From the cupcake ATM to the "cronut," and from acai bowls to ramen shops, it seems like metropolitan areas have nailed the art of Instagram-worthy culinary events. Cities like Portland, Houston, Charleston, and more have their own regional styles of cooking and cuisines brought over by immigrants and are worthy of being shouted out. But what about smaller cities, like Pensacola?
A walk through downtown Pensacola is one of the best ways to experience the city's gastronomic culture. The restaurants and bars you see are a fusion of history and modern times, and the food is just as unique. You can even find some incredible food trucks during various festivals or at events such as Gallery Night. Just by word of mouth, you can even find hole-in-the-wall places such as Grover's Fingers and Wings, 3-D Burgers and Tea, or Jerry's Drive-In, some Pensacola staples and others new additions.
But something that Pensacola has yet to experiment with is the idea of the pop-up restaurant. It doesn't necessarily require someone who is business savvy, but rather someone who knows how to use social media to their benefit and how to create an attention-grabbing menu. They could be hosted in houses (or warehouses, for that matter); they can be a limited time offer or grow into a bonafide restaurant after attracting the right investors; and they can be profitable without risking bankruptcy.
Cities already have initiatives to support small businesses, and this takes it a step further to give anyone interested in the food industry the opportunity to practice running their own restaurant, whether for just a day or a week. There are plenty of nice homes and party venues in the area that could be transformed easily into five-star dining experiences. The feeling of exclusivity is what makes these pop-up dinner experiences so memorable.
Pensacola already has a rich history, tourism industry, beach economy, and more. The infrastructure of the city is changing and progressing, and so should the way we do food here. The normal restaurant experience is a model that has been time-tested and works well. But for those who have the chops in the kitchen but not the dollars in their pocket to start up their own business, what better opportunity is there than to run their own pop-up? Just as Uber and other apps have seamlessly integrated into our city, maybe this could be the Next Big Thing for the Panhandle.
