SPECIAL REPORT #27: William Sitwell on the Past, and Future, of Restaurants

William Sitwell's new book The Restaurant: A 2,000-Year History of Dining Out, examines the evolution of its subject worldwide, from ancient Rome to the Ottoman Empire to modern Britain and the United States to movements such as the coffee house revolution and fast food. Taking the book as a jumping-off point, Andrew and William--restaurant critic and food writer for The Daily Telegraph--attempt to put the current lockdown in perspective, and imagine what dining out might look like in a post-pandemic world.Please consider supporting Andrew Talks to Chefs via our Patreon page–pledge $10 or more per month and gain access to bonus, patron-only episodes, blog posts, polls, and more. Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.   THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!