Kombucha and Casual Dining During Covid: The New Trend

For good reasons, people who talk about kombucha tend to focus on the myriad health benefits that make it a functional beverage. But sometimes those talking points upstage the ‘booch’s other beneficial characteristics, including the wide array of nuanced, delicious flavors available.

As the covid-19 tides are turning- more restaurants are opening up more seating and looking for more functional beverages to replace their sugary sodas and incorporating more non-alcoholic drinks on their menus.

Many restaurateurs at casual dining establishments are recognizing that kombucha’s complex flavor profiles—with the signature tartness, fruity and floral notes, and fizziness—are ideal for pairing with food. It has been an eye-opener for sommeliers and chefs at high-end restaurants, who have formerly been very restricted in terms of their options for satisfactory non-alcoholic beverages to recommend with their dishes. 

This is obviously a great option for people who are abstaining from alcohol yet longing for their old wine or beer pairings, but anybody at all can appreciate how a well-made kombucha complements and accentuates the flavors of their favorite meals.

Seek North is at the leading edge of this trend. Our kombuchas are now featured at NYC establishments such as The Butcher’s Daughter, a fully plant-based restaurant, cafe, and juice bar in SoHo. We are also on the menu at hotspots in Upstate New York, including Main Course in New Paltz and on tap at Dixon Roadside in Woodstock.

Vegan Banh Mi Sandwich | Bread Alone, Kingston

In our own hometown of Kingston, our beverages are available at Outdated Cafe, Bread Alone, Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go, PAKT, and LOLA Pop Up in the Historic Uptown District. 

In our own hometown of Kingston, our beverages are available at Bread Alone, Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go, PAKT, and LOLA Pop Up in the Historic Uptown District. 

Seek North co-founder Philippe Trinh says that the Seek Immunity kombucha (with elderflower and pineapple) makes a great companion to a warm panini sandwich at Lola Pop Up or some mouth-watering fried chicken at PAKT. The elderflower’s hoppy taste and the tropical pineapple make this ‘booch’s flavor profile similar to a crisp, refreshing IPA, which everybody loves to pair with comfort foods. It feels indulgent for my taste buds, but in truth it’s quite healthy!”

We are excited to see how kombucha’s foray into casual dining continues to open up in spring, and we anticipate an entirely new appreciation for our favorite beverage as more food aficionados discover this refreshing alternative to alcoholic pairings. 

We are excited to see how kombucha’s foray into casual and fine dining continues, and we anticipate an entirely new appreciation for our favorite beverage as more food aficionados discover this refreshing alternative to alcoholic pairings.