Nostalgia: restaurant menus and match boxes

Taken from CODE Bulletin Monday 1 November

My Friday was filled with a lot of messages of nostalgia, writes Adam Hyman.

I received phone calls, emails, Instagram DMs and tweets from people telling me they were so happy to hear that The Good Food Guide will live on. Many reminisced about the first copy they picked up. Restaurateurs and chefs told me how much it meant to them when their restaurant was listed.

As the new owner of the guide, my job is to now evolve this heritage brand – now in its 70th year – without losing its integrity. I must ensure it stays relevant to its legions of fans, and remains a trusted source for restaurant-hungry folk. Hopefully, my team and I manage to see the guide attracts a new audience, too.

One of the things I do love most about restaurants is the memories they create for us. Often we remember certain times in our lives by which restaurant we were in – it’s one of the reasons I enjoy collecting menus and restaurant match boxes. Whether it’s birthdays, anniversaries, break-ups or even that much anticipated first meal out post-lockdown, restaurants play an important role for society beyond lining our stomachs. Long may it continue.

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