Our news
-
The Psychology of Courses: Why Starters, Mains & Desserts Still Matter
I was recently served my main before I’d even touched my starter… Not at a mall food court. A well-known Dubai restaurant.The staff hovered, mains in hand, while I was halfway through my meal. No pause. No check-in. Just hustle.And just like that, the theatre collapsed. Appetite gone. Mood flattened. I wasn’t being hosted, I…
-
The Ice Cream Illusion: Why Your Bowl Is Doing More Than Holding Dessert
You’re not just plating dessert.You’re shaping perception. Sounds dramatic? It’s not. It’s neuroscience. Here’s the deal:People rate ice cream as sweeter and creamier when it’s served in a round bowl instead of a square one.Same product. Same ingredients. No recipe tweaks. Just a shape change, and the brain fills in the rest. This isn’t opinion.…
-
The Psychology of Signage (and Why Most Get It Wrong)
First impressions aren’t a courtesy, they’re hardwired. Research shows people form opinions within 0.05 seconds of visual exposure. That’s not long enough for your menu, your mission statement, or your influencer campaign to kick in. It’s colour.It’s shape.It’s font.It’s texture. All the stuff most operators barely think about, but your customer’s brain is already processing…
-
Looks Luxe, But Smells Like Plastic
You walk into a high-end restaurant.Lighting? Spot on.Textures? Rich and layered.Scent? Inviting, warm. And then, there it is.A plastic ficus.Next to a hand-polished marble counter. Come on. The Illusion of Luxury We’re in the business of sensory storytelling. Every surface, scent, and sound are meant to build trust and elevate the experience. So why spend…
-
Your Menu Is Missing an Ingredient: Sound
We obsess over recipes. Sourcing. Plating. Service flow.But there’s one ingredient most restaurants overlook, and it’s not on the plate. Sound. Not just background noise. Not just music.Sound is seasoning for the brain. It shapes how your food is perceived bite by bite. Let’s break it down. Science says sound changes taste.Studies show that background…
-
Why Red Makes You Hungry: The Psychology of Colour in Food
Ever wonder why so many fast-food brands use red and yellow?It’s not random. It’s psychology. 🔴 Red grabs your attention, raises your heart rate, and sparks hunger.🟡 Yellow feels warm, fast, and optimistic. Perfect for hungry customers in a hurry. Look around, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, even the corner food truck.They’re not just feeding you…
-
Why the Foodurist Exists
The Foodurist isn’t just a blog, it’s a lens. A lens on how we taste, feel, and perceive food. Why certain meals trigger comfort, why ambiance changes flavor, and how brands use psychology to engineer cravings. I’m Clayton. I’ve spent over 30 years in hospitality, building brands, launching concepts, and obsessing over the details most…