Solving the Problem

The problem is that only a limited amount of cuisines are available to people in the United States who aren't living in large cities like New York City, Los Angeles, etc. In general, one could find two to three international cuisines in a typical town and maybe around 10 different types of cuisine in a basic city. However, it's apparent that there are so many other nations around the world, each with its own unique set of food and cultural traditions. Even in the largest cities in the United States, it's hard to come across certain cuisines such as trying to find a Burmese restaurant in Miami. This problem impacts people who might have traveled to a certain country and wish to recall that experience by eating the country's cuisine, people who come from a background in that country that seek to explore their heritage and culture, people who want to venture into new things by trying a different dish than they're used to, the list goes on and on. These are all people who wish to take part in a cultural experience but are denied that opportunity due to there being a lack of restaurants servicing what they want.

Another problem I noticed is that when it comes to other countries, especially in terms of culture, we are generally uninformed and uneducated. We might eat the food, but we often don't know the history, traditions, and other elements of the culture that lie behind that dish. This might seem minuscule but as someone who has traveled a lot, I have come to realize that so much of our world's problems come from a lack of education, understanding, and empathy between different cultures. Having an understanding of the many different cultures of the world is so important in this increasingly globalized world whether it be for social, political, economic, personal, etc. reasons. I want to address this need as well.

The service that I hope to provide is a restaurant chain that allows consumers the chance to immerse themselves in a global, cross-cultural, and educational experience that encompasses innovative cuisines, well-respected speakers, and quality international entertainment within each of its establishments.

Regarding cuisine, I want to represent at least one dish from the 195 countries in the world. It might not be the same dishes in every restaurant (as that menu would be really long). However, I hope that by the time at least 10 restaurants are open, all 195 countries would be represented and that each restaurant would at least have dishes from every single region of the world. The menu would have a description of the dish and what is significant about it, the way it's made, and a little blurb about the culture it's from.

Regarding speakers, this is the element of travel that educated me the most. Being able to meet people who experience daily life in each country whether they be farmers or soldiers or educators, or members of the government, etc., opens up worlds of knowledge and furthers opportunities to pursue interest in these cultures. The same goes with the entertainment as well (i.e. plays, concerts, film screenings, comedians) since these give insights into cultural traditions and norms. These two elements would take place in a manner like how open mics, music shows, and other themed-nights pop up throughout the week at other restaurant and bar establishments. Additionally, speakers and entertainment can help people further remember and appreciate where they've been and/or where they are from.

Through these three factors, I hope that this restaurant will be able to satisfy people's palates and wanderlust while helping to make the world a more positive and peaceful place through a variety of intentional education.